Controls & Automation Lead

• Permanent, full-time
• Onsite working with travel to customer sites
• £60,000 salary

We're supporting a well established engineering and automation business in the search for a Controls & Automation Lead to take ownership of complex, multi-disciplinary automation projects across a diverse customer base.

This is a senior, delivery-focused role where you'll act as the technical authority for controls systems-driving design integrity, ensuring successful commissioning, and leading teams through full project lifecycles.

You'll be responsible for leading the design, validation, and commissioning of end-to-end controls solutions, spanning both hardware and software systems (plc, robotics, drives, safety, and vision).

Operating across multiple projects simultaneously, you'll sit at the centre of engineering delivery-working closely with project managers, design teams, and installation teams to ensure systems are delivered right first time, on time, and to specification.

This role combines hands-on technical leadership with project-level ownership, including specification definition, design approval, and customer-facing engagement.

• Own and define controls specifications, ensuring alignment to customer and regulatory requirements
• Lead design validation and system approval across plcs, hmIs, robotics, safety systems, drives, vision, and scada
• Oversee commissioning strategy, fat planning, and installation validation
• Act as the technical escalation point for controls across multiple concurrent projects
• Support rfq generation, technical reviews, and commercial/technical levelling
• Work closely with engineering and project leads to plan resource, milestones, and delivery strategy
• Drive change control processes for all controls-related activities
• Promote and introduce new technologies, tools, and best practice methodologies
• Support and mentor engineers, contributing to team capability development

• 5+ years' experience in industrial automation / machine build environments
• Proven experience leading controls teams across multiple projects
• Strong technical background across:
  • plc/hmi programming (siemens, rockwell, beckhoff)
  • robotics (abb, fanuc, kawasaki)
  • safety systems (pilz, siemens safety, rockwell)
  • drives & motion systems (siemens, sew, bosch)
  • vision systems (cognex, keyence)
• Experience delivering automation systems through full lifecycle (design build commission)
• Strong understanding of automation standards, compliance, and machinery safety
• Comfortable operating in a client-facing, technically accountable role

• Experience with structured standards (e.g. packml, transline, oem-specific frameworks)
• Exposure to regulated environments (e.g. gamp, 21 cfr part 11)
• Vendor certifications (siemens, rockwell, abb, etc.)
• degree-qualified in engineering (or equivalent experience)