Controls & Automation Engineer Full Time

• Employer matched pension scheme
• Significant career development opportunities
• Opportunity for global travel

Remit:

• As Controls & Automation Engineer you will play a key leadership role in the UK Service Center operations. This is a senior-level position with a clear progression path to becoming Service Centre Manager.
• This opportunity is ideal for an experienced technician or engineer with controls experience, leadership ambition and a hands-on bias towards solving complex technical challenges. The successful candidate will contribute to both operational performance and technical innovation across the customer base and product lines, with regular involvement in real-world commissions, diagnostics and system upgrades.

Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day Service Centre operations, ensuring efficient and responsive customer service.
• Provide senior-level technical support for legacy and modern control systems, including Gloucester Engineering equipment and other heritage brands.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex control and electrical issues for customer projects.
• Lead in the specification and implementation of PLCs, HMIs, and automation technologies for system upgrades, retrofits, and overhauls.
• Support the transition from analogue to digital control platforms.
• Contribute to the design and development of new automation and control solutions for extrusion and plastic processing machinery.
• Modify standard control panels and electrical systems to meet customer-specific requirements.
• Deliver expert advice and processing support to customers, both remotely and on-site.
• Produce and maintain electrical CAD drawings for current and future projects.
• Coordinate with internal sales and production teams to ensure timely, high-quality service delivery.
• Promote aftermarket offerings, including spare parts, upgrades, and service agreements.
• Conduct customer visits for commissioning, diagnostics, and technical support.

Experience Requirements:

• Strong experience in industrial electrical engineering and control systems.
• Background in plastics manufacturing environments such as Pipe & Profile, Blown Film, Cast Film, Extrusion Coating, or Foam.
• Proficiency in Ladder Logic, IEC 61131 programming, and HMI/SCADA configuration (e.g., WinCC, Wonderware, Proface, Red Lion).
• Familiarity with PLC platforms such as Siemens, Allen Bradley, and Proface.
• Knowledge of networking protocols, including Ethernet/IP and ProfiNet.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive, hands-on bias toward practical fieldwork and technical delivery.
• Confident communicator with strong customer service orientation.
• Willingness to travel for customer support and commissioning (UK and International).
• Competence with electrical CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical).