Principal Design Controls Engineer

Due to continuing growth, we are recruiting a Principal Design Controls Engineer to strengthen the existing team in London. The Principal Controls & Instrumentation (C&I) Design Engineer is a technical leader responsible for overseeing the development, design, and implementation of complex control and instrumentation systems. This role involves providing high-level expertise, mentorship, and strategic direction on all C&I design activities. The Principal Engineer will act as the subject matter expert, ensuring that all C&I projects meet technical, safety, and regulatory standards while promoting innovation, efficiency, and quality. The position requires an in-depth understanding of control, instrumentation, automation, and telemetry engineering principles, strong project management capability, and effective collaboration with multiple engineering disciplines. The role is central in ensuring consistency, accuracy, and excellence across all C&I designs.

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the C&I engineering team, ensuring the successful delivery of projects.
• Define and drive the C&I design strategy for projects, aligning with company goals and industry best practices.
• Lead the development of control system architecture, instrumentation philosophies, and design methodologies.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex C&I technical issues, resolving system design challenges and guiding teams toward robust solutions.

Project Design & Development

• Produce disciplined C&I design deliverables (I/O lists, instrument schedules, control philosophies, cause & effect matrices).
• Develop specifications and datasheets for instrumentation (temperature, pressure, flow, level), final control elements (valves, actuators), control panels, telemetry systems, PLC/RTU hardware, SCADA/HMI, and communication networks.
• Ensure all C&I designs comply with UK/IE regulations, industry standards, and specific client requirements.
• Coordinate multi-discipline interfaces (process, electrical, mechanical, civils) and align C&I deliverables with SCADA, BMS, PLC/DCS, metering, and plant automation systems.
• Review and approve technical documentation including design reports, specifications, and functional safety assessments.

Mentorship & Team Development

• Mentor, support, and develop junior and senior C&I engineers, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing environment.
• Conduct design and technical reviews, ensuring best practice, consistency, and compliance across all deliverables.

Technical Innovation

• Stay up to date with advancements in controls, automation, instrumentation, industrial networking, and emerging digital technologies.
• Promote innovation in C&I design by adopting new tools, methodologies, and technologies that improve system performance and efficiency.
• Collaborate with R&D and automation teams to integrate new control technologies into existing or future system designs.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure all C&I designs comply with relevant standards (BS, IEC, ISO, SIL/functional safety, EMC) and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead and conduct risk assessments, ensuring designs incorporate required protective measures, redundancy, and fail‑safe functionality.
• Prepare documentation required for regulatory approvals, certification processes, and safety audits.

Project Management & Collaboration

• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams (process, mechanical, electrical, controls, manufacturing) to ensure seamless system integration.
• Lead planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for C&I design activities.
• Act as the technical liaison with clients, vendors, integrators, and stakeholders, ensuring clarity on technical requirements, project goals, and timelines.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and meet commercial expectations.
• Regular interaction with engineering teams, project managers, and external clients or suppliers.

The Company

Vital Energi is a leading provider of renewable energy infrastructure and systems to the public and private sectors. We are supporting Hospitals, Universities, New Build developments, Towns and Cities as well as Industrial and Commercial clients to decarbonise their buildings. We have and continue to work on ground‑breaking projects throughout the UK which are supporting the UK’s Net Zero targets, such as the recently announced £1 billion low‑carbon infrastructure project for Westminster. With plans to double our headcount over the coming years, supported by offices opening in new locations across the country and our strong investment pipeline, coupled with our expansion into new markets such as industrial power generation with our very own Energy‑from‑Waste facility, there is no better time to join the family here at Vital Energi.

The Package

• Salary negotiable DOE
• Company Car/ Allowance
• Contributory Company Pension Scheme
• Non‑contributory death‑in‑service insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 Days Holiday plus 8 days bank holidays.
• Additional holidays awarded in line with length of service
• Option to purchase/sell additional holidays
• Onsite gym/wellbeing centre at our Blackburn Head Office
• Discounted gym membership across the UK
• EV charging points where possible

Applications will be processed within 28 days of receipt. If you have not heard from us within this time period it will mean that your application has unfortunately been unsuccessful. The company is opposed to all forms of discrimination and will select for employment, training and promotion on the basis of suitability for the job and/or merit. It is company policy that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, ethnic or national origins, political affiliations, religious beliefs, marital status, physical disability or is disadvantaged by unjustifiable conditions or requirements. Applicants must have the unrestricted and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of employment, without the need for sponsorship. Due to the nature of this role, we are unable to support visa sponsorship or employ individuals with time‑limited permission or conditions attached to their right to work in the UK.

Notice To Agency And Search Firm Representatives

Vital Energi Utilities Ltd is not accepting unsolicited CVs from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. CVs submitted to any Vital Energi Utilities Ltd employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Vital Energi Utilities Ltd. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.