Controls Engineer in Winchester

Energy Jobline ZR; Winchester; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Jobline ZR is seeking a seasoned Controls Engineer to design, implement, and support industrial automation across manufacturing operations. You will collaborate with operations, maintenance, IT/OT, and vendors to enhance reliability, safety, and data visibility.

The role requires strong PLC/SCADA experience, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley expertise, and proficiency with Ignition or similar platforms. Travel and off-hours support may be required. Winchester, VA-based position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and automation equipment.
• Experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley platforms and Ignition or similar SCADA.

Responsibilities

• Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian systems.
• Create and update electrical drawings, I/O lists, panel documentation, and change logs.
• Support automation design, commissioning, FAT/SAT, startup, and turnover for projects.
• Reduce downtime via root cause analysis, alarm rationalization, and preventive controls.
• Implement safe, reliable control solutions for safety and quality.
• Support data collection, dashboards, OEE, downtime reporting, and historian tags.
• Standardize control platforms, components, spare parts, and lifecycle planning.
• Collaborate with vendors, OEMs, and internal teams to deploy solutions.
• Provide technical support for production issues and process improvements.
• Promote professional image and safe work practices.

Skills

PLC/SCADA experience

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Ignition SCADA

Electrical schematics

Industrial networks

Cybersecurity basics

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Off-hours support

Regulated industries

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls/Automation/Mechatronics or related field

Job description

Title:

Controls Engineer

Reports to:

Technology Team Leader

Location:

Ashby, MN or Winchester, VA

Job Purpose:

Designs, supports, and continuously improves industrial automation and control systems across manufacturing operations. Partners with operations, maintenance, engineering, IT/OT, and vendors to improve reliability, safety, data visibility, process capability, and equipment performance.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian, and industrial network systems supporting production and utilities operations
• Create and maintain control narratives, electrical drawings, I/O lists, panel documentation, program backups, change logs, and technical standards
• Support automation design, programming, commissioning, FAT/SAT execution, startup, validation, and turnover for capital projects and plant improvement work
• Partner with maintenance and operations to reduce automation-related downtime through root cause analysis, corrective actions, alarm rationalization, and preventive controls practices
• Implement safe, reliable, and maintainable control solutions that support workforce usability, sanitation, food safety, production quality, and equipment reliability
• Support data collection, dashboards, OEE/downtime reporting, historian tags, and integration between floor-level controls and business systems
• Assist with control platform standardization, approved component selection, spare parts strategy, lifecycle planning, and obsolescence risk reduction
• Work with vendors, OEMs, contractors, and internal stakeholders to specify, review, test, and implement automation solutions that meet company standards
• Provide technical support for production issues, utilities systems, process improvements, safety upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Promote a professional company image through clear communication, strong ownership, safe work practices, and effective collaboration with plant and corporate teams

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical field ; equivalent industrial controls experience may be considered
• 5+ years of hands-on experience supporting PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial instrumentation, motor controls, VFDs, sensors, and automated production equipment
• Experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley controls platforms ; experience with Ignition or similar SCADA/historian platforms strongly
• Ability to read, interpret, and update electrical schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, network diagrams, control narratives, and equipment documentation
• Working knowledge of industrial Ethernet, control networks, cybersecurity basics, backup/version management, and safe change-control practices
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to support occasional off-hours troubleshooting, project startups, plant shutdown work, and vendor/OEM commissioning activities as business needs require
• Manufacturing, food processing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, or regulated-industry experience