Controls & Robotics Engineer

📍 Location: Between Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
💷 Salary: £50,000–£80,000 OTE, depending on experience
📋 Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
✈️ Travel: UK & International – approximately 40%

⚠️ Important Information

Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The Opportunity

Workforce Group are working with a growing specialist engineering business that designs, builds and installs bespoke automation and control systems for customers across the UK and internationally.

Due to continued growth and increasing demand for their highly engineered automation solutions, they are looking for an experienced Controls & Robotics Engineer to join their close-knit engineering team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer who enjoys working on bespoke automation projects, rather than repetitive production-line work.

You will be involved throughout the project lifecycle, from initial design and programming through to installation, commissioning and customer handover, working on technically challenging automation projects across a range of industries.

The role offers excellent exposure to PLC programming, robotics, HMI, SCADA, industrial networks and machine automation, alongside the opportunity to travel internationally to customer sites across Europe, the USA and Canada.

If you're a hands-on Controls Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, working independently and seeing your systems come to life on-site, this could be an excellent opportunity.

The Role

Working alongside mechanical, electrical and controls engineers, you will take responsibility for designing, programming, integrating and commissioning bespoke automation systems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and programming PLC, HMI, SCADA and industrial network systems from scratch
• Programming and integrating industrial robots
• Developing control architectures and automation solutions alongside mechanical and electrical design teams
• Taking ownership of projects from concept and design through to build, commissioning and handover
• Installing, commissioning and testing machinery at customer sites
• Providing customer training and technical support
• Diagnosing faults and improving existing control and robotic systems
• Managing project priorities, technical issues and customer communication
• Working closely with customers, suppliers and internal engineering teams
• Supporting and mentoring other members of the engineering team
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard

Technical Experience Required

We're looking for an experienced Controls & Robotics Engineer with a strong background in industrial automation.

You should have experience with:

• PLC programming using Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens
• HMI/touchscreen, SCADA and industrial network programming
• Industrial robotics programming and integration
• FANUC robots would be particularly advantageous
• Experience with Nachi, Kawasaki or ABB robots would also be beneficial
• EtherNet/IP and/or PROFINET
• Automated machinery and manufacturing processes
• Installation, commissioning, servicing and fault-finding
• Developing and programming control systems from scratch
• Working directly with customers and multidisciplinary engineering teams

Desirable Experience

The following experience would be highly advantageous:

• Project management or technical ownership of automation projects
• EPLAN electrical design
• Machine vision systems
• Packaging or container handling machinery
• Plastics processing
• International machinery commissioning and support

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is practical, technically capable and confident working independently.

You should be:

• A strong problem solver with a logical and methodical approach
• Naturally inquisitive and willing to investigate complex technical issues
• Able to take ownership of projects with minimal supervision
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Confident communicating with customers, suppliers and colleagues
• Flexible and willing to contribute across different areas of a project
• Comfortable working within a close-knit engineering team
• Professional, reliable and trustworthy
• Committed to maintaining high standards of quality and health & safety

🌍 International Travel

Approximately 40% travel is expected as part of the role.

You will have the opportunity to work on customer projects throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, giving you genuine international exposure and the chance to work on a wide variety of automation systems.

International projects include:

• Good-quality accommodation
• Generous daily living allowance
• Additional payment for Saturday site work
• Sundays are not typically worked

💷 What's On Offer?

• £50,000–£80,000 OTE, depending on experience
• International travel opportunities
• Generous overseas living allowance
• Additional pay for Saturday site work
• Private health insurance for you, your partner and children after probation
• Contributory pension scheme
• 21 days' annual holiday + bank holidays
• Additional holiday for long service
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Spot bonuses and recognition awards
• Strong training and development opportunities
• Genuine career progression
• Company uniform and PPE
• Opportunity to work on bespoke and technically challenging automation projects

Working Hours

Monday–Thursday: 08:00–17:00
Friday: 08:00–14:00

Additional hours may occasionally be required when travelling or commissioning machinery on-site.

Additional Requirements

• Full UK driving licence
• Comfortable travelling throughout the UK and internationally
• Able to meet entry requirements for countries where projects are undertaken
• Fluent English
• Proven industrial controls and robotics experience

A practical technical assessment will form part of the interview process.

MAN24