The Vacancy
We have an opportunity for an EC&I (Electrical, Control & Instrumentation) Engineer to join our engineering team at our manufacturing site in Loughton, Essex. Reporting to the Engineering FLM, you will be responsible for maintaining, developing and optimising the sites electrical, control and instrumentation systems to ensure safe, reliable and compliant production operations.
A key part of this role will be to own and support the site’s vision and inspection systems, which are critical to banknote quality, process control, and product compliance. The successful candidate will provide both hands-on technical support and engineering leadership for electrical systems, PLC/SCADA controls, instrumentation, and advanced camera-based inspection technologies.
Key Responsibilities
Electrical, Control & Instrumentation Engineering
1. Perform maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work on PLCs, sensors, drives, and electrical systems.
2. Support and optimise control systems including Siemens, Allen-Bradley, and OEM platforms.
3. Execute planned LV electrical maintenance including MCCs, control panels, and safety circuits.
Vision & Inspection Systems Responsibility
4. Act as the site lead for vision inspection systems used for print quality, defect detection, and authentication checks.
5. Maintain and support 2D and 3D vision systems including cameras, lighting, lenses, and image-processing hardware.
6. Work with OEM platforms such as PQA, Keyence, Parvis, or specialist banknote inspection systems.
7. Troubleshoot false rejects, software faults, detection issues, and image-processing errors.
8. Perform calibration, alignment, and optimisation of inspection equipment.
Compliance, Safety & Documentation
9. Ensure compliance with BS, EN ISO, EN, and site safety requirements.
10. Maintain documentation including wiring diagrams, calibrations, and controls schematics.
Continuous Improvement & Projects
11. Identify improvements to EC&I systems to enhance reliability and reduce downtime.
12. Support capital projects and new equipment installations.
13. Contribute to automation upgrades and digitalisation initiatives
Operational Support
14. Provide hands-on breakdown support for electrical, controls, and inspection system faults.
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Day shift pattern – Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Base location: Debden
Basic Salary: £46, per annum. Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period, this will rise to £47, per annum.
Skills, Qualifications & Experience
15. Apprenticeship or HNC/HND/Degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, or Instrumentation Engineering.
16. Hands-on experience with PLCs, sensors, instrumentation, and electrical systems.
17. Practical experience with machine vision or inspection technologies.
18. Strong fault-finding ability across EC&I disciplines.
19. Ability to interpret electrical drawings, schematics, and documentation.
20. Understanding of functional safety and industrial safety systems.
21. Experience with inspection platforms (desirable)
22. Experience in regulated, high-speed, or print-based manufacturing (desirable)
23. Knowledge of SCADA/HMI development or industrial networking (desirable)
24. Experience with lighting configuration for vision applications (desirable)
25. 17th/18th Edition Electrical Certification (desirable)
About De La Rue
De La Rue is a leading supplier of currency solutions and a long-standing trusted partner to central banks and governments worldwide. Our products underpin the integrity of economies and trade, enabling businesses and citizens to participate securely in their respective economies.
With a heritage spanning over years, we remain a global leader in advancing security and integrity for currency solutions, supplying 54% of the world’s central banks and manufacturing in the UK, Europe & Asia. We produce fully finished banknotes, polymer substrate, security and currency services.
Benefits
26. 26 days annual leave + bank holidays
27. Contributory pension scheme (De La Rue pay 1.5x the employee’s contribution – employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%, with employer contributions up to a maximum of 9%)
28. Life assurance - 4x your annual salary
29. Cycle to Work Scheme
30. Subsidised Gym Memberships
31. Various other perks and Employee Assistance packages
32. Enhanced family friendly policies (e.g., four weeks paid paternity leave)