Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Technician (ICA)

idibu; Esher; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary up to £57,000 pa

24 days leave + bank holidays (up to 4

Performance-related pay

Pension scheme through AON

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking an Instrument Control Automation Technician to join the Home Counties Pumping Team in Esher. You will install, commission and service wastewater assets, working with SCADA and PLC systems while coordinating with contractors across multiple sites. A strong electrical background and 18th Edition are preferred.

This role offers 38 hours weekly, with standby and overtime opportunities. A company van, PPE and fuel card are provided, plus a competitive pension and health

Qualifications

• Qualified to HNC or NVQ3 in instrumentation, control & automation.
• Electrical background with 18th Edition (BS7671) qualification.
• Experience with Wonderware and ClearSCADA desirable.
• Knowledge of relay logic and PLCs (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley).
• Ability to fault-find from circuit diagrams and read schematics.
• Experience calibrating and maintaining frontline instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Install, commission, maintain and repair wastewater assets including level instrumentation and flow meters.
• Work with SCADA, PLCs and process control networks.
• Liaise with and supervise contractors and suppliers as needed.
• Investigate asset failures and implement repairs to minimise water supply interruptions.
• Provide specialist technical advice and training support for apprentices.

Skills

Electrical background

SCADA systems

PLC programming

Reading circuit diagrams

Calibration and maintenance

Education

HNC/NVQ3 in instrumentation, control & automation

Tools

Wonderware

ClearSCADA

Rockwell PLCs

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Inverter drives

Job description

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 - 3:36 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.

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.
• 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 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 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 £57,000 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.
• 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.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON

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.

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.