Control Systems Manager

VA Recruitment; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Recruitment requires a Controls Systems Manager to oversee design, software, installation and commissioning of electrical control systems. You will lead a team of controls engineers, electrical designers and technicians, ensuring safety and CE/UKCA compliance across projects.

You will coordinate with clients, project managers and subcontractors to document concepts, integrate controls into project designs, and drive continuous improvement while meeting time, cost and quality targets.

Qualifications

• Proven electrical controls engineering and panel design experience.
• Strong knowledge of Siemens PLC and Rockwell PLC.
• Experience with CE/UKCA machinery compliance.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• On-site commissioning and fault-finding experience.
• Excellent customer-facing and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of control, design and installation engineers.
• Liaise with clients, project managers and project sales through the design stages.
• Own and ensure compliance of control system designs with regulatory standards.
• Oversee installation, configuration and programming of control systems.
• Work towards standardization of product specifications for efficiency.
• Promote continuous improvement and timely project delivery.

Skills

Electrical controls

Panel design

Siemens PLC

Machinery safety

CE/UKCA compliance

Systems integration

On-site commissioning

Team leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Rockwell PLC

Tools

EPLAN

SCADA

Job description

Job Purpose

The controls systems manager is responsible for overseeing the design, software, implementation, commissioning and aftersales support of electrical control systems within our organization. This role involves managing a team of controls engineers, electrical designers and technicians, ensuring that all electrical control systems meet safety, quality, and efficiency standards. The controls systems manager plays a crucial role in ensuring our systems meet applicable CE and client standards.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead and supervise a team of control, design and installation engineers.
• Set performance goals, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Distribute the workload & tasks to the team and ensure they are utilized efficiently.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.

General Responsibilities

• Liaise with clients & project managers & project sales throughout the design stages of projects and ensure concepts are documented.
• Liaise with Project Managers, Customer and sub-contractors during the order execution phase.
• Own and ensure compliance of controls hardware designs and systems with all applicable regulatory, safety, and industry standards.
• Ensure documentation for projects is completed for CE compliance.
• Maintain and use, wherever possible, standard products for the execution of orders.
• Promote personal and business continuous improvement and development of processes to achieve improved time cost and quality or project delivery.
• Apply advanced skills to resolve complex problems not covered by existing procedures or practices independently.
• Innovate wherever possible to improve our delivered product to the end customer (e.g. reduced price, reduced timescale, improved functionality).
• Develop electrical control system designs, schematics, and specifications for new and existing equipment.
• Collaborate with the mechanical engineering / project team to integrate control systems into overall project designs.
• Oversee the installation, configuration, and programming of control systems.
• Work towards standardization of product specifications to improve efficiency and ease of fault finding.

Procurement and Resource Management

• Support procurement of necessary equipment and resources for projects.
• Manage timelines and workflows to ensure projects are delivered to schedule.
• Work with suppliers to maintain good relationships and close technical interchange.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Establish and ensure compliance with quality control standards for electrical control systems.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry regulations and safety standards.
• Oversee that QC checks are documented, and project folders must stay updated.

Required Skills

Essential / critical

• Proven electrical controls engineering and electrical panel design experience.
• Strong EPLAN design experience.
• Strong Siemens PLC/control-system knowledge.
• Machinery safety and functional safety knowledge.
• CE/UKCA machinery compliance experience.
• Systems integration experience.
• On-site commissioning and complex fault-finding experience.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience technically leading automation projects from concept/design through manufacture, installation, commissioning and handover.
• Strong customer-facing and stakeholder-management capability.

Important / highly desirable

• Conveyor/material-handling automation experience.
• Rockwell PLC knowledge/programming experience.
• ERP/BOM and engineering experience.
• Control-panel manufacture, inspection and testing knowledge.
• ISO 9001/quality-management experience.
• Supplier and technical procurement experience.