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, company van, health care plan, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Diverse workplace with career progression and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and service excellence in water management.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 38564 - 55704 £ per year.
Location: Isle of Wight, 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 up to £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)
- Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution)
- 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.
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.
Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician employer: SouthernWaterServices
Contact Detail:
SouthernWaterServices Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend local meetups, or join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and role. Understand their values and how your skills align with their needs. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s your turn in the hot seat.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love hearing from passionate candidates who want to make a difference in the water industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the job description. We want to see how you fit into our Fresh Water Team!
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your problem-solving and fault-finding skills, especially with PLC programming and SCADA systems. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their technical expertise!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at SouthernWaterServices
✨Know Your Tech
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of PLC programming and SCADA systems. Be ready to discuss specific experiences you've had with these technologies, as well as any troubleshooting you've done. This will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but have practical skills too.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled complex issues in past roles. Think about times when you diagnosed control system faults or implemented process improvements. Being able to articulate your thought process will impress interviewers and demonstrate your value.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Familiarise yourself with Southern Water's commitment to sustainability and innovation in the water industry. Showing that you align with their values and understand their goals can set you apart from other candidates. It’s all about demonstrating that you’re not just looking for a job, but a place where you can contribute meaningfully.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or future challenges the company anticipates. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.