At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of innovative automation and AI solutions.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a forward-thinking company transforming the water industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team driving meaningful change in water management.
- Why this job: Shape the future of automation in a vital industry and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in automation solutions and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid working between our head office in Durrington (Worthing) 2 days per week, and home.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Salary: Starting salary of up to £72,000, commensurate to skills and experience.
About The Role
Water underpins everyday life, yet it remains an industry that is still evolving in how it uses automation, AI and digital technologies to transform operations. At Southern Water, that is changing. We are building a new Process & Intelligent Automation capability at the heart of the organisation. This is not about incremental improvements, it is about embedding automation, AI and digital engineering into how work gets done, creating a more efficient, resilient and future‑ready business. As Automation Engineering Manager, you will play a critical role in shaping that future. This is a senior technical leadership role within a growing capability, giving you the opportunity to lead the design, development and delivery of automation and AI‑enabled solutions at scale. You will set engineering standards, drive delivery excellence and build a high‑performing team that delivers real business value. Working closely with Architecture, Platform and Process teams, you will influence the automation roadmap, shape delivery approaches and ensure solutions are secure, scalable and aligned to enterprise standards. This role goes beyond delivery management – it is about building an engineering function that enables automation and AI at enterprise scale.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Leading the design and delivery of complex automation, workflow and AI‑enabled solutions across Power Platform, RPA, Logic Apps, Alteryx, Foundry and Co‑Pilot Studio
- Translating business and process requirements into robust, scalable and secure solution designs
- Owning end‑to‑end delivery, including build, testing, deployment, documentation and transition to operations
- Setting and enforcing engineering standards, ensuring quality, resilience and maintainability across all solutions
- Providing technical leadership, coaching and mentoring to Automation Engineers at different levels of seniority
- Conducting code reviews, peer reviews and quality assurance to uphold engineering best practice
- Building reusable components, patterns and frameworks to improve delivery efficiency and consistency
- Working closely with Platform Engineering to ensure secure environments, governance and deployment practices
- Collaborating with Architecture to ensure solutions align with integration patterns, security models and governance standards
- Partnering with Process teams to ensure solutions support optimised processes and measurable performance improvements
- Leading the resolution of complex technical issues, defects and performance challenges
- Driving continuous improvement across engineering practices, tooling and delivery approaches
- Exploring emerging technologies, including AI and Co‑Pilot capabilities, to drive innovation and value
Essential
- Extensive experience designing and delivering automation solutions across multiple technologies
- Strong hands‑on expertise across Power Platform, RPA, Logic Apps, Alteryx or similar platforms
- Proven technical leadership experience within automation or digital delivery teams
- Strong understanding of cloud governance, including DLP, RBAC, identity and secure integrations
- Experience working with APIs, integrations and enterprise data platforms
- Excellent problem‑solving and troubleshooting skills across complex technology environments
- Ability to lead, mentor and develop engineering teams
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills across technical and non‑technical audiences
Desirable
- Microsoft certifications (e.g. PL‑400, PL‑500, PL‑600, AZ‑104, AZ‑204)
- Blue Prism or ServiceNow RPA certifications
- Experience with AI tooling (e.g. Co‑Pilot Studio, Azure OpenAI)
- Knowledge of data governance and platforms such as Purview
- Exposure to cloud engineering, data engineering or AI/ML practices
- Experience in regulated or asset‑intensive environments
About Southern Water
Southern Water is delivering a generational transformation across the business, investing significantly to improve resilience, sustainability and customer outcomes. You will be joining at a time of real change, as part of a new capability that sits at the core of how the organisation evolves. This is a unique opportunity to define the foundations of process architecture in a business that is actively transforming how it operates. We offer an environment where you will have real ownership, visibility and impact, working alongside senior stakeholders to shape strategic direction and deliver meaningful change. Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water – and this role will directly contribute to how we achieve that.
Our Commitment to Diversity
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.
Automation Engineering Manager in Worthing employer: Southern Water
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the evolving field of automation and AI. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to lead a high-performing team while shaping the future of water management in a hybrid working model from our head office in Durrington. Join us to make a meaningful impact on sustainability and customer outcomes, all while enjoying competitive benefits and a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Engineering Manager in Worthing
✨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!
✨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 Engineering Manager position at Southern Water, 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 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 Engineering Manager role at Southern Water!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Engineering Manager in Worthing
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 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
✨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.
✨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, 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.
