Lead Controls Engineer

Automation Experts; Thorley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

Pension 5%

Death in service

Salary sacrifice EV/Bike to Work

Professional Registration Fees Paid

Job summary

Automation Experts in Hertfordshire seeks a Lead Controls Engineer to design and develop PLC-based control systems for energy assets. You will lead and mentor a small automation team while hands-on coding and commissioning projects across solar, EV charging, and storage solutions.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, PLC programming, and system integration with Siemens/Allen-Bradley platforms, with travel around the UK. Salary range £70k–£90k plus benefits.

Qualifications

• PLC programming and control system development.
• Structured Text or another modern PLC programming language.
• Control panel and electrical design principles.
• Industrial communications and networked control.
• FAT/SAT and commissioning.
• Leading or mentoring other engineers.
• Experience in an SME environment preferable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of PLC-based control systems from concept through commissioning.
• Develop and review PLC software with Structured Text where useful.
• Provide technical oversight of control panels, electrical schematics, hardware and system architecture.
• Integrate PLCs with EV chargers, batteries, solar generation and metering.
• Lead FAT, SAT and site commissioning activities.
• Review designs to ensure consistent engineering standards and mentor engineers.

Skills

PLC programming

Structured Text

Control system development

Industrial networks

Team leadership

FAT/SAT/commissioning

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Schneider

Job description

Lead Controls Engineer

£70-90k + Profit Share, 5% Pension, Death in Service

Salary Sacrifice (EV/Bike to Work), Professional Registration Fees Paid

Hertfordshire

Ref: 25229

A growing engineering business working at the heart of the UK's energy transition is looking for a Lead Controls Engineer to join its expanding automation team.

This is not traditional factory automation. You'll be developing control systems that manage solar generation, EV charging infrastructure, battery energy storage and other connected energy assets - helping customers make the most of their grid connections without exceeding network capacity.

You’ll be the technical lead within a small, growing team, but this is very much a hands on role. You’ll still be developing PLC software and getting involved in projects yourself, while providing technical direction and mentoring to the engineers around you.

Lead Controls Engineer - The Role

• Lead the design and development of PLC-based control systems from concept through to commissioning


• Develop and review PLC software, with Structured Text experience particularly useful


• Provide technical oversight of control panels, electrical schematics, hardware and system architecture


• Integrate PLC's with equipment such as EV chargers, batteries, solar generation and metering


• Lead FAT, SAT and site commissioning activities


• Review designs and ensure consistent engineering standards across the team


• Mentor and lead a small team of automation engineers


• Work closely with the wider engineering team to deliver complete control solutions


• Schneider experience would be useful, but it isn't essential - strong PLC experience with platforms such as Siemens or Allen-Bradley will also be considered. What matters most is solid automation experience and the ability to develop systems from scratch.

You don't need to come from a power engineering background either. Experience of power networks, renewables or grid connections is advantageous, but the business can train the right automation engineer in this area.

Lead Controls Engineer - The Person

• We're looking for an experienced Controls/Automation Engineer who has progressed into a lead or senior position and is comfortable taking ownership of projects, making technical decisions and supporting other engineers.


• You'll ideally have experience of:


• PLC programming and control system development


• Structured Text or another modern PLC programming language


• Control panel and electrical design principles


• Industrial communications and networked control


• FAT/SAT and commissioning


• Leading or mentoring other engineers


• Experience in an SME environment would be particularly well suited, where you've had the opportunity to get involved across multiple areas.

This is predominantly an office based role, with around 10% UK site travel, and offers the opportunity to work on genuinely interesting projects within a rapidly developing area of automation and energy.

Located in Hertfordshire, this role would be commutable from Ware, Hertford, Stevenage, Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, Epping and Welwyn Garden City.

For further information please contact Sarah Clarke