Controls Project Engineer

Controls Project Systems Engineer (PLC) £c40/hr ltd rate

South East ABJ
7685

Salary dependent on experience but c £35-£45/ hr ltd rate (outside IR35)

Start Jan 2026 - 3 months with view to extension on site

A new position for an experienced Controls Project Systems Engineer (PLC) is urgently required for a leading engineering services company for upcoming projects. The role involves programming Siemens S7‑1500 PLCs using TIA Portal, programming WinCC SCADA systems and interfacing with multiple S7‑1500 PLCs. Failsafe programming would be desirable.

As a controls engineer you will have the technical lead for a control panel, reviewing electrical drawings and panel assembly. As a project engineer you will also generate documentation such as test plans, installation, commissioning and operation/maintenance documentation.

The role is mainly office‑based, with occasional site visits across the UK (must have a UK driving licence). Teamwork is pivotal to success.

Process safety experience is desirable, as the team will be building burner management systems.

• Manage PLC‑based system design and consultancy projects from point of sale, through initial design and manufacture, to site commissioning.
• Responsible for a wide range of engineering design and project management tasks.
• Confident user of general office software (e.g., Microsoft Word / Excel) for preparing various in‑depth project‑related documentation such as specifications, reports, calculations, etc.
• Critically review and mark‑up documents and drawings generated by others, providing constructive feedback.
• Supervise workshop technicians during the system build of your own projects.
• Apply problem‑solving and analytical techniques to plan and carry out appropriate system tests.
• General control of project work, including look‑ahead planning, control of project budgets and schedules, change control, estimating activities, project document management and progress reporting.
• Review client specifications and other national/international standards to ensure project compliance.
• Develop functional requirements specifications for control systems, SIS, F&G and instrumentation.
• Develop PLC, HMI & SCADA application software.
• Participate in design reviews, including HAZOP/LOPA, hazardous area, etc.

• HNC/HND or degree qualification in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Several years’ experience in PLC configuration and application software development (e.g., ABB AC500‑S/800xA HI, Emerson Delta
  
  V SIS, Triconex, HIMA F60/HiQuad X, Siemens S7‑Failsafe, Allen Bradley Control Logix/Guard Logix).
• Great customer‑facing communication skills from a technical and commercial perspective.
• HMI/SCADA configuration experience (e.g., Siemens WinCC/PCS7/Emerson Delta
  
  V).
• Industrial communications system architecture design and selection/configuration of appropriate protocols (e.g., Profinet/Profibus/Modbus TCP & RTU/OPC).
• Experience in planning and delivery of technical projects.
• Desirable: process safety experience (burner management systems).
• Essential: UK driving licence.
• Desirable:
  Industrial instrumentation experience.
• Good working knowledge of the functional safety standards BS EN 61508/61511.

They offer an attractive salary (dependent on experience).

To apply , please contact Alison Basson, quoting ABJ
7685, on (T: (phone number removed) / +44 (0)(phone number removed) – send CV to (email removed).