Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician

Closing Date: 2026-03-31

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

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 38 hours/week (Mon-Wed 08:00-16:30, Thurs-Fri 08:00-15:30) with standby cover including weekends and evenings.

Salary: £37,260–£53,820 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, all PPE and tools.
• Health Care cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage).
• Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution).
• 25 days holiday allowance.

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

About The Role

Working in our Fresh Water Team, you will maintain and improve ICA systems across multiple sites. You will ensure compliance, reliability and efficiency of control systems while supporting continuous improvement.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Planned, reactive & proactive maintenance including fault finding, calibration, testing, investigation and programming on a variety of equipment including telemetry, analysers, dosing equipment, control networks, MCC/LVA components, PID controllers, and instrumentation such as flowmeters, level transmitters, pressure transducers and temperature probes.
• Implementing process improvements.
• Diagnosing control system faults on PLC control systems such as Rockwell, Mitsubishi, Allen Bradley and a range of package plant PLCs.
• HMI & SCADA system backups and modifications.
• Setup and maintenance of site control networks.
• Undertaking planned maintenance and/or calibrating instrumentation.
• Responding to faults/alarms.
• Completing documentation accurately and in a timely manner.

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or time‑served apprenticeship (or equivalent).
• Strong problem‑solving and fault‑finding skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience with PLC programming and SCADA systems.
• Live within 45 minutes of our sites.

Desirable

• Experience in process‑oriented industries (water, petrochemical, manufacturing).
• ONC or HNC in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Control.

Progression opportunities

Southern Water offers monitored career paths, training and development opportunities.

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.

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.

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but you are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com‑ Introduce Yourself).

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