PLC Controls Engineer – Industrial Automation (Material Handling & Controls)
Location: North West UK - Cheshire (must be based in the region)
Type: 6-Month Contract → Permanent (Full-time)
Salary: £60,000 – £80,000
On-site: 5 days per week (38 hours) with global travel required
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced PLC Controls Engineer to join a specialist engineering team delivering advanced automated material handling systems used in aviation security environments worldwide.
This is a hands‑on role focused on the development, commissioning, and support of high-throughput conveyor‑based systems used in airport passenger screening lanes. You will play a key role across the full system lifecycle—from design, develop straight through to global deployment commissioning and on‑site support.
Key Responsibilities of the PLC Controls Engineer:
- Develop and maintain PLC control systems for automated conveyor and material handling solutions
- Support integration of robotics and automated movement systems
- Perform on‑site commissioning, installation, and system optimisation
- Diagnose and resolve faults in live operational environments
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams across design, build, and deployment phases
- Provide technical support during international project delivery
- Design and develop comprehensive PLC‑controlled material handling systems, including hardware selection, plc programming, and integration.
- Configure and program managed switches, including VLAN setup, port access control, security patching, redundancy implementation, and performance monitoring.
- Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues with integrated systems promptly and systematically.
- Provide technical support and assistance to field engineers during system installation and commissioning.
- Document and maintain detailed records of PLC programs and system configurations.
Essential Requirements of the PLC Controls Engineer:
- Must be based in Cheshire
- Strong experience with material handling systems (conveyors and robotics essential)
- Proven Siemens PLC expertise (e.g. TIA Portal, S7 series)
- Demonstrated hands‑on commissioning experience
- Strong fault‑finding and troubleshooting skills in live environments
- Ability to read and interpret electrical and mechanical drawings
- Willingness to travel internationally
- Experience integrating robotics systems
- Background in high‑throughput or automated environments (e.g. logistics, airports, warehousing)
- Practical experience in commissioning and support background
Experience of the PLC Controls Engineer
- 5+ Years Experience relevant industry experience within automotive, aerospace or automation
- Experience of leading mechanical materials handling projects
- HND Automation and Controls Engineering (ESSENTIAL)
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (Desirable)
- Experienced on Siemens products and toolsets.
Important Note
This role is not suitable for candidates from process industries (e.g. oil & gas, chemicals, water treatment).
What’s on Offer
- Work on cutting‑edge aviation security automation systems deployed globally
- Opportunity for international project exposure within airport environments
- Involvement across the full system lifecycle (build → test → deploy → support)
- Long‑term career opportunity within a specialist, high‑growth sector
- Competitive salary and clear path to a permanent position
You must be eligible to live and work within the UK. Sponsorship is not provided.
