Automation Engineer – PLC / Plant Control (m/f/d)

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential cleantech organization building advanced industrial infrastructure in the circular economy sector. Our client is developing a highly automated processing facility that combines AI, robotics, and industrial control systems to transform materials handling and improve sustainability outcomes.

We are seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to take full ownership of the plant control systems—from initial design through commissioning and into stable production operation. This is not a maintenance role. You will be the technical owner of PLC programming, safety systems, HMI development, industrial networking, and multi-vendor machine integration. The machinery itself is procured; your responsibility is the control architecture, standards, documentation, and data infrastructure that turns individual machines into a reliable, intelligent production line.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and maintain the complete PLC system using Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1200 & S7-1500), including control logic, sequencing, fault handling, and operator interface
• Lead commissioning activities from factory acceptance through site acceptance and into sustained production, taking hands-on responsibility for system reliability
• Architect stop and interlock behavior to maximize plant availability—allowing unaffected zones to continue operating safely when faults occur elsewhere
• Implement machine safety systems on fail-safe hardware (F-CPU, F-I/O), including hardwired e-stop circuits, zone isolation logic, guard interlocks, and controlled shutdown sequences
• Serve as the in-house technical authority on EN ISO 13849 performance level determination and CE compliance, working with external assessors while retaining decision-making ownership
• Integrate control systems from multiple machine suppliers into a unified production line with coherent stop logic and shared operational state
• Hold equipment vendors and panel builders accountable for unlocked source code, complete documentation, and adherence to agreed standards
• Enable data extraction via OPC UA, MQTT, and Modbus TCP to support real-time monitoring of stoppage reasons, energy consumption, and throughput metrics
• Collaborate with the Industrial IoT team on edge architecture and the OT/IT boundary

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on experience programming and commissioning industrial control systems, with a proven track record of bringing production equipment or complete lines from design into stable operation
• Deep expertise in Siemens TIA Portal, S7-1200, and S7-1500 platforms, including proficiency in SCL, LAD/FBD, HMI/SCADA development, industrial networking (PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Modbus TCP), VFD integration, and diagnostic troubleshooting
• Strong machine safety background, including Safety Integrated (F-CPU) and EN ISO 13849, with the ability to explain and defend performance level calculations
• Comfortable reading electrical schematics and performing hands-on troubleshooting of cabinets, I/O, wiring, and control behavior on the shop floor
• Experience bringing at least one production line from commissioning through to stable operation—maintenance-only backgrounds are not suitable
• Track record working with machine builders and system integrators, with the confidence to enforce quality standards for code, documentation, and deliverables
• Familiarity with brownfield environments and legacy PLC migration (STEP 7 Classic to TIA Portal) is a plus
• Experience in bulk material handling, recycling, sorting, or minerals processing is desirable but not required
• Additional skills valued: PLC version control, simulation or digital twin tools, structured automation frameworks, Python, C#/TIA Openness, SQL, Linux, Docker, MES/IIoT platforms, OT network segmentation, or IEC 62443
• Independent, structured, and hands-on working style with strong ownership instincts and the ability to challenge assumptions
• Fluent in English; German and/or Dutch is a plus
• Based in or near Cologne or the Benelux/border region, with valid EU work authorization and willingness to travel to the client facility in Belgium

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will review your profile and conduct an initial screening to understand your background and technical depth. If there is a strong fit, we will submit your profile to our client for consideration. Please do not attempt to contact the client directly, as all communication and coordination is managed through our recruiting team to ensure a professional and structured process.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on experience level and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive hiring practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.