Electrical Project Engineer

Location: Harwich
Department: Engineering
Reporting to: Head of Engineering UK
Management Responsibility: None

The Role

We are looking to recruit an experienced Electrical Project Engineer to become an integral member of the EC&I Department at a manufacturing facility in Harwich.

The Electrical Project Engineer will be responsible for managing electrical, instrumentation and control system projects, helping to ensure the safe and reliable operation and modification of both new and existing plant and equipment.

This is a technically focused engineering position covering project engineering, plant modifications, electrical design, control systems, equipment specification, project management, contractor management, commissioning, validation and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will have strong experience of electrical systems within an industrial environment, including HV, LV, hazardous areas, PLC/DCS control systems and field instrumentation, alongside the ability to manage capital projects and/or major shutdown activities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Engineering & Plant Modification

You will be responsible for:

• Designing new plant and process installations.
• Modifying existing plant and equipment to current engineering standards.
• Ensuring designs comply with COMAH and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Supporting project commissioning and start-up activities.
• Validating completed projects and modifications.

Electrical Design

The role will involve:

• Designing motor control circuits.
• Designing process control systems.
• Performing LV cable design and calculations.
• Designing electrical systems for hazardous area installations.
• Producing electrical calculations and technical specifications.

Control Systems Engineering

You will be responsible for:

• Developing control philosophies and control strategies.
• Producing control system specifications.
• Creating control diagrams and schematics.
• Defining operational and safety parameters for control systems.
• Supporting testing and functionality verification.

Equipment Specification

Responsibilities will include:

• Specifying electrical and control equipment.
• Ensuring equipment is suitable for process requirements.
• Selecting equipment appropriate for hazardous area classifications and zoning.
• Assessing the technical suitability of supplier proposals.

Project Management

The Electrical Project Engineer will take responsibility for the effective management and delivery of engineering projects, including:

• Planning engineering activities and deliverables.
• Allocating and managing resources.
• Managing project schedules and priorities.
• Monitoring project progress against agreed milestones.
• Controlling project costs and budgets.

Contractor & Supplier Management

The role will involve working closely with external contractors and suppliers, including:

• Obtaining and evaluating supplier quotations.
• Negotiating costs and deliverables.
• Managing contractor performance and progress.
• Verifying the quality of external work.
• Ensuring compliance with site requirements and standards.

Validation & Documentation

You will be responsible for maintaining accurate engineering and project documentation, including:

• Producing validation documentation.
• Generating commissioning records.
• Completing engineering modification records.
• Maintaining technical drawings and documentation.
• Ensuring engineering changes are properly documented and communicated.

Stakeholder Communication

The position requires regular communication with teams and stakeholders across the site. Responsibilities include:

• Liaising with production, operations, SHEQ and maintenance teams.
• Providing technical reports and updates.
• Communicating project progress and issues.
• Presenting engineering solutions and recommendations.
• Coordinating activities across departments and contractors.

Safety Management

Safety and process safety are fundamental to the position. The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Carry out engineering activities safely.
• Conduct work in accordance with site safety procedures.
• Consider the impact of engineering activities on personnel and plant safety.
• Support safe systems of work and permit requirements.
• Ensure engineering solutions meet process safety requirements.

Regulatory & Compliance Management

The Electrical Project Engineer will operate within a highly regulated environment and will be responsible for:

• Ensuring compliance with COMAH regulations.
• Working in accordance with the COMAH Safety Report.
• Complying with the Site Emergency Plan.
• Adhering to site permits and licence conditions.
• Supporting regulatory inspections and audits.

Management Systems Compliance

The successful candidate will be required to work in accordance with the organisation’s management systems, including:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management.
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management.
• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health & Safety.
• ISO 50001 – Energy Management.
• Following all relevant company policies, procedures and standards.

Experience & Qualifications

The successful candidate should have design experience covering electrical systems maintenance and testing, including:

• HV systems.
• LV systems.
• 18th Edition.
• Hazardous areas to EN60079.

Professional Experience

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Good organisational skills.
• Good man-management skills.
• Experience working with maintenance management systems.
• Experience controlling contractors.
• Experience operating within a CDM environment.

Additional Technical Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate should also have:

• Experience of PLC and DCS control systems.
• Experience of field instrumentation.
• Experience with intrinsically safe circuits.
• Strong technical knowledge and planning skills.
• Experience assessing method statements.
• Experience assessing risk assessments.
• Awareness of relevant health and safety legislation.
• Knowledge of company health and safety procedures.
• Experience of monitoring and audit activity.
• Experience of Management of Change.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD.
• Familiarity with maintenance management systems.
• Experience with project handover documentation.
• Experience delivering or supporting operator and maintenance training.

Project & Budget Responsibility

Candidates should have experience of:

• Managing capital projects and/or major shutdowns.