Instrument, Control & Automation Technician (ICA)

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Stanstead St Margarets; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Cycle to Work

Life assurance

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking an Instrumentation, Control & Automation (ICA) or Control and Instrumentation (C&I) Technician to join the Rye Meads STW team, covering 11 catchment sites. The role involves installation, commissioning, maintenance, and fault-finding on water production assets, with SCADA and PLCs central to daily duties.

You will liaise with contractors, provide technical training, and ensure compliance with safety and manufacturer standards, often under minimum

Qualifications

• Experience with relay logic and PLCs (Rockwell/Allen‑Bradley) including programming.
• Qualified to HNC level or NVQ3 in instrumentation, control and automation.
• 18th Edition (BS7671) preferred.
• Solid understanding of operational plant and control systems.
• Experience reading and fault-finding from circuit diagrams; inverter drives familiarity.
• Experience calibrating and maintaining front-line instrumentation.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Installations, commissioning, maintenance, and repairs of water production assets, including level instrumentation and flow meters.
• Work with SCADA systems, PLCs, and process control networks.
• Liaise with and supervise contractors and suppliers as needed.
• Provide specialist technical advice and training support for technical staff.

Skills

Relay logic

PLCs (Rockwell/Allen‑Bradley)

SCADA familiarity

Reading circuit diagrams

Inverter drives experience

Problem solving

Team player

Health and safety awareness

Communication skills

Driving licence

Education

HNC level or NVQ3 in instrumentation, control and automation

Tools

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Instrumentation, Control & Automation (ICA) or Control and Instrumentation (C&I) technician to join our Team based in Rye Meads STW but covering 11 catchment site.

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.

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

• 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.
• You will be responsible for providing specialist technical advice where appropriate, with up-to-date technical knowledge, and providing training support for technical apprentices.

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

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 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 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.

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.

Working Pattern

• 38 hours per week Monday-Friday. 7:30 am - 3:36 pm Plus standby & overtime opportunity, increasing earnings by a potential £8,000 - £10,000 upon completion of essential company training.
• Competitive salary up to £47,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• 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.
• 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.