Industrial Automation Leader

Tech Connect Group; Coventry; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car allowance

Pension

Private medical plan

Job summary

Tech Connect Group represents a global leader in intelligent manufacturing solutions recruiting an Industrial Automation Leader to join the Coventry controls team. You will coordinate controls activities across multiple automation projects, covering electrical/hardware, PLCs, robotics, drives, safety and vision systems.

This hands-on role combines technical leadership with project-level responsibility, including design approval, commissioning planning, RFQ/URS alignment, and customer-facing

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in automation or machine build environments.
• Experience leading controls engineers across multiple projects.
• Vendor training/certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own controls specifications across multiple projects.
• Validate designs and approve PLC, HMI, robotics, safety, drives, vision, and SCADA systems.
• Interpret customer and regulatory requirements to ensure alignment with project needs.
• Support change control for all controls-related activities.
• Plan design briefs, installation approaches, and integration strategies.
• Approve FDS/HDS/SDS documentation based on RFQ/URS requirements.
• Work with project leads to plan resource, milestones, and delivery status.
• Contribute to RFQs, commissioning plans, FAT specifications, and automation trackers.
• Promote new technologies and best-practice methods.
• Mentor and support engineers, encouraging multi-skilling and capability development.

Skills

Controls leadership

PLC/HMI programming

Robotics integration

Safety systems

Drives and motion

Vision systems

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

On behalf of our client, a global market leader in intelligent manufacturing solutions we are currently recruiting an Industrial Automation Leader to join their growing controls and automation team in Coventry.

The Role

You'll coordinate controls activities across a range of automation projects, covering electrical and fluid hardware, PLCs, robotics, drives, safety, and vision systems. Working closely with engineering, project management, installation teams, and hardware designers, you'll ensure solutions are delivered professionally, efficiently, and right first time.

This role combines hands?on technical leadership with project?level responsibility, including specification definition, design approval, feasibility support, commissioning planning, and customer?facing engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own controls specifications across multiple projects
• Validate designs and approve PLC, HMI, robotics, safety, drives, vision, and SCADA systems
• Interpret customer and regulatory requirements to ensure alignment with project needs
• Support change control for all controls?related activities
• Plan design briefs, installation approaches, and integration strategies
• Approve FDS/HDS/SDS documentation based on RFQ/URS requirements
• Work with project leads to plan resource, milestones, and delivery status
• Contribute to RFQs, commissioning plans, FAT specifications, and automation trackers
• Promote new technologies and best?practice methods
• Mentor and support engineers, encouraging multi-skilling and capability development

What You'll Bring

5+ years' experience in automation or machine build environments

Experience leading controls engineers across multiple projects

Strong technical capability across:

• PLC/HMI programming (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff)
• Robotics (ABB, Fanuc, Kawasaki)
• Safety systems (Pilz, Siemens Safety, Rockwell)
• Drives & motion (Siemens, SEW, Bosch)
• Vision systems (Cognex, Keyence)

Solid understanding of automation standards, risk assessment, and machinery safety

Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills

Engineering degree or equivalent experience

Vendor training/certifications (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, ABB, Fanuc etc.)

Benefits

• Competitive salary - up to £60,000 dependent on experience
• Flat rate overtime for every hour above 38 hours per week
• Company car allowance
• BUPA Private Medical Plan
• Pension - 4% of Annual Salary.
• Death in Service - 2 x Annual Salary.
• Holidays - 25 days plus 8 Statutory Bank Holidays.
• Flexible working - 38hrs per week