System Engineer

NES Fircroft; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking an experienced EC&I Systems Engineer to join our growing process industries engineering team. The role is hands-on, covering requirements, design, testing, commissioning and start-up across client projects in the UK.

You will lead control and automation work packages, document URS, FDS/SDS, P&ID, loop diagrams, and configure PLC/DCS/SCADA systems on platforms such as Siemens PCS 7, TIA Portal, Rockwell, WinCC, Aveva or iFIX.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in EC&I, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Control & Automation.
• 5–10+ years’ experience in control systems, automation or EC&I engineering.
• Experience in process industries (chemical, petrochemical, energy, pharma, food).
• Hands-on with a major PLC/DCS platform, ideally Siemens or Rockwell.
• Strong EC&I deliverables knowledge and full project lifecycle.
• Experience commissioning, FAT/SAT and start-up in live plants.
• Familiarity with electrical, instrumentation and IT/OT networks.
• Knowledge of OT networking and cybersecurity is beneficial.
• Exposure to functional safety activities (SIL) and GAMP5.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver control and automation work packages from concept to FAT, SAT and site commissioning.
• Develop and maintain engineering docs (URS, FDS/SDS, C&E, I/O lists, P&ID mark-ups, cable schedules, loop diagrams).
• Configure and program PLC, DCS and SCADA/HMI systems (Siemens PCS 7, TIA Portal, Rockwell, WinCC, Aveva, iFIX).
• Manage system integration, panel specs and interface definitions across electrical/instrumentation/IT/OT networks.
• Plan FAT, SAT, commissioning and start-up activities; lead troubleshooting on sites.
• Contribute to proposals and customer discussions; maintain safety and quality standards.

Skills

EC&I engineering

Controls & automation

Site start-up

Hazop/LOPA

Safety standards

UK travel

Technical documentation

Education

EC&I/Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens PCS 7

TIA Portal

Rockwell/AB

WinCC

Aveva

iFIX

EPLAN

AutoCAD

Job description

Working Pattern

Primarily office and site-based, with UK travel

Contract

Permanent

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced EC&I Systems Engineer to join a growing engineering business delivering electrical, control, instrumentation and automation solutions across the process industries.

This is a hands-on engineering role suited to someone with a strong controls, automation and systems engineering background who is comfortable taking ownership of projects from initial requirements and design through to testing, commissioning and start-up.

You will work across a variety of client projects, collaborating with engineering teams and customers while having the autonomy to manage your own work packages.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver control and automation work packages from concept and design through to FAT, SAT and site commissioning.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation including URS, FDS/SDS, Cause & Effect, I/O lists, P&ID mark-ups, cable schedules, loop diagrams and test documentation.
• Configure and program PLC, DCS and SCADA/HMI systems, with experience of platforms such as Siemens PCS 7, TIA Portal, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, WinCC, Aveva or iFIX highly relevant.
• Carry out system integration, panel specification and interface definition across electrical, instrumentation and IT/OT networks.
• Plan and execute FAT, SAT, commissioning, loop checks and plant start-up activities.
• Lead fault-finding, optimisation and troubleshooting on customer sites.
• Apply relevant functional safety and industry standards, including IEC 61511/61508 and ATEX/DSEAR.
• Contribute to HAZOP/LOPA activities and wider engineering reviews.
• Estimate and plan engineering tasks, provide progress updates and support change control.
• Where required, contribute technical input to proposals and customer discussions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and clients while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and technical documentation.

About You

We are looking for someone with:

• A degree or equivalent experience in EC&I, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Control & Automation or a related discipline.
• Approximately 5-10+ years' relevant experience within control systems, automation or EC&I engineering.
• Experience within process industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, energy, pharmaceutical, food or similar environments.
• Hands-on experience with at least one major PLC/DCS platform, ideally Siemens or Rockwell.
• Strong understanding of EC&I engineering deliverables and the full project lifecycle.
• Proven experience of commissioning, FAT/SAT and start-up within live plant environments.
• Working knowledge of relevant engineering and safety standards.
• The ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within a small engineering team.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to customer sites across the UK.
• The right to work in the UK.
• Knowledge of OT networking and cybersecurity.
• Familiarity with EPLAN or AutoCAD.
• Exposure to functional safety activities, including SIL determination and verification.
• Experience within regulated industries and familiarity with GAMP 5.
• Previous experience managing contractors or leading site activities.