Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Galway; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Glanua is seeking an experienced Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to join our Automation Team. You will design, programme and deliver PLC, HMI and SCADA solutions for water and wastewater projects across Ireland and the UK, with opportunities across major upgrades and diverse plant types.

You will own the automation and EC&I scope on assigned projects, acting as technical lead and primary interface between client, project teams and external SIs, panel builders and instrumentation suppliers.

Qualifications

• Experience in automation and control engineering for water/wastewater projects.
• Proficiency in PLC, HMI and SCADA software.
• Ability to manage full project lifecycle from design to commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the functional design of PLC architecture and control networks.
• Develop FDS and SDS from client philosophies and P&IDs.
• Build and test PLC code on Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, Mitsubishi.
• Design SCADA applications and HMIs.
• Plan, prioritise and deliver within time, cost, quality targets.
• Mentor junior engineers and liaise with suppliers.

Skills

PLC programming

SCADA design

HMI development

EC&I integration

Team mentoring

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Rockwell Studio 5000

AVEVA System Platform

Ignition

Iconics

InTouch

Mitsubishi

Job description

Location: On site / Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland, job type: Permanent / Full-time, Sector and subsector: Operations | Engineering Services, Salary: Negotiable salary

Water & Wastewater|ICA / SCADA|Ireland (with relocation support for international candidates

Also known as: Senior ICA Engineer Senior I&C Engineer Senior SCADA Engineer Senior Process Control Engineer

Area: Project Delivery – Automation

Location: Galway/Cork/Meath, Ireland (with infrequent travel to UK)

Duration: Permanent, following 6-month probationary period

Relocation: Support available for international candidates (see below)

About Glanua

Glanua is an industry leader in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build, operate and maintain critical water and wastewater infrastructure across Ireland and the UK. We are a trusted delivery partner to the municipal and industrial sector, and our clients include some of the largest water utilities in Ireland and the UK, including Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Affinity Water.

We are passionate about solving today's environmental challenges and delivering a decarbonised, sustainable world. We know that to build successful, creative teams we need a diverse workforce that brings new ways of thinking, and we provide an environment where you have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential. We champion our core values and uphold the highest standards of Safety and Well‑being, Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, Agility, Accountability, Diversity and Inclusion in everything we do.

We are a team of 600+ people across Ireland, the UK and Portugal and are rapidly expanding across several disciplines to meet our ambitious growth plans.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to join our Automation Team at senior level. You will design, programme and deliver PLC, HMI and SCADA solutions for water treatment, wastewater treatment and energy projects across Ireland and the UK, covering greenfield plants and major upgrades involving technologies such as RO, MBR, SBR, MBBR, DAF, tertiary treatment, sludge handling, network telemetry and pumping stations.

This is a hands‑on, full‑lifecycle role combining technical delivery with strategic package management: tendering, functional design, software development, FAT, on‑site control systems commissioning and testing, SAT and handover. You will own the automation and EC&I scope on assigned projects, acting as the technical lead and primary interface between the client, our project teams, and external Automation System Integrators (SIs), panel builders and instrumentation suppliers. You will manage the full supplier lifecycle, from selection and contracting through to design review, FAT witnessing and commissioning support, while also developing and building PLC code, HMI and SCADA solutions directly where required.

You will work inside a multi‑disciplinary team alongside process, mechanical, electrical and project management colleagues, in a genuine "one team" culture, with the autonomy to develop ideas, shape internal standards and introduce new technology. You will work closely with the Electrical Design department on MCC schedules, motor lists, VSD specifications and overall EC&I integration.

You'll join an automation team that is busy, growing, and delivering against a strong multi‑year pipeline of work, including significant programmes for Uisce Éireann and our UK water utility clients (Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Affinity Water, as well as opportunities across the Glanua Group including Glanua UK, Glanua Industrial, Aqua Operations and Marches Biogas). This breadth gives exposure to municipal water and wastewater, industrial treatment, operations‑focused delivery and renewable energy / biogas projects. You'll work alongside experienced peers on landmark schemes, with the autonomy to shape internal standards, contribute to engineering decisions on major capital projects, and introduce new technology into our delivery. Glanua is a place that invests in its engineers, through CPD, technical specialisation and breadth of project responsibility.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the functional design of PLC architecture, control networks and communication interfaces for water and wastewater treatment plants and networks.
• Develop Functional Design Specifications (FDS) and Software Design Specifications (SDS) from client Control Philosophies, P&IDs and Design Briefs.
• Build and test PLC code to a high standard, primarily on Siemens (TIA Portal / Step 7), Rockwell (Studio 5000 / RSLogix), Schneider or Mitsubishi platforms.
• Design and develop SCADA applications for complete plants, including new builds and modifications to integrate new control into existing client systems, using AVEVA System Platform / InTouch, Ignition, Iconics.
• Develop and configure HMI platforms to control automated systems.
• Specify, configure and commission VSDs, instrumentation and field devices, and integrate them via EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Profibus, Modbus TCP/IP, Modbus RTU, DeviceNet and OPC UA.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to project delivery teams during system design, implementation and testing.
• Present solutions for technical issues arising in control systems and perform fault‑finding on highly automated systems.
• Develop documentation and lead Software Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) as part of project sign‑off with the client.
• Plan and implement all associated engineering tasks within a project to ensure time, cost and quality targets are met, including scheduling and prioritising across multiple concurrent projects.
• Apply and develop engineering standards, templates and reusable libraries as part of the Automation Team.
• Identify and apply opportunities to use AI tools to improve efficiency and quality across the project lifecycle, from design and software development through to testing, documentation and commissioning, and help develop new ways of using AI to enhance how the Automation Team delivers projects.
• Work with key suppliers to ensure optimal use of available technologies and components.
• Liaise with consultants, sub‑contractors, site staff, commercial resources and the wider site team throughout the project.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, sharing technical knowledge and supporting their progression.
• Ensure Health, Safety, Environmental & Sustainability standards, policies and procedures are adhered to on every site, in line with the HSQE management system and current statutory requirements.
• Keep appraised of the latest standards and technology through continuous professional development (CPD).
• Own the automation / EC&I package on assigned projects, taking accountability for technical scope, programme alignment and client satisfaction from contract award through to handover.
• Manage System Integrator (SI) selection, onboarding and technical performance through the project lifecycle; develop and issue scope documents including Control Philosophies, design briefs and scope‑of‑supply matrices; chair design reviews and