Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician (ICA)

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Esher; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

Annual leave 24–28 days

Performance-related pay

Paternity leave

Maternity leave

Cycle to Work scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking an Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician to join the Home Counties Pumping Team in Esher, Surrey. The role involves mobile work across 200+ pumping stations, performing installation, commissioning and maintenance of level instrumentation and flow meters.

You will work with SCADA systems, PLCs and process controls, supervising contractors when needed and applying technical knowledge to prevent water-supply interruptions.

Qualifications

• Qualified to HNC level or NVQ3 (or equivalent) in instrumentation, control and automation.
• Strong electrical background, preferably with an 18th Edition (BS7671) qualification.
• Knowledge of relay logic, PLCs, and process control networks.
• Experience with instrumentation and calibration of field instruments.

Responsibilities

• Install, commission, maintain and repair wastewater assets, including level instrumentation and flow meters.
• Work with SCADA systems, PLCs and networked process controls.
• Liaise with contractors and suppliers as required.
• Investigate asset failures and implement repairs promptly to avoid interruptions.
• Provide technical advice and training to apprentices and staff.

Skills

Relay logic & PLCs

SCADA systems

Electrical background

Driving licence

Education

HNC in instrumentation or NVQ3 in instrumentation

Tools

Rockwell PLCs

Allen-Bradley

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Job description

Job title Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician (ICA) Ref 45900 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Esher - Surrey - KT10 8AU Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 38 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 3:36pm Salary Up to £57,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Job grade A Closing date 30/09/2026

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 Home Counties Pumping Team in Esher.

This is a mobile role, where you would be required to work on over 200 pumping stations around the Surrey and West Sussex area.

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, 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 wastewater assets, including level instrumentation and flow meters.
• 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, travel to multiple sites will be required. You would be contractually based at Esher Sewage Treatment Work, KT10 8AU.

Working Pattern

38 hours per week Monday-Friday.7:30 am -3:36pm 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

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Ideally, you will be qualified to HNC level or otherwise NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in an instrumentation, control and automation discipline.
• A strong electrical background, preferably with 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 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 £57,000 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 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.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.

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 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.