Electrical Design Engineer

CIP Services Ltd; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK seeks a highly skilled Electrical Design & Automation Engineer. The successful candidate will focus on bespoke control system design, industrial automation, and multi-discipline engineering support. Requirements include extensive experience in PLC/HMI development and electrical panel design. This full-time role offers competitive salary and opportunities for innovation and development in the food sector.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Training and development

Opportunities for innovation

Qualifications

• 6+ years as an Electrical, Automation, or Controls Engineer in relevant sectors.
• Proven experience in electrical design and industrial automation.
• Strong background in designing and commissioning bespoke machinery.

Responsibilities

• Produce detailed electrical design packages for control systems.
• Program PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers.
• Conduct advanced fault finding on complex systems.

Skills

Industrial automation (PLC, HMI, SCADA programming)

Electrical panel design

Problem-solving capability

Detailed documentation

Proficient in EPLAN, AutoCAD, SolidWorks

Education

HND/HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Tools

EPLAN

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

CIP Services is the UK’s leading supplier of automated dairy tanker cleaning systems. Our customers are looking for efficiencies, and legislation is requiring continual improvement in the cleaning process. We build and operate increasingly sophisticated self-contained cleaning units and are looking for an engineer who can work in our team, adding to our expertise and bringing ideas and solutions.

We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical Design & Automation Engineer with strong expertise in bespoke control system design, industrial automation, and multi‑discipline engineering support. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in PLC/HMI development, electrical panel design, functional safety, and full project lifecycle delivery from concept through to commissioning. A strong electrical bias combined with experience across mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical & Controls Design

Produce detailed electrical design packages for complex industrial control system including:

• P&ID integration for instrumentation
• Control panel layouts and door layouts
• Cable routing, tray layouts, IO schedules, and load calculations
• Technical documentation to ensure compliance with relevant standards such as:
• UK wiring regulations (BS 7671)
• Machinery Directive / UKCA requirements
• ATEX/IECEx (where applicable)
• EHEDG / hygienic design principles for CIP environments.
• Selecting suitable components and developing control architectures.
• Create and implement functional design specifications (FDS), including safety PLC configuration,
• Develop hardware design specifications (HDS), and cause‑and‑effect matrices.

Compliance, Safety & Quality

• Ensure all control and safety designs comply with: UKCA/CE marking, PUWER, Functional safety (SIL/PL) where required, Food‑grade and hygienic design standards.
• Work according to internal QMS and customer specifications.
• Ensure cybersecurity principles are embedded in automation systems.

Automation Engineering

• Program PLCs, HMIs, motion controllers including cycle controls, recipe management, data logging, alarms, and interlocks.
• Develop automation strategies for bespoke machinery, production equipment, and automated cells.
• Design and implement industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Profibus, Modbus TCP/RTU).
• Integrate instrumentation (flow meters, conductivity sensors, temperature probes, pressure transmitters, control valves, dosing pumps).
• Optimise CIP sequences for chemical use, energy efficiency, water reduction, and cycle validation.
• Integrate multi‑technology systems including electrics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and mechanical assemblies.
• Deliver full project lifecycle activities including concepts, risk assessments, specification, design, build, FAT/SAT planning/testing, commissioning documentation, test plans, and validation protocols.
• Manage multiple concurrent automation and machinery development projects.
• Perform electrical installation inspections and verify compliance with design standards.
• Oversee UKCA/CE marking and ensure compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
• Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, and production teams / sub‑contractors to deliver turnkey solutions.

Maintenance & Technical Support

• Conduct advanced fault finding / troubleshooting on electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Provide technical support for automated production equipment.
• Lead control system upgrades, retrofits, and performance improvements on existing machinery and cells.
• Provide training to site engineering teams on system operation and maintenance.

Qualifications & Experience

• 6+ years as an Electrical, Automation, or Controls Engineer in the food, beverage, dairy, brewing, FMCG, or pharmaceutical sectors.
• Proven experience in electrical design and industrial automation.
• Strong background in designing and commissioning bespoke automated machinery.
• HND/HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (or equivalent qualification).
• Experience working within a multi‑skilled maintenance or engineering environment.

Technical Skills

• Strong experience in industrial automation (PLC, HMI, SCADA programming)
• HMI design and development.
• Electrical panel design, build, and wiring.
• Functional safety system design and implementation.
• EPLAN, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, 2D and 3D CAD.
• Pneumatics and hydraulics design and troubleshooting.
• UKCA/CE compliance and technical documentation.

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability.
• Detail‑oriented, methodical, and safety‑driven.
• Able to work independently or within small cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills for presenting technical concepts clearly.
• UK driving licence (for site visits).

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Opportunity to work in a growing company with a strong engineering focus, making a tangible sustainability, cost and safety benefit to the food sector.
• Scope to innovate and implement improvement.
• Training and Development.
• Exposure to both new build and field conditions.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Facilities Services