Do you love taking projects from concept to completion? If you’re an experienced EC&I design engineer with a background in electrical engineering and a passion for innovation, this could be your next move.

We design and deliver advanced control and instrumentation systems for the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. You’ll lead projects from design to delivery, provide technical input for tenders and estimates, and create detailed schematics and process drawings using AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.

You’ll need around five years of EC&I design experience, ideally within pharma or biotech, along with a solid understanding of ATEX and UL standards.

In return, you’ll join a collaborative team that values integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Expect hybrid working, competitive pay, and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects that truly make a difference.

If this sounds like you, call 0161 250 5326 0161 250 5326 to find out more. Don’t worry if your CV isn’t up to date — we can sort that later.

The role:

- Working full cradle to grave to a high standard- Being involved from concept through to commissioning.

-  Will be reporting to the Operations Manager and working with Mark the Technical Director

- Will have an apprentice working with them so someone that’s keen to help is essential.

Type of person/ Company culture:

- Informal – like a big family all want each other to do well and push for success

- Confident but not arrogant as it’ll be client facing

- Helpful / supportive to fit in with company

Software:

• Electrical Design and build- AutoCAD Electrical – would consider someone with Eplan
• Control System/ Programming – Mitsubishi mainly but Siemens /Rockwell wouldn’t be a problem
• Commissioning 20% of the time- Mainly UK based – Occasional overseas travel to Europe or Canada (Not long periods of time)
• Robotics- Servo Motors / Inverters / Vision Systems / Kuka / Kawa / Kawasaki / Mitsubishi (Desirable if not can be taught)

Company:

• Office based role but are flexible with working from home when needed
• Flexible Hours- usual hours are 9am-5pm
• Progression- they reward success- the apprentices are an example that progression is real- they’d make a personal progression plan depending on the candidates drivers
• Company size: 15
• Flat hierarchy – everyone is equal from apprentices to seniors
• Industries they cover: Pharmaceutical, Aerospace, Automotive, general manufactures – someone from FMCG/bespoke machinery could do well.
• Customers: Toyota / Airbus / Alogic / Rolls Royce

Package:

• £65k
• Standard pension (willing to flex)
• Standard holidays + bank holidays ( 1 day for every 2 years)
• OT paid (some overtime is a given but also won’t get docked if they finished early one day etc)
• Company van + fuel (not to be mentioned but to counter in)
• Full Sick Pay

Screening Q’s:

• Describe a time when you’ve worked on a project involving motion control systems.  Walk me through your specific technical contributions to the project's design and implementation. 
• Describe a time when you’ve worked on a project involving motion control systems.  Walk me through your specific technical contributions to the project's design and implementation. 
• Someone to speak to for a character reference from your previous/ current role. (Please include their full name, contact number, the company you worked together at and your relationship to them).

Interview Structure:

• 1st stage- off site or teams call
• 2nd stage- F2F – Technical questions
• 3rd stage- Will meet with Steve and do a tour but also meet Mark and Nial as they’ll be working with him.
• Offer stage through us.

Field Service Engineer
Home-based | UK-wide (mainly between Sheffield, Birmingham and Cambridge)
£60,000 OTE + paid travel + vehicle allowance + pension

You’ll know this kind of job. Field-based, hands-on, plenty of variety. What you won’t find so often is a version of the job that pays properly, lets you get on with things, and gives you a route to grow.

This is a service role supporting automated packaging used by major brands. You’ll be based from home, travelling across a patch that sits roughly between Sheffield, Birmingham and Cambridge. Pay starts the moment you walk out your front door. There’s some international travel if you want it. No office. No pointless commuting.

Why this one stands out:

• OTE between £50k and £70k, with door-to-door overtime paid at 1.3x 
• A manager who’s actively looking to develop all engineers with company growth
• Work that’s complex and rewarding, not routine or repetitive
• A tight-knit UK team with a global backing behind it
• Trusted to work independently, without red tape or hand-holding

What you’ll bring:

• Level 3 qualification in electrical or mechanical engineering (electrical bias preferred)
• Experience in field service or from a military engineering background
• Comfortable working solo, solving problems and dealing with customers
• Able to read control diagrams and get to grips with machinery fault finding quickly
• Full UK driving licence

Package:

• £40–44K base salary
• Regular overtime (c. 10 hours/week standard - usually whilst you're driving to site)
• Vehicle & Mileage allowance
• 5% matched pension
• Seasonal peaks (especially Nov/Dec), but hours otherwise managed sensibly

Interested?

