Senior Software Engineer

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.