Closing Date

Location: Chatham, Kent

Geographically based within location area (negotiable), with travel to multiple sites.

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 38 hours (Mon-Wed 08:00-16:30, Thurs-Fri 08:00-15:30)

Salary: Base salary from £37,260 up to £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
• Health Care cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage)
• Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution)

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

About the role

Join our Fresh Water Team to 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 such equipment sets as; Telemetry Systems, Instrumentation (Flowmeters, Level transmitters, Pressure transducers, Temperature probes, etc…). Analysers (Turbidity, etc…). MCC & LVA (Low Voltage Assemblies) with PLC Control. Control (Networks, MCC/LVA components, PID controllers). Dosing Equipment. Automation (PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems). + More!
• Implement complex process improvements and diagnose control system faults on PLC types such as; Rockwell, Mitsubishi and a range of package plant PLC’s.
• PLC Software Control via backups and routine verification. Maintaining a change control system when software is requested.
• HMI & SCADA system backups and modifications.
• Setup and maintenance of site control networks (Ethernet, DH+, Profibus, Profinet, RS232, etc..), including managed switch configuration.
• Conduct planned maintenance and/or calibrate instrumentation to Southern Water standards to ensure reliability and accuracy.
• Respond to faults/ alarms as guided by the Regional Control Centre.
• Undertake investigative work on instruments and process issues at fresh water plants, identifying any faults and implementing remedial action.
• Calibration of fresh water equipment to external national standards such as HACCP and MCerts.
• Complete documentation accurately and in a timely manner to maintain internal change control standards.
• Implement system modifications from Operational Team requests to help improve process control or compliance.
• Gather evidence to help with Root Cause Analysis and implement changes as required.
• To coach and train team members to develop their skills.

Additional Requirements

Travel across multiple sites with a company van provided.

What you’ll bring to the role:

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Electrical or Electronic Engineering OR time-served apprenticeship.
• ONC or HNC in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Control.
• Strong problem-solving and fault-finding skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience with PLC programming and SCADA systems.

Desirable

• Experience in process-oriented industries (water, petrochemical, manufacturing).
• Enthusiasm for learning and growth.

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.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box.

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.

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

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

Our Commitment to Diversity

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.

your skills fit in.