Controls Engineer
Location: Remote (UK‑based) – monthly meet‑ups & global travel for trials
Reporting To: Head of Engineering
Salary: £45-65K plus excellent benefits package
Our client is a rapidly‑growing maritime technology company pioneering innovative wind‑assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across global shipping.
This is a blank‑page opportunity for an ambitious Controls Engineer who wants to shape how we build, validate and scale control systems. You will likely have 3 or 4 years of hands-on experience, but your attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than this. You will own the full controls lifecycle – from architecture and algorithm design through on‑board commissioning – and help establish a world‑class capability as the company grows.
Key Requirements
* Control‑system architecture expertise covering sensor/effector integration and scalable designs.
* Hands‑on networking proficiency with at least two of IP, CAN bus, Modbus, NMEA or Serial interfaces.
* Field experience diagnosing and rectifying issues in deployed systems.
* Automation experience within marine, industrial or autonomous systems.
* Growth mindset & self‑direction – able to tackle unfamiliar problems, learn rapidly and make progress with minimal guidance.
* Willingness to travel globally for sea trials, factory testing and monthly company meet‑ups (all expenses paid).
Role & Responsibilities
* Define and maintain the system architecture linking sensors, effectors and core processors for innovative products.
* Own and evolve the control algorithms, ensuring reliability, performance and ease of use.
* Develop and maintain the HMI, delivering a user‑friendly interface for operators.
* Undertake system commissioning on board vessels, troubleshooting hardware and software end‑to‑end.
* Capture and manage system requirements, securing stakeholder buy‑in and traceability from design through to in‑service support.
* Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams to integrate mechanical, electrical and software components.
* Build and lead a controls engineering team as the product portfolio and order book expand.
Salary & Benefits
* £45,000 – £65,000 per annum (possibly more with exceptional experience).
* Fully remote working within UK with:
* • Company‑wide meet‑up in London/UK once per month (2‑3 days).
* • Engineering team workshop once per month.
* • Regular factory or on‑ship visits for testing and trials.
* • All travel & accommodation expenses paid.
* Opportunity to build a capability and progress rapidly as the company scales.
* Standard pension plus 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
Desirable Skills & Experience
* Deploying advanced control algorithms & AI development (e.g. Matlab/Simulink, model‑based design) to embedded hardware, PLCs, ECUs or CPUs.
* Exposure to AI/ML techniques applied to control systems.
* Knowledge of marine regulations and standards.
* Human‑Machine Interface (HMI) design for intuitive operation in demanding environments.
Qualifications
* Degree‑qualified in Control Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics or a related discipline.
Our client offers the chance to make a tangible impact on the decarbonisation of global shipping while growing with a supportive, forward‑thinking team. If you thrive on ownership, enjoy solving real‑world problems and want to help write the playbook for our controls engineering function, we would love to hear from you.