Junior Automation and Controls Engineer

Chiltern Park Recruitment Ltd (CPR); Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Private medical cover

Life assurance

Company pension

Sports & Social Club

Subsidised onsite restaurant

Ongoing technical training and PD

Excellent long-term career progression

Job summary

Chiltern Park Recruitment (CPR) in Milton Keynes is seeking a graduate or early-career Electrical/Automation engineer with PLC knowledge to join an expanding engineering team. You will build on your technical foundation and work alongside experienced engineers across Europe and Japan.

This role emphasises fault investigation, training delivery, and technical documentation. A clear communication style and readiness to learn are essential for developing long-term expertise in industrial automation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical, Electronics, Software, Electromechanical, Mechatronics or closely related engineering discipline.
• 1–3 years industry experience or strong project/placement experience.
• Knowledge of PLCs and Ladder Logic or Structured Text programming.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to explain technical information.

Responsibilities

• Investigate technical faults and identify solutions for electrical/automation products.
• Provide technical product support to engineering teams across Europe.
• Work with PLCs and industrial communication systems.
• Carry out product testing, evaluations and technical investigations.
• Prepare technical reports, operating manuals and product documentation.
• Develop and deliver technical training to small groups of engineers, remotely and in person.
• Collaborate with international teams, including Japan.

Skills

PLC knowledge

Communication skills

Technical documentation

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Electrical/Electronics/Mechatronics

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

TwinCAT

Studio 5000

Job description

• Annual bonus
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Holiday buying and selling scheme
• Private medical cover
• Life assurance
• Company pension
• Sports & Social Club
• Subsidised onsite restaurant
• Ongoing technical training and professional development
• Excellent long-term career progression opportunities

About the Opportunity

Are you a recent Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics or Automation Engineering graduate with some PLC knowledge, or an engineer with 1 to 3 years' experience looking for your next step?

We're working with a global leader in industrial engineering technology that is expanding its engineering team in Milton Keynes.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone in the early stages of their engineering career who wants to build on their technical knowledge, gain exposure to new technologies and work alongside experienced engineers.

You don't need to be an expert in every aspect of automation. What matters most is having a good engineering foundation, some understanding of PLCs, an inquisitive mind and the ability to communicate technical information clearly.

You'll be joining an established and growing engineering team, working with colleagues across Europe and Japan, with plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and build a long-term career.

The Role

This is a varied, technically focused engineering position combining product support, fault investigation, testing and technical training.

You'll be working with industrial automation and electrical control products, helping to investigate technical issues, understand how products operate and support other engineers across the business.

An important part of the role involves sharing your technical knowledge, whether that's producing clear technical documentation or delivering training to small groups of engineers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Investigating technical faults and helping to identify solutions relating to electrical and automation products.
• Providing technical product support to engineering teams across Europe.
• Working with PLCs and industrial communication systems.
• Carrying out product testing, evaluations and technical investigations.
• Preparing technical reports, operating manuals and product documentation.
• Developing and delivering technical training to small groups of engineers, both remotely and in person.
• Collaborating with international engineering teams, including colleagues in Japan.
• Supporting the ongoing development and improvement of automation products.

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in hearing from graduates with relevant practical experience or engineers who have gained approximately 1 to 3 years' industry experience.

• A Degree or HND in Electrical, Electronics, Software, Electromechanical, Mechatronics or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Ideally a minimum of 1 year's relevant industry experience, although strong graduates with relevant project or placement experience will also be considered.
• Knowledge of PLCs and an understanding of Ladder Logic or Structured Text programming.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical information clearly.
• An interest in technical problem-solving, investigation and learning new technologies.
• A willingness to produce detailed technical documentation and share knowledge with other engineers.
• Flexibility to undertake occasional international travel, sometimes at short notice.
• Permanent right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship, now or in the future.

Experience or exposure to any of the following would be beneficial:

• PLC programming software such as Siemens TIA Portal, TwinCAT or Studio 5000.
• Industrial communication protocols including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, OPC UA or IO-Link.
• Electrical fault finding, troubleshooting or product testing.
• Technical product support or applications engineering.
• Writing technical reports, manuals or engineering documentation.
• Delivering technical demonstrations or training.

Please don't be put off if you haven't worked with all of these technologies.

Why Join?

You'll be joining a well-established international engineering organisation with a strong reputation for technical innovation and employee development.

The company offers a supportive and collaborative environment where you'll have the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues and build your expertise in industrial automation.

This is a particularly good opportunity for someone who enjoys the technical side of engineering but also likes investigating problems, understanding how products work and sharing that knowledge with others.

Interested?

If you're a graduate or early-career Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics or Automation Engineer with some PLC knowledge and you're ready to broaden your technical experience, we'd love to hear from you.

You don't need to know everything already. If you have the engineering foundations, a willingness to learn and enjoy solving technical problems, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Please note: Applicants must have the permanent right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship, now or in the future. The role also requires occasional international travel, sometimes at short notice.

Chiltern Park Recruitment (CPR) is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion throughout the recruitment process.