Senior Software Engineer

Description:

Are you an experienced Automation Software Engineer, Controls Engineer or PLC Programmer with strong hands-on experience across PLCs, robotics, HMIs and vision systems?

Do you enjoy solving complex automation problems, improving machine performance and sharing your technical knowledge with other engineers?

We're supporting a leading precision manufacturing business in Portsmouth who are looking to recruit a Senior Production Support Software Engineer to join their growing engineering team.

This is a senior, hands-on position where you'll work directly with specialist automated manufacturing equipment, taking ownership of complex software and controls issues while helping develop the technical capability of the wider team.

What's the role all about?

As the Senior Production Support Software Engineer, you'll be responsible for maintaining, improving and developing the software and control systems behind specialist automated manufacturing machinery.

You'll work across PLC, robotic, HMI and vision systems, identifying faults, improving existing software and implementing solutions that increase machine reliability and production throughput.

This isn't purely a desk-based programming position. You'll work directly with production machinery, troubleshoot complex automation issues and collaborate closely with other engineers to ensure equipment performs effectively.

As a senior member of the team, you'll also play an important role in mentoring and developing junior and mid-level engineers, sharing your knowledge and helping strengthen automation capability across the department.

Key responsibilities

Programme, modify and troubleshoot PLC-controlled automated machinery

Develop and maintain Mitsubishi iQ-R PLC software

Programme and troubleshoot Mitsubishi robotic systems

Develop and support HMI systems

Programme and optimise Keyence and Asyril vision systems

Work with associated automation equipment including servo systems, RFID and inverters

Diagnose and resolve complex software and automation faults

Improve existing machine software to increase reliability, availability and throughput

Identify opportunities to improve automated manufacturing processes

Take ownership of complex technical problems from initial diagnosis through to resolution

Work closely with Production and Engineering teams to minimise machine downtime

Provide technical guidance across PLC, robotics, vision and automation systems

Train, coach and mentor junior and mid-level engineers

Share technical knowledge and engineering best practice across the team
What you'll need

This is a senior position, so we're looking for someone who already has a strong level of automation and controls expertise.

You'll need:

Proven experience within Automation, Controls or Production Support Engineering

Strong practical experience programming PLCs

Experience with Mitsubishi iQ-R or closely equivalent PLC systems

Practical experience programming and fault finding industrial robots

Mitsubishi robot experience or experience with comparable robotic platforms

Experience programming HMI systems

Hands-on experience with industrial vision systems

Keyence, Asyril or equivalent vision system experience

Strong understanding of software programming methodologies

Excellent and methodical fault-finding skills

Ability to independently diagnose and resolve complex automation problems

Confidence modifying and improving existing machine software

Experience training, mentoring or developing other engineers
Technical environment

You'll be working with technologies including:

Mitsubishi iQ-R PLCs

Mitsubishi Robots

Keyence Vision Systems

Asyril Vision & Flexible Feeding Systems

HMIs

Servo systems

RFID

Inverters

Bespoke automated manufacturing machinery
Direct experience with every specific manufacturer isn't essential, but you'll need strong hands-on experience with these technologies or closely equivalent industrial automation systems.

About you

You're an experienced automation professional who can confidently take ownership of technically challenging problems rather than relying on fixed solutions.

You'll be:

An excellent technical problem solver

Methodical when fault finding

Comfortable taking ownership and working independently

Collaborative and willing to share your expertise

A confident technical mentor

Patient when developing less experienced engineers

Highly detail-focused

Interested in improving machine performance rather than simply maintaining the status quo
Because the products manufactured are extremely small and precision-focused, attention to detail is essential.

Why join?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business investing significantly in automation, technology and advanced manufacturing.

You'll work in an engineering environment where automation is central to future growth, giving you the opportunity to influence machine performance, improve production capability and help develop the next generation of automation engineers.

While ongoing training and development will be available, this is a genuine senior-level opportunity for someone who can bring significant automation expertise from day one.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Additional 3 days off over the festive period

Company pension scheme

Company bonus scheme

Life Cover – 3x salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Ongoing technical training and development
Interested?

If you're an experienced Senior Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, PLC Programmer, Automation Software Engineer or Production Support Engineer with strong PLC, robotics and vision system experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Kingdom People for a confidential discussion.

Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy