Step into a high-impact contract role where your advanced controls expertise will directly improve plant reliability, safety, and performance. You’ll join a technically driven organisation that values deep problem-solving, robust engineering standards, and continuous improvement across complex industrial processes.

About the Role:
As a Senior Controls Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and optimisation of control systems across PLC, SCADA, and HMI platforms for critical process operations. You will be responsible for delivering robust, safe, and maintainable control solutions, ensuring compliance with functional safety standards and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role will see you working closely with cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues, enhance system performance, and support plant-wide automation strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, program, and commission advanced PLC-based control systems for complex process applications.
• Develop, configure, and optimise SCADA and HMI systems to provide reliable monitoring, control, and operator interfaces.
• Lead root cause analysis for control system and process upsets, implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop and tune process control strategies (e.g., PID loops, advanced control schemes) to improve stability, efficiency, and product quality.
• Specify, design, and validate safety instrumented systems in accordance with functional safety standards (e.g., SIL/IEC 61511).
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across PLC, SCADA, HMI, and field instrumentation, ensuring minimal downtime and robust system performance.
• Configure and maintain industrial networks and communication protocols to ensure secure, reliable data exchange between control system components.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including control narratives, cause and effect diagrams, and system architecture drawings.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in a senior or lead controls/automation engineering role within industrial or process environments.
• Advanced PLC programming and troubleshooting skills across one or more major platforms (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, etc.).
• Strong experience in SCADA and HMI system design, configuration, and optimisation.
• Demonstrated capability in root cause analysis and implementation of continuous improvement methodologies within control systems.
• Hands-on experience with safety instrumented systems and functional safety lifecycle activities in line with SIL/IEC 61511 or equivalent.
• Solid understanding of process control strategy development and tuning for complex process units.
• Proficiency with industrial networking and communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Profibus, Modbus, OPC).
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, loop diagrams, and control narratives and translate them into robust control solutions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across disciplines.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in batch, continuous, or hybrid process industries (e.g., chemical, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage).
• Familiarity with advanced control techniques (e.g., model predictive control, feedforward control).
• Exposure to cybersecurity considerations for industrial control systems.
• Experience with data historians, reporting tools, and integration with higher-level systems (e.g., MES, ERP).
• Previous involvement in commissioning, start-up, or plant upgrade projects in a senior capacity.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control/Automation Engineering, Instrumentation, or a related discipline.
• Professional engineering registration or chartered status (or working towards) is advantageous.
• Formal training or certification in functional safety (e.g., TÜV, ISA) preferred.
• Additional certifications in PLC/SCADA platforms or industrial networking are desirable.

If you’re a seasoned controls professional ready to take ownership of complex systems and deliver tangible performance and safety gains, this contract role offers an excellent platform to make an immediate impact. Apply now to bring your expertise to a team that values technical excellence and practical results.