Lead Engineer

Samuel Frank; Lower Hopton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Flexible hours

Early finish Friday

Annual leave 24 + 8 holidays

Home working

Job summary

Samuel Frank is recruiting a Senior Automation Lead Engineer to lead a small automation team responsible for electrical design, controls engineering and software implementation of bespoke machinery. You will guide other engineers while remaining hands-on with design and project delivery.

The role covers leading technical handovers, producing schematics with EPLAN/AutoCAD, and supporting PLC/HMI development (Siemens/Allen-Bradley). Occasional client visits are expected.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Automation/Controls leader.
• Experience delivering electrical and controls designs for bespoke machinery.
• Strong electrical design skills producing electrical schematics.
• Knowledge of PLC systems (Siemens and/or Allen-Bradley).
• Experience leading, mentoring or managing engineers.
• HNC/HND or equivalent in Electrical, Controls or Automation Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide technical support to the Automation team.
• Coordinate delivery of electrical and controls designs to timescales, costs and quality.
• Produce electrical schematics using EPLAN or AutoCAD.
• Prepare Functional Design Specifications, P&IDs, pneumatic schematics and docs.
• Contribute to client meetings, HAZOPs, FMEAs, design reviews and risk assessments.
• Support PLC and HMI software development (Siemens/AB).
• Lead technical handover of projects from concept to detailed engineering.
• Occasional customer visits (3–5 times per year).

Skills

Automation engineering

Controls engineering

Leadership

Electrical design

PLC systems

HMI software

Mentoring

Education

HNC/HND in Electrical/Controls/Automation

Tools

EPLAN

AutoCAD

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Job description

The successful Senior Automation Lead Engineer will lead a small Automation team responsible for the electrical design, controls engineering and software implementation of bespoke machinery. This role requires a technically strong Automation or Controls Engineer who can guide other Engineers while remaining hands‑on with electrical design, technical documentation and project delivery.

Key aspects of the Senior Automation Lead Engineer role include:

• Leading and providing technical support to the Automation team
• Coordinating the delivery of electrical and controls designs against agreed timescales, costs and quality standards
• Producing electrical schematics using EPLAN or AutoCAD
• Producing Functional Design Specifications, P&IDs, pneumatic schematics and supporting design documentation
• Providing technical input during client meetings, HAZOPs, FMEAs, design reviews and risk assessments
• Supporting PLC and HMI software development, primarily using Siemens and Allen Bradley
• Reviewing customer specifications and developing appropriate technical solutions
• Supporting Project Managers and Mechanical Design Engineers throughout the project lifecycle
• Leading the technical handover of projects from concept and sales through to detailed engineering
• Occasional customer visits, typically around three to five times per year

Key skills and experience required:

• Proven experience as an Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, Lead Engineer or Automation Team Leader
• Experience delivering electrical and controls designs for bespoke machinery
• Strong electrical design skills, including the production of electrical schematics
• Good knowledge of PLC systems, ideally Siemens and/or Allen Bradley
• Experience producing Functional Specifications, P&IDs and related technical documentation
• Knowledge of control panels, electrical safety circuits, VFDs, motors and industrial control components
• Previous experience leading, mentoring or managing Engineers
• HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Electrical, Controls or Automation Engineering

Package and working arrangements:

• Salary £60-70k
• 10% performance-related bonus
• 38.75-hour working week
• Flexible working hours, with core hours between 9.30am and 3.30pm, early finish on Fridays, providing contracted hours have been completed
• 24 days’ annual leave plus eight bank holidays
• Annual leave increases to 25 days after one year, followed by one additional day every five years, up to 30 days
• Office based position, with occasional home working available at the manager’s discretion

The company’s premises are easily accessible from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and the surrounding West Yorkshire areas.