EC&I Engineer

Phasebiolabs
Nottingham, United Kingdom
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-level to senior EC&I engineers who enjoy hands-on work and cross-disciplinary collaboration in biotech and process environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5+ years of EC&I experience in chemical or biotech process environments
    — “5+ years of hands-on EC&I, controls or instrumentation work in a process environment”
  • Engineers who thrive in a technical lead role with responsibility for system design and operation
    — “This position is for an experienced, hands-on engineer who wants to build, test and improve real systems”
  • Individuals who are comfortable working in hazardous environments and ensuring safety compliance
    — “installing, commissioning and running it in ATEX-zoned areas handling flammable gases”
  • Candidates who value collaboration and can effectively interface with external partners and internal teams
    — “Act as our technical point of contact with the external engineering company”

Things to consider

  • The role involves working in hazardous environments and requires adherence to ATEX/DSEAR standards
    — “installed in hazardous areas, with a working knowledge of ATEX/DSEAR zoning”
  • Candidates must be prepared to handle both installation and documentation tasks concurrently
    — “Keep as-built drawings and equipment records up to date”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with PLC systems and field instrument calibration in your resume and interview
    — “Hands-on with field instruments and controllers, including calibration”
  • Emphasize your ability to translate process needs into technical specifications
    — “Work with our process team to define control and instrumentation requirements”
  • Showcase your track record in maintaining and optimizing industrial control systems
    — “Keep our current pilot running: maintain instruments, tune controllers and data logging”
  • Include experience with safety reviews like HAZOP to align with the company's safety focus
    — “Contribute to HAZOP and other safety reviews”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Act as technical point of contact for external engineering company
  • Work with process team to define control and instrumentation requirements
  • Install, wire, calibrate and loop-check instruments
  • Support commissioning and handover of new pilot
  • Maintain instruments, tune controllers and data logging
Typical background
HNC/HND or degree in electrical, control and instrumentation or related engineering discipline5+ years of hands-on EC&I, controls or instrumentation work in a process environment

Skills & requirements

Required

EC&I EngineeringControls And InstrumentationPLC ProgrammingAtex/dsear ZoningHazop StudiesCommissioning And Handover

Preferred

Compex CertificationPilot Plant ExperienceEC&I Design DocumentationHazid Studies

Stack & domain

Atex/dsear ZoningInstrumentationControl SystemsPLCElectrical ControlsCalibrationCommissioningHazopInstrument ListsP&idsControl NarrativesI/O ListsSchematicsElectrical DrawingsAutocadCommunicationTeamworkOwnershipSafetyProblem-solvingAdaptabilityCompