Senior Research Engineer - Controls

The Manufacturing Technology Centre; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research and technology organization in Coventry is seeking a Senior Research Engineer to lead technical projects and mentor junior engineers. Candidates should possess a degree in Automation Engineering and significant experience in automation control systems and PLC programming. This role supports innovative engineering research and requires strong communication skills within a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in automation control systems.
• Hands-on experience in system design & optimisation.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead project technical deliverables to meet customer requirements.
• Define and lead a mentoring strategy for the Automation team.
• Undertake innovative engineering research work.

Skills

Automation control systems

Experience with PLC programming languages

Communication skills

Education

Automation Engineering degree or equivalent qualification

Tools

Siemens PLC

Beckhoff PLC

HMI and SCADA applications

Job description

The Vacancy

MTC is a leading research and technology organisation at the forefront of manufacturing innovation. We're surrounded by world-leading facilities. Industry-leading minds. But above all, we're united in our shared curiosity and creativity, with an appetite to restlessly and repeatedly reimagine what progress looks like.

We work with a large portfolio of industrial clients across a diverse range of sectors including Automotive, Aerospace, Infrastructure, Food & Beverage, Construction, Power & Energy and Defence.

We help our clients to advance their technological and engineering capabilities in order to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness by bridging the gap between academia and industry and proving new ideas and concepts in an agile environment.

Being supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK manufacturing, we have locations in Antsy Park in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford.

The role

We are looking for a Senior Research Engineer to join our Automation team based in Coventry.

The Senior Research Engineer (SRE) role is focused on the technical leadership of projects and on the mentorship of more junior engineers within the Automation team.

Key Responsibilities:

• To lead project technical deliverables, taking ownership to ensure work meets or exceeds agreed customer requirements, and is delivered within agreed budgets and timescales
• Lead Technical Governance for project deliverables within the area of expertise, ensuring adherence to and championing MTC best practices
• Proactive approach in defining and leading a mentoring strategy for the Automation team.
• Proactive approach in the identification, technical specification, and delivery of new and novel technology capability into the MTC, undertaking innovative Engineering research work focused primarily on technology/manufacturing readiness levels (TRL/MRL) 3+.

Essential Skills/Qualifications

• An Automation Engineering degree or equivalent qualification
• Experience in automation control systems
• Experience with ethernet based and field bus networks.
• Experience in IEC PLC programming languages
• Experience with multiple PLC vendor platforms to include Siemens or Beckhoff
• Experience with HMI and SCADA applications
• Structured approach to identifying and solving problems
• Self-motivated and a self-starter, with the ability to work autonomously to meet deadlines, budgets and quality expectations, both within a team, or independently.
• Experience working where subsequent adherence to associated process and policy is critical to maintain customer confidentiality.
• Pragmatic hands-on experience, providing problem solving approach and who is willing to physically participate in completion of work when required.
• System design & optimisation
• Able to demonstrate industrial project delivery including, but not restricted to: concept generation, detailed design, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards, technical support of commissioning, awareness of project budget and deliverables.
• Good effective communication skills
• Able to work well as part of a collaborative team

Desirable Skills/Qualifications

• Knowledge of automation cell functional safety and associated standards
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0
• Knowledge of sensing and pneumatics
• Knowledge of high-level programming languages
• Knowledge of Robots and robot programming to include ROS2

Interview Process

Once you submit your application, this will be passed on to our Talent Acquisition team for review. If you are successfully shortlisted, the next steps will be a 2-stage interview process.

Reference and Security Checks

Willing and able to apply for Developed Vetting security clearance by the UK Government and undertake duties associated with this level of clearance.

All employment offers will be subject to us obtaining satisfactory employment references. As part of your role, you will be required to undergo a DBS Check.

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world-class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)
Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.