Senior Controls Engineer

Senior Controls Engineer – Cheshire / Hybrid – £60k + £5k Car Allowance + On-Call Payment

+++ Hybrid working +++ Cradle-to-grave automation projects +++ Siemens PLC systems +++ Growing project pipeline +++

Samuel Frank is recruiting for a Senior Controls Engineer to join a specialist automation business based near Runcorn, North Cheshire.

The successful Senior Controls Engineer will take ownership of complete control systems, from initial concept and functional design through to PLC programming, commissioning and customer handover.

This position requires someone with strong Siemens PLC programming skills and relevant experience within logistics, material handling, conveyors, sortation or a similar automation environment.

The role is hybrid, with approximately one or two days per week in the Daresbury office during design and project development stages. PLC software writing can be completed from home where appropriate.

Key aspects of the Senior Controls Engineer role include:

• Taking automation projects from concept through to commissioning and handover
• Developing PLC software from scratch, primarily using Siemens
• Producing Functional Design Specifications and defining how systems will operate
• Programming and modifying HMI systems
• Completing electrical calculations, network topologies and electrical design specifications
• Reviewing electrical schematics produced by external design partners
• Testing, fault finding and commissioning systems on customer sites
• Working with sales, software and project teams during the early stages of projects
• Supporting and developing other Controls Engineers within the team

Key skills and experience required:

• Strong Siemens PLC programming experience, including writing software from scratch
• Familiarity with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC systems would be advantageous
• Experience within logistics, automated warehousing, conveyors, high-speed sortation or material handling
• Able to develop the control philosophy and FDS for a complete automation system
• Experience integrating PLC systems with barcode readers, RFID, cameras, scanners or warehouse control systems
• Good understanding of electrical control systems and the ability to review electrical schematics
• Comfortable managing projects through the full controls engineering lifecycle
• Strong customer-facing and problem-solving skills

The Senior Controls Engineer will also commission systems at customer sites across the UK. The business typically delivers two or three major projects each year, with commissioning periods generally lasting six to eight weeks, Monday to Friday.

There is a paid on-call rota of approximately one week in three or four. Most issues are resolved remotely and PLC-related calls are infrequent. The Controls Engineers are currently averaging one call per week related to software.

The package includes a salary of around £60,000, a £5,000 car allowance and an additional on-call payment, taking the overall package to approximately £67,000. There may be flexibility for someone with particularly strong logistics automation and Siemens experience.

The Daresbury office is commutable from Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Northwich and surrounding areas.