Senior Controls System Engineer

Sekisui Diagnostics GmbH; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SEKISUI Diagnostics in Maidstone, UK seeks a Senior Controls System Engineer to lead design, delivery, validation and lifecycle management of GMP-compliant control systems. You will guide PLC/SCADA development, FAT/SAT testing and ensure traceability from URS to code while partnering with QA and Operations.

The role requires strong GMP experience, P&ID interpretation and ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, delivering compliant automation solutions across site assets.

Qualifications

• GMP experience and data integrity are essential.
• GMP validation and regulatory compliance knowledge required.
• Strong PLC/SCADA expertise with FAT/SAT leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define automation strategy and system design.
• Define and approve system architectures and standards.
• Ensure traceability from URS to code.
• Lead PLC/SCADA development and configuration.
• Review software design and implementation.
• Ensure robust alarm management and fail-safe design.
• Lead commissioning, qualification and validation efforts.
• Interface with QA, regulators and vendors.
• Drive automation improvements and site digitalisation.

Skills

GMP knowledge

PLC/SCADA expertise

FAT/SAT leadership

P&ID reading

Validation & data integrity

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Job description

Senior Controls System Engineer

07/08/2026

Sekisui Diagnostics is in need of a Senior Controls Systems Engineer for its’ team in Maidstone, Kent.

You will bring your experience in leading and contributing to the Design, delivery, compliance and lifecycle management of GMP-compliant control systems. You will serve as a technical lead within the team for any process control issues generated by Programmable Logic Control (PLC), Environmental Monitoring systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems. You will lead factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).

To be successful you will have previous experience in a GMP environment with a strong understanding of validation and data integrity, Advanced PLC/SCADA expertise (Alan Bradley and/or Siemens). Ability to control several projects at the same time in a fast paced environment.

You must have the ability to read piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) drawings/specifications and challenge vendor approach.

In addition, you will:

• Automation Strategy & System Design
• Define and approve system architectures and standards
• Ensure full traceability from URS → FDS → SDS → code
• Lead PLC/SCADA development and configuration activities
• Review and approve software design and implementation
• Ensure robust alarm management, interlocks, and fail-safe design
• Commissioning, Qualification & Validation Leadership
• Define validation approach in collaboration with QA/Validation
• Ensure systems meet regulatory requirements and validation standards
• GMP Compliance & Data Integrity Ownership
• Ensure systems remain in a validated state
• Lead audit readiness and interface with regulators/vendors
• Lead Engineering Change Control for automation systems
• Perform impact assessments for complex system changes
• Ensure lifecycle management of automation assets
• Provide technical guidance to engineers and technicians
• Support development of site automation capability
• Act as SME for control systems across the site
• Lead automation workstreams in capital projects
• Manage system integrators and vendors
• Interface with senior stakeholders across Engineering, QA, and Operations
• Define and drive automation improvement initiatives
• Support site digitalisation and integration strategies (EMS, historians, etc.)
• Improve system performance, reliability, and compliance
• Lead or participate in safety reviews, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEAs), HAZOPS, or similar
• Maintain records for regulatory purposes to current legislation, including Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) where required
• Support vendor cost negotiations/ challenge cost increases/ scope
• Ensure the maintenance team are educated on new equipment and involved to ensure successful handover of projects
• Facilitate continuous improvement workshops involving cross sectional teams
• Support regulatory and customer audits

If this sounds like you, please apply for immediate consideration.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunity employer, SEKISUI Diagnostics is committed to a diverse workforce. Employment decisions will be made without discrimination based on race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, other non‑job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable country and local laws. It is also SEKISUI Diagnostics policy to comply with all applicable country and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.