Instrument Control Automation Technician (Control and Instrumentation Technician)

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday entitlement 24-28 days

Overtime opportunities

Life assurance

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking an Instrument Control Automation Technician to support the Hatfield area from Mill Green STW. You will work on pumps, actuated valves, PLCs and instrumentation, ensuring reliable wastewater service and contributing to system improvements.

The role offers structured training, a competitive salary up to £47,000, and generous benefits. Candidates must have a UK driving licence and be able to work 38 hours weekly with occasional overtime.

Qualifications

• Ideally qualified to HNC level or NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in instrumentation, control and automation.
• Preferably 18th Edition (BS7671) qualification.
• Good practical understanding of operational plant and control systems.
• Desirable knowledge of Wonderware and ClearSCADA.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and repair instrumentation, control and automation equipment across pumping stations and sites.
• Investigate plant faults and carry out repairs to minimise customer disruption.
• Carry out planned maintenance to improve plant resilience and reliability.

Skills

HNC/NVQ3 in instrumentation/control/fi

18th Edition (BS7671)

Wonderware/SCADA

PLC programming (Rockwell/Allen-Brad|)

Circuit diagrams fault-finding

Calibration & maintenance of field-in‑

UK driving licence

Education

HNC or NVQ3 in instrumentation/control/automation

Tools

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs

Job description

Job title Instrument Control Automation Technician (Control and Instrumentation Technician) Ref 45739 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Mill Green - Hatfield - AL9 5PE Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours : 38 hours per week Monday-Friday.7:30 am -3:36pm Plus overtime opportunity Salary Competitive salary up to £47,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Job grade A Closing date 21/09/2026

About the role:

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced instrumentation, control, and automation technician to join the Hatfield based Sewage pumping team at Mill Green STW. You will be working in and around the Hatfield and surrounding areas, covering approximately 270 pumping stations of different sizes and complexities, ensuring sewage is removed from customers properties as efficiently as possible. You will be part of a close-knit, high performing team with a variety of different skills and will gain experience on a wide range of plant and equipment some of which are unique and innovative. This role offers great learning potential with the ability to cross skill into other disciplines.

What you’ll be doing as an Instrument Control Automation Technician (Control and Instrumentation Technician)

To assist in keeping such sites running, the instrumentation, control and automation role will enable you to work on various pumps and associated control equipment, automated actuated valves and penstocks, flow, level and pressure measurement, programmable logic controllers, variable speed drives and controls, chemical handling, and dosing equipment.

You will be expected to investigate plant failures and carry out repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid interruptions for our customers. This may involve investigating and diagnosing complex faults and carrying out repairs during incidents.

Carrying out scheduled planned maintenance work on instrumentation, control, and automation equipment in compliance with company standards and procedures to improve plant resilience.

Base Location

-- Mill Green STW – AL9 5PE

Working Pattern

38 hours per week Monday-Friday.7:30 am -3:36pm Plus overtime opportunity, increasing earnings by a potential £5,000 upon completion of essential company training.

Equipment

All PPE, tools, a company van and a fuel card are provided.

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Ideally, you will be qualified to HNC level or otherwise NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in an instrumentation, control and automation discipline.
• Preferably, for you to have an 18th Edition (BS7671) qualification.
• A good, practical understanding of operational plant and control systems is essential.
• An understanding of Wonderware and ClearSCADA is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience working with relay logic and PLCs (Rockwell & Alan Bradley), which will include management and programming.
• The ideal candidate will have the ability to read and fault-find from circuit diagrams, as well as have previous experience with inverter drives.
• We are looking for someone with experience in calibration and maintenance of front-line instrumentation.
• A problem solver, able to identify potential issues and implement solutions, or elevate if required.
• An excellent communicator, providing technical expertise to Internal and External staff and contractors.
• Resilient, adapting to the pressures of work and working in a constantly changing environment.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, under own initiative to design and standards.
• Knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety issues relevant to the industry.
• Team player who can work in many different teams, showing respect for others, providing helpful feedback and supporting the development of others.
• Full UK driving licence.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £47,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Annual Leave: 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay!
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
• 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 days with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Wider benefits scheme, including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your well-being.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process . If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support .

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.