Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician (ICA)

Pertemps Thames Water; Camberley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

24 days annual leave

Company van

Fuel card

Pension scheme with bonuses

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking an Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician based in Camberley to service water assets across the home counties. You will work on installations, commissioning, maintenance and repairs of control systems, including level instrumentation and flow meters, while fault-finding PLCs and SCADA.

The role requires a technical background with readiness to supervise contractors and train apprentices, plus a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• HNC level or NVQ Level 3 in instrumentation.
• 18th Edition (BS7671) qualification.
• Good understanding of operational plant and control systems.
• Ability to read and fault-find from circuit diagrams; inverter drives experience.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Install, commission, maintain and repair 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.
• Provide specialist technical advice and training for apprentices.

Skills

SCADA knowledge

Fault-finding PLCs

Problem solving

Safety awareness

Training apprentices

Education

HNC in instrumentation

NVQ Level 3 in instrumentation

Tools

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs

Job description

Based at Camberley, this full‑time post covers sewage pumping stations and borehole sites across the home counties, including Esher. The Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician (ICA) works mobile shifts, servicing, calibrating and repairing control systems, telemetry and process instrumentation with minimal supervision. Candidates must uphold statutory obligations, maintain asset availability and meet manufacturers' standards. Duties include fault-finding on PLCs, SCADA and associated plant, plus optimising on‑site processes. A competitive salary reaching £47,000 per annum applies, dependent on skills and experience. Applications should hold relevant electrical or instrumentation qualifications and demonstrate competence in automation maintenance, ideally within the water sector.

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.

Base Location – Due to the nature of this role, you would be contractually based at the Camberley STW.

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.

Equipment: All PPE, tools, a company van and a fuel card are provided. 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. 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 meet 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 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. Learning 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?

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 provided for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.