PLC Engineer in London

This is an on-site role based out of our London office. We are not just designing machines; we are defining how smart manufacturing will scale. At Reelables, we are building the world’s first reel-to-reel manufacturing lines for ultra-thin 5G tracking labels. We are combining real-time, vision-based quality control with OOP-driven TwinCAT PLC architecture to tackle mass manufacturing challenges head-on.

If you are passionate about industrial automation, love writing structured text (no ladder logic, thank you), and enjoy throwing in a bit of Python or C when needed, you will feel right at home here. We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Beckhoff systems, PackML architectures, and a tight-knit crew of mechatronic and electrical engineers who genuinely love building cool, purposeful machines.

Why Work here? At Reelables, you won’t be stuck tweaking legacy code or fixing conveyor belts. You will be designing real machines from the ground up, working directly on hardware and software with the freedom to shape how modern manufacturing works. You will be listened to, trusted, and supported - and you will see your work in action every day.

Responsibilities:

• Resolve complex control logic challenges during commissioning and real-time operations—troubleshooting hardware and software in concert.
• Design and tune control loops including PID for heating, inertia compensation, and motion-based systems in multi-axis motion contexts.
• Architect, review, and own structured-text, OOP TwinCAT PLC code with PackML or equivalent state-machine method.
• Define and drive good coding practice across version control, documentation, modular design, and code reviews.
• Integrate vision-based QC systems and motion control into a unified control framework (TwinCAT Vision used nice to have if you have the experience).
• Design and implement intuitive, robust HMI interfaces with a strong focus on ease-of-use for technicians, enabling quick startup, fault diagnosis, and safe recovery with minimal training.
• Develop TCP hooks to enable PLC to Python interfaces for traceability, telemetry, and automation tools.
• Mentor junior engineers and assume leadership for escalated debugging and design strategy.
• Hands-on mapping of electrical / IO panels, I/O troubleshooting and assisting with physical commissioning.

Experience:

We are looking for a practically experienced controls engineer, not just someone who ticks boxes, but someone who has built machines, debugged them in the field, and knows what good work looks like. References, project examples, or real-world experience stories are all welcome.

The ideal candidate will have experience with some (or most) of the following:

• Working on reel-to-reel, tension-controlled, or continuous manufacturing systems involving tapes, labels, films, etc.
• Creating clean, intuitive HMI designs that allow technicians to operate, diagnose, and restart machines quickly and with minimal training.
• Comfortable getting stuck into cross-disciplinary challenges with mechanical, software, and electrical engineers, especially during commissioning.
• Integrating vision systems (e.g., Beckhoff Vision or similar) into real-time control loops or QC workflows.
• Experience with dispensing applications, especially where timing, precision, and coordination matter.
• Designing and commissioning multi-axis motion systems, including linear motors, coordinated servo drives, and inertia-sensitive processes.
• Implementing and tuning PID (and other) control systems, especially thermal loops.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, and confidently debug issues across both software and control panels.
• Writing robust, maintainable PLC software using structured text, preferably in TwinCAT 3 with an OOP architecture.
• Familiarity with PackML or structured state-machine implementations.
• Building TCP/IP hooks to connect PLCs to external software (e.g., Python or cloud-based analytics/telemetry).