Instrument Control Automation Technician (Control and Instrumentation Technician)

Thames Water; London; Hybrid; GBP 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company seeks an ICA Technician to join its Water Production Operations Team in London, responsible for maintaining critical water production assets. The ideal candidate should have strong knowledge of PLCs and instrumentation, with a competitive salary up to £47,000 and potential earnings increased by standby payments and overtime. This role offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

Competitive salary up to £47,000

Potential additional earnings from overtime

24 days holiday, increasing with service

Contributory pension scheme

Personal medical assessments

Wider benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mechanics, machinery, and electronics.
• Experience with PLC management and programming.
• Strong practical skills in instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Install and maintain water production assets.
• Operate and optimise treatment processes.
• Investigate asset failures for timely repairs.

Skills

Knowledge with relay logic and PLCs

Understanding of operational plant

Ability to read circuit diagrams

Experience in calibration of instrumentation

Excellent communication skills

Education

HNC or NVQ level 3 in instrumentation

18th Edition (BS7671) qualification

Tools

SCADA systems

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Job description

Overview

About the role: We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Instrumentation, Control & Automation (ICA) or Control and Instrumentation (C&I) technician to join our Water Production Operations Team based in the North East London region.

This is a mobile role, where you would be required to work on various Water Treatment Works and borehole sites around the Chingford, Walthamstow, Waltham Abbey and Stonebridge Park areas.

We are looking for someone who can work in a safe, efficient, timely and effective manner with minimum supervision while maintaining the required standards to ensure that our statutory obligations are met and that asset availability and the associated performance measures are maintained to manufacturers\' standards.

An ICA Technician may also operate and optimise processes and on-site equipment to ensure delivery of water quality compliance, safety, and operational efficiencies both in and out of normal hours.

Responsibilities

• The role would include installations, commissioning, maintenance, and repairs of water production assets, including level instrumentation, flow meters, and Tand VM’s turbidity monitors.
• Working with technology, including SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, associated PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), and Process control networks.
• Liaise with and supervise contractors and suppliers where necessary.
• This vital role also involves the investigation into asset failures and the implementation of subsequent repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid interruptions to the water supply process.
• You will be responsible for providing specialist technical advice where appropriate, with up-to-date technical knowledge, and providing training support for technical apprentices.

Base Location

Due to the nature of this role, you can be contractually based at the Coppermills Water Production site close to Walthamstow.

Working pattern

38 Hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am – 3:36 p.m., plus standby & opportunity to increase earnings by a potential £8,000 to £10,000.

What’s included

Please note that all PPE, tools, a company van and a fuel card are provided.

Requirements

You must have Knowledge and experience working with relay logic and PLCs (Rockwell & Allen-Bradley), which will include management and programming.

What you should bring to the role

• Ideally, you will be qualified to HNC level or otherwise NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in an instrumentation, control and automation discipline.
• Preferable 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 Bradely), 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 escalate 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.
• Standby rota payments & overtime opportunities can increase this earning potential by up to a further £8,000-£10,000 per annum upon completion of essential company training.
• 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.

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.

Learn more

Learn more about our purpose and values. Working at Thames Water

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 fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, 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.

Equality and recruitment

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

Disclaimer

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.