Controls, Automation & Robotics
Head of Controls – UK System Integrator
We are only able to consider applications from individuals who are already eligible to legally work in the UK from the start of employment (no visa sponsorship is available).
The role
We are working with a UK based system integrator to recruit a Head of Controls to lead its electrical and software projects business from the front. You will design hands-on in Siemens TIA Portal and EPLAN, own the programme of projects, and help a small, capable team deliver work customers can rely on.
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Location: Home based with regular travel (please get in touch to see if your location could work)
Salary: c. £75,000 + private medical
About the location: Because this is a projects-focused role, it can be offered as home based, and your contract will say so. In practice, you will work from home when you are not meeting employees, customers or suppliers. The role is not mainly home based, though, and will involve travel that can sometimes be unpredictable.
About the business
The client provides turnkey automation engineering solutions to a range of markets. It is a lean SME, so everything starts and ends with the person in this role: you will shape how controls is done here, not inherit a fixed process.
The Directors want to build a culture that is different to most integrators, built on a high level of trust, autonomy and personal ownership. Engineers are not told what to do or how to do their work, as they might be at larger companies, and the Directors want to keep it that way.
This role will protect that high-trust culture while making sure it never lets a customer down. The business has an exceptional reputation with its customers and wants to add a layer of coordination that helps get projects over the line. Most of the time you will do this by supporting the engineers, but you also need to be capable of delivering work yourself when the moment requires it.
At the moment the two Directors cover this role between them. They want to add a third person so they can focus on growing the business.
What you'll do
Lead from the front on design
Deliver work in Siemens TIA Portal and EPLAN yourself, setting the standard for the team.
Coach engineers on both technical and commercial decisions, for example looking at a project from a holistic point of view.
Own the programme of projects
Take accountability for the full programme of electrical and software projects.
Spot what could go wrong early, and step in to help get projects over the line.
Find the patterns, fix the system
Over time, look for patterns in how current ways of working could let customers down.
Design solutions that deal with those issues while keeping the high-trust way of working intact.
Be the one who steps back to keep projects on track, for example:
Are we complying with all relevant legislation, for example on safety? You might not be the machine safety expert, but you know when to involve one.
Are we delivering what the customer actually wants?
Is this HMI laid out in a way that helps the next person who looks at it?
Progression
A Senior Management Team role
You will join the Senior Management Team alongside the two Directors who founded the business.
Both Directors come from turnkey solutions engineering backgrounds. They want to grow the business sustainably without losing the high-trust ethos that many other companies have lost.
They recruit strongly on culture, and it shows in how well the team they have built works together.
Own the expansion
You will own the growth of the electrical and software side of the business.
How you structure the team as it grows is up to you.
Help scale up a business.
What we're looking for
Material handling projects background, ideally, or solid experience delivering in that area.
Strong hands-on Siemens TIA Portal and EPLAN design. You will design, not just review.
SME experience. You currently work in, or have worked at, a small business.
Natural team leadership. Whether or not you have held the title, you have led a design team and can quickly earn engineers' respect.
A commercial eye, with the ability to coach others on it.
Sound judgement on compliance and quality.
Package and how to apply
The role pays around £75,000 + private medical. It is home based with regular travel.
We are unable to consider anyone who requires visa sponsorship.
