Controls Engineer

Magnet; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% company bonus

Private medical insurance

Subsidised canteen

Paid volunteer day

Fantastic company discounts: Up to 80%

Access to Retail Trust

Flexible holidays: Holiday purchase

Wellbeing support

Lifestyle perks: Cycle to work

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Magnet is seeking a practical Controls Engineer to keep our manufacturing operations running smoothly. You’ll diagnose faults, maintain PLC and HMI systems, and program inverters, collaborating with engineering and production teams to deliver reliable, efficient automation solutions.

You’ll work in Darlington with modern control technologies, driving continuous improvement, safety, and cost reductions while mentoring apprentices and supporting other engineers across the site.

Qualifications

• Experience in electrical and electronic fault finding within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of PLC and HMI systems, including programming and diagnostics.
• Experience with inverter (VSD) programming and commissioning.
• Exposure to industrial automation and robotics.
• Experience with CNC woodworking machinery (e.g. HOMAG, BIESSE, IMA, or SCM) is advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical diagrams and technical documentation.
• Experience with Siemens or Allen-Bradley PLC platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication skills and the confidence to work independently or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and resolve electrical and electronic faults to minimise downtime.
• Maintain, modify, and optimise PLC and HMI systems.
• Programme and commission inverters (VSDs) and associated control systems.
• Support and improve automation systems, including robotics and CNC woodworking machinery.
• Interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings to support fault finding and improvements.
• Support the installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, reliability, and performance.
• Work closely with engineering and production teams to deliver robust, sustainable solutions.
• Ensure all work meets health, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Mentor engineers and apprentices, supporting the development of skills and knowledge across the team.

Skills

Electrical fault finding

PLC & HMI programming

Inverter (VSD) programming

Industrial automation

Robotics familiarity

CNC machinery (woodworking)

Electrical diagrams reading

Siemens & Allen-Bradley PLCs

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Tools

Siemens PLC platforms

Allen-Bradley PLC platforms

VSDs / Inverters

CNC woodworking machinery controls

Job description

Role: Controls Engineer

Reports to: Head of Engineering

Location: Darlington

Hours: 39

Salary: £57,000

We’re looking for a practical, solutions-focused Controls Engineer to help keep our manufacturing operations running smoothly and efficiently. You’ll be hands‑on with fault finding, automation, and continuous improvement, working with modern control and CNC technologies in a fast‑paced production environment.

This is a role where you can make a real impact by improving reliability, reducing downtime, and supporting the development of others—while working alongside skilled engineering and production teams.

What’s in it for you?

• 10% company bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Subsidised canteen
• Paid volunteer day
• Fantastic company discounts: Up to 80% off our stylish kitchen ranges and products
• Access to Retail Trust
• Flexible holidays: Buy up to five extra days with our holiday purchase scheme
• Wellbeing support: Access to our virtual GP service and employee assistance platform 24/7
• Lifestyle perks: Cycle to work scheme and savings on hundreds of top brands via our benefits app
• A collaborative culture built on care, inclusion, and continuous improvement

What you’ll be doing:

• Diagnose and resolve electrical and electronic faults to minimise downtime
• Maintain, modify, and optimise PLC and HMI systems
• Programme and commission inverters (VSDs) and associated control systems
• Support and improve automation systems, including robotics and CNC woodworking machinery
• Interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings to support fault finding and improvements
• Support the installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, reliability, and performance
• Work closely with engineering and production teams to deliver robust, sustainable solutions
• Ensure all work meets health, safety, and regulatory standards
• Mentor engineers and apprentices, supporting the development of skills and knowledge across the team

Who we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in electrical and electronic fault finding within a manufacturing environment
• Strong working knowledge of PLC and HMI systems, including programming and diagnostics
• Experience with inverter (VSD) programming and commissioning
• Exposure to industrial automation and robotics
• Experience with CNC woodworking machinery (e.g. HOMAG, BIESSE, IMA, or SCM) is advantageous but not essential
• Ability to read and interpret electrical diagrams and technical documentation
• Experience with Siemens or Allen-Bradley PLC platforms
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Clear communication skills and the confidence to work independently or as part of a team

Why choose Magnet?

At Magnet, we bring over 100 years of heritage, but our focus is firmly on the future.
As the UK’s leading kitchen specialist, our success is driven by the expertise, insight and innovation of our people.

We are a company M.A.D.E. by our values. We Make room for everyone, Aim to be brilliant, Do the right thing, and Explore with curiosity every day. These values shape how we work, support customers, and helps create an environment where everyone can grow, contribute and thrive. If these values resonate with you, we'd love you to be part of our team.

We’re in the middle of an exciting transformation, with a real opportunity to shape how we work, grow and deliver for our customers.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.