ICA Technician

Closing Date

2025-10-25

Instrumentation, Control and Automation Technician

Location: Hastings

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 38 hours (Mon to Weds 08:00-16:30 and Thurs/Fri is 08:00-15:30)

Salary: Base salary £37,260 up to £53,820 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

About the role

Join our Fresh water Team to maintain and improve ICA systems, supporting the processing of clean water prior to distribution. With our sites located across the beautiful South Coast, you can enjoy the security of full-time employment while tackling the interesting assignments that keep you engaged and growing. You will ensure compliance, reliability, and efficiency of control systems while supporting continuous improvement.

What you will be responsible for:

• Perform planned, reactive, and proactive maintenance, including fault finding, calibration, testing, investigation, and programming on equipment such as telemetry systems, instrumentation (flowmeters, level, pressure, temperature), analysers, MCC/LVA with PLC control, dosing equipment, and automation systems (PLCs, HMIs, SCADA).
• Diagnose and resolve control system faults; implement process improvements on PLCs (Rockwell, Mitsubishi, and package plant PLCs).
• Manage PLC software backups, routine verification, and change control processes.
• Maintain and modify HMI and SCADA systems; perform backups.
• Configure and maintain site control networks (Ethernet, DH+, Profibus, Profinet, RS232), including managed switches.
• Conduct planned maintenance and calibrate instrumentation to Southern Water standards for reliability and accuracy.
• Respond to faults and alarms as directed by the Regional Control Centre.
• Investigate and resolve instrumentation and process issues at freshwater plants.
• Calibrate equipment to national standards (HACCP, MCerts).
• Complete documentation accurately to maintain change control compliance.
• Implement system modifications requested by Operations to improve control and compliance.
• Support root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.

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.

Desirable

• Experience within a process orientated industry such as water utility, petrochemical, electricity, manufacturing or similar.
• Experience within Instrumentation or Control or Automation.

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.