Principal Controls Engineer

Chemring Countermeasures is a world leading and innovative company, designing and developing countermeasure solutions to armed forces throughout the world. We are part of the Chemring Group of companies and have a solid global infrastructure, which also helps us to thrive.

Overview of the role

The role primarily focuses on technical leadership, research and development, project management, training and mentorship of engineers, regulatory compliance, and goal setting. As the Principal Controls Engineer, you will play a critical role in advancing our production capabilities while ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities

·      Ensure strict adherence to all relevant regulatory requirements, quality standards, and safety protocols.

·      Collaborate closely with regulatory bodies and auditors to maintain compliance and certifications.

·      Provide technical leadership to the Controls & Instrumentation team, driving the optimisation of manufacturing processes and resolving complex technical challenges.

·      Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and a commitment to safety within the team.

·      Lead research and development initiatives to identify and implement advanced technologies and best practices in production processes.

·      Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies, fostering innovation and competitiveness.

·      Manage production-related projects, including process improvements, equipment upgrades, and capacity expansion.

·      Develop comprehensive project plans, budgets, and timelines, ensuring the successful execution of projects.

·      Mentor and train engineers, facilitating the transfer of technical knowledge and skill development.

·      Develop and implement training programs and resources to enhance the capabilities of the Controls & Instrumentation team.

·      Collaborate with senior management to set clear, measurable, and ambitious goals for the Controls & Instrumentation Team.

·      Undertake line management responsibilities for an allocated Team of Controls & Instrumentation Engineers.

·      Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop strategies for ongoing progress monitoring toward goal achievement.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and/or Experience

·         Degree‑qualified (Level 6) in Electrical, Control, Automation or a related engineering discipline, or demonstrable equivalent experience at Level 6 in an industrial control engineering environment.

·         Project Management

·         Advanced PLC & Control System Architecture particularly Siemens S7-1500

·         Proven experience with structured, maintainable PLC code (IEC 61131-3)

·         Strong understanding of functional safety (IEC 61508 / IEC 61511), safety PLCs, interlocks, E‑stops, and validation/verification practices.

·         In‑depth understanding of industrial Ethernet (e.g. Profinet), network topology, resilience, segregation, and OT cyber‑security principles.

·         Experience designing and integrating HMIs/SCADA, alarms, historians, OPC UA, and interfaces to higher‑level systems (MES, data platforms).

·         Leading multi-functional teams

·         IT Skills (esp. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

·         Risk Assessment knowledge

·         Report Writing/Presentation Skills

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and/or Experience

·         UK Explosive Regulations Knowledge

·         DSEAR and ATEX equipment selection

·         Knowledge of ESD precautions

This role will be worked over a 4.5 day week; Monday to Thursday 08:00 – 16:45 and Friday 08:00 – 12:30.

Please note: We do not engage with recruitment agencies. We kindly ask that you refrain from sending speculative inquiries or CVs. Should we wish to collaborate with agencies, we will initiate contact accordingly.