OT Engineer (SCADA, PLC, Instrumentation)

Reed Talent Solutions; Lymm; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 97,000; Part time

Job summary

Reed Talent Solutions is seeking an OT Engineer to support regional teams by enhancing operational efficiency, reliability and safety across critical sites. The role focuses on root-cause analysis and development of robust OT solutions within OT/IT environments.

Day-to-day includes monitoring data, leading RCA investigations, reducing risk, and delivering improvements across SCADA/telemetry systems. Collaboration with operations and IT is essential for secure, resilient controls.

Qualifications

• HNC, HND or Degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical, Control Systems or related discipline.
• Experience in operational technology or industrial automation environments.
• Knowledge of SCADA, PLCs and telemetry networks.

Responsibilities

• Monitor data to identify inefficiencies and risks.
• Lead root cause investigations into equipment and process failures.
• Develop corrective actions to improve asset reliability.
• Design OT solutions for automation and control improvements.
• Collaborate with OT, engineering and IT on SCADA/telemetry improvements.
• Carry out risk assessments and mitigation plans.
• Promote health and safety and support incident investigations.
• Produce technical reports and performance insights for stakeholders.

Skills

SCADA

PLC

Instrumentation

Root cause analysis

Risk management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

OT cyber security basics

Safety qualifications (NEBOSH/IOSH)

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

SCADA systems

Telemetry networks

Industrial control systems

Job description

OT Engineer (SCADA, PLC, Instrumentation)

6 months initial contract

3 days per week in Cheshire, Merseyside or Manchester

£60 per hour via Umbrella + mileage

We are seeking an OT Engineer to support regional engineering teams by improving operational efficiency, reliability, safety and performance across critical sites. This OT Engineer position will focus on root cause analysis, operational risk reduction and the development of robust OT solutions across engineering and operational environments.

Day-to-day of the role

• Monitor operational data and trends to identify inefficiencies, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead and support root cause investigations into equipment, process and system failures.
• Develop corrective and preventative actions to improve asset reliability and reduce repeat issues.
• Identify opportunities to reduce energy, water, power, material and chemical consumption while maintaining compliance and performance.
• Support benchmarking, continuous improvement and reliability-centred maintenance initiatives.
• Design and implement OT solutions that strengthen automation, monitoring and control capabilities.
• Work closely with operational, engineering and IT teams to deliver secure and resilient SCADA, PLC, telemetry and control system improvements.
• Carry out risk assessments and support mitigation plans across operational, process, cyber and asset-related risks.
• Promote strong health and safety standards, escalating concerns and supporting incident investigations where required.
• Produce clear technical reports, recommendations and performance insights for stakeholders across the region.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• HNC, HND or Degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical, Control Systems or a related discipline.
• Experience working in operational technology, industrial automation or engineering environments.
• Good knowledge of SCADA, PLCs, telemetry networks and industrial control systems.
• Proven experience carrying out root cause analysis and structured problem solving.
• Strong understanding of risk management principles and operational risk identification.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate findings into practical improvements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Experience within utilities, energy, water or process industries would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of OT cyber security principles, continuous improvement methods, or health and safety qualifications such as NEBOSH or IOSH would be beneficial.