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# Principal/Senior Controls Engineer

- **Company:** Automation Experts
- **Location:** Sleaford, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £50,000.0 - £70,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Hardware Design, Software Architecture, Process Control Systems
- **Published:** October 7, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerjet.co.uk/job/gbd75de7366d3df164bd6ccf5bb3d748b9/eaa

## About the Role

* Degree qualified in Electrical, Electronic, Control, Instrumentation or Automation Engineering
 * Minimum 5 years' experience developing PLC-based industrial control systems
 * Experience designing hardware and software for gas turbine control or fuel systems
 * Strong knowledge of PLC programming, control system architecture and industrial networking
 * Previous commissioning and site installation experience
 * Experience producing technical documentation including Functional Design Specifications, FAT/SAT documentation and test procedures
 * Excellent fault-finding, analytical and problem-solving skills
 * Strong communication skills with the ability to work closely with customers and multidisciplinary engineering teams
 * Technical leadership experience and a passion for mentoring engineers would be advantageous
 * Offshore Safety Survival Certificate would be beneficial

## Description

This is an outstanding opportunity for a Principal/Senior Controls Engineer to join a specialist engineering business with decades of expertise delivering advanced control systems.
Working on technically challenging projects from tender through to commissioning, you'll take a leading role in the design, development and delivery of bespoke Rockwell PLC-based control systems while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams and supporting the continued evolution of innovative control technologies.
Principal/Senior Controls Engineer - The Role:

 * Lead the design, development and implementation of PLC-based control systems
 * Produce functional design specifications, software architectures, hardware designs, networking documentation and interface specifications
 * Develop, test and validate control system software, ensuring solutions meet customer, safety and quality requirements
 * Support projects throughout the full life cycle, from tendering and detailed design through to FAT, SAT, commissioning and customer handover
 * Provide technical leadership across engineering, manufacturing, project delivery and commissioning activities
 * Work closely with customers, suppliers and internal teams to deliver high-quality control system solutions
 * Support Factory and Site Acceptance Testing, installation, commissioning and post-project technical support
 * Contribute to continuous improvement, technical standards and the development of future control system products
 * Provide technical support to business development activities, customer meetings and project bids