Process Control Technician: Instrumentation & PLC Expert

AstraZeneca plc; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca seeks a Process Control Technician to join our Engineering team in Macclesfield. You will maintain and improve instrumentation, automation and process control systems that the site relies on daily, calibrate instruments, diagnose faults, respond to breakdowns and support new equipment qualification.

You’ll develop across engineering areas, work to improve reliability, compliance and process performance, and contribute to continual improvement projects while safeguarding safety and

Qualifications

• Recognised technical apprenticeship, NVQ Level 3, HNC or equivalent qualification in instrumentation, control, electrical/electronic engineering or a closely related discipline, supported by practical industrial experience
• Practical knowledge of process measurement principles, calibration methods, instrument tolerances, traceability, loop checking and the interpretation of calibration results
• Experience fault-finding PLC-based control systems and associated field devices, with the ability to use logic, I/O status, trends, drawings and technical documentation to identify root causes safely
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop drawings, control narratives, alarm schedules and cause-and-effect documentation

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance safely, optimally and on schedule
• Diagnose faults and respond to equipment breakdowns, helping improve availability
• Maintain engineering documentation and complete SAP notifications accurately and on time
• Maintain calibration records, instrument data sheets, loop drawings, cause-and-effect information, control narratives, software records and asset history in accordance with data-integrity and document-control requirements
• Perform planned and corrective calibration of process instrumentation, including pressure, temperature, flow, level, analytical and control devices, using traceable standards and approved procedures
• Complete instrument loop checks, functional testing, equipment set-up and verification of alarms, trips, interlocks and permissives, recording results accurately and resolving defects
• Diagnose faults across PLC, DCS, SCADA, HMI and BMS control systems, field instrumentation, I/O, industrial networks and final control elements
• Support authorised PLC, DCS and HMI configuration changes, software backups and restoration, ensuring changes are tested, documented and completed through approved change-control processes
• Identify equipment performance or compliance issues and raise them appropriately
• Use engineering data to identify trends, recurring issues and opportunities for improvement
• Support and lead continuous improvement activities and engineering projects
• Use tools and methodologies including LEAN, TPM, RCM, RCA and CBM
• Follow change control processes and safe systems of work
• Support, train and mentor less experienced technicians, operators and new starters
• Work closely alongside colleagues from Engineering, Quality Assurance, and other site teams
• Maintain your own technical, SHE and GMP training while continuing to develop your multiskilled engineering capability.

Skills

Instrumentation

Process control

PLC fault-finding

Reading P&IDs

Technical literacy

Education

Technical apprenticeship/NVQ Level 3/HNC or equivalent (Instrumentation/Control/Electrical engineering)

Tools

SAP

Job description

AstraZeneca seeks a Process Control Technician to join our Engineering team in Macclesfield. You will maintain and improve instrumentation, automation and process control systems that the site relies on daily, calibrate instruments, diagnose faults, respond to breakdowns and support new equipment qualification.

You’ll develop across engineering areas, work to improve reliability, compliance and process performance, and contribute to continual improvement projects while safeguarding safety and