Controls Engineer

Premier Foods Group; Lifton; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development opportunities

Attendance bonus

Long-service rewards

Enhanced pension scheme

Share Save scheme

Cycle to Work

EV Car scheme

Staff discounts

Canteen subsidy

Job summary

Premier Foods Group’s Ambrosia Creamery is seeking a Controls Engineer to support Siemens S7/TIA Portal control systems for food processing equipment, fault resolution and continuous improvement. You will work closely with engineering and operations to improve reliability and efficiency.

You will combine practical fault finding with commissioning support and CI projects, ensuring safety and compliance with electrical standards in a dynamic production environment.

Qualifications

• Electrical/electronic or controls engineering qualification with industrial experience.
• Practical Siemens PLC fault-finding and programming with S7; S5 experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of PLC, HMI, SCADA and industrial networks in production environments.
• Experience commissioning, testing and making controlled changes to existing control systems.
• Experience delivering CI projects and structured problem solving or RCA.
• Knowledge of functional safety and OT cybersecurity in electrical standards.
• Able to work with engineering and operations teams and maintain records.
• Experience in food manufacturing or packaging equipment is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Diagnosing and resolving PLC, HMI, SCADA and network faults to minimise downtime.
• Developing and modifying control systems for reliability and performance.
• Identifying obsolescence and creating asset lifecycle plans.
• Supporting commissioning and FAT/SAT for new and modified equipment.
• Preparing and reviewing functional/hardware design specifications.
• Managing permits and changes, backing up software and documenting changes.
• Leading CI projects to improve equipment reliability and efficiency.
• Supporting RCA and structured problem solving using production data.

Skills

Siemens PLC fault-finding

S7

TIA Portal

HMI/SCADA systems

Industrial networks

Electrical safety

Education

NVQ Level 3 / HNC or equivalent

Tools

S5 legacy systems

Job description

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Shift pattern: 4 on, 4 off (days)

Salary - £57,000 per annum

About the role

We are looking for a Controls Engineer to join our engineering team at the Ambrosia Creamery. You will support the control systems behind our food processing, filling and packaging equipment, resolving faults and making improvements that keep production safe, reliable and efficient.

Siemens is our site standard, with S5 and S7 PLCs and TIA Portal engineering software. The role combines practical fault finding with analysis, continuous improvement projects and commissioning support, working closely with engineering and operations colleagues to improve equipment performance.

What you will be doing

• Diagnosing and resolving PLC, HMI, SCADA and industrial network faults to minimise downtime and prevent repeat failures.
• Developing and modifying control systems to improve reliability and performance, incorporating OT cyber security requirements.
• Identification of obsolescence and creation of asset lifecycle plans.
• Supporting commissioning and factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) for new and modified equipment and control systems.
• Supporting the preparation and review of functional and hardware design specifications (FDS/HDS).
• Planning work under permits and management of change procedures, ensuring software changes are backed up, tested and documented.
• Leading and contributing to continuous improvement (CI) projects, using controls expertise to improve equipment reliability, efficiency and performance.
• Supporting root cause analysis (RCA) and structured problem solving, using control system diagnostics and production data to identify causes and develop lasting solutions.
• Ensuring controls work meets relevant electrical standards, site requirements and functional safety principles.

What we are looking for

• A recognised electrical, electronic or controls engineering qualification (NVQ Level 3, HNC or equivalent), supported by practical industrial experience.
• Practical Siemens PLC fault-finding and programming experience, particularly with S7 and TIA Portal. Experience with legacy S5 systems would be an advantage.
• A sound understanding of PLC, HMI and SCADA systems, industrial networks and how they interact with production equipment.
• Experience of commissioning, testing and making controlled changes to existing control systems.
• Experience of delivering continuous improvement projects and supporting structured problem solving or root cause analysis.
• Working knowledge of functional safety, OT cyber security and relevant electrical standards, with a responsible approach to safe working.
• The ability to work collaboratively with engineering and operations colleagues, explain technical issues clearly and maintain accurate records.
• Experience in food manufacturing, process plant or packaging equipment would be beneficial, but is not essential.

What is in it for you

• Career development opportunities within Premier Foods.
• Salary of £57,000 per annum
• Attendance bonus
• Additional service days and long-service rewards
• Enhanced pension scheme with life assurance
• Access to employee benefits including the Share Save scheme, Cycle to Work, EV Car scheme and more.
• Heavily subsidised canteen.
• Staff shop with major discounts on the Premier Foods range.

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.