Advanced manufacturing
Controls & Automation Engineer
Designs, programs and maintains PLC and SCADA systems that run automated production lines.
Typical earnings
£42,000 – £68,000 (estimated)
Demand
Steady national demand (estimated)
Your fit
78% — explainable, not a guarantee
A day in the life
- 1
Review overnight line performance and alarms
- 2
Diagnose a stoppage on a PLC-controlled line
- 3
Write and test logic changes offline
- 4
Commission a change during a planned window
- 5
Document versions and hand over to shift
- Hours
- Days with occasional call-out
- Where
- On-site, some remote diagnostics
- Travel
- Occasional between sites
- Physical demands
- Low to moderate
Career reality
No career is perfect. Here's both sides so you can decide honestly.
Potential positives
- +Builds directly on your existing PLC exposure
- +Mostly onshore, home every night
- +Transferable across almost every industry
Things to consider
- –Call-out and production pressure
- –Requires formal PLC programming competence
- –Slower initial salary uplift than offshore rotation
How you could get there
University is one route, not the default. Compare them on what actually matters.
| Route | Duration | Cost | Earn while training | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional certification route | 3 – 6 months part time | £1,800 – £3,200 (estimated) | Yes — stay in your current role | Siemens TIA Portal / Rockwell certification |
| Employer training route | 12 – 18 months | £0 | Yes | Internal move from technician to controls engineer |
Costs and durations are estimates for demonstration. Real entry requirements, funding, deadlines and provider pricing arrive when education and training sources are connected.
Your UP2WRK Career Roadmap
Generated from your Career Passport. It updates itself as your passport changes.
- 1
Current position: maintenance technician
- 2
PLC programming certification (part time)
- 3
Internal automation project experience
- 4
First role: junior controls engineer
- 5
Next role: controls & automation engineer
- 6
Long term: automation lead or systems integrator