Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer

Location: Remote initially then moving to hybrid with a couple of days a week in the office which will be Hampshire based + monthly meet‑ups & global travel for trials

Salary: £60-75K plus share options plus benefits package

Our client is a rapidly‑growing maritime technology company pioneering innovative wind‑assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across global shipping.

This is a blank‑page opportunity for an ambitious Controls Engineer who wants to shape how we build, validate and scale control systems. You will likely have 3 or 4 years of hands-on experience, but your attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than this.

You will own the full controls lifecycle – from architecture and algorithm design through on‑board commissioning – and help establish a world‑class capability as the company grows.

Key Requirements

• Control‑system architecture expertise covering sensor/effector integration and scalable designs.
• Experience of the full controls lifecycle – building from scratch, new product life cycle, defining requirements, architecture, algorithm design, testing and commissioning
• Hands‑on networking proficiency with at least two of IP, CAN bus, Modbus, NMEA or Serial interfaces.
• Field experience diagnosing and rectifying issues in deployed systems.
• Automation experience within marine, industrial or autonomous systems.
• Growth mindset & self‑direction – able to tackle unfamiliar problems, learn rapidly and make progress with minimal guidance.
• Willingness to travel globally for sea trials, factory testing and monthly company meet‑ups (all expenses paid).

Role & Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the system architecture linking sensors, effectors and core processors for innovative products.
• Own and evolve the control algorithms, ensuring reliability, performance and ease of use.
• Develop and maintain the HMI, delivering a user‑friendly interface for operators.
• Undertake system commissioning on board vessels, troubleshooting hardware and software end‑to‑end.
• Capture and manage system requirements, securing stakeholder buy‑in and traceability from design through to in‑service support.
• Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams to integrate mechanical, electrical and software components.
• Build and lead a controls engineering team as the product portfolio and order book expand.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Deploying advanced control algorithms & AI development (e.g. Matlab/Simulink, model‑based design) to embedded hardware, PLCs, ECUs or CPUs.
• Exposure to AI/ML techniques applied to control systems.
• Knowledge of marine regulations and standards.
• Human‑Machine Interface (HMI) design for intuitive operation in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• Degree‑qualified in Control Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics or a related discipline.

Our client offers the chance to make a tangible impact on the decarbonisation of global shipping while growing with a supportive, forward‑thinking team. If you thrive on ownership, enjoy solving real‑world problems and want to help write the playbook for our controls engineering function, we would love to hear from you.

Salary & Benefits

• £55,000 – £75,000 per annum (possibly more with exceptional experience).
• Company‑wide meet‑up in London/UK once per month (2‑3 days).
• View to having a Hampshire based workshop.
• Engineering team workshop once per month.
• Regular factory or on‑ship visits for testing and trials.
• All travel & accommodation expenses paid.
• Opportunity to build a capability and progress rapidly as the company scales.
• Standard pension plus 25 days holiday + bank holidays.