No need for a glossy four-page CV. Just a short overview of your qualifications, work history and a few key achievements will do the trick.  So you're aware, you’ll be speaking directly with the hiring manager rather than an agency.

Are you a Contract Electrical Controls Engineer looking for your next long-term project where you can take ownership of your work from design through to site implementation?

If that sounds like you, this opportunity might be right up your street.

This is a three-year utility project based in Liverpool, starting this August. You’ll be involved in everything from conducting site surveys and designing control panels to installing Ethernet cabling across dock areas. You’ll also be working with Siemens equipment and collaborating on field instrumentation design, so experience in these areas is essential.

You’ll need a solid background in electrical instrumentation with hands on experience in: PLC hardware, Fibre optic and Ethernet communications and Siemens.

Familiarity with Eplan software would be a bonus, and previous utility project experience will stand you in good stead.

You can work flexibly between the Warrington office and the Liverpool site. The contract is temporary for the project duration, and self employed contractors are encouraged to apply. We’re open to engineers at all levels, whether you’re early in your career or have years of experience under your belt – what matters is your ability to deliver quality work efficiently and safely.

If this sounds like the kind of project you want to get stuck into, send your CV and relevant experience to eloisa@optima-cs.com or pop me a call on 0161 250 5326.

Do you want a role where you can take full ownership of PLC programming projects, make key decisions, and see your solutions operating in the real world?

If so, and you have a strong background in PLC programming with Siemens and Allen Bradley FactoryTalk, this could be the ideal next step in your career.

Our client is a leader in designing and developing advanced control and instrumentation systems for the Pharma and Bio sectors. They’re looking for a Control Systems Engineer who can take full ownership of programming projects, from initial concept right through to commissioning.

In this role, you’ll be writing control programmes from the ground up, testing them, and commissioning them on site. It’s a hybrid position, so you’ll split your time between home working, office collaboration, and site visits as needed.

What’s interesting about this opportunity is that while the company works extensively in ATEX and pharmaceutical environments, they’re completely open to candidates without specific sector experience. The priority is finding someone confident in PLC programming who enjoys delivering effective, reliable solutions.

The salary is open at this stage – it’s been over 12 years since this role was last recruited, so they’re keeping an open mind to attract the right expertise. They also pride themselves on their collaborative and supportive company culture, where your ideas and contributions are genuinely valued.

Interested in finding out more? Call me on 0161 250 5326 for an informal chat.

And don’t worry if your CV isn’t updated yet – we can sort that later.

Not every move is about money.
But buying a house makes stability matter. If you're an Electrical Hardware Designer who wants a role that actually supports you, without just throwing you in at the deep end, this could be for you.

We're hiring someone to join a close-knit team designing control systems for industrial automation and process environments. It’s a permanent, office-based role within a commutable distance from Telford. If you’re used to EPLAN, even better (that's what we use) but we won’t discount someone with strong foundations and the right mindset.

I can't pretend to be cutting edge or the biggest name in the game. But we’re not restructuring, we’re not replacing you a month after you start, and we’re not expecting you to “hit the ground running” without support.

You’ll be solving real engineering problems.
Working on a mix of new builds and system upgrades. Helping with everything from schematics and panel layouts to making sure your designs actually make it through manufacture and install without a hitch.

This would suit someone who's hit a ceiling (or been burned by bad management) and wants to go somewhere they’ll be backed properly. If you’ve been mentoring junior engineers or guiding installs, that’s a plus.

Salary around £50 - 55K, based on what you bring.
We’re realistic. If you’re on more but looking for the right fit, let’s talk. You won’t be dragged through four rounds of interviews either.

Want to have a quick chat to see if it's worth applying?

Are you an expert in Siemens control systems, with a strong track record in PLC programming, HMI design, and electrical fault finding? Do you thrive in a flexible, hybrid working environment and enjoy a mix of remote and on-site work? If so, this could be the role for you!

We’re looking for a Control Systems Engineer who is proficient in Siemens technologies—specifically Step 7 Classic, TIA Portal, S7-1500 PLCs, S120 Servo drives, and WinCC Unified—to join a dynamic team with a focus on upgrading legacy systems and creating bespoke solutions. If you’ve got experience working on older platforms as well as modern ones, that’s a huge plus, especially when it comes to migrating older technologies to newer systems.

What You’ll Be Doing:

A large portion of your role (around 70%) will involve upgrading and migrating systems—think moving from old hardware/software to newer versions. Experience with legacy code is a must, as you’ll be dealing with both new systems and old, and you'll need to modify them to deliver enhanced functionality.

Flexibility is key, as you may be required to help with breakdowns, supporting on-site clients, and assisting in full turn-key installations.

We want someone who’s ready to hit the ground running ideally but could consider providing training and support to help you get up to speed with the technologies and systems if needed.

The Role

This will be a hybrid role, offering a blend of remote and some on-site travel required. The work will vary week to week, and you’ll be expected to travel to key customer locations around the UK, with occasional international opportunities. Locations include Workington, Carlisle, Washington (Sunderland), and Lockerbie—and potentially beyond for global projects. Travel will be shared fairly, and your family life is important to us, so we’ll aim for a balanced approach to site visits.

When working remotely, the hours are flexible—whether you want to work 15 hours in one day and 3 the next or follow a more structured schedule, we trust you to manage your time as long as it fits with the project deadlines and deliverables. The key is to maintain flexibility and productivity, with the possibility of adjusting hours on a rolling basis, depending on your preferences.

Who You Are

• Siemens experience is non-negotiable: You need to be comfortable working with Step 7 Classic, TIA Portal, S7-1500, and WinCC Unified.
• Electronics knowledge is a big bonus—whether it’s fault finding, repair, or even designing your own circuits.
• Experience in electrical design (ePlan, AutoCAD Electrical) and machine safety (EC marking, compliance testing) would be a big plus, but not essential.
• Client-facing skills are a must—you’ll be working in high-pressure environments, particularly when troubleshooting during breakdowns, and you’ll need to stay calm under pressure. Strong verbal communication is key.
• The flexibility to adapt to different systems and technologies, as well as a keen eye for detail and a strong work ethic, will make you a great fit.

Why This Role Could Be a Perfect Fit

• Training and support are available for those willing to learn and adapt.
• Flexible working hours and remote setup offer a great work-life balance.
• There’s plenty of opportunity for variety—from legacy system upgrades to cutting-edge electronic design.

If you’re excited by the prospect of working in a flexible, supportive, and varied role, then we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to get in touch with Eloisa@optima-cs.com or call 0161 250 5326 to chat further.

• They’re actively looking for this person and have been for 8 months now
• They have actually hire (2 or 3 people) but they’ve left as in the interview they’ve played it as though they can do more than they actually can and one left to go back to his previous company
• Electrical design but if someone can do controls too then that’s a bonus
• Skillset and salaries have been the main issue really (people expecting more than what they can actually do)
• Electrical design: Eplan, design pneumatics, control panels, wiring diagrams, schematics, BOM, documentation, voltages etc
• Control systems: they use siemens
• Commissioning: all UK based (if electrical bias about 2 weeks per year) / (If controls bias it’d be more)
• Open to them being more software bias as they’d make the role suit the person and skillset
• They export their product around the world but this person wouldn’t need to go overseas
• Pharmaceutical industry- this person doesn’t need pharma experience (can be from any background as long as it’s automation)
• Mon/Tues/Thurs they’d be in the office near Liverpool airport
• Weds/ Fri from home
• They have one team of 6 engineers that are a mix of controls, elec design and duall skilled, apprentices etc
• They’d deal with technical sales, costing, design, specifications, testing, documentation, programming, commissioning through to client handover
• Open to years of experience – progression is deffo on the cards but depends on the persons goals
• 60-70k depending on experience
• Pension
• Hybrid
• £100 per night/ £150 for weekend / £200 for a Sunday ?
• Company car when travelling to site

Are you an experienced Control System Engineer that enjoys working across a range of industries on a full cradle to grave basis?

If you are I have a role that could potentially pique your interest…

Ideally, you’ll have more than 6 years’ worth of experience programming PLCs and MCC’s from scratch using Siemens, Mitsubishi or Allen Bradley through to the final commissioning stages. If you’ve had experience with AutoCAD Electrical that’d be a bonus but it’s not essential.

The company have been up and running for over 100 years so there’s no questions needed around the stability that they can offer. Again, they’re huge on progression opportunities so they’ll make you a personalised plan that fit well with your own career goals, so the sky really is your limit …

They work across a range of industries such as water and flood control, nuclear, bridges and transport as well as harbour infrastructure so experience in the heavy industries is key.

You’d be office based in Barnsley, and it’d fall around the £55-68k mark depending on experience.

If you think it’d be worth fleshing out in more detail, please feel free to reach out. 0161 250 5326 | Eloisa@optima-cs.com