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.