Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Standards & Controls Engineer to support the development, implementation and delivery of manufacturing control systems within a high-volume production environment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring manufacturing equipment and automated systems are developed and integrated in accordance with defined controls standards, electrical requirements and machinery safety legislation.
This role requires a strong hands-on background in Siemens PLC systems, industrial automation and manufacturing equipment, combined with the ability to work with equipment suppliers, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations and IT teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, maintain and implement manufacturing controls standards, specifications and technical documentation.
- Support the specification, design, installation, commissioning and launch of automated manufacturing equipment.
- Review and develop Siemens PLC control systems and associated software.
- Ensure equipment suppliers comply with required controls, electrical and manufacturing standards.
- Support commissioning activities and provide technical expertise during equipment installation and production launch.
- Diagnose complex automation and controls issues and undertake structured root-cause analysis.
- Identify corrective actions and support implementation through to resolution.
- Maintain and develop interface specifications between shop-floor PLC systems, production applications and Manufacturing Execution Systems.
- Support machine monitoring, traceability, production data and quality-system integration.
- Review electrical control-system designs and ensure appropriate standards are applied.
- Support integration of robotics and automated manufacturing cells.
- Undertake or support machinery risk assessments.
- Ensure control-system solutions comply with applicable machinery safety legislation and standards.
- Review safeguarding, interlocking, emergency-stop and safety-control solutions.
- Work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, IT and equipment suppliers.
- Support the development of standard approaches that improve equipment reliability, maintainability and consistency across manufacturing facilities.
- Provide technical guidance to project teams and suppliers throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong Siemens PLC programming and commissioning experience.
- Experience using Siemens TIA Portal and associated PLC platforms.
- Proven experience working with automated manufacturing machinery.
- Strong knowledge of industrial control systems and machine electrical systems.
- Experience commissioning and troubleshooting PLC-controlled production equipment.
- Practical understanding of machinery safety requirements.
- Experience of machine risk assessment, safeguarding and safety-control principles.
- Understanding of industrial Ethernet networks and manufacturing communications.
- Experience working with technical standards, engineering specifications or equipment standards.
- Ability to analyse technical problems and identify effective corrective actions.
- Experience working with machine builders, equipment suppliers or automation integrators.
- Ability to operate effectively within a demanding production or manufacturing environment.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Automotive manufacturing experience.
- Powertrain, battery, EV or high-volume assembly experience.
- Siemens S7-1500, S7-1200, S7-300 or S7-400 experience.
- Siemens Safety PLC / F-CPU experience.
- Profinet and Profibus experience.
- WinCC experience.
- MES integration experience.
- SCADA systems experience.
- OPC UA or similar industrial communications experience.
- Industrial robotics experience, including KUKA, ABB, FANUC, Comau or similar.
- PLC-to-robot interface and handshaking experience.
- Knowledge of ISO 13849, IEC 62061, IEC 60204-1 and ISO 12100.
- Knowledge of UK machinery safety requirements and PUWER.
- Experience with production monitoring, traceability or quality systems.
- Understanding of IT/OT integration and manufacturing network architectures.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate is likely to be an experienced Controls Engineer, Automation Engineer, Manufacturing Controls Engineer or PLC Engineer who has worked within a manufacturing or industrial automation environment.
They should combine strong hands-on controls capability with the ability to review technical standards, challenge supplier solutions and support manufacturing equipment from initial specification through commissioning and production launch.
The role would particularly suit an engineer who has previously worked within automotive manufacturing, high-volume production, automated assembly, powertrain, battery manufacturing or an automation systems integrator.
Qualifications
- Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation, Mechatronics or a related discipline.
- Equivalent relevant industrial experience will also be considered.
Personal Attributes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
- Able to work independently and take ownership of technical issues.
- Comfortable working within a production environment.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Effective communicator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Able to work collaboratively across Engineering, Operations, IT and supplier organisations.
- Results-focused and able to deliver against demanding project timescales.
- Confident challenging designs and technical solutions where standards or safety requirements are not being achieved.
Pay: £40.00-£45.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
