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

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential industrial technology company that is building advanced automated processing facilities. This is a hands-on Automation Engineer role where you will own the complete control system for a production plant from design through commissioning to stable operation.

This is not a maintenance role. You will be the technical owner of PLC programming, machine safety systems, HMI development, and industrial networking. You will integrate multiple machine suppliers into a coherent production line and be responsible for plant availability as a direct business outcome.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and own the complete PLC system using Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1200 and S7-1500), including control logic, sequencing, fault handling, and HMI development
• Commission the plant from initial design through FAT/SAT to stable production operation, taking full ownership of the technical journey
• Design stop and interlock behaviour to maximise plant availability, allowing unaffected sections to continue running safely when isolated faults occur
• Implement machine safety control on fail-safe F-CPU with F-I/O, including hardwired e-stop loops, PLC-enforced zone isolation, guard interlocks, and controlled shutdown sequences
• Serve as the in-house technical counterpart for EN ISO 13849 performance-level determination and CE file preparation, working with external assessors while retaining technical decision authority
• Integrate control systems from multiple machine suppliers into one unified production line with coherent stop logic across the entire plant
• Hold machine builders and panel builders accountable to specification requirements including unlocked code, complete documentation, and standards compliance
• Implement OT/IT integration using OPC UA, MQTT, and Modbus TCP to extract plant data for stoppage analysis, energy monitoring, and throughput tracking
• Collaborate with the Industrial IoT team on edge computing and data infrastructure at the system boundary

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on experience programming and commissioning industrial control systems, with proven success bringing production equipment or complete lines into stable operation
• Deep expertise in Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1200 and S7-1500), with strong skills in SCL, LAD/FBD, HMI/SCADA, industrial networking (PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Modbus TCP), VFDs, and fault-finding
• Strong machine safety competence including F-CPU / Safety Integrated and EN ISO 13849, with the ability to explain and defend performance-level determinations
• Comfortable reading electrical schematics and troubleshooting cabinets, hardware, signals, wiring, and control behaviour directly on the shop floor
• Track record of bringing at least one production line from commissioning into stable production; maintenance-only experience is not sufficient
• Experience working with machine and panel builders with the confidence to hold suppliers accountable for code quality, documentation, and professional delivery
• Experience with brownfield projects and legacy migration (STEP 7 Classic to TIA) is a plus
• Experience in bulk material handling, recycling, sorting, or minerals processing is desirable
• Additional skills valued: PLC version control, simulation/digital twins, Python, C#/TIA Openness, SQL, Linux, Docker, MES/IIoT, OT network segmentation, or IEC 62443
• Independent, structured, and hands-on with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to challenge assumptions and document thoroughly
• Fluent in English; German and/or Dutch is a plus
• Based in or near Cologne or the Benelux/border region with valid EU work authorisation
• Willingness to travel to production facilities in Belgium

How We Work With You

Candidates apply through Get A Job.ai. Our recruiting team will conduct an initial screening to understand your automation background and project experience. Qualified candidates are then submitted to our client for consideration. Please do not attempt to contact the client directly, as all communication is managed through our talent team to ensure a professional process.

Location and Work Arrangement

This position is based in Cologne, Germany, with flexibility for remote work and travel to production facilities in Belgium. The role requires hands-on commissioning work on-site during critical project phases.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.