PLC Controls Engineer

Samuel Frank; Preston on the Hill; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Samuel Frank is recruiting a PLC Controls Engineer for an established Cheshire-based systems integrator delivering industrial automation projects across utilities, manufacturing, chemicals, energy and nuclear. You’ll join an experienced engineering team and take ownership of projects from design to handover.

The role involves writing PLC software from scratch, commissioning at customer sites around the region, and opportunities to progress within a supportive technical team.

Qualifications

• Commercial PLC programming experience, preferably Siemens TIA Portal.
• Experience in control systems engineering or industrial automation.
• Background in a systems integrator, OEM or process control environment.
• Experience across utilities, manufacturing, chemicals or energy sectors is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop PLC and SCADA software from scratch for industrial process control and automation projects.
• Oversee design, software development, testing, commissioning and handover across full project lifecycles.
• Produce functional design specifications, test documents and technical manuals.
• Commission and troubleshoot control systems at customer sites within the region.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to solve technical problems on varied projects.

Skills

PLC programming

Electrical control systems

Site commissioning

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

SCADA software

Job description

PLC Controls Engineer - Runcorn / Cheshire - £50-65k

PLC Software Development | Systems Integration | Process Control | Limited Travel

Are you a PLC Controls Engineer who enjoys writing PLC software from scratch and seeing projects through to commissioning, rather than only modifying existing code?

Samuel Frank is recruiting a PLC Controls Engineer / Control Systems Engineer for an established Cheshire-based systems integrator delivering industrial automation projects across utilities, manufacturing, chemicals, energy and nuclear. You'll join an experienced engineering team with a strong pipeline of work and the opportunity to take ownership of projects from design to handover.

What you'll be doing

• As a PLC Controls Engineer, develop PLC and SCADA software from scratch for industrial process control and automation projects.
• Work across the full project lifecycle: design, software development, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Produce functional design specifications (FDS), test documents and technical manuals.
• Commission and troubleshoot control systems at customer sites, mainly within the region.
• Work alongside experienced engineers as a PLC Controls Engineer, solving technical problems across varied automation projects.

What we're looking for

• The ideal PLC Controls Engineer will have commercial PLC programming experience, preferably Siemens TIA Portal; other platforms will be considered.
• Experience of control systems engineering, PLC software development or industrial automation.
• Background in a systems integrator, OEM or process control engineering environment.
• Experience in sectors such as water/utilities, manufacturing, chemicals, energy or other process industries.
• Comfortable combining office-based PLC/SCADA development with occasional on-site commissioning.
• UK driving licence and existing right to work in the UK without sponsorship.

Salary, working pattern and progression

• £50-65k salary, depending on experience.
• This PLC Controls Engineer position is approximately 85% office-based and 15% at customer sites, with very limited overnight stays.
• Modern, well-invested offices, a supportive technical team and opportunities for progression.
• Varied projects across several industrial sectors rather than repetitive work on one system.

Location: Runcorn / Cheshire. Potentially commutable from Widnes, Warrington, Frodsham, Helsby, Northwich, St Helens, Ellesmere Port, Chester, Liverpool and Daresbury, depending on your location.