Principle Engineer - Operational Technology
Salary: £41,600 per annum | Company Benefits
Location: Walsall, West Midlands | Hybrid
Contract: Full-Time | Permanent | 37.5 hours per week
About Us:
South Staffordshire Water, which operates across two regions as Cambridge Water and South Staffs Water is a privately-owned regulated water only company.
South Staffs Water supplies a population of nearly I.3 million. The area of supply stretches from the edge of Ashbourne in the north, to Halesowen in the south, and from Burton on Trent in the east, to Kinver in the west.
The Role:
We're looking for a Technician to join our Operational Technology team, helping to support and maintain the systems that underpin the delivery of safe, reliable water services across our operational sites.
As a Technician within our OT Operations team, you will provide day-to-day technical support, maintenance and fault resolution across our Operational Technology estate.
This is an exciting opportunity to work with SCADA systems, PLCs, RTUs, telemetry and communications infrastructure in a critical national infrastructure environment, where your work will have a direct impact on operational performance and customer service.
Key Responsibilities:
Health, Safety & Operational Risk
- Carry out maintenance and support activities safely, following approved procedures and risk controls.
- Identify and report operational risks, hazards and safety concerns affecting OT systems.
OT Operations & Maintenance
- Support and maintain SCADA systems, PLCs, RTUs, telemetry platforms and associated infrastructure.
- Perform planned and reactive maintenance activities to maximise system reliability and availability.
- Carry out routine system health checks and assist with software, firmware and hardware updates.
Incident Response & Fault Management
- Respond to operational incidents, diagnose faults and support system recovery activities.
- Escalate complex issues where required and contribute to root cause investigations.
Resilience & Recovery
- Support backup, recovery and resilience testing activities across critical OT systems.
- Assist with disaster recovery and business continuity arrangements.
Compliance & Cyber Security
- Support compliance with regulatory, operational and cyber security standards.
- Assist with audit, assurance and evidence-gathering activities.
- Report vulnerabilities, security concerns and system risks through appropriate channels.
Change & System Improvements
- Support the implementation, testing and documentation of system changes and upgrades.
- Assist with commissioning and operational acceptance of new or modified OT systems.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance system performance and reliability.
Stakeholder Support
- Work closely with operational teams, engineers, suppliers and cyber security specialists.
- Provide technical advice and support to users of Operational Technology systems.
Asset Lifecycle Management
- Maintain accurate asset records and technical documentation.
- Support technology refresh programmes and identify risks associated with ageing or unsupported equipment.
About You:
We're looking for someone with a practical, problem-solving approach and a passion for technology in operational environments.
You will ideally have:
- Experience supporting, maintaining or fault-finding industrial control, automation, telemetry or Operational Technology systems.
- An understanding of industrial control systems and associated equipment.
- Strong diagnostic and fault-finding skills across electrical, control, communications or computing technologies.
- Experience working within planned and reactive maintenance environments.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with technical and operational teams.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail when maintaining records and documentation.
Desirable Experience:
It would be advantageous if you have experience with:
- SCADA, PLC, RTU or telemetry systems.
- Industrial communications and OT networking technologies.
- Backup, restoration and disaster recovery activities.
- Operational Technology cyber security principles.
- Water, utilities, manufacturing or other operationally critical environments.
- UK-NIS Regulations, CAF, IEC 62443 or other OT governance frameworks.
- Electrical, electronic, automation, instrumentation or engineering qualifications.
What You'll Get:
- Family-Friendly Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity & Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support, and up to 5 paid Carer’s Days
- Financial & Life Assurance: Company Pension Scheme with salary sacrifice options
- Health & Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Virtual GP access for you and your dependents
- Lifestyle & Perks: Cycle to Work Scheme and My Premier Benefits discounts, cashback, and vouchers
- Professional Development: Hands-on training and ongoing career development opportunities
- Inclusion & Belonging: Active People Networks – Disability & Neurodiversity, Unity+, Women’s Network, Parent & Carer Networking Group and more
- Performance & Recognition: Annual salary review, Reward & Recognition Scheme, and Long Service Awards.
At South Staffordshire Group, inclusion matters. We have a wide range of employee networks which are employee-led communities that bring our people together, support different perspectives and create a strong sense of belonging. Our people are encouraged to get involved as members or allies.
We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including all genders, ethnicity, sexual orientations, and physical and neurodiverse abilities.
We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and encourage you to let us know how we can best support you throughout the recruitment process.

Can't find what you're looking for?
Sign up for job alerts to be notified when a suitable role is made available.













