Advanced Automation & Bespoke Machinery
Location: Gloucester
Salary: £45,000-£60,000, depending on experience
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Take complex automation projects from initial concept through to international commissioning.
Are you an experienced Controls Engineer with strong Allen-Bradley PLC programming experience? Would you like to design and deliver advanced control systems for bespoke, high-specification machinery used by customers around the world?
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established and growing engineering business at the forefront of automation and special-purpose machinery.
You will have genuine technical ownership of projects, developing control solutions from the ground up and remaining involved throughout design, machine build, testing and final commissioning. The position offers varied engineering challenges, exposure to advanced technologies and international travel—all supported by an excellent salary and benefits package.
Why Join?
Salary of £45,000-£60,000, depending on experience
Additional travel allowance
Private medical insurance
Company pension scheme
Life assurance and income protection
Employee incentive plan
Opportunity to work on advanced, bespoke automation projects
International travel and customer-site exposure
Ongoing technical training and professional development
Genuine career progression within a growing engineering business
The opportunity to influence projects from concept to commissioning
The Role
As a Controls Engineer, you will design, develop and integrate sophisticated control systems for automated machinery. You will work closely with mechanical, electrical and software engineering teams, providing technical input throughout the complete project lifecycle.
Your responsibilities will include:
Developing, programming and modifying Allen-Bradley PLC control systems
Designing and configuring HMI and motion-control applications
Developing control solutions for complex automated and special-purpose machinery
Integrating PLC systems with distributed I/O and industrial network architectures
Supporting new machine builds, prototype development and equipment upgrades
Programming and integrating vision systems for inspection and measurement
Completing testing, validation and machine prove-out activities
Troubleshooting complex electrical, software and automation issues
Ensuring machinery complies with relevant safety standards and engineering best practice
Producing technical documentation for machine build, testing and customer handover
Commissioning machinery at customer sites in the UK and internationally
Providing technical support and fault finding following installation
Collaborating with customers, suppliers and internal engineering teams
Contributing to continuous improvement and future product development
What We’re Looking For
Previous experience as a Controls Engineer within automation, robotics or special-purpose machinery
Strong, hands-on Allen-Bradley PLC programming experience
Experience developing and configuring HMI systems
Good knowledge of motion control, distributed I/O and industrial control architectures
Ability to fault-find complex electrical and control-system issues
Experience supporting machinery through build, test and commissioning
Understanding of machinery safety standards and safe control-system design
Strong problem-solving and communication skills
Willingness to travel internationally for commissioning and customer support
This position would suit a technically driven Controls Engineer who wants greater project ownership, more varied engineering challenges and the opportunity to see their work operating successfully at customer sites around the world.
If you have strong Allen-Bradley PLC experience and are ready to take the next step in your controls engineering career, apply today
As champions of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, THOMAS Professional commit to reviewing applications we receive with complete fairness and equality.
At THOMAS Professional, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know, and we’ll be happy to accommodate your needs.
THOMAS Professional is acting as an agency on behalf of the client for this position.
THOMAS Professional is proud to be a corporate member of the REC, the recruitment industry's leading professional body.
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Salary description
£45000.00 - £60000.00 per year