Electrical & Controls Engineer

One Good Thing

Hitchin

On-site

GBP 50,000 - 70,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension contributions

Free OGT subscription

Share options (EMI scheme)

Job summary

A food industry startup in Hitchin is seeking a creative Electrical and Controls Engineer to lead the design of automated systems and mentor junior engineers. The ideal candidate has at least 4 years of experience in engineering, particularly in automation and manufacturing, along with strong PLC programming skills. The role offers a chance to impact a fast-growing company focused on innovation, with benefits including 25 days of holiday, pension contributions, and more.

Qualifications

Minimum of 4 years in electrical or controls engineering.
At least 2 years programming PLC systems.
Comfortable with electrical design and integration.

Responsibilities

Create electrical schematics and control logic for machinery.
Develop and debug PLC code.
Own testing phases in product development lifecycle.
Identify and implement hardware or software upgrades.
Build prototypes and run feasibility tests.
Maintain accurate production-oriented documentation.

Skills

PLC programming

Electrical panel design

Sensor integration

Motor drive configuration

Sensors & motors

Automation expertise

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Beckhoff (TwinCAT)

Job description

At One Good Thing, we are shaking up the food industry with the world’s first wrapper-free energy bars. Our disruptive proprietary beeswax-based coating provides the benefits of plastic packaging without the waste, applied with our unique manufacturing machinery. We are a bold, ambitious and fast-growing startup looking for passionate, high-energy individuals who take pride in their work and thrive on solving original product challenges.

The Role

We are looking for a creative and driven Electrical and Controls Engineer who will lead the design and development, prototyping, and delivery of electromechanical systems and automated production line systems. The role is accountable for technical ownership of projects, mentoring junior engineers, and delivering production-ready solutions with urgency. It directly supports the Engineering department’s objectives:

Strengthening and supporting existing hardware for operations.
Designing the next generation of production line systems to increase throughput.
Creating novel solutions in food coating application, soft food moulding, and related technologies to ensure and retain market leadership.

As we are a small team, your role and activities will be wide-reaching. You will be joining OGT at an exciting period of growth and this is an excellent opportunity to make a real impact and share in our success.

Key Responsibilities

System Design & Development: Create electrical schematics, panel designs and control logic for new automated machinery and robotic systems.
Programming: Develop and debug PLC code. You will be the "brain" behind the machine, ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient operations.
Verification & Validation testing: Own a significant portion of the testing phase of our product development lifecycle, in tandem with our test engineer.
Continuous Improvement: Identify bottlenecks in our current assets and implement hardware or software "upgrades" to boost OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).
R&D Support: Collaborate with the design team to build prototypes, run feasibility tests, and document results for new product or process developments.
Technical Documentation: Maintain accurate wiring diagrams, IO lists, functional descriptions and all production-oriented documentation.

Who You Are

Mission-Driven & Ambitious: You’re excited by our "unique" wrapper-free product and see its original challenges as an innovation playground.
The Inquisitive Maker: You don’t just accept the status quo; you ask "why?" and take the initiative to solve problems before being asked.
Ultimate team player: We are a small team with big objectives. Working together is a must, communicating clearly and helping each other help us succeed.
High Standards & Pride: Whether running a test sequence or writing a technical specifications document, you care about excellence. You know that in production, detail equals safety and quality.
Reliable & Optimistic: You’re a "glass-half-full" teammate who balances a positive attitude with the honesty needed to maintain high performance.
The "Growth" Mindset: You don't just want a job; you want a career. You have a strong ambition to grow your technical toolkit as the business scales, and you want to partake in creating the building blocks of a strong and efficient company.

Culture & The "OGT Way"

One Team: We have a "muck-in" culture. On any given day, you might see an engineer helping production—we win and lose as one team.
Drive & Delivery: We aren’t a standard 9-to-5. We value speed and delivery, looking for people who stay until the job is done and proactively seek the next challenge.
In-Person Collaboration: We are an "in-person" team because we believe camaraderie and quick problem-solving happen best together in the workshop.
Growth & Acceleration: This is for those who want to move fast. We want people willing to work hard to achieve shared success and grow their careers.

Qualifications & Experience

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in an electrical or controls engineering environment, ideally in manufacturing or automation sectors.
The Logic: Minimum of 2 years of proven experience programming PLC systems. While we use various platforms, specific experience with Beckhoff (TwinCAT) is highly desirable.
Hardware Fluency: Comfortable with electrical panel design, sensor selection and integration, and motor drive configuration.
Education: A degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls, Automation, or a related field (or equivalent hands‑on vocational experience).

What OGT will offer