Junior Controls Engineer

Reed; Hoddesdon; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Private Medical

Cash Plan

Bonus Scheme

Employee Discounts

Free uniform

Overtime opportunities

Job summary

Reed in Hoddesdon seeks a Junior Controls Engineer to join our Maintenance team. This role suits a recent graduate seeking hands-on experience with industrial control systems, SCADA development, PLC programming, and cross-disciplinary system integration.

You will help develop and implement SCADA systems via Ignition and Python, create PLC programs, specify sensors, and support defect detection using Python and OpenCV. Strong wiring and PID basics are expected.

Qualifications

• Degree in electrical, electronic, mechatronic, control, instrumentation, or software engineering.
• Ability to read an electrical drawing and understand control panels.
• Comfortable wiring, installing and solving across mechanical, electronic and software systems.
• Programming literacy in at least one text-based language (Python, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript).
• Basic understanding of a feedback loop and PID controllers.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and implementation of an industrial SCADA system using Python on Ignition.
• Develop new control systems, including PLC programming in Ladder and SCL.
• Specify sensors and electrical hardware for machine design improvements.
• Develop defect detection systems using OpenCV, Raspberry Pi and Python.
• Wire, install, commission and fault-find on machinery across mechanical, electrical and software aspects.
• Troubleshoot variable frequency drives (VFDs) and AC motors.

Skills

Python programming

Electrical drawings reading

PID controllers basics

Cross-disciplinary troubleshooting

Education

Electrical/Electronic/Mechatronic/Control/Instrumentation/Software Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Allen-Bradley

Mitsubishi

Ignition / SCADA platforms

Job description

Junior Controls Engineer - Graduate Controls Engineer

• Location: Hoddesdon
• Monday to Friday Days
• Salary: £35,000 - £45,000

We are seeking a Junior Controls Engineer to join our Maintenance department. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or someone early in their career in engineering, looking to develop hands‑on experience in industrial control systems. The successful candidate will assist in the development and implementation of SCADA systems, PLC programming, and more, contributing to significant projects from the ground up.

Day‑to‑day of the role:

• Assist in the development and implementation of an industrial SCADA system using Python on the Ignition platform.
• Develop new control systems, including PLC programming in Ladder and SCL.
• Specify sensors and electrical hardware for the design of machine improvements.
• Develop defect detection systems using OpenCV, Raspberry Pi, and Python, and explore other bespoke solutions to automate production and improve quality.
• Wire, install, commission, and fault‑find on machinery, working across the mechanical, electrical, and software aspects of a problem.
• Troubleshoot variable frequency drives (VFDs) and AC motors.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Degree in electrical, electronic, mechatronic, control, instrumentation, or software engineering.
• Ability to read an electrical drawing and understand the basics of a control panel.
• Comfortable with wiring, installing, and problem‑solving across mechanical, electronic, and software systems.
• Programming literacy in at least one text‑based language (Python, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript).
• Basic understanding of a feedback loop and PID controllers.

Preferred Skills:

• Exposure to PLCs such as Siemens TIA Portal, Allen‑Bradley, or Mitsubishi.
• Experience with SCADA or HMI systems like Ignition, WinCC, or FactoryTalk.
• Advanced Python skills, experience with computer vision or image processing.
• Hands‑on experience with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or similar technologies.
• Knowledge of SQL, instrumentation, networking, version control, or electrical CAD.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Free parking.
• Private Medical
• Cash Plan
• Bonus Scheme
• Employee Discounts
• Free uniform.
• Opportunity for overtime.