At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop control software for industrial machinery and automation projects.
- Company: Join a respected control systems engineering company with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 23 days holiday, flexible working, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Work on exciting projects with a supportive team and excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make an impact in diverse industries like Automotive and Aerospace while growing your skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of PLC software experience and strong communication skills required.
- Controls Engineer
- Commutable from Leicester, Hinckley, Coventry and surrounding areas
We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to join our controls department.
Our client provides specialist control system design, software development, electrical design and manufacturing services for industrial machinery.
We deliver practical, high-quality control solutions across a wide range of sectors.
This includes Automotive, Aerospace & Defence, Logistics & Material Handling, Food & Beverage and General Manufacturing.
We are looking for an engineer who can work closely with customers from concept through to build, installation and commissioning.
The role
The role involves designing, developing, testing and commissioning PLC, HMI and safety software for industrial machinery and automation projects.
You will work on projects from software design through to commissioning and customer handover.
Key Responsibilities
-Design and develop control software for Siemens TIA Portal/S7 and/or Rockwell Studio 5000-based systems.
- Support legacy systems where required, including Siemens S7 Classic and STL/IL code.
- Write PLC software from first principles for industrial machinery and automation projects.
- Develop and test safety software, and validate it against the safety matrix and project requirements.
- Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, motion systems, fieldbus networks and remote I/O.
- Work with industrial communication networks such as Profi Net, Profibus, Ether Net/IP or similar protocols.
- Read and interpret electrical drawings, I/O schedules and functional design specifications.
- Carry out electrical and control-system fault finding, including basic checks using a multimeter.
- Create and maintain project documentation such as FDS, test documentation, commissioning notes and O&M information.
- Work closely with project managers, electrical designers, panel build, installation and commissioning teams.
- Commission systems on customer sites, including occasional weekend work and overnight stays where required by the project.
Essential Requirements
- Approximately 5+ years' experience writing PLC software from first principles within an industrial automation or machinery environment.
- Strong experience with Siemens TIA Portal/S7 and/or Rockwell Studio 5000.
- Experience writing, testing and commissioning safety-related control software.
- Experience configuring and commissioning VFDs, fieldbus networks and industrial control hardware.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings and translate them into working control software.
- Competence in practical fault-finding during build, test and site commissioning.
- Experience producing clear technical documentation, including FDS and O&M information.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office for documentation and communication.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills in English, as the role involves regular communication with UK-based customers and project teams.
- Full valid driving licence for use in the UK, as customer-site travel will be required.
- Existing right to work in the UK.
Desirable Exeprience
- Experience with Siemens S7 Classic, STL and/or IL for legacy support work.
- Design and commissioning experience with robots, particularly KUKA, ABB or FANUC.
- Experience with motion control systems, including Siemens, Rockwell, Bosch Rexroth or similar platforms.
- CNC experience, particularly Siemens, Bosch or FANUC.
- Machine safety training or formal functional-safety experience.
- Familiarity with HMI, SCADA or vision systems.
- Experience with EPLAN Electric P8 from a controls or commissioning perspective
- A background in Automotive, Food & Beverage, Aerospace, Pharmaceutical, Printing, Logistics
Benefits
- -Competitive salary, dependent on skills and experience
- 23 days holiday plus bank holidays
- 37.5-hour working week
- Workplace pension scheme
- Paid overtime for approved additional hours worked, or time off in lieu where agreed
- Training and development opportunities, including in-house and supplier-led training
- Exposure to a wide range of projects, industries and technologies
- Collaborative and supportive working environment
- Opportunity to work with a respected and established control systems engineering company
- Flexible or hybrid working may be available during suitable software design phase
Proactive Global is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Proactive Global is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy
Controls Engineer in Leicester employer: Proactive Global
Join a dynamic team where your hard work and dedication as a Goods In Operative will be truly valued. Our company fosters a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth, offering training and development opportunities to help you advance in your career. Located in a vibrant area, we provide a rewarding environment with competitive benefits, ensuring that every team member feels appreciated and motivated to contribute to our success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Controls Engineer in Leicester
✨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 Proactive Global.
✨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 Proactive Global.
✨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 Controls Engineer in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Technical Skills:When applying for the Controls 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 Proactive Global. 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 Proactive Global.
How to prepare for a job interview at Proactive Global
✨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 Proactive Global.
✨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 Proactive Global.
