Senior EC&I Engineer / Lead EC&I Engineer
Salary: £60,000 - £80,000 + benefits
Location: Cheshire
Employment Type: Permanent
Sector: Chemical Manufacturing / COMAH
Ref: KPI - EC&I Lead
Overview
We're working with a leading chemical manufacturer operating a Top-Tier COMAH site in Cheshire, who are seeking a Senior EC&I Engineer / Lead EC&I Engineer to take technical ownership of electrical, control, and instrumentation systems across the facility. This is a key leadership role for a hands-on engineer who can combine technical expertise, project involvement, and site-wide maintenance leadership.
You'll be responsible for delivering a safe, compliant and efficient EC&I function-covering maintenance strategy, standards governance, instrumentation calibration, SCADA development, DSEAR compliance, and oversight of all EC&I activity undertaken internally or via subcontractors.
This role offers strong autonomy, visibility at senior level, and direct involvement in CAPEX, safety improvements, and operational performance across a complex chemical processing environment.
The Role
As Senior / Lead EC&I Engineer, you will:
Maintenance & Compliance Leadership
* Own the EC&I maintenance strategy across the site including proactive and reactive maintenance.
* Lead LOTO and electrical isolations, acting as the Responsible Person for HV/LV works.
* Ensure legislative compliance including DSEAR, COMAH, BS EN 61508 / 61511 SIL systems.
* Lead calibration, loop checking and verification across all instrumentation.
* Oversee continuous improvement of site EC&I standards and maintenance practices.
Technical Ownership
* Develop and maintain SCADA systems in collaboration with Automation and IT teams.
* Accept and verify EC&I design throughout all project phases-front end, detailed design, FAT/SAT, commissioning.
* Ensure correct documentation and asset data is captured for the site's CMMS.
Project & Stakeholder Management
* Act as EC&I technical lead on all new projects onsite.
* Liaise with contractors, suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure safe, timely and cost-controlled delivery.
* Provide regular progress reporting to senior management.
* Identify risks, delays or slippage and implement corrective actions.
* Support internal audits and HSE inspections; contribute to the COMAH team.
Operational Contribution
* Work daily with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering and Planning teams.
* Maintain KPIs linked to safety-critical maintenance and CMMS performance.
* Raise work orders and ensure accurate asset data for repeat-failure analysis.
* Suggest monthly improvements in safety and performance as part of the site's continuous improvement culture.
About You
You'll be an experienced EC&I Engineer with strong maintenance management capability, ideally from a chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, or other regulated process environment.
Key Skills & Experience
* Strong background in Electrical, Control & Instrumentation engineering within a high-hazard or COMAH environment.
* Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
* Able to lead contractors and internal teams effectively.
* Knowledge of UK legislation and safe systems of work (HSWA, CDM, DSEAR).
* Confident with risk assessments, method statements and permit-to-work processes.
* Strong communication, stakeholder management and decision-making capability.
Education & Qualifications
Essential:
* Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
* C&G 18th Edition
* C&G Electrical Installation
* DSEAR / COMPEX
Desirable:
* IEC 61508 / 61511 SIL knowledge
* Experience with Siemens S7
* SCADA development experience
* Understanding of COMAH
* Familiarity with CMMS systems
Package & Hours
* Salary: £60,000 - £80,000 depending on experience
* Hours: 8am-4pm Monday-Friday (flexibility required)
* Some UK and occasional overseas travel may be required.
Apply
If you're an experienced EC&I Engineer looking to step into a senior, influential role on a top-tier COMAH site, we'd love to speak with you.