Controls/Automation Design Engineer

NES Fircroft are currently recruiting for a Controls/Automation Design Engineer for our client, who are a global, industry leader in power technology, manufacturing industrial and heavy-duty gas turbines from their facility in Lincoln.

Controls/Automation Design Engineer
Location: Lincoln, UK
Contract Type: Contract
Duration: initial 12-month contract

The Role
The Controls/Automation Design Engineer will be responsible for the development, standardisation and maintenance of control system and automation design documentation across a range of industrial power generation applications.
The successful candidate will create and maintain AutoCAD libraries, templates and standard designs, while supporting the continuous improvement of control panel and automation documentation. This role requires strong AutoCAD experience and would suit an engineer with exposure to industrial control systems, PLC platforms and control panel design.
Working closely with Controls Engineers, Project Engineers and Manufacturing teams, you will play a key role in ensuring consistency, quality and efficiency across engineering design deliverables. Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain AutoCAD libraries, templates and drawing standards.
• Create and manage a comprehensive AutoCAD symbol library for automation and control system applications.
• Support the design and standardisation of industrial control and automation systems.
• Produce and maintain control panel layouts, engineering drawings and associated documentation.
• Review, update and improve existing standard control panel designs.
• Convert legacy drawings and engineering documentation into current AutoCAD standards.
• Ensure all design deliverables comply with internal engineering and quality standards.
• Work collaboratively with Controls, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering teams.
• Support continuous improvement activities relating to engineering documentation and design standardisation.
• Provide technical support relating to control system drawing standards and documentation practices.

Core Deliverables
AutoCAD Symbol Library Development
Develop a comprehensive AutoCAD symbol library covering:
PLC & Automation Platforms

• Allen Bradley ControlLogix
• Siemens PCS7
• Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal

Control System Components

• PLC hardware
• Remote I/O systems
• Communication equipment
• Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs)
• Instrumentation interfaces
• Network devices and communication module.

Specialist Monitoring & Protection Systems

• Fire & Gas systems
• Vibration monitoring systems
• Protection and safety-related equipment

Standard Panel Components

• Terminal blocks
• Circuit breakers
• Relays
• Power supplies
• Ancillary control panel components
• Standard electrical and control hardware

Standard Design Development
Update and standardise control panel designs including:

• Allen Bradley ControlLogix systems
• Siemens PCS7 systems
• Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal systems

Additional responsibilities include:

• Creating standard engineering templates for future projects.
• Improving consistency and quality across control system documentation.
• Establishing reusable design standards to support engineering efficiency.

Legacy Drawing Conversion

• Convert existing standard junction box designs into AutoCAD.
• Migrate historical and legacy documentation into current engineering standards.
• Ensure converted designs are fully documented, controlled and suitable for future project use.
• Support the creation of a centralised library of standard engineering documentation.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience using AutoCAD within an engineering, industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience producing detailed engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Understanding of industrial control systems and automation architectures.
• Experience working with electrical schematics, panel layouts and control system documentation.
• Strong knowledge of engineering drawing standards and document control processes.
• Ability to interpret electrical and instrumentation drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in control panel design.
• Understanding of PLC-based control systems.
• Knowledge of industrial automation systems and control architectures.
• Experience working with:
  • Allen Bradley ControlLogix
  • Siemens PCS7
  • Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal
• Familiarity with Fire & Gas systems.
• Familiarity with vibration monitoring systems.
• Experience within power generation, energy, oil & gas, process industries or heavy manufacturing.
• Understanding of control system hardware integration and instrumentation.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or Degree in Electrical Engineering, Control & Instrumentation Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics or a related engineering discipline.
• Equivalent industry experience will also be considered.

Personal Attributes

• Strong organisational and documentation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced engineering environment.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.