Software Engineer

Dahlia Recruitment; Stafford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an Automation / Control & Instrumentation Engineer for a fast-growing renewables business in the UK. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in industrial automation and be proficient in Siemens TIA Portal and WinCC. Responsibilities include developing control solutions, designing SCADA applications, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. This role offers opportunities across the project lifecycle from design to commissioning, in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years experience in industrial automation or process control.
• Proficient in developing control system software from scratch.
• Experience with ATEX compliance and hazardous area controls.

Responsibilities

• Develop automation and control solutions using Siemens TIA Portal and WinCC.
• Design and deploy SCADA/HMI applications using Ignition Perspective.
• Conduct fault-finding, site troubleshooting, and system diagnostics.

Skills

Siemens TIA Portal

Control system troubleshooting

SCADA/HMI development

Electrical systems competency

Industrial cybersecurity

Education

Minimum HNC in Electrical/Control Engineering

Tools

Siemens WinCC

Ignition Perspective

Job description

Dahlia Recruitment - Renewables are partnered with this fast growing Renewables business to recruit for a highly skilled Automation / Control & Instrumentation Engineer. The role is to take responsibility for delivering complete control system solutions—from concept design and hardware specification to software development, commissioning, and documentation. The ideal candidate will bring excellent hands‑on experience with Siemens automation platforms, modern SCADA/HMI technologies, and strong electrical and troubleshooting capabilities.

This role requires working across the full project lifecycle, including detailed design, panel integration, onsite commissioning, system improvements, and technical documentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop automation and control solutions using Siemens TIA Portal and WinCC.
• Design, develop, and deploy SCADA/HMI applications using Ignition Perspective.
• Create robust control system software from scratch, based on project scope and functional requirements.
• Prepare control system documentation including FDS, SDS, FAT/SAT protocols, IO schedules, wiring diagrams, and technical reports.
• Define hardware specifications, IO lists, instrumentation selection, and control panel design requirements.
• Conduct fault‑finding, site troubleshooting, and system diagnostics.
• Support commissioning activities, factory and site acceptance testing, and customer handover.
• Ensure designs meet relevant industrial safety standards, including ATEX requirements where applicable.
• Implement and follow industrial cybersecurity standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams and communicate technical concepts to stakeholders.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum HNC in Electrical/Control Engineering or related discipline.
• 7+ years experience in industrial automation or process control.
• Advanced experience with Siemens TIA Portal (PLC/HMI/Drives) and WinCC.
• Strong experience with Ignition Perspective (designing modern web‑based HMIs).
• Competent to work safely on electrical systems; able to read electrical drawings.
• Proven ability to fault‑find and troubleshoot control panels, instrumentation, and field systems.
• Familiarity with ATEX compliance and hazardous area controls.
• Ability to create complete control system documentation packages.
• Understanding of cybersecurity within industrial automation environments.
• Strong ability to interpret project scope, define system architecture, and deliver solutions independently.

Desirable (Nice to Have)

• Experience with Opto22 controllers.
• Knowledge of networking, industrial protocols, and IIoT architectures.
• Experience with functional safety, SIL, or IEC 61508/61511 frameworks.

Personal Attributes

• Self‑motivated problem‑solver with strong ownership of deliverables.
• Comfortable working independently and supporting multiple projects in parallel.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to produce clear technical documentation.