Summary
As an Apprentice Control Systems Engineer, you will design and develop control software to automate industrial processes such as manufacturing and utilities. In different industry sectors, such as Process and Manufacturing companies and vital utilities. You will undertake a range of duties which will build on your academic qualifications.
Wage
£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
The pay may be negotiated and may rise after a probation period has been successfully completed.
Training course
Automation and controls engineering technician (level 4)
Hours
Monday - Friday, between 8.00am - 5.00pm
40 hours a week
Start date
Sunday 30 November 2025
Duration
4 years
Positions available
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
* Ensure timely attendance to courses as agreed with management
* Ensure that any work is completed to a satisfactory standard and handed in on time
* Use Microsoft Desktop applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams
* Production of functional design specifications (FDS)
* Develop software applications for Programmable Logic
* Controllers (PLC’s) and Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications
* Fully test all developed applications ready for commissioning at client premises
* Work proactively as part of a team
Training:
* An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying
* College or training organisation
* TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY
* Your training course
* Automation and controls engineering technician
* Equal to Level 4 (Higher national certificate)
Where you'll work
Dobson House
Regent Centre, Gosforth
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE3 3PF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SUNDERLAND ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Training course
Automation and controls engineering technician (level 4)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Safety Effective - The ability to work safely in an industrial environment and where required, produce risk assessment and method statement documentation. Be able to apply the principles of functional machinery or process safety including SIL (Safety Integrated Level) and PL (Performance Level) terminology.
* Engineering documentation - Production and interpretation of a range of technical documentation (device manuals, operating procedures, schematics, fault reports etc), and working with company documentation systems.
* Project engineering capabilities - Support of installation, commissioning, shut-down, start-up and maintenance, service, or support of a wide range of systems and devices.
* Diagnostic capabilities - Fault finding, diagnosis, rectification and reporting of automation control systems and controls applications via the utilisation of formal problem solving methods and diagnostic tools or software.
* Instrumentation configuration and calibration - Set-up, calibrate and commission a wide variety of field level instrumentation that interfaces to automation and control systems
* Industrial Networks configuration and support - configure, assist commissioning and continued support of industrial network solutions at all hierarchical levels of control system integration using the requisite tools and or software.
* HMI and SCADA configuration and programming - Make changes to existing systems or implement new configurations.
* PLC or Robot configuration and programming - Implement complex PLC or Robot program content and configurations to affect changes to increase availability and or efficiency of automation controlled machinery and the ability to configure PLC and or Robot hardware and program a wide variety of PLC’s and or Robot’s.
* Safety Effective - The ability to work safely in an industrial environment and where required, produce risk assessment and method statement documentation. Be able to apply the principles of functional machinery or process safety including SIL (Safety Integrated Level) and PL (Performance Level) terminology.
* Engineering documentation - Production and interpretation of a range of technical documentation (device manuals, operating procedures, schematics, fault reports etc), and working with company documentation systems.
* Project engineering capabilities - Support of installation, commissioning, shut-down, start-up and maintenance, service, or support of a wide range of systems and devices.
* Diagnostic capabilities - Fault finding, diagnosis, rectification and reporting of automation control systems and controls applications via the utilisation of formal problem solving methods and diagnostic tools or software.
* Instrumentation configuration and calibration - Set-up, calibrate and commission a wide variety of field level instrumentation that interfaces to automation and control systems
* Industrial Networks configuration and support - configure, assist commissioning and continued support of industrial network solutions at all hierarchical levels of control system integration using the requisite tools and or software.
* HMI and SCADA configuration and programming - Make changes to existing systems or implement new configurations.
* PLC or Robot configuration and programming - Implement complex PLC or Robot program content and configurations to affect changes to increase availability and or efficiency of automation controlled machinery and the ability to configure PLC and or Robot hardware and program a wide variety of PLC’s and or Robot’s.
Training schedule
* Automation and Controls Engineering Technician Level 4 Apprenticeship Standard
* HNC Instrumentation and Control Engineering by Flexible Open Learning
* Training delivered by remote learning locally
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* another (grade C)
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
A Level in:
* Physics (grade C)
* technology (grade C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Customer care skills
* Problem solving skills
* Presentation skills
* Administrative skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Patience
* Physical fitness
Other requirements
It is expected that candidates will have three A Levels or a Level 3 equivalent. Please advise of any other relevant qualifications or experience you may have.