Instrumentation, Control & Automation Technician

Thames Water; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK water utility company seeks an Instrumentation, Control & Automation Technician in South London. Responsibilities include the maintenance and repair of water production assets, including specialized technical tasks. Ideal candidates should have an HNC or equivalent, along with strong problem-solving and communication skills. Offering a competitive salary up to £57,000 per annum and numerous benefits, this role supports meaningful work in water quality and operational efficiency.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

26 days holiday plus bank holidays

Performance-related pay plan

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Access to health and wellness benefits

Qualifications

• Experience with calibration and maintenance of front-line instrumentation.
• Ability to read and fault-find from circuit diagrams.
• Understanding of Wonderware and ClearSCADA desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform installations, commissioning, maintenance, and repairs of water production assets.
• Optimize processes and equipment for water quality compliance.
• Supervise contractors and manage maintenance tasks.

Skills

Knowledge of instrumentation, control, and automation

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

HNC in instrumentation, control and automation discipline or NVQ level 3

18th Edition (BS7671) qualification

Tools

SCADA systems

PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers)

Relay logic

Job description

We 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 primarily in the South London region. This is a mobile role, where you would be required to work on various Water Treatment Works around the Brixton, Streatham, Croydon, areas and also the Thames Water Ring Main. 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 Tech 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 Instrumentation, Control & Automation Technician

• The role would include installations, commissioning, maintenance, and repairs of water production assets, including level instrumentation, flow meters, and TVM’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.
• You will be responsible for the maintenance of the C&I assets on the whole of the TW ring main.

Base Location

Due to the nature of this role, you can be contractually based at Brixton - SW2 1SB or Merton Abbey (Colliers Wood) - SW19 2EB.

Working pattern

38 Hours Monday-Friday 7:30 am – 3:36 pm plus standby & overtime opportunities increasing earning potential by approximately £8,000-£10,000 per annum.

Please note

all PPE, tools, a company van and a fuel are provided.

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.
• Preferably, 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.
• Knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety issues relevant to the industry.
• Team player who can show respect for others, providing helpful feedback and supporting the development of others.
• IT literate.
• Full UK driving licence.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £57,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Annual Leave: 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 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.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

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 about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Wate r

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.

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.