Controls Engineer

Control Engineer
 
Location: Remote initially then moving to hybrid with a couple of days a week in the office which will be Hampshire based + monthly meet‑ups & global travel for trials
 
Reporting To: Head of Engineering
 
Salary: £55-75K plus shares plus excellent benefits package
 
Our client is a rapidly‑growing maritime technology company pioneering innovative wind‑assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across global shipping.
 
This is a blank‑page opportunity for an ambitious Controls Engineer who wants to shape how we build, validate and scale control systems.

You will likely have 3 or 4 years of hands-on experience, but your attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than this. You will own the full controls lifecycle - from architecture and algorithm design through on‑board commissioning - and help establish a world‑class capability as the company grows.
 
Key Requirements

• Control‑system architecture expertise covering sensor/effector integration and scalable designs.
• Experience of the full controls lifecycle - building from scratch, new product life cycle, defining requirements, architecture, algorithm design, testing and commissioning
• Hands‑on networking proficiency with at least two of IP, CAN bus, Modbus, NMEA or Serial interfaces.
• Field experience diagnosing and rectifying issues in deployed systems.
• Automation experience within marine, industrial or autonomous systems.
• Growth mindset & self‑direction - able to tackle unfamiliar problems, learn rapidly and make progress with minimal guidance.
• Willingness to travel globally for sea trials, factory testing and monthly company meet‑ups (all expenses paid).

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Deploying advanced control algorithms & AI development (e.g. Matlab/Simulink, model‑based design) to embedded hardware, PLCs, ECUs or CPUs.
• Exposure to AI/ML techniques applied to control systems.
• Knowledge of marine regulations and standards.
• Human‑Machine Interface (HMI) design for intuitive operation in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• Degree‑qualified in Control Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics or a related discipline.

Role & Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining control systems to regulate and optimize the performance of compact wind propulsion system.
• Define and maintain the system architecture linking sensors, effectors and core processors for innovative products.
• Own and evolve the control algorithms, ensuring reliability, performance and ease of use, enhance efficiency, safety, and precision.
• Develop and maintain the HMI, delivering a user‑friendly interface for operators.
• Undertake system commissioning on board vessels, troubleshooting hardware and software end‑to‑end.
• Capture and manage system requirements, securing stakeholder buy‑in and traceability from design through to in‑service support.
• Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams to integrate mechanical, electrical and software components.
• Build and lead a controls engineering team as the product portfolio and order book expand.

Salary & Benefits

• £55,000 - £75,000 per annum (possibly more with exceptional experience).
• Fully remote working initially, then moving to hybrid when office is opened in Hampshire
• Company‑wide meet‑up in London/UK once per month (2‑3 days).
• Engineering team workshop once per month. - Regular factory or on‑ship visits for testing and trials.
• All travel & accommodation expenses paid.
• Opportunity to build a capability and progress rapidly as the company scales.
• Standard pension, private health care plus 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Health Insurance

Our client offers the chance to make a tangible impact on the decarbonisation of global shipping while growing with a supportive, forward‑thinking team.
 
If you thrive on ownership, enjoy solving real‑world problems and want to help write the playbook for our controls engineering function, we would love to hear from you.