Job Description

Principal Control Systems Engineer 

We are partnering with a leading engineering organisation delivering advanced control systems and automation solutions across the water, infrastructure, energy, and resources sectors.

They are currently seeking to appoint a Principal Control Systems Engineer to provide senior technical leadership, governance, and oversight across key utility-focused projects.

This is a critical senior hire within their engineering function, supporting both project delivery excellence and technical strategy, while also contributing to mentoring, capability development, and continuous improvement.

Location:

South Australia 

Role Overview:

The successful individual will act as a senior technical authority within control systems engineering, ensuring high-quality delivery across multiple concurrent projects and supporting both internal engineering teams and client stakeholders.

The role will also contribute to proposals and pre-sales activity, helping shape technical approaches and supporting the continued growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide senior technical oversight across control systems projects
• Act as a governance lead for engineering quality and delivery standards
• Support proposals, estimates, and business development activities
• Oversee design, delivery, testing, and commissioning phases
• Mentor and develop engineers across the team
• Engage with senior stakeholders and clients
• Manage technical risks across project lifecycles
• Drive continuous improvement across processes, tools, and delivery methods
• Promote strong safety, compliance, and engineering standards
• Maintain awareness of emerging automation technologies and best practices

Candidate Profile:

We are seeking someone with:

• Degree-qualified in Electrical, Control Systems, or related engineering discipline
• 10+ years’ experience in control systems engineering
• Strong background in water/wastewater or utilities environments
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) preferred
• Strong technical capability across:
  • Functional Design Specifications (FDS)
  • PLC and RTU programming
  • SCADA and HMI systems
  • FAT / SAT testing and commissioning
• Experience with major automation platforms such as:
  • Rockwell Automation / Studio 5000
  • Schneider Electric
  • Siemens
  • GE or equivalent SCADA environments
• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing experience
• Experience mentoring or leading engineering teams
• Strong attention to detail and delivery focus
• Desirable: Functional safety certification (TÜV or equivalent)