Senior PLC Engineer - Rockwell Automation - Austria (Mostly Remote)

Location: Austria / Remote with European travel
Contract type: Freelance
Start date: ASAP / December
Contract duration: 12-month freelance contract, with potential for extension
Working hours: 50 hours per week, with overtime available up to 60 hours per week
Travel: One week per month after the first month onsite
Expenses: Travel and accommodation covered by the client

About the role

We are looking for two experienced Senior PLC Engineers to support a large-scale industrial automation programme within the food and beverage sector. The project focuses on pet food manufacturing facilities across multiple international locations, requiring experienced engineers to contribute to control system development, integration and commissioning.

As a Senior PLC Engineer, you will be involved throughout the automation project lifecycle, from PLC software development and control system implementation through to onsite testing, troubleshooting and commissioning. You will work alongside electrical, controls and project engineering teams to support the successful deployment of automation systems across multiple production facilities.

The first month of the assignment will be spent onsite at the client's headquarters in Austria, where you will work closely with the core engineering team. Following this initial period, the role will be primarily remote, with approximately one week per month spent travelling to customer sites across Europe and Central Asia.

The position offers a 12-month freelance contract, with the possibility of extension depending on project requirements.



You will need to be comfortable balancing software development responsibilities with international travel and hands-on commissioning activities at manufacturing sites.

Main responsibilities

- Develop, modify and optimise PLC software for industrial automation and control systems.
- Design and implement control solutions using Rockwell Automation systems.
- Support SCADA system integration, configuration and implementation.
- Carry out onsite commissioning, testing and troubleshooting to ensure systems operate as intended.
- Collaborate with electrical, controls and project engineering teams throughout the project lifecycle.
- Diagnose and resolve automation faults, control system issues and performance problems.
- Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
- Support the deployment and commissioning of automation systems across multiple manufacturing facilities.
- Produce and maintain technical documentation where required.
- Ensure automation solutions meet customer specifications and operational requirements.
- Travel to international customer sites to support installation, commissioning and project delivery activities.

Requirements

Essential

- You are a Senior PLC Engineer: We require at least five years of professional experience as a PLC Engineer.




- Strong hands-on experience with Rockwell Automation systems.
- Previous experience working within food and beverage manufacturing environments.
- Experience with SCADA systems and their integration with industrial automation solutions.
- Electrical commissioning experience.
- Ability and willingness to travel internationally for site-based project activities.
- Fluent English, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams and project stakeholders.

You should be confident working across PLC development, control system integration and onsite commissioning. The role requires someone who can contribute to technical delivery while working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across different locations.

Desirable

- Experience with MBS systems.
- German language skills.
- Previous experience delivering automation projects across multiple international production sites.
- Experience within pet food manufacturing environments.

The offer

- Contract: Freelance engagement for an initial 12-month contract, with the possibility of extension.
- Working arrangement: Remote working following the first month onsite in Austria.
- Initial onboarding: The first month will be spent onsite at the client's Austrian headquarters.
- International travel: Approximately one week per month at customer sites across Europe and Central Asia, including Spain, France, Poland, the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan.
- Working hours: A standard 50-hour working week, with overtime available up to 60 hours per week.
- Expenses: Travel and accommodation costs covered

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