Principle EC&I Engineer

eci-partners.vincere.io; Bellshill; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Job summary

ECI Partners in the UK is seeking two Principal EC&I / Controls Engineers to lead complex projects in Glasgow or Sheffield, combining technical leadership with team development and client engagement. You will shape the engineering direction, maintain high standards, mentor engineers, and collaborate with project management and commercial teams to deliver upgrades and improvements.

The role offers hybrid working, a strong client portfolio, and opportunities to influence strategy and growth across

Qualifications

• Leadership experience at Principal/Senior level in EC&I/Controls.
• Strong background in EC&I and process control within industrial settings.
• Experience mentoring or managing engineers and developing teams.
• Excellent client-facing skills and business awareness.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across EC&I and control systems projects.
• Mentor and develop a team of engineers for technical and professional growth.
• Ensure engineering quality, standards and delivery across projects.
• Oversee control systems, process controls and wider plant environments.

Skills

EC&I engineering

Controls engineering

Process control

Team leadership

Client engagement

Project delivery

Education

Lead engineer experience

Tools

SCADA

PLC

Job description

Job Title: Principal EC&I / Controls Engineer

Location: Glasgow or Sheffield

Salary: £75,000–£80,000

Permanent | Full time | Flexible working | Hybrid working, with a combination of site, office and home working depending on project requirements.

The Opportunity

We are looking to recruit two Principal EC&I / Controls Engineers to join an established and growing engineering business, with opportunities based in both Glasgow and Sheffield.

These are exciting opportunities for technically strong engineers who are looking to take the next step in their careers, combining technical leadership with team development, client engagement and business growth.

This is more than a traditional Principal Engineer position. The successful candidates will play an important role in shaping the technical direction of the engineering team, developing engineering capability and supporting the growth of an established client portfolio.

The business is looking for individuals who understand the wider plant and process environment, rather than focusing solely on individual control systems or technical packages.

Previous leadership or line management experience is essential, alongside a strong background in EC&I, controls engineering and process control.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across EC&I and control systems engineering projects.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of engineers, supporting their technical and professional development.
• Take responsibility for engineering quality, technical standards and delivery.
• Provide technical oversight across control systems, process controls and wider plant environments.
• Support the delivery of projects involving upgrades, modifications, replacements and improvements to existing installations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with established clients.
• Work closely with project management and commercial teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Identify opportunities to develop existing client relationships and support the growth of the engineering business.
• Contribute to technical proposals, tender submissions and project development activities.
• Support the development of the existing project pipeline, working alongside the sales and business development teams.
• Help shape the future direction, capability and growth of the technical team.

About You

You will be an experienced Principal or Senior EC&I / Controls Engineer with a strong technical background and the ability to lead and develop others.

You will ideally have:

• A strong background in EC&I and controls engineering.
• Excellent knowledge of process control and industrial control systems.
• A good understanding of wider plant and process environments.
• Experience working on complex engineering projects within industrial, energy, utilities or process environments.
• Previous line management, team leadership or technical leadership experience.
• The ability to mentor, develop and build engineering teams.
• Strong client-facing skills and the confidence to engage with established customers.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how engineering delivery supports business performance.
• The ability to identify opportunities and contribute to the development of existing client relationships.
• A proactive approach to technical problem-solving and engineering delivery.

You will be someone who combines technical credibility with the interpersonal and commercial skills needed to help grow an engineering function.

Project Opportunities

Depending on location, the successful candidates will support different areas of the business.

Glasgow – Hydro / Energy

The Glasgow position will focus heavily on hydro projects, supporting established relationships with major clients including Drax and SSE.

Typical project work includes:

• SCADA upgrades.
• Control room upgrades.
• Control system replacements.
• Existing system upgrades.
• Minor modifications and improvement works.

Experience working within live plant environments is particularly important, as much of the work involves brownfield modifications, upgrades and improvements rather than purely new-build installations.

Sheffield – Gas Transmission / National Gas

The Sheffield position will focus on supporting the business's established work with National Gas.

Current and upcoming opportunities include:

• Cybersecurity-related projects across National Gas compressor stations.
• Compressor station upgrade projects.
• Control systems and process control engineering.
• UK-wide framework opportunities associated with the next RIIO-T3 funding cycle.
• Further engineering projects delivered alongside established partners, including Murphy and Addison.

The business already has significant cybersecurity expertise within its engineering team. The requirement is specifically for someone with stronger controls engineering and process controls experience who can complement the existing technical capability.

Why Join?

• Salary of £75,000–£80,000.
• Opportunity to take a leading role in shaping and developing the engineering team.
• Established client relationships with major organisations across the energy and utilities sectors.
• Involvement in a strong pipeline of technically interesting projects.
• The opportunity to influence engineering strategy and technical delivery.
• Scope to develop existing client relationships and contribute to business growth.
• A varied working environment combining site, office and home working.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Principal EC&I / Controls Engineer who wants to move beyond technical delivery alone and play a genuine role in building a team, influencing engineering direction and helping grow an established business.