Controls Engineer

Moorfield Nanotechnology; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Pension plan (5% employee matched)

Life assurance from day one

Share Incentive Plan

Bupa health coverage

Performance bonus

CSR days

Snacks & drinks

Job summary

Moorfield Nanotechnology designs and manufactures thin-film deposition and etch systems for academic and industrial R&D. This role owns the control software for PVD, CVD and Etch platforms, designing, developing and maintaining PLC-based systems and PC/touchscreen HMIs.

You will implement interlocks, run testing, and support FAT/SAT, traveling up to around 10% to customer sites. Reporting to Engineering Manager, you’ll contribute to safety, validation and documentation across projects.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of electronics and electrical interfaces, analogue and digital.
• Experience with PLC-based control systems.
• Proficiency in VB.NET, C#, Ladder Logic and Structured Text.
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical problems.
• Structured, methodical approach to technical processes, testing and validation.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain software on high-value scientific research systems.
• Implement hardware and software interlocks for safety of those systems.
• Support FAT and SAT during factory visits and at customer sites.
• Diagnose and resolve complex control system faults in-house and in the field.
• Work with version control and software design verification processes.
• Maintain engineering records and documentation to ensure traceability of changes.
• Coordinate validation testing from concept to market readiness across teams.

Skills

PLC-based control systems

VB.NET

C#

Ladder Logic

Structured Text

Electronic hardware diagnosis

Documentation & standards

Willingness to travel worldwide

Education

Degree in related discipline desirable

Job description

Moorfield Nanotechnology designs and manufactures thin-film deposition and etch systems for academic and industrial R&D. Our platforms run from benchtop to mid-scale, and our customers use them to produce repeatable, defensible results in semiconductor research, energy storage, photovoltaics and advanced materials.

Every one of those systems runs on control software. This role owns it.

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 depending on skills and experience.

THE ROLE

You'll design, develop and maintain the PLC control systems and PC/touchscreen HMI interfaces across our PVD, CVD and Etch platforms. It's hands-on and varied: control system design, software development, HMI work, electronics integration, testing, fault-finding and new product development. You'll report to the Engineering Manager.

Day to day you will:

• Design, develop and maintain software on high-value scientific research systems
• Implement the hardware and software interlocks that keep those systems safe
• Run preliminary testing, and support the Test and Installation Engineers through factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT), in the factory and at customer sites
• Diagnose and resolve complex control system faults, hardware and software, in-house and in the field
• Work with version control and software design verification processes
• Keep engineering records, documentation and procedures accurate, so software and hardware changes stay traceable
• Take validation testing of new products from concept through to market readiness, working across teams

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of electronics and electrical interfaces, analogue and digital
• Experience with PLC-based control systems
• VB.NET, C#, Ladder Logic and Structured Text
• A proven record of diagnosing and resolving complex technical problems - and the willingness to challenge the wider team to get to the right answer
• A structured, methodical approach to technical processes, documentation and standards, particularly around testing and validation
• Clear written documentation and the interpersonal skills to challenge constructively
• Willingness to travel worldwide (this role is around 10% travel; a valid driving licence and passport are required)

A degree in a related discipline is desirable. Relevant work experience will be considered in its place.

USEFUL, NOT ESSENTIAL

• Four years or more of relevant industrial experience
• PVD / CVD technology, vacuum systems, semiconductor or related industries
• Previous work as a Software & Electronics or Control Engineer
• Scientific equipment control systems, or bespoke industrial automation
• Designing functional electronic circuit boards; analogue and digital circuit design; PLC and PCB design
• Software version control, and design verification and validation methodologies

HOURS AND BENEFITS

Monday to Friday with an early finish on Friday, and flexi time available.

• 25 days holiday, plus your birthday off
• Pension: 5% employee matched by 5% company, salary sacrifice, with the NI saving passed back to you (eligible after 3 months)
• Life assurance from day one
• Share Incentive Plan after successful completion of probation
• Bupa - dental, vision, virtual GP and more
• Performance-related bonus
• Access to e-learning platforms
• Two Corporate Social Responsibility days a year
• Drinks and healthy snacks provided

A NOTE ON THE WORK

Testing and fault-finding means being able to sit or stand for long periods.