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Controls Engineer

Southampton
3 weeks ago
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Location: Remote (initially), moving to hybrid in Hampshire (monthly UK meet-ups & global travel)

Salary: £55,000 – £75,000 + excellent benefits

About the Company

Our client is a fast-growing maritime technology company pioneering wind-assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in global shipping. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage and help shape how their control systems are designed, tested, and deployed at sea.

The Role

This is a blank-page opportunity for an ambitious Controls Engineer with 3–4 years’ experience (or more). Your attitude, curiosity, and willingness to learn are just as important as technical skills. You’ll own the full controls lifecycle – from architecture and algorithm design to on-board commissioning – and help establish a world-class controls capability as the company grows.

Key Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain control systems for compact wind propulsion technology.

Define and evolve control-system architecture, linking sensors, effectors, and processors.

Develop, test, and commission control algorithms for reliability, performance, and usability.

Create intuitive HMIs for demanding marine environments.

Carry out on-board commissioning, troubleshooting, and system optimisation.

Capture requirements and ensure traceability through the full lifecycle.

Work with multidisciplinary teams to integrate mechanical, electrical, and software systems.

Play a role in building and leading a controls engineering team as the business scales.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

Control-system architecture knowledge (sensor/effector integration, scalable design).

Full controls lifecycle experience: requirements, architecture, algorithms, testing, commissioning.

Networking proficiency with at least two of: IP, CAN bus, Modbus, NMEA, Serial.

Field experience diagnosing deployed systems.

Background in marine, industrial automation, or autonomous systems.

Growth mindset, self-directed, willing to travel globally (expenses covered).

Desirable:

Advanced control algorithms & AI (Matlab/Simulink, model-based design).

AI/ML applications in control systems.

Marine standards knowledge.

HMI design experience.

Qualifications:

Degree in Control Engineering, Electrica l /Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics or related field.

Salary & Benefits

£55,000 – £75,000 DOE (higher for exceptional candidates).

Initially remote, then hybrid in Hampshire.

Monthly company meet-ups in the UK + regular global sea trials (expenses paid).

25 days’ holiday + bank holidays, private healthcare, pension, life insurance.

Career progression in a growing, mission-driven company.

Why Apply?

This is a chance to make a tangible impact on decarbonising global shipping while building your career in a supportive, forward-thinking environment. If you thrive on ownership and solving real-world problems, we’d love to hear from you

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