Senior Controls Technical Program Manager
Senior Controls Technical Program Manager
Location: UK-based, regular travel to critical infrastructure sites
Salary: Up to £80,000 PAYE
Contract: 12 months initially, open-ended / strong extension potential
💷 £80k PAYE + UK critical infrastructure + major controls delivery programme — a priority hire for a technically credible Controls TPM who can lead automation, PLC, SCADA, DCS and commissioning work across high-value mission-critical sites.
This is not a hands-on programming role. It is for someone who can challenge designs, drive delivery, manage stakeholders, and keep FAT/SAT, integration and site execution moving properly. ⚡
About the role
You will manage end-to-end delivery of automation, instrumentation and control systems projects across UK critical infrastructure environments.
The role sits between engineering, procurement, site teams and client stakeholders, making sure control systems are designed, integrated, tested and commissioned to the right technical, commercial and programme standards.
Hyperscale data centre experience is strongly preferred, but strong controls delivery experience from mission-critical, automated or industrial environments will also be considered.
Key responsibilities
- Lead technical project delivery across automation, instrumentation and controls workstreams.
- Define scope, deliverables, schedules and technical objectives against client requirements.
- Review and challenge PLC, SCADA, DCS and control system architecture.
- Coordinate hardware design, software, integration, commissioning and site delivery teams.
- Oversee FAT and SAT activity, ensuring acceptance criteria and client sign-offs are achieved.
- Track critical path, programme milestones, risk, change and cost performance.
- Act as the technical point of contact between client, engineering, procurement and site teams.
- Identify delivery risks early and keep design, integration and commissioning aligned.
Requirements
- Technical project or programme management experience within controls, automation, BMS, commissioning, instrumentation or industrial systems.
- Strong understanding of PLC, SCADA, DCS, industrial networks or control system architecture.
- Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, integration or site acceptance processes.
- Comfortable operating at programme / project level, not just hands-on technical delivery.
- Strong stakeholder management across engineering, client, vendor and site teams.
- Fluent English and ability to travel regularly across UK project sites.
Desirable / nice-to-have background
- Hyperscale data centre experience.
- Mission-critical, 24/7, critical infrastructure or highly automated environments.
- BMS, controls integration, commissioning, industrial automation or M&E controls background.
- PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent project management qualification.
- Experience across UK or EMEA technical delivery programmes.
About the employer / environment
You will be supporting a specialist critical infrastructure / data centre delivery environment with multiple UK sites and a strong project pipeline.
This is a priority hire with a fast process expected: three stages, including two internal interviews and a final meet-and-greet with the client.
Best-Fit Candidates / Useful Matching Context
Strong matches may come from data centres, critical infrastructure, utilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, airports, rail systems, energy, industrial automation, BMS integration, controls integrators, commissioning consultancies, M&E contractors or client-side programme delivery teams.
Relevant titles may include Controls TPM, Technical Program Manager, Controls Project Manager, Automation Project Manager, BMS Project Manager, Controls Integration Manager, Commissioning Manager, SCADA Project Manager, Industrial Automation PM or Electrical Controls Project Manager.
Recommended LinkedIn posting skills
- PLC / SCADA / DCS
- Industrial Automation
- Technical Project Management
- Commissioning / FAT / SAT