Controls Engineer Recruitment

What the role involves

• Writing PLC programs using Siemens TIA Portal, Allen Bradley Studio 5000, Mitsubishi GX Works, or Beckhoff TwinCAT depending on the client base, following structured coding standards and maintaining version-controlled backups of all programme releases
• Developing HMI screens and SCADA applications using WinCC, Ignition, Wonderware, or FactoryTalk to give operators visibility of process data, designing screen hierarchies and alarm philosophies in line with ISA-18.2 principles where required
• Producing functional design specifications (FDS) and detailed design specifications (DDS) that translate client requirements into control logic
• Conducting FAT and SAT testing with clients and commissioning teams, resolving punch list items through to sign-off and ensuring all control system documentation is updated to reflect as-built configuration before final acceptance
• Troubleshooting and fault-finding on live control systems, often under production pressure with minimal downtime tolerance
• Supporting system integration and network configuration across Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profibus protocols

Who employers are looking for

A BEng in Electrical, Electronic, or Control Engineering is the standard graduate route, though HNC or HND qualified candidates with strong PLC programming experience are routinely placed at junior and mid-level. PLC programming proficiency in at least one major platform is essential. Siemens TIA Portal (Step 7 for older systems) and Rockwell Studio 5000 are the most in-demand platforms across UK employers. Candidates who can work across both Siemens and Rockwell platforms are significantly more marketable than single-platform specialists.

SCADA experience, particularly with Ignition, WinCC, or Wonderware, is expected at mid-senior level. IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 functional safety experience is a differentiator in process industries, oil and gas, and chemical manufacturing, adding 15-20% to market rate. Industrial networking knowledge, covering Profinet, Profibus, Ethernet/IP, and Modbus, is increasingly expected as systems become more interconnected.

Contract rates for experienced controls engineers range from £350 to £550 per day. Permanent salary growth in this role has outpaced many engineering disciplines over the past three years, reflecting sustained demand against limited supply of experienced practitioners.

At graduate and junior level, employers expect competency in at least one PLC platform and the ability to write structured, well-commented code that someone else can maintain. Mid-career controls engineers are expected to own a complete system scope, from functional design specification through to SAT sign-off, without handholding on code structure or network configuration. The distinction at senior level is less about platform depth and more about system architecture: the ability to specify the right control solution for a given process, manage a controls team on a concurrent multi-project basis, and take accountability for functional safety assessment outcomes.

Water and utilities employers tend to value engineers with cross-protocol network experience more than those with deep single-platform expertise, because their installed base is typically mixed. Pharmaceutical batch control demands familiarity with S88 batch recipe management and validated change control procedures that differ significantly from manufacturing automation. Controls engineers who want to work in pharmaceutical process automation should familiarise themselves with ISA-88 and the ISPE GAMP 5 approach to software validation before targeting this sector.

Salary benchmarks

Multi-platform PLC experience (Siemens and Rockwell) commands a premium. Functional safety (SIL-rated systems) experience adds 15-20% to market value. Contract rates for experienced controls engineers range £350-£550/day.

Industries that hire Controls Engineers

• Food and beverage manufacturing: automated production and filling lines where OEE improvement and downtime reduction are constant priorities; controls engineers here work closely with production teams to optimise sequence logic and manage changeover times as well as fault response
• Pharmaceutical and chemical: batch process control and recipe management on validated systems, requiring GMP-compliant change control; ISA-88 S88 batch architecture and GAMP 5 software validation are specific knowledge requirements that engineers should acquire before targeting this sector
• Water and utilities: SCADA systems for treatment works and pumping stations, often remote-monitored over telemetry networks
• Automotive and general manufacturing: production line automation requiring integration of safety PLCs, vision systems, and robot cells
• Power generation and energy: control and protection systems for generation assets, substations, and grid-connected renewable installations

Related roles

• Automation Engineer: broader automation role incorporating robotics and system integration alongside PLC and SCADA work
• Electrical Design Engineer: produces the electrical schematics and panel designs that controls engineers then programme and commission
• Commissioning Engineer: takes the lead on system handover, working closely with controls engineers during FAT and SAT
• Systems Engineer: coordinates across disciplines on complex programmes where control system integration is one element of a wider architecture

Where we place Controls Engineer professionals

We place controls engineer professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.