Instrument, Control & Automation Technician (ICA)

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Rickmansworth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days holiday

Pension scheme

Overtime opportunities

Company training

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited in Rickmansworth is seeking an Instrument, Control & Automation Technician to inspect and maintain key equipment at sewage pumping stations. You will diagnose faults, repair and modify installations, and operate PLCs, SCADA, and telemetry systems with minimal supervision.

The role requires a self-motivated, disciplined individual who can learn quickly, work across sites in the region, and commit to safety and high standards while contributing to efficient asset

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of operational plant and control systems.
• Experience reading circuit diagrams and fault-finding.
• NVQ Level 3 in electrical subject or qualified to HNC level.
• Valid driving licence and willingness to travel across sites.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned maintenance (PPM) and some reactive maintenance.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams across operations.
• Install, modify and commission plant equipment and diagnose faults.
• Investigate plant failures and implement repairs quickly.
• Provide specialist technical advice with up-to-date knowledge.

Skills

PLCs

SCADA

Telemetry

Inverter drives

Circuit diagrams

Education

HNC level

NVQ level 3 (Electrical)

Tools

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Rockwell

Allen-Bradley

Job description

Job title Instrument, Control & Automation Technician (ICA) Ref 41168 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Maple Lodge - Rickmansworth - WD3 9SQ Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 38 hours Salary Offering up to £45,000 per annum depending on your level of experience ,plus 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. Job grade A Closing date 19/08/2026

About the role:

We are currently recruiting for an ICA Technician (Instrument, Control and Automation) to be based out of our Maple Lodge - STW.

Working in the Rickmansworth and surrounding areas, your role will be to inspect and maintain key equipment at our sewage pumping stations.

As a key member of the team, you will diagnose faults, repair and modify installations as appropriate. You will use your knowledge to work on PLCs, automated machinery, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and telemetry systems in a safe, efficient and timely manner with minimal supervision.

The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated individual who can immerse themselves in the team around them, be disciplined, have the desire to learn from those around them and have a can-do attitude. This role can be demanding at times, but very rewarding too.

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

• Carrying out planned maintenance (PPM), which includes some mandatory tickets and some reactive maintenance on defective equipment.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team, alongside a range of operational teams such as systems, mechanical, and electrical technicians.
• Installing, modifying, and commissioning new plant equipment to relevant standards and diagnosing and repairing faults in systems and plants. Proactively identifying and reporting follow-up work or areas for enhancement and delivering cost-effective improvements to assets and systems.
• Investigation into plant failures and the implementation of subsequent repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• You will be responsible for providing specialist technical advice, where appropriate, with up-to-date technical knowledge.

Base Location: Maple Lodge - Rickmansworth - WD3 9SQ

Working Pattern - 38 hours Monday-Friday 7:30 am – 3:36 pm plus standby & overtime opportunity increasing earnings by a potential £8,000-£10,000

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

What you should bring to the role

• A strong practical understanding of operational plant and control systems is essential. As well as an understanding of Wonderware (desirable) and ClearSCADA, relay logic and PLCs (Rockwell & Allen-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.
• Examples of some instrumentation you could be working on are flow meters, pressure levels, ultrasonics, and telemetry.
• We are looking for someone with experience in the calibration and maintenance of front-line instrumentation. Ideally, you will be qualified to HNC level or otherwise will have NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in an electrical subject.
• Ability to prioritise and be self-motivated.
• Due to the nature of the role, a valid driving licence is essential, and the post will work across several sites in your assigned region.

We are looking for you to

• Be a self-motivated individual who can immerse themselves in the team around them. You need to be very disciplined, have the desire to learn from those around you and have a can-do attitude. This role can be demanding at times, but very rewarding too.
• Take Ownership of responding quickly to faults, being curious to understand the problem fully, and identifying the best solution to resolve it the first time.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with the team.
• Teamwork – We are one team, and our end goals are the same.
• Proactive – take the lead on recommendations and improvements around the site and communicate effectively.
• Must be prepared to be trained in safety procedures.
• Knowledge and awareness of health and safety standards.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £45,000 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 wellbeing.

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's 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 .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

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.