PRINCIPAL AUTOMATION ENGINEER
Location: On site in Humber, UK (Occasional visits to Manchester office) Contract Duration: 12 months renewable Project: Oil & Gas Start Date: ASAP Account Manager: Anthony Hughes
Role Overview
An experienced Principal Automation Engineer to lead and coordinate automation activities on a long ? standing Master Service Agreement within the downstream Oil & Gas sector. Acting as the primary technical focal point for Clients, EPCs, OEMs, and vendors, this role ensures automation solutions are delivered safely, compliantly, and in line with technical, commercial, and schedule requirements while supporting successful system integration and plant operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform site surveys to identify suitable cutover strategies aligned with plant outages and manual operating modes
- Lead the FEED process, including engineering work requests, deliverable structures, and testing and cutover strategies
- Review and approve DCS and PLC proposals from vendors and system integrators
- Review and approve EC&I and OEM detailed design documentation
- Lead multi ? disciplinary design review meetings with Clients, EPCs, and OEM subject matter experts
- Develop Control Narratives from P&IDs, operating procedures, and/or reverse ? engineered PLC or DCS configurations
- Develop and approve FAT, SAT, and plant commissioning procedures
- Coordinate and support site commissioning and start ? up activities
Requirements
- Minimum 10 years’ industry experience in Oil & Gas (downstream), process, utilities, or pharmaceutical industries
- Proven engineering leadership in automation across FEED, detailed design, testing, and commissioning phases
- Strong knowledge of electrical and control interfacing between automation systems and process plant equipment, including instrumentation, control valves, motor starters, and actuators
- Sound understanding of hazardous area classifications and protection requirements (ATEX)
- Hands ? on experience with PLC, SCADA, and/or DCS platforms and industrial communication protocols (e.g. Profibus, Modbus, Ethernet/IP)
- Degree qualified in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Instrumentation, Automation, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent (preferred)
- Experience with sequential or batch automation design (preferred)
- Knowledge of EEMUA 191 Alarm Management and IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 Functional Safety standards (preferred)
