Optio Systems Ltd
Control Engineer

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Controls Engineer
Location: Nottingham, UK (On-site)
Company: Optio Systems (Valstone Portfolio)
About Optio Systems:
Optio Systems — formed through the merger of DSL and Datastor — is a leading provider of process control software, trusted by nearly 200 manufacturing sites worldwide. Around 70% of our customers are in the UK & Ireland, with the remainder spread across North America and beyond. While we are a long-established partner to the animal feed industry, our software is increasingly powering other sectors including paints and specialist chemicals.
About the Role:
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Controls Engineer to join our Engineering team. This role is suited to someone with previous experience working within industrial automation, control systems or a similar engineering environment who is looking to develop their career while taking an active role in the delivery of customer projects. You will work across a range of automation projects, with responsibilities including process control system configuration, graphical interface development, PLC I/O documentation, system testing, commissioning and customer support.
You will be expected to bring a good working knowledge of industrial control systems and be capable of working independently on engineering tasks, while receiving training and support in our Imperium4 process control platform and Optio's engineering standards. The role is primarily office-based in Nottingham, with opportunities to visit customer sites across the UK and internationally for commissioning, upgrades and project delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
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- Design and develop graphical interfaces within the Imperium4 process control platform.
- Configure and develop process control systems for customer projects.
- Create, maintain and update PLC I/O documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
- Configure, test and commission PLC/SCADA and associated control systems.
- Produce and maintain engineering and project documentation.
- Carry out Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and internal system testing.
- Commission automation and process control systems on customer sites.
- Diagnose and resolve technical issues both remotely and on customer sites.
- Provide technical support to customers and other engineering teams.
- Work closely with the Software, Controls, Project and Support teams to successfully deliver customer projects.
- Work in accordance with company engineering standards and contribute to their continued development.
- Participation in a well-paid out-of-hours support rota on a sign-up basis
Requirements:
- At least 2 years' relevant experience within industrial automation, controls engineering or a similar engineering environment.
- Practical experience working with PLC-based industrial control systems.
- A good understanding of electrical control systems, PLC I/O and industrial instrumentation.
- Experience reading and interpreting electrical drawings and technical documentation.
- Experience with the configuration, testing, fault finding or commissioning of industrial control systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose technical issues methodically.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a wider engineering team.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- A full, valid UK driving licence.
- Willingness to travel within the UK and overseas as required for project commissioning and support.
- A relevant apprenticeship, HNC/HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Electronic Engineering or a related discipline would be beneficial. However, applicants with strong relevant industry experience will also be considered.


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Desirable:
- PLC programming experience with platforms such as Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens or Schneider.
- Experience with SCADA, HMI or process control systems.
- Previous commissioning experience within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Experience with industrial communication networks and protocols.
- Knowledge of SQL databases.
- Experience with a programming language such as C, C++, C#, Python or similar.
- Experience within the feed, grain, food, bulk materials handling or wider process manufacturing industries.
- Experience providing technical support or fault finding on live production systems.
Experience with Imperium4 is not required, as training on our platform and internal engineering processes will be provided.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- KPI-based bonus scheme.
- Training and continued professional development.
- Clear career progression opportunities.
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme.
- Private healthcare.
- Flexible working hours (37.5 hours per week).
- Paid overtime.
- Opportunities for UK and international travel.
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