At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and manage Southern Water's automation ecosystem using innovative technologies.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in transforming the water industry with cutting-edge tech.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, health benefits, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex problems and driving innovation in water services.
- Qualifications: Experience with Power Platform and automation technologies is essential.
The predicted salary is between 49200 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Durrington (with some travel to Falmer)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (37 hours per week) open to discussing flexible Start & Finish times to support work-life balance
Hybrid: Minimum 2 days onsite
Salary: £49,200 - £60,000
Role Overview
As a Power & Co-pilot Platform Engineer, you’ll play a key role in shaping and managing Southern Water’s growing automation ecosystem. Water is one of society's most essential services, but few people realise the scale of technology innovation driving the industry forward. At Southern Water, we're building a technology-enabled organisation where data, AI, automation and digital innovation are helping us improve services for customers and protect the environment.
We're creating a new Intelligent Automation and Process Engineering capability that will sit at the heart of this transformation. This is your opportunity to help redesign how work gets done, combining low-code technologies, orchestration and AI-powered solutions to deliver smarter, faster and more efficient ways of operating. You'll work on meaningful challenges with real-world impact, helping to shape a scalable automation ecosystem and influence how this growing capability evolves. If you're excited by innovation, solving complex problems and making a genuine difference, there's never been a better time to join Southern Water.
Working within the Process & Automation Centre of Excellence, you’ll take hands-on ownership and administration of core platforms like Power Platform & Co-pilot ensuring they’re secure, scalable. You’ll partner closely with architecture and security teams to define standards, improve performance, and support the rollout of AI, Automation and Copilot-driven solutions. This role combines hands-on platform engineering with strategic input, giving you real influence over how automation and AI are adopted across the business.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong experience with Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps, Copilot Studio, Microsoft 365 Admin, Power Platform Admin, Agent 365)
- Background in RPA / automation platforms + Dataverse & Fabric
- Understanding of security principles (DLP, RBAC, Purview)
- Ability to manage enterprise environments (performance, resilience, support)
- Experience producing technical standards and documentation
Desirable Certifications:
- MS-102
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Microsoft certifications (PL-200, PL-400, PL-600)
- Experience with Copilot Studio or conversational AI
- Knowledge of Azure OpenAI / RAG solutions
- Familiarity with Dataverse, Graph, or enterprise systems
- Exposure to monitoring and observability tools
- Interest in emerging technology and innovation
- Familiarity of AI / Copilot capabilities and governance
Progression opportunities
Southern Water offers career progression, training, and development opportunities.
About Southern Water
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.
At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional information:
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.
Interested in the role?
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so if you are interested in the position please do send your application over today to ensure consideration. We truly appreciate every application. Please note, that due to the volume of interest, we may not be able to provide personalised feedback to all applicants.
Our Benefits
- Company and performance-related bonus
- Generous pension
- Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary
- Health benefits through a Cash Plan
- Two paid community volunteering days a year
- 28 days annual holiday
- Occupational health service
- Retail discount app
- We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options
Everybody Welcome
We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Need flexibility in your work?
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
Automation Platform Engineer in Durrington employer: Southern Water group
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can lead and innovate in the water industry. With a commitment to employee growth, competitive benefits including a generous pension and health plans, and a culture that values diverse perspectives, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive workplace in Kent. Join us as we transform water services and contribute to a sustainable future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Platform Engineer in Durrington
✨Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups
We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like Southern Water group!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Automation Platform Engineer position at Southern Water group, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.
✨Leverage Your Uni Career Services
If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when Southern Water group is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!
✨Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications
While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Automation Platform Engineer role at Southern Water group!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Platform Engineer in Durrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!
Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to Southern Water group and its goals.
Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Water group
✨Master Your Technical Knowledge
In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to Southern Water group.
✨Understand Industry Trends
Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at Southern Water group, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.
✨Commit to Continuous Learning
As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.
