Senior Controls Engineer

Samuel Frank; Coalville; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

On-call payments

Car allowance

Job summary

Samuel Frank is recruiting a Senior Controls Engineer to join a specialist automation business near Runcorn, North Cheshire. You will own complete control systems from concept and design through PLC programming, commissioning and handover, focusing on Siemens PLC projects in logistics environments.

The role is hybrid, with occasional office days during development, and PLC software writing can be done from home.

Qualifications

• Strong Siemens PLC programming experience, including writing software from scratch.
• Experience in logistics automation, warehousing, conveyors, sortation or material handling.
• Ability to develop the control philosophy and Functional Design Specifications (FDS).
• Experience integrating PLC systems with barcode readers, RFID, cameras, scanners or warehouse control systems.
• Experience in full controls engineering lifecycle from concept to commissioning and handover.

Responsibilities

• Take automation projects from concept through to commissioning and handover.
• Develop PLC software from scratch, primarily using Siemens.
• Produce Functional Design Specifications and define how systems will operate.
• Program and modify HMI systems.
• Complete electrical calculations, network topologies and electrical design specifications.
• Review electrical schematics produced by external design partners.
• Test, fault find and commission systems on customer sites.
• Work with sales, software and project teams in early project stages.
• Support and develop other Controls Engineers within the team.

Skills

Siemens PLC programming

PLC programming from scratch

HMI programming

Electrical design reviews

Project lifecycle management

Fault finding & commissioning

Customer-facing skills

Tools

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC

Job description

Senior Controls Engineer Cheshire / Hybrid £60k + £5k Car Allowance + On-Call Payment

+++ Hybrid working +++ Cradle-to-grave automation projects +++ Siemens PLC systems +++ Growing project pipeline +++

Samuel Frank is recruiting for a Senior Controls Engineer to join a specialist automation business based near Runcorn, North Cheshire.

The successful Senior Controls Engineer will take ownership of complete control systems, from initial concept and functional design through to PLC programming, commissioning and customer handover.

This position requires someone with strong Siemens PLC programming skills and relevant experience within logistics, material handling, conveyors, sortation or a similar automation environment.

The role is hybrid, with approximately one or two days per week in the Daresbury office during design and project development stages. PLC software writing can be completed from home where appropriate.

Key aspects of the Senior Controls Engineer role include:

• Taking automation projects from concept through to commissioning and handover


• Developing PLC software from scratch, primarily using Siemens


• Producing Functional Design Specifications and defining how systems will operate


• Programming and modifying HMI systems


• Completing electrical calculations, network topologies and electrical design specifications


• Reviewing electrical schematics produced by external design partners


• Testing, fault finding and commissioning systems on customer sites


• Working with sales, software and project teams during the early stages of projects


• Supporting and developing other Controls Engineers within the team

Key skills and experience required:

• Strong Siemens PLC programming experience, including writing software from scratch


• Familiarity with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC systems would be advantageous


• Experience within logistics, automated warehousing, conveyors, high-speed sortation or material handling


• Able to develop the control philosophy and FDS for a complete automation system


• Experience integrating PLC systems with barcode readers, RFID, cameras, scanners or warehouse control systems


• Good understanding of electrical control systems and the ability to review electrical schematics


• Comfortable managing projects through the full controls engineering lifecycle


• Strong customer-facing and problem-solving skills

The Senior Controls Engineer will also commission systems at customer sites across the UK. The business typically delivers two or three major projects each year, with commissioning periods generally lasting six to eight weeks, Monday to Friday.

There is a paid on-call rota of approximately one week in three or four. Most issues are resolved remotely and PLC-related calls are infrequent. The Controls Engineers are currently averaging one call per week related to software.

The package includes a salary of around £60,000, a £5,000 car allowance and an additional on-call payment, taking the overall package to approximately £67,000. There may be flexibility for someone with particularly strong logistics automation and Siemens experience.

The Daresbury office is commutable from Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Northwich and surrounding areas.