Lead Controls Engineer

Bishops Stortford, United Kingdom | Posted on 24/02/2026

We are a specialist provider of support services to distribution network operators, developers and industrial energy users making the transition to net zero by electrifying heat, transport and industry.

UK Networks Services (UKNS) is an engineering company at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a smarter, more flexible electricity system. Our work spans two core areas:

Technical grid consulting – advising on complex grid connections, regulatory strategy, and power system planning for some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects.

Smart grid control systems – designing and deploying advanced automation, monitoring, and control solutions that enable customers to connect, manage and optimise energy assets across large, distributed networks.

Within the smart grid side of the business, we design and integrate systems that combine PLC-based control, SCADA, metering, protection, and real‑time data platforms. These systems are deployed on projects such as grid‑scale load management, site‑wide export limitation, substation automation and dynamic network control.

As our project complexity increases, we are seeking a Lead Controls Engineer to act as the senior technical authority within our smart grid systems team.

This is a high‑responsibility engineering leadership role focused on technical governance, design quality, and full lifecycle ownership of control system engineering.

The Lead Controls Engineer will provide technical leadership across all PLC‑based control system and panel designs delivered by UKNS.

You will define engineering standards, oversee hardware and software design quality, and ensure robust, compliant and fully documented control solutions are delivered across the project lifecycle.

You will work closely with the CTO, automation engineers, and panel build team — providing oversight, mentorship and structured engineering discipline to ensure designs are right‑first‑time and high quality.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys:

• Setting engineering standards
• Improving technical rigour
• Leading design reviews
• Owning technical sign‑off
• Working across both software and hardware domains

• Lead the detailed design of PLC‑based control systems for smart grid applications.
• Establish and maintain internal Control System Design Standards.
• Conduct structured design reviews prior to issue for manufacture (IFC).
• Approve schematic drawings, panel layouts, and hardware specifications.
• Define best practice for panel segregation, EMC, earthing, protection and wiring standards.

• Oversee production of panel layouts, terminal plans, protection coordination, I/O schedules, and wiring schematics.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards including BS EN 60204, BS EN 61439, and applicable grid/utility requirements.
• Specify and validate PLC hardware, network components, metering interfaces and field instrumentation.

• Provide technical oversight of PLC programming (ladder logic, structured text, function block).
• Define structured control philosophies and system architectures.
• Ensure appropriate integration with SCADA, protection relays, meters and DNO/IDNO interfaces.
• Validate communication design (MODBUS RTU/TCP, DLMS/COSEM, IEC 61850, etc.).

• Lead engineering through concept design, detailed design, build support, FAT, SAT and commissioning.
• Ensure delivery of complete, professional documentation packs including:
• Schematics
• Bills of materials
• O&M manuals
• Test plans
• As‑built documentation
• Support client technical discussions and resolve design queries.

• Mentor and develop automation engineers and drafting engineers.
• Improve consistency and technical maturity across the engineering team.
• Help shape the future direction of UKNS control system capability.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation or related discipline (HNC/HND considered with significant experience).
• 8–15+ years’ experience in control systems engineering…