Controls Engineer in Warrington

Controls Engineer – Systems Integration - Hybrid Working £55,000–£65,000 + £5,500 Car Allowance + Bonus + Call-Out Allowance Warrington Cheshire | Hybrid Working | Siemens / Rockwell I'm recruiting for an established, independent systems integrator specialising in warehouse automation and automated materials handling systems. The business designs and delivers integrated automation solutions, bringing together conveyors, sortation equipment, robotics and associated control systems. They're looking for an experienced Controls Engineer who can take ownership of the controls side of a project, from developing the initial system architecture and functional specifications through to PLC programming, testing, commissioning and handover. The engineering work This is a hands-on engineering role, with the opportunity to work across the full project lifecycle. You'll be involved in: * Designing and developing complete PLC-based control systems for warehouse and industrial automation projects. * Programming PLCs and HMIs, predominantly using Siemens and Rockwell platforms. * Developing control system architectures, electrical specifications and functional design specifications. * Electrical control panel design, hardware selection and electrical calculations. * Integrating different pieces of automated equipment into a reliable, functioning system. * Testing, fault-finding and commissioning control systems, including resolving issues that only become apparent when equipment is running together on site. * Working with mechanical, electrical and software engineers to resolve technical challenges. * Contributing to the development of PLC software standards, HMI standards, system architecture and engineering best practice. * Supporting projects through installation, commissioning, customer acceptance and final handover. There's a good balance between design and software development, technical problem-solving and practical commissioning. You'll have the opportunity to influence engineering decisions rather than simply working through a predefined specification. The type of engineer we're looking for You'll probably be someone who enjoys understanding how the whole machine or system works, not just the PLC program. You'll be comfortable looking at an electrical drawing, interrogating PLC code, understanding how drives, sensors, motors and other equipment interact, and working out why something isn't behaving as expected. Ideally, you'll have: * Strong PLC programming experience, particularly Siemens or Rockwell / Allen-Bradley. * Experience developing HMI applications. * A background in machinery automation, systems integration, materials handling, intralogistics or a related industry. * A good understanding of electrical control systems, panel design and industrial hardware. * Experience commissioning automated equipment and diagnosing faults. * The ability to work independently and take technical ownership of projects. * Experience producing or working from functional design specifications and other engineering documentation. Previous warehouse automation experience would be useful, but isn't essential. Engineers from special-purpose machinery, production automation, conveyor systems or other complex automated equipment would also be of interest. The working environment You'll be joining a relatively small engineering team within an independent systems integrator, working alongside other Controls Engineers, Software Engineers, Project Engineers and Project Managers. The role offers considerable variety and the opportunity to remain technically involved throughout the delivery of a project. The company is based in Warrington, Cheshire, with hybrid working and regular visits to the office. There is also a requirement to travel to customer sites for commissioning, although this isn't a role involving continuous travel. Around six weeks of planned site commissioning 2-3 times per year is anticipated. You'll also participate in a shared out-of-hours customer support rota, alongside two or three colleagues. Support is primarily remote, with occasional site attendance where an issue cannot be resolved remotely. Salary and benefits * Basic salary of £55,000–£65,000, depending on experience. * £5,500 annual car allowance. * £2,500 annual call-out allowance. * Company-wide bonus scheme. * Hybrid working, 2 days a week not at home * Approximately six weeks of planned site commissioning per year. * Opportunity to take ownership of technically varied automation projects. * Scope to influence engineering standards and technical solutions. Interested? If you're an experienced Controls Engineer who enjoys PLC programming, electrical controls, fault-finding and seeing complex automation systems come together, I'd be pleased to tell you more. Please apply with your CV or contact Liz Neidhardt at Cressida Consulting for a confidential discussion. About Cressida Consulting Cressida Consulting is an independent engineering recruitment consultancy specialising in automation, special-purpose machinery and systems integration. All applications will be treated in confidence. 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