Senior Control & Automation Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of existing supplier-delivered control systems. 
• Lead next-generation design, taking ownership of controls architecture, PLC logic and HMI evolution.
• Define and standardise control architectures to support modular, repeatable deployment.
• Ultimately hold technical ownership of control system architecture across the full product portfolio. 

• Review and assess existing hardware and instrumentation selections and system designs.
• Lead next-generation design, including cost optimisation and standardisation of key components.
• Own hardware and instrumentation strategy, ensuring alignment with control philosophy and mechanical systems.
• Define component specifications, sizing approaches, and system-level design principles. 

• Establish data acquisition and analysis approaches to support commissioning, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Embed data-driven engineering practices to generate insights into performance, reliability, and customer ROI. 

• Act as the technical interface to suppliers, providing direction and challenging on key topics. Build a clear view of supplier capabilities, risks, and gaps to inform product development and production decisions.
• Shape and expand the supplier ecosystem to improve quality, cost, and scalability.
• Transition from supplier-led development toward a hybrid and then primarily in-house capability, with suppliers used strategically for scale and specialisation. 

• Act as the primary controls expert during field deployments, commissioning, and early-stage product stabilisation.
• Lead internal prototyping and development activities to enable faster iteration and validation.
• Establish standards, documentation, and engineering best practices for controls and automation.
• Play a key role in cross-disciplinary system design, working across controls and data domains.
• Build and grow internal capability, including mentoring and potential team development. 

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 8 or more years experience in industrial automation, process control systems, or mechatronics engineering 
• Practical experience with PLC-based control systems (e.g. Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff, or similar)
• Experience writing, reviewing and modifying existing PLC code and control logic in IEC 61131-3, Codesys etc
• Knowledge of control system architecture and control philosophy development
• Hands-on experience with industrial systems, installations, or commissioning
• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation and control (sensors, actuators, motors, drives, industry 4.0)
• Experience working with external suppliers or contractors in a technical capacity
• Ability to analyse operational data to support engineering decisions
• Comfortable working in a multidisciplinary team alongside mechanical engineers
• Experience with HMI or SCADA systems
• Experience with data analysis tools (e.g. Python, or similar) and dashboarding
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols
• Experience specifying or reviewing control system hardware and panel designs
• Exposure to functional safety concepts and safe-state design
• Knowledge of industrial electrical systems (e.g. three-phase equipment)

• Experience in water treatment or similar industry
• Working in international locations with knowledge of regional electrical requirements and standards
• Application and requirements of control systems in external environments
• 18th Edition certified

• Degree in Control Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Integrated Engineering, or a related discipline. 

Benefits

• Flexible working environment, with core hours of 09:30-16:00 and hybrid working available, based at our central Bristol HQ  
• Annual Leave – 26 days + public holidays + entitlement will increase with length of service, 1 day for every year up to 32 days pa  
• 1 extra day of leave to celebrate you on your birthday  
• Ability to swap up to 3 Bank Holidays in a year for days of cultural or religious significance  
• Enhanced family leave (maternity & paternity) - 13 weeks full pay (maternity) or 4 weeks full pay (paternity) - available for those who have worked continuously for 26 weeks by the end of the Qualifying Week  
• Sick Pay - Short Term Sickness is full pay for 10 days in any 12-month rolling period / Long Term Sickness is full pay for any instance of a consecutive period of sickness longer than a week (7 consecutive days) up to 13 weeks.  
• Pension scheme (Aviva) – 5% employer contribution  
• Private Medical Insurance (BUPA) – you and your family (Level 1 cover)  
• Medical Cash Plan (SimplyHealth) - you and your family (Level 1 cover)  
• Critical Illness Cover (Zurich) - after 13 weeks of Illness 75% of wages paid up to 5 years  
• Dental Plan (BUPA) – you and your family (Level 1 cover)  
• Life Assurance (Zurich) - one-off payment of 2 times your annual salary to next of kin  
• Virtual GP  
• Employee Assistance Programme  
• Onsite kitchen, dining, breakout areas & healthy snacks  
• Monthly lunch clubs  
• Regular team events and parties  
• On-site parking for bicycles and cars  
• Cycle to work scheme  
• Ethical discounts through Lumina  
• Training & Development support incl. 5% of contractual hours used for self-development  
• Professional membership - one per year where relevant to role