Instrumentation, Controls and Automation Technician

Location: Kent - Geographically based within location area (negotiable), with travel to multiple sites.

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 38 hours

Salary: Base salary £38,564.10 up to £55,703.70 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Overtime and on-call payments available.

Benefits:

• A company van (for business use only) which you can take home, and a fuel card
• Health Care cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage)
• Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution)
• We offer monitored career paths, training, and development opportunities.

For a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page.

About the role

Join our Wastewater Treatment Team to maintain and improve ICA systems across multiple sites. You will ensure compliance, reliability, and efficiency of control systems while supporting continuous improvement.

We offer a monitored career path and training to help you progress. If you only have some of the skills listed below, please still apply and begin your ICA at Journey Southern Water. If you have more of the skills listed, you will automatically be set towards the higher end of the salary scale listed below.

What you will be responsible for:

• Planned, Reactive & Proactive maintenance including Fault Finding, Calibration, Testing, Investigation and Programming on such equipment sets as; Telemetry Systems, Instrumentation (Flowmeters, Level transmitters, Pressure transducers, Temperature probes, etc). Analysers (Dissolved Oxygen, MLSS, Turbidity, etc). MCC & LVA (Low Voltage Assemblies) with PLC Control. Control (Networks, MCC/LVA components, PID controllers). Dosing Equipment. Automation (PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems). + More!
• Implement complex process improvements and diagnose control system faults on PLC types such as; Rockwell, Mitsubishi and a range of package plant PLC's.
• PLC Software Control via backups and routine verification. Maintaining a change control system when software is requested.
• HMI & SCADA system backups and modifications.
• Setup and maintenance of site control networks (Ethernet, DH+, Profibus, Profinet, RS232, etc ), including managed switch configuration.
• Conduct planned maintenance and/or calibrate instrumentation to Southern Water standards to ensure reliability and accuracy.
• Respond to faults/ alarms as guided by the Regional Control Centre.
• Undertake investigative work on instruments and process issues at wastewater plants, identifying any faults and implementing remedial action.
• Calibration of wastewater equipment to external national standards such as HACCP and MCerts.
• Complete documentation accurately and in a timely manner to maintain internal change control standards.
• Implement system modifications from Operational Team requests to help improve process control or compliance.
• Gather evidence to help with Root Cause Analysis and implement changes as required.
• To coach and train team members to develop their skills.

What you'll bring to the role:

Essential

• NVQ3 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering OR a time-served apprenticeship.
• ONC or HNC in Instrumentation, Electronics, Control or equivalent.
• Excellent problem solving and fault-finding skills.
• Experience within Instrumentation or Control or Automation.
• Strong documentation skills for regulatory reporting.
• Collaborative, with good communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for learning and growth.
• Full, current UK driving license.

Desirable

• Collaborative, with good communication skills.
• Experience within a process orientated industry such as water utility, petrochemical, electricity, manufacturing or similar.

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain's water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we'd love to hear from you-even if you don't tick every box.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we'd love to hear from you-even if you don't tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record

check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.