Automation Engineer in Stockport, North West

Job Title: Automation Engineer

Location: Manchester

Contract: 12 months (2+ years of work)

IR35 Status: Outside IR35 (Limited Company)

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days home (Occasional trips to sites)

Overview

Our client is currently recruiting for an Automation Engineer to join our client's team on a 12-month contract, operating on a hybrid working model. The role will involve significant time spent at the Humber Refinery and Tetney Terminal to gather information from personnel and systems, alongside visits to client offices and remote working.

This position requires an experienced Automation Engineer with a strong background in both engineering/project delivery and owner-operator environments.

The initial study phase is expected to last approximately 12 weeks and will focus on reviewing, assessing, and recommending options for the migration and/or re-architecture of the site's control systems. This will include supporting schedule development, risk assessments, and economic benefit analysis.

Project execution strategies should incorporate cutover philosophies that prioritise hot cutovers where practical, minimising plant changes and operational risk. Where cold cutovers are required, these must be thoroughly assessed in collaboration with Operations teams.

Additional studies may be commissioned between November 2026 and October 2027. During active project phases, the successful candidate may be required to work up to 40 hours per week, with breaks anticipated between studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Interface with Client Operations teams and ICS groups to capture and document stakeholder requirements.
• Review current and future I/O requirements.
• Conduct loop-by-loop reviews with Operations teams to:
  • Challenge "like-for-like" migrations.
  • Confirm ongoing loop requirements.
  • Apply risk-based prioritisation.
  • Identify advanced control opportunities.
• Assess site infrastructure upgrade requirements, including:
  • Instrument Equipment House capacity.
  • Control room capacity.
  • Containerised solutions where appropriate.
• Evaluate brownfield constructability and operability considerations.
• Ensure alignment with planned refinery unit outages.
• Document all key technical and project decisions.
• Develop recommendations suitable for handover to project delivery teams for FEED and execution phases.
• Support the development of migration and cutover strategies.
• Provide regular progress updates to Worley, Client Responsible Engineers, and Project Management teams.
• Deliver a comprehensive final report and summary presentation to support future funding decisions.

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience delivering similar automation and control system migration studies.
• Experience working within owner-operator environments and engineering project delivery teams.
• Experience in the oil & gas, process, utilities, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing stakeholder engagement and reporting requirements.
• Strong technical report writing and documentation skills.

Desirable Experience

• Automation OEM experience.
• Experience in sequential (batch) automation design.
• Knowledge of fiscal metering and truck loading systems within terminal environments.
• Familiarity with the EEMUA 191 Alarm Management Standard.
• IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 Functional Safety certification.

Qualifications

Degree qualified in either of the below:

• • Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Instrumentation Engineering

• • Automation Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Or an equivalent discipline

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates.  We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for an Automation Engineer looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.

Voceer presents this job opportunity for First Recruitment Group, a 50 person sized company who are categorized as a Recruitment Agency.

This position is being managed by First Recruitment Group, a reputable recruitment agency known for placing candidates in desirable positions.

All round workforce agency covering Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Management. We are a global recruitment agency specialising in the Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Power, Water, Rail, Construction, Technology, Aerospace & Defence, Chemicals and Corporate sectors. Our specialist consultants help clients to recruit high quality candidates into temporary, contract and permanent roles at all levels. We proudly support a partnership culture by collaborating and adding value to build lasting client and candidate relationships.

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