Senior Controls Software Engineer

Reevr; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leader in automated machinery in the UK is seeking a Senior Controls Systems Engineer to lead cutting-edge projects in a collaborative environment. The role involves leading the design, programming, and commissioning of PLC and HMI/SCADA systems, mentoring junior engineers, and developing technical documentation. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years' experience and strong skills in servo motion control and industrial protocols. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with innovative technologies in a dynamic team.

Benefits

Opportunity for personal growth

Technical leadership

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• 5 years' experience designing and coding PLC & HMI/SCADA systems.
• Strong knowledge of industrial communication protocols.
• Excellent English communication skills; willing to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, programming, commissioning, and support of PLC and HMI/SCADA systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and review technical work.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation.

Skills

Designing and coding PLC systems

HMI/SCADA systems knowledge

Strong knowledge of servo motion control

Industrial communication protocols

Excellent English communication skills

Tools

Beckhoff

Siemens

Git version control

Job description

Are you passionate about automation and looking to lead cutting-edge projects in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment? Our client, 3P Innovation, are a leader in automated machinery for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and FMCG industries, and they are seeking a Senior Controls Systems Engineer.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the design, programming, commissioning, and support of PLC and HMI/SCADA systems across bespoke machinery projects worldwide.
• Mentor junior engineers and review technical work, while remaining hands‑on with coding and system architecture.
• Work with clients and internal teams to define requirements, assess technical risks, and support sales processes.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including software design specifications, test records, and O&M manuals.
• Support system validation, FATs, onsite commissioning, and handover to customers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of 3P’s standard code libraries and processes.
• Opportunity to work with robotics, vision systems, and other emerging technologies as required.

What We’re Looking For:

• 5 years’ experience designing and coding PLC & HMI/SCADA systems (Beckhoff or Siemens).
• Strong knowledge of servo motion control and industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Profinet, CAN, IP, Serial).
• Familiarity with IEC61131-3, structured text, object-oriented programming, and Git version control.
• Excellent English communication skills; willing and able to travel internationally (5% of the time).

Desirable:

• Experience in pharmaceutical automation, GAMP5 / 21CFR11 / EU Annex 11 compliance.
• Knowledge of electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic principles.
• Exposure to machine vision, robotics, SCADA/MES, .NET, and SQL.

Why 3P Innovation?

• Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation, collaboration, and integrity.
• Work on exciting projects delivering bespoke automation solutions for global clients.
• Opportunity for personal growth, technical leadership, and mentoring within a supportive team.

If you’re a driven, hands‑on controls engineer ready to take ownership of complex systems and lead technical excellence, we’d love to hear from you.