Senior Instrumentation, Control and Automation Engineer in Reading

Join Thames Water’s Major Projects Team – Shape the Future of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure.

Are you ready to take on one of the most exciting engineering challenges in the UK water sector? We’re looking for a Senior Instrumentation, Control and Automation Engineer (ICA) to join our Major Projects team, where you’ll play a central role in delivering some of the most technically complex and high‑profile schemes within the UK’s largest potable water and wastewater treatment investment programmes. With project values ranging from £30 million to over £120 million, and spanning the full lifecycle from feasibility through to commissioning and handover, this is a rare opportunity to influence national infrastructure—protecting public health, enhancing the environment, and supporting sustainable growth for millions of customers.

Responsibilities:

• Leading ICA technical assurance activities across major capital projects to ensure delivery is safe, efficient, and fully aligned to time, cost, and quality expectations.
• Championing a strong health, safety, and wellbeing culture, actively supporting Thames Water’s ‘Triple Zero’ vision of zero incidents, zero harm and zero compromise.
• Collaborating closely with contractors, consultants, and multi‑disciplinary teams to ensure designs meet the required technical, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Ensuring solutions fully meet the Project Brief, respond to stakeholder needs, and deliver the best Whole Life Cost and operational value.

Location: This role is hybrid, based at Clearwater Court, with travel to project sites as required. You’ll typically spend 2 to 3 days per week on site to support design reviews, assurance activities, and project delivery. 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation engineering—or equivalent experience gained in a relevant engineering role within the water or wastewater sector. We also welcome applicants from other industries with strong transferable technical skills.
• Proven leadership in fostering a positive Health, Safety and Wellbeing culture.
• Significant experience in a design or design‑related engineering role.
• Strong technical knowledge of asset standards, deep expertise within your ICA discipline, and experience collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Experience contributing to Stage Gate processes and ensuring robust technical governance.
• Strong commercial awareness and a practical understanding of engineering contracts.
• A personal commitment to demonstrating behaviours aligned to Thames Water’s Values.
• Resilience, determination under pressure, and the drive to deliver projects safely, on time, on budget, and to the highest technical standard.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary from £55,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays).
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Wider benefits scheme, including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your well-being.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits. If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.