Senior Field Engineer (Controls)

This is a rare opportunity for you to step into a Senior Field Engineer Controls position where your expertise will directly shape the performance and reliability of advanced automation systems on the factory floor. Unlike traditional support roles, this position offers genuine production ownership, empowering you to make critical decisions that impact uptime and line efficiency in real-world manufacturing environments. You will be at the forefront of solving complex technical challenges—ranging from intermittent I/O issues to network instability—while collaborating with world-class teams in AI, embedded systems, and firmware. The role promises high learning potential and significant influence, as your solutions will be rapidly implemented and valued by a team that thrives on execution. With extensive travel across multiple sites, you will enjoy both autonomy and the chance to build trusted relationships with customers, all while developing elite controls skills in a supportive and fast-moving environment.

• Take full ownership of production uptime and line performance, making a tangible difference on the factory floor through hands-on problem-solving and technical leadership.
• Work alongside highly skilled professionals in AI, embedded systems, and firmware, ensuring your contributions are recognised, acted upon quickly, and lead to lasting product improvements.
• Enjoy a unique blend of autonomy and collaboration as you travel between sites, acting as the senior technical authority while building strong connections with customer teams and internal stakeholders.

What you'll do:

As a Senior Field Engineer Controls you will play an instrumental role in integrating sophisticated automation solutions into diverse manufacturing environments. Your day-to-day activities will involve working closely with both customer teams and internal experts to ensure seamless system performance. You will be responsible for diagnosing intricate technical problems—whether they stem from electrical noise or network instability—and implementing robust solutions that prevent recurrence rather than offering temporary fixes. Your ability to interpret PLC logic and develop standardised integration practices will set the foundation for reliable operations across multiple sites. In addition to hands-on troubleshooting with advanced diagnostic equipment in challenging field conditions, you will also serve as a trusted advisor to clients by delivering training sessions that empower their staff. By capturing detailed feedback from the field and communicating it effectively to engineering teams at headquarters, you will help shape future product enhancements that benefit all users. This role is ideal if you thrive on variety—balancing technical depth with interpersonal connection—and are eager to see your work have immediate impact in high-stakes production settings.

• Integrate advanced automation systems into existing production lines by ensuring robust PLC-to-device communication using protocols such as EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus, and OPC UA.
• Commission new installations and troubleshoot complex issues related to timing jitter, noisy signals, flaky networks, multi-trigger edge cases, and cycle-time constraints within high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Diagnose and resolve network communication inconsistencies including packet loss, unstable links, IP conflicts, switch configuration problems, grounding or noise coupling issues, cable quality concerns, EMI interference, and misconfigured QoS or VLANs.
• Interpret and modify ladder logic or structured text within PLCs to stabilise system integration and optimise machine sequencing for reliable operation.
• Develop repeatable integration standards by creating wiring patterns, sensor conditioning recommendations, validated PLC templates, commissioning checklists, and network topologies for consistent deployment across multiple sites.
• Troubleshoot sensors and discrete I/O devices in real factory settings by applying knowledge of NPN/PNP sensors, pull-ups/pull-downs, filtering techniques, shielding methods, grounding practices, and noise mitigation strategies.
• Utilise diagnostic tools such as multimeters and oscilloscopes to identify voltage irregularities, signal bounce issues, timing misalignments, interference sources, poor grounding situations, or intermittent electrical connections.
• Act as the senior technical point of contact on-site by providing calm guidance under pressure while supporting operators and engineers through structured troubleshooting processes.
• Train customer automation engineers and technicians on best practices for system operation as well as first-line troubleshooting techniques to foster self-sufficiency among client teams.
• Capture comprehensive issue reports for headquarters engineering teams by documenting reproduction steps, logs, electrical measurements, network symptoms, PLC states, and recommended fixes to drive continuous product improvement.