Senior Control Automation System Engineer in Stafford

The Senior Control Automation System Engineer is responsible for leading the design, implementation, integration, and validation of HVDC Control & Protection systems. This role works across engineering disciplines and supports solution development, project execution, product care, and tendering activities. The engineer will provide technical leadership, manage budgets, and engineering processes & tools, develop department talent, provide technical guidance, drive consistent design practices and common global processes for projects, and ensure continuous improvement in safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Overseeing the overall HVDC SCADA/HMI solution that meets customer requirements based on reference solutions.
• Identify and drive improvements in engineering, operational tools, processes, systems & technical solutions to improve customer value and business efficiency.
• Uphold the principles of Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC) within the teams.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages continuous improvement and learning.
• Work closely with Team Managers to plan execution strategies, provide engineering estimates, identify risks and implement mitigation strategies for new opportunities.
• Lead and mentor a global team of automation engineers and specialists, fostering collaboration and technical development.
• Be the owner of all aspects of HMI Implementation and system deployment, system configuration, and validation, as well as all usual integration challenges of the control & protection system.
• Implement and maintain the control & protection system reference and customer solutions.
• Execute and provide guidance for the analysis/evaluation of assigned projects that meet business standards, practices and procedures and the product/program requirements.
• Responsible for coaching and developing department talent.
• Use judgment to make decisions or solve moderately complex tasks or problems in areas of operational/product management, manufacturing, technology or engineering.
• Continuously improve the product in terms of delivery speed, stability and reliability.
• Ensure security and compliance standards are taken into consideration in the design decisions.
• Review and approve design documents, implement, and ensure quality deliverables on time and within targeted cost.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in industrial control systems, electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, or a related field.
• Strong background in HMI software configuration and implementation, preferably in Zenon COPA-DATA or Panorama-CODRA.
• Proven experience in automation and control systems engineering, with a track record of successful project leadership.
• Strong background in configuring Substation Bay Controllers/Merging Units/IEC61850 IEDs.
• Knowledge of industrial communication networks such as IEC61850 and Ethernet-based protocols.
• Experienced in developing electrical designs for industrial control systems.
• Knowledge of communication networks security/hardening and cybersecurity best practices.
• Excellent knowledge of commonly used Layer 2 & 3 protocols such as IPv4, OSPF, LACP, DMZ, VPN/DMS/ADMS/DNP, IEC, Modbus.
• Experience relevant to electrical power systems and substation automation engineering.
• Working knowledge of industrial and utility electrical control and protection systems and digital control systems, substation automation and SCADA.

Desired Characteristics

• Strong knowledge of PLCs, SCADA, HMI, DCS, networks, and other related automation and controls technologies.
• Experienced Engineering Leader – Technical & Operational.
• Experience of multi-discipline system integration projects.
• Basic knowledge of OT cybersecurity (standards such as IEC62443/NIST etc.) and functional safety per IEC 61508 is advantageous.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead programmes/projects.
• Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programmes.
• Established project management skills.
• Proven technical leadership in a complex system engineering development environment.
• Proactively serves on cross-functional leadership teams; makes decisions independently; pulls in experts when needed.
• Demonstrates a track record of designing quality systems/components that exceed design requirements, beat cost targets, and exceed reliability targets.