At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and improve control systems across multiple sites in the Fresh Water Team.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in transforming the water industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, health benefits, generous holiday, and a company van.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 38564 - 55703 £ per year.
Location: Sussex - Geographically based within location area (negotiable), with travel to multiple sites.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 38 hours/ week (Mon-Wed 08:00-16:30, Thurs-Fri 08:00-15:30), standby cover including weekends and evenings
Salary: Base salary from £38,564.10 - £55,703.70 per annum (depending on skills and experience). Overtime and on-call payments available.
Benefits:
- A company van (for business use only) which you can take home, and a fuel card, all PPE and tools
- Health Care cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage)
- Competitive pension
- 25 days holiday allowance
About the role
Working in our Fresh Water Team, you will be responsible for maintaining and improving ICA systems across multiple sites. You will ensure compliance, reliability, and efficiency of control systems while supporting continuous improvement.
What you will be responsible for:
- Planned, reactive & proactive maintenance including fault finding, calibration, testing, investigation and programming on a variety of equipment sets including; telemetry, analysers, dosing equipment, control (e.g. networks, MCC/LVA components, PID controllers) and instrumentation (e.g. flowmeters, level transmitters, pressure transducers, temperature probes)
- Implementing process improvements
- Diagnosing control system faults on PLC control systems such as; Rockwell, Mitsubishi, Allen Bradley and a range of package plant PLC’s.
- HMI & SCADA system backups and modifications.
- Setup and maintenance of site control networks
- Undertaking planned maintenance and/or calibrating instrumentation
- Responding to faults/ alarms
- Completing documentation accurately and in a timely manner
What you’ll bring to the role:
Essential:
- NVQ Level 3 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering OR time-served apprenticeship (or equivalent).
- Strong problem-solving and fault-finding skills.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Experience with PLC programming and SCADA systems.
- Live within 45 mins of our sites
Desirable:
- Experience in process-oriented industries (water, petrochemical, manufacturing).
- ONC or HNC in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Control
Progression opportunities
Southern Water offers monitored career paths, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician 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.
