Senior Controls & Software Engineer

Senior / Principal Controls & Software Engineer | Eindhoven, Netherlands - fully employed (perm)

This is a senior, strategic role for an experienced engineer who can define scalable and compliant solutions while remaining close enough to the technology to guide implementation, integration and validation.

The role

You will lead the architecture, development and implementation of control systems, embedded software and manufacturing applications. You will act as a technical authority across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, IT, Supply Chain and external technology partners.

The role will focus on building reliable, secure and compliant systems that support manufacturing scale-up, technology transfer and future commercial growth.

Key responsibilities

• Define and govern the long-term controls, automation and software architecture roadmap.
• Lead the design and development of PLC, SCADA, HMI, embedded software and industrial control solutions.
• Establish scalable, modular and standardised software and automation architectures.
• Act as the technical authority for controls, automation, manufacturing software and systems integration.
• Define technical standards, system requirements, design specifications and software development practices.
• Lead software verification, validation and Computerised System Validation activities.
• Ensure systems comply with GMP, GAMP5, data integrity and electronic-record requirements.
• Support manufacturing scale-up, technology transfer and the transition from development into commercial production.
• Drive integration across manufacturing systems, MES, data platforms, cloud services and business applications.
• Develop approaches to advanced process control, digitalisation, analytics and Industry 4.0.
• Set standards for system reliability, lifecycle management, maintenance and OT cybersecurity.
• Lead complex troubleshooting, root-cause investigations and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Manage technical relationships with equipment suppliers, automation vendors and systems integrators.
• Support project planning, risk assessment, commissioning and validation.

Skills and expertise required

• Master’s degree or PhD in Automation, Control Systems, Software, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in industrial automation, control systems and manufacturing software.
• Strong experience with Siemens PLCs, Ignition SCADA, HMI systems and industrial control architectures.
• Knowledge of PLC programming, debugging, industrial networks and system integration.
• Practical experience leading automation projects from concept through implementation, commissioning and validation.
• Strong understanding of CSV, software verification and validation, GMP, GAMP5 and data integrity.
• Experience within a regulated manufacturing environment, such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology or a related sector.
• Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up, technology transfer or process automation.
• Knowledge of MES, historians, manufacturing data platforms and cloud or middleware integration.
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity, including IEC 62443 principles.
• Experience defining technical standards and influencing engineering strategy across an organisation.
• Experience managing automation vendors, equipment suppliers and systems integrators.

Leadership profile

The successful candidate will be:

• A strategic thinker who can balance long-term architecture with practical delivery.
• Confident acting as a technical authority and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Comfortable translating complex technical issues for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Highly analytical, organised and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Passionate about innovation, continuous improvement and engineering excellence.
• An experienced mentor who can raise capability across engineering and manufacturing teams.