Senior Controls Engineer

Progressive Recruitment; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Travel expenses

Benefits package

Hybrid/home-based work

Lifecycle ownership

Technical ownership

Career development

Job summary

Progressive Recruitment is recruiting a Senior Controls Engineer to take technical ownership of complex automation projects across conveyor, logistics and automated material-handling systems in the UK. The role blends home and office-based software development with site commissioning, testing, fault-finding and customer handover, with regular UK travel and a hybrid working pattern.

You will work with Siemens TIA Portal, structured text, HMI development and Profinet, delivering safe, robust PLC

Qualifications

• You will need previous experience developing and commissioning PLC-controlled automation systems.
• Siemens TIA Portal
• Structured Text/SCL and Ladder Logic
• HMI development
• Machine sequencing and interlocks
• Profinet or Industrial Ethernet
• Remote I/O, variable-speed drives and motor control
• Functional Design Specifications and electrical schematics
• FAT, SAT and customer-site commissioning
• Fault-finding within live automation environments
• Experience with Siemens safety PLCs, PROFIsafe, servo systems, robotics or functional safety would be advantageous.
• Ideally prior experience within conveyor systems, warehouse automation, logistics, automated material handling, robotics, parcel handling, airport baggage systems or special-purpose machinery would be particularly relevant.

Responsibilities

• Developing PLC software using Siemens TIA Portal
• Programming in Structured Text/SCL and Ladder Logic
• Developing machine sequences, interlocks and fault-recovery routines
• Creating HMI screens, alarms and diagnostic functions
• Reviewing electrical drawings, I/O schedules and Functional Design Specifications
• Integrating conveyors, drives, remote I/O, robots and third-party equipment
• Configuring and troubleshooting Profinet and Industrial Ethernet networks
• Completing software simulation, I/O validation and sequence testing
• Supporting Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing
• Commissioning systems at customer sites throughout the UK
• Diagnosing PLC, HMI, network and equipment faults
• Producing software backups, release notes and technical documentation
• Supporting and mentoring less-experienced Controls Engineers

Skills

Siemens TIA Portal

Structured Text / SCL and Ladder Logic

HMI development

Machine sequencing & interlocks

Profinet / Industrial Ethernet

Remote I/O / motor control

Functional Design Specifications / ele

FAT / SAT / customer-site

Fault-finding in live automation

Siemens safety PLCs / PROFIsafe / serv

Conveyor systems / warehouse automatio

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Job description

SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER

Salary: Up to £70,000 + Car Allowance + Expenses + Benefits

Location: Midlands (Birmingham / Derby / Nottingham / Stafford / Stoke / Liverpool / Warrington / Manchester) | Hybrid and Home-Based Working with UK Site Travel

Industry: Industrial Automation and Material Handling

SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER - Midlands (Birmingham / Derby / Nottingham / Stafford / Stoke / Liverpool / Warrington / Manchester)

A growing engineering business operating within the industrial automation and material-handling industry is looking to recruit a Senior Controls Engineer.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Senior Controls Engineer, Controls Software Engineer or PLC Software Engineer to take technical ownership of complex automation projects.

The position combines home and office-based software development with commissioning at customer sites throughout the UK. It would suit someone who enjoys developing high-quality PLC software but also wants to remain involved in testing, fault-finding, commissioning and customer handover.

THE SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER ROLE

As Senior Controls Engineer, you will develop and deliver controls software for conveyor, logistics and automated material-handling systems.

You will be involved throughout the project lifecycle, from reviewing requirements and Functional Design Specifications through software development, testing, commissioning and final acceptance.

Responsibilities

• Developing PLC software using Siemens TIA Portal
• Programming in Structured Text/SCL and Ladder Logic
• Developing machine sequences, interlocks and fault-recovery routines
• Creating HMI screens, alarms and diagnostic functions
• Reviewing electrical drawings, I/O schedules and Functional Design Specifications
• Integrating conveyors, drives, remote I/O, robots and third-party equipment
• Configuring and troubleshooting Profinet and Industrial Ethernet networks
• Completing software simulation, I/O validation and sequence testing
• Supporting Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing
• Commissioning systems at customer sites throughout the UK
• Diagnosing PLC, HMI, network and equipment faults
• Producing software backups, release notes and technical documentation
• Supporting and mentoring less-experienced Controls Engineers

THE PERSON

You will need previous experience developing and commissioning PLC-controlled automation systems.

Ideally, your background will include:

• Siemens TIA Portal
• Structured Text/SCL and Ladder Logic
• HMI development
• Machine sequencing and interlocks
• Profinet or Industrial Ethernet
• Remote I/O, variable-speed drives and motor control
• Functional Design Specifications and electrical schematics
• FAT, SAT and customer-site commissioning
• Fault-finding within live automation environments
• Experience with Siemens safety PLCs, PROFIsafe, servo systems, robotics or functional safety would be advantageous.
• Ideally prior experience within conveyor systems, warehouse automation, logistics, automated material handling, robotics, parcel handling, airport baggage systems or special-purpose machinery would be particularly relevant.

TRAVEL AND WORKING PATTERN

This is a hybrid position offering a combination of home working, attendance at a regional engineering office and UK customer-site commissioning.

Regular UK travel and overnight stays will be required during key commissioning phases. Candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and be comfortable working at customer sites.

LOCATION

The role would suit experienced Controls Engineers based across the Midlands, including Nottingham, Derby, Burton upon Trent, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Walsall, Coventry, Leicester, Loughborough, Tamworth, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Worcester, Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Wrexham and the surrounding areas.

Candidates do not need to live near the company's office but must be able to attend the regional engineering office when required.

PACKAGE

Salary up to £70,000 DoE

• Car allowance
• Commissioning and travel expenses
• Benefits package
• Hybrid and home-based working
• Full project lifecycle responsibility
• Technical ownership of complex automation projects
• Long-term career development