Job Title: Principal Engineer - Control Systems
Location: Sheffield (WHF 2 days a week), flexible working available
Salary: To be discussed on application
Permanent
Office / Project based site work
Start Date: ASAP
About the Role
Technical Partners are supporting a leading engineering and technology organisation in the appointment of a Principal Engineer. This is a senior technical leadership role focused on the design, development, and integration of advanced control systems across highly regulated and safety‑critical environments.
You will take full ownership of complex technical solutions, leading projects from concept through to commissioning and handover, while ensuring compliance, performance, and client satisfaction. Alongside hands‑on technical responsibility, you will provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
This role offers significant influence across project delivery, technical governance, client engagement, and continuous improvement, making it ideal for an experienced engineer looking to shape engineering excellence at a senior level.
Benefits
- Salary to be discussed on application
- 25 days annual leave, 8 Bank Holidays, plus the ability to buy and sell up to 5 days per year
- Flexible start and finish times, including flexi‑Fridays
- Competitive Employee Referral Award Scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life Assurance
- Pension
- Payment of professional membership fees
- Healthy Extras – Employee Assistance Programme, access to a practising GP, Confidential Advice
- Enhanced family friendly policies
Key Responsibilities
- Leading and approving complex system architectures, designs, and technical specifications
- Owning system integration, ensuring compatibility, performance, and regulatory compliance
- Taking accountability for system testing, validation, and commissioning activities
- Producing and approving high‑quality technical documentation, including requirements, design specifications, test plans, manuals, and quality records
- Translating client requirements into clear functional and non‑functional specifications
- Chairing and leading technical discussions, identifying and resolving engineering issues
- Planning and leading commissioning activities at client sites
- Managing and controlling project resources, budgets, and expenditure, including authorisation
- Coordinating testing and troubleshooting of bespoke control systems
- Driving continuous improvement and innovation opportunities within projects
- Providing technical leadership, coaching, and mentorship to engineers across disciplines
- Supporting team capability development, training, and skills planning
- Acting as the senior technical interface for clients, including leading project and technical meetings
- Providing technical sign‑off during bid and tender stages, including approval of estimates and effort
- Collaborating closely with software, hardware, manufacturing, and project management teams
- Delivering accurate project reporting, including progress, risks, and recovery plans
- Ensuring compliance with internal quality management systems, processes, and procedures
- Leading technical and quality reviews and acting as subject‑matter expert
- Maintaining excellent knowledge of client‑specific and international engineering standards
- Ensuring full compliance with health, safety, and wellbeing requirements
- Line management and functional responsibility for assigned team members
- Successfully closing out projects to client and internal standards
Experience & Knowledge Required
- Minimum 7 years’ experience in systems engineering, hardware, control systems, or electrical design
- Strong technical knowledge of relevant engineering tools and software, such as:
- AutoCAD Electrical
- PLC, SCADA, and HMI platforms
- Experience delivering projects within highly regulated or safety‑critical industries (e.g. nuclear, energy, industrial manufacturing)
- Solid understanding of systems engineering principles and integration methodologies
- Experience managing full project lifecycles, including cost control and client engagement
- Awareness of basic contractual and commercial requirements
- Proven experience of software development and/or hardware integration
- Experience working on customer sites and leading commissioning activities
- Strong knowledge of quality management systems, processes, and compliance standards
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
- Ability to develop and defend technical solutions during bid and tender stages
- Strong technical leadership and decision‑making capability
- Confident managing teams, performance, and challenging situations
- Collaborative, proactive, and solutions‑focused mindset
Values Fit
- A strong commitment to delivery and accountability
- A safety‑first mindset with uncompromising standards
- Technical mastery and professional credibility
- A passion for continuous learning and development
- A collaborative approach to working with teams and clients
- Willingness to challenge convention and drive innovation
Why Apply?
Our clients are a specialist engineering and technology partner delivering automation, control, and digital transformation solutions to clients across the energy, nuclear, and industrial manufacturing sectors. With decades of industry expertise, they design and integrate systems that improve safety, reliability, and operational performance across critical infrastructure. Their work supports organisations in delivering secure, sustainable, and future‑ready operations.
This is a high‑impact leadership role offering the chance to work on technically complex projects that support critical infrastructure and advanced industrial systems. You'll have the opportunity to influence engineering strategy, mentor talent, and deliver solutions that make a tangible difference.
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