Electrical & Control Systems Engineer

Electrical & Control Systems Engineer

Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Cochran Ltd

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and development of electrical and control systems for innovative boiler technology.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking company focused on engineering excellence and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and career progression.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic role that drives technological advancements.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent, with strong technical skills.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

The Electrical & Control Systems Engineer plays a pivotal role as the technical authority for all electrical, control, and automation systems within the business. This position is responsible for leading the design, development, and continuous improvement of electrical and control systems associated with boiler, combustion, and related equipment. Acting as a key interface across engineering, manufacturing, and service teams, the role ensures systems are safe, compliant, standardised, and aligned with business goals while driving innovation, supporting product development, and maintaining robust engineering standards and control system architectures.

Key Objectives

  • Act as the technical authority for all electrical, control and automation systems across the business.
  • Responsible for the design, development, maintenance and continuous improvement of electrical and control systems associated with boiler, combustion and ancillary equipment.
  • Provide technical leadership for electrical engineering activities, ensuring designs are safe, compliant, standardised and aligned with business objectives.
  • Own the development and maintenance of electrical standards, PLC software architecture, control philosophies and engineering documentation.
  • Support product development, manufacturing, commissioning and customer support activities.
  • Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing and Service teams to drive innovation, standardisation and operational improvements throughout the business.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Technical Leadership
    • Act as the lead engineer and technical authority for all electrical and control systems.
    • Define and maintain electrical engineering standards, control philosophies and design practices.
    • Provide technical guidance and mentoring to electrical technicians, apprentices and other engineering personnel.
    • Lead technical investigations and root cause analysis activities relating to electrical and control systems.
  • Design & Development
    • Design, develop and maintain electrical and control systems for boiler and combustion equipment.
    • Produce, review and approve electrical drawings, schematics and engineering documentation.
    • Lead PLC and HMI development activities, including software architecture, programming and testing.
    • Support new product development and technology integration projects.
    • Identify opportunities for product improvement, standardisation and cost reduction.
  • Control Systems Ownership
    • Maintain ownership of PLC software, HMI systems, parameter management and software revision control.
    • Develop and maintain standard PLC software libraries and control system templates.
    • Ensure software backups and recovery procedures are maintained and regularly validated.
    • Define and maintain cybersecurity and software management practices where applicable.
  • Manufacturing & Commissioning
    • Provide technical support to manufacturing, testing and commissioning activities.
    • Lead commissioning and validation activities for new products and major projects.
    • Support field troubleshooting and customer technical support where required.
    • Ensure electrical and control systems are delivered safely, reliably and in accordance with specification.
  • Compliance & Standards
    • Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards and directives.
    • Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry best practice.
    • Support CE/UKCA compliance activities relating to electrical and control systems.
    • Support risk assessments, functional safety reviews and design verification activities.
    • Lead standardisation initiatives across control panels, PLC software, electrical components and documentation.
    • Support business improvement projects relating to quality, cost, delivery and reliability.
    • Contribute to departmental strategy, resource planning and future technology roadmaps.

Skills and Qualities Desirable from Post Holder

  • HNC/HND or Degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering or equivalent.
  • Strong knowledge of industrial electrical systems and control engineering principles.
  • Experience producing electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN or similar software.
  • Experience programming PLC and HMI systems.
  • Strong fault‑finding and diagnostic capability.
  • Ability to lead technical projects and manage multiple priorities.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience with burner management systems and combustion control.
  • Experience with boiler plant, steam systems or industrial process equipment.
  • Understanding of Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP or equivalent industrial communication protocols.
  • Knowledge of CE/UKCA compliance requirements.
  • Experience commissioning industrial equipment.
  • Experience mentoring or supervising technical personnel.

Applications

To apply please send a cover letter and CV to hr@cochran.co.uk.

Electrical & Control Systems Engineer employer: Cochran Ltd

Cochran Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and technical excellence thrive. As an Electrical & Control Systems Engineer, you will benefit from a supportive culture that prioritises employee growth through mentorship and collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and service teams. With a commitment to safety, compliance, and continuous improvement, Cochran provides a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects while enjoying a balanced work schedule and a focus on professional development.

Cochran Ltd

Contact Details:

Cochran Ltd Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Electrical & Control Systems Engineer

Get Involved in Control Systems Communities

Dive into control systems forums and relevant LinkedIn groups to showcase your expertise. Engage in discussions, answer questions, and share your knowledge—this can help us get noticed by potential employers looking for someone just like you!

Attend Industry Conferences and Workshops

Join conferences or workshops specifically tailored to control systems engineering, like the IEEE conference. These events are goldmines for networking with industry leaders and might just lead us to that perfect role at Cochran Ltd.

Get Practical Experience Through Projects

Start or contribute to projects that highlight your control systems skills. Whether it’s a simulated environment or real-world application, having tangible results will give us a huge edge when chatting with Cochran Ltd.

Choose Job Boards Wisely

Focus on niche job boards that specialise in engineering roles. Channels like Engineers.co or similar can help ensure that we’re not only applying to random jobs but targeting positions that align perfectly with our control systems engineering skills!

We think you need these skills to ace Electrical & Control Systems Engineer

Technical Leadership
Electrical Engineering Standards
Control Philosophies
PLC Programming
HMI Development
Electrical Schematics Production
Fault-Finding and Diagnostic Capability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Technical Skills:When applying for the Electrical & Control Systems Engineer role, make sure to showcase your technical expertise in control systems. Be specific about the software and programming languages you’ve worked with—mention anything from MATLAB to PLC programming. This will help us see your proficiency in the tools that are essential for the job.

Quantify Your Achievements:In the engineering world, numbers speak volumes! Use your CV to quantify your achievements—whether it’s a percentage improvement in system efficiency or successful project completions under budget. This will not only make your application stand out but also showcase your problem-solving capabilities to us.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t hesitate to get personal in your cover letter! Talk about why you’re passionate about control systems engineering and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this role at Cochran Ltd. We want to see your genuine interest and motivation to contribute to our projects.

Professional Documentation:For a full-time role, ensure that your application documents are professional and well-structured. Include a clear CV format and cover letter that highlights key projects or systems you've worked on. Don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training that would make you a valuable addition to us at Cochran Ltd.

How to prepare for a job interview at Cochran Ltd

Brush Up on Control Systems Concepts

Make sure we're up to speed with control systems theory—think stability analysis, PID tuning, and state-space representation. Revising these fundamentals will help us answer technical questions more confidently and demonstrate our expertise during the interview.

Familiarise Yourself with Simulation Tools

Get hands-on with popular simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink or LabVIEW. A lot of interviews might include technical assessments or practical tasks to gauge our understanding of system modelling and control design using these tools, so being proficient could really set us apart.

Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios

We should expect scenario-based questions where we'll have to solve real-world control system challenges. Practising how to approach problems logically and articulately will help us show our analytical thinking to the interviewer at Cochran Ltd.

Show Your Passion for Engineering

As this role is full-time, it's crucial we convey our genuine enthusiasm for control systems engineering. Sharing personal projects or experiences where we tackled interesting engineering tasks can illustrate our commitment and eagerness to contribute to the team at Cochran Ltd.