Lead Engineer - Controls And Instrumentation

Core Talent Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Lead Engineer in Control & Instrumentation. This hybrid role involves managing a multidisciplinary team while ensuring compliance and delivering on diverse energy projects. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in C&I engineering, a strong track record in project delivery, and holds a relevant engineering degree. Join us to shape the technical direction of impactful projects in an innovative organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in C&I engineering.
• Strong track record in project delivery and team leadership.
• Expertise in control systems and instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Act as SME for all C&I engineering matters.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards.

Skills

C&I engineering experience

Project delivery

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

BSc/BEng or MSc/MEng in a relevant EC&I discipline

Chartered Engineer status

Tools

Siemens PLC7 systems

Job description

Lead Engineer / Senior Engineer - Control & Instrumentation

📍 Hybrid - Working out of either the London / Edinburgh / Leeds Office 2-3 days per Week

💰 Salary: Based on experience

We're looking for an experienced Lead - Control and Instrumentation Engineer (C&I) to join as Chief Engineer with a strong focus on Control & Instrumentation (C&I) to lead our clients technical engineering team and drive excellence across their infrastructure projects.

This is a senior leadership role, combining technical authority with team management for a small yet growing team of 4. You'll oversee a group of discipline engineers and also be subject matter expert, ensuring high standards in design, compliance, and delivery across a diverse portfolio of energy and infrastructure projects.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary engineering team, supporting their development and performance - this is 50% of the role
• Act as the SME - Subject Matter Expert and technical authority for all C&I engineering matters and projects, including instrumentation, control systems, and safety compliance - this is 50% of the role
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, processes, and strategies.
• Author and review scopes of work, specifications, and design documentation.
• Ensure compliance with ATEX, DSEAR, cybersecurity, and functional safety regulations.
• Collaborate with internal teams, contractors, OEMs, and external stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution.
• Support commissioning, operational changes, and technical assurance across the asset lifecycle.

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of experience in C&I engineering, with a strong track record in project delivery and team leadership.
• Expertise in control systems, instrumentation, and safety systems across industrial or energy sectors.
• Experience working with distributed control systems, safety PLCs, and process instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of functional safety, electrical safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with Siemens PLC7 systems.
• Knowledge of HV/LV electrical systems and power distribution.
• Experience in commissioning and working with DNOs.
• Exposure to renewable energy or emerging technologies.

Qualifications

• BSc/BEng or MSc/MEng in a relevant EC&I discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status (or actively working towards it).
• CompEx (Ex12/Ex14) and TUV FSE certification.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the technical direction of a growing organisation and contribute to impactful infrastructure projects. If you're ready to lead, innovate, and make a difference - we'd love to hear from you