OT Automation Engineer

OT & Automation Engineer
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Up to £52,000 basic + competitive benefits

We are seeking an OT & Automation Engineer to support the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) within a manufacturing environment.

This role will be responsible for supporting automation projects, maintaining control systems, enhancing cyber security compliance, and helping drive digital transformation initiatives across site operations.

Key Responsibilities

OT & Industrial Control Systems

• Provide technical support for control system maintenance, troubleshooting and improvement activities.
• Support design modifications and automation projects across site operations.
• Develop and maintain Industrial Control System network architecture documentation, including equipment locations, network addresses and communication routes.
• Implement and maintain control system backup and recovery processes.
• Support business continuity planning for control systems.
• Maintain and support control system spare parts inventories.
• Assist with the deployment of digital manufacturing initiatives and operational technology improvements.

Automation Projects

• Work with automation integrators to develop technical solutions and project specifications.
• Support vendor selection and automation project execution.
• Contribute to project feasibility assessments, cost estimates and implementation plans.
• Collaborate with site engineering, IT and external suppliers to deliver automation solutions.

Cyber Security

• Act as a key point of contact for OT cyber security activities.
• Ensure cyber security standards and policies are implemented and maintained.
• Carry out cyber security risk and vulnerability assessments.
• Support threat identification and mitigation activities.
• Maintain records of Industrial Control System assets and lifecycle management.
• Deliver awareness training and support compliance initiatives.

Process Safety & Compliance

• Maintain control system documentation including logic diagrams, interlocks and operating limits.
• Support functional safety activities and process hazard reviews.
• Identify and manage critical control system equipment.
• Contribute to safe and reliable plant operations.

Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate with engineering, IT teams, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Manage third-party automation and support providers when required.
• Work closely with regional automation and digital teams.
• Escalate specialist technical issues where appropriate.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Electronics, Automation, Industrial Control, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in an automation or control systems engineering role.
• Experience maintaining industrial control systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with platforms such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Honeywell, ABB or similar.
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols including Profibus, Modbus, Ethernet and wireless networks.
• Knowledge of cyber security principles, network architecture and data acquisition systems.
• Experience with databases such as SQL and OPC environments.
• Experience working with field instrumentation and plant control systems.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Effective stakeholder and relationship management skills.

• Collaborative approach to working within multidisciplinary teams.

• Flexible and adaptable working style.