Senior Software Engineer

Are you an experienced Automation Software Engineer, Controls
Engineer or PLC Programmer with strong hands-on experience across
PLCs, robotics, HMIs and vision systems?

Do you enjoy solving complex automation problems, improving
machine performance and sharing your technical knowledge with
other engineers?

We're supporting a leading precision manufacturing business in
Portsmouth who are looking to recruit a Senior Production Support
Software Engineer to join their growing engineering team.

This is a senior, hands-on position where you'll work directly
with specialist automated manufacturing equipment, taking
ownership of complex software and controls issues while helping
develop the technical capability of the wider team.

What's the role all about?

As the Senior Production Support Software Engineer, you'll be
responsible for maintaining, improving and developing the
software and control systems behind specialist automated
manufacturing machinery.

You'll work across PLC, robotic, HMI and vision systems,
identifying faults, improving existing software and implementing
solutions that increase machine reliability and production
throughput.

This isn't purely a desk-based programming position. You'll work
directly with production machinery, troubleshoot complex
automation issues and collaborate closely with other engineers to
ensure equipment performs effectively.

As a senior member of the team, you'll also play an important
role in mentoring and developing junior and mid-level engineers,
sharing your knowledge and helping strengthen automation
capability across the department.

Key responsibilities

* Programme, modify and troubleshoot PLC-controlled automated
machinery

* Develop and maintain Mitsubishi iQ-R PLC software
* Programme and troubleshoot Mitsubishi robotic systems

* Develop and support HMI systems
* Programme and optimise Keyence and Asyril vision systems

* Work with associated automation equipment including servo
systems, RFID and inverters

* Diagnose and resolve complex software and automation faults
* Improve existing machine software to increase reliability,
availability and throughput

* Identify opportunities to improve automated manufacturing
processes
* Take ownership of complex technical problems from initial
diagnosis through to resolution
* Work closely with Production and Engineering teams to minimise
machine downtime
* Provide technical guidance across PLC, robotics, vision and
automation systems
* Train, coach and mentor junior and mid-level engineers
* Share technical knowledge and engineering best practice across
the team
What you'll need

This is a senior position, so we're looking for someone who
already has a strong level of automation and controls expertise.

You'll need:

* Proven experience within Automation, Controls or Production
Support Engineering

* Strong practical experience programming PLCs

* Experience with Mitsubishi iQ-R or closely equivalent PLC
systems

* Practical experience programming and fault finding industrial
robots

* Mitsubishi robot experience or experience with comparable
robotic platforms
* Experience programming HMI systems

* Hands-on experience with industrial vision systems

* Keyence, Asyril or equivalent vision system experience
* Strong understanding of software programming methodologies
* Excellent and methodical fault-finding skills

* Ability to independently diagnose and resolve complex
automation problems
* Confidence modifying and improving existing machine software
* Experience training, mentoring or developing other engineers
Technical environment

You'll be working with technologies including:

* Mitsubishi iQ-R PLCs
* Mitsubishi Robots
* Keyence Vision Systems
* Asyril Vision & Flexible Feeding Systems
* HMIs
* Servo systems
* RFID
* Inverters
* Bespoke automated manufacturing machinery
Direct experience with every specific manufacturer isn't
essential, but you'll need strong hands-on experience with these
technologies or closely equivalent industrial automation systems.

About you

You're an experienced automation professional who can confidently
take ownership of technically challenging problems rather than
relying on fixed solutions.

You'll be:

* An excellent technical problem solver
* Methodical when fault finding
* Comfortable taking ownership and working independently
* Collaborative and willing to share your expertise
* A confident technical mentor
* Patient when developing less experienced engineers
* Highly detail-focused
* Interested in improving machine performance rather than simply
maintaining the status quo
Because the products manufactured are extremely small and
precision-focused, attention to detail is essential.

Why join?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business investing
significantly in automation, technology and advanced
manufacturing.

You'll work in an engineering environment where automation is
central to future growth, giving you the opportunity to influence
machine performance, improve production capability and help
develop the next generation of automation engineers.

While ongoing training and development will be available, this is
a genuine senior-level opportunity for someone who can bring
significant automation expertise from day one.

Salary & Benefits

* Competitive salary
* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
* Additional 3 days off over the festive period
* Company pension scheme
* Company bonus scheme
* Life Cover – 3x salary
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Ongoing technical training and development
Interested?

If you're an experienced Senior Automation Engineer, Controls
Engineer, PLC Programmer, Automation Software Engineer or
Production Support Engineer with strong PLC, robotics and vision
system experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Kingdom People for a confidential
discussion.

Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to
this vacancy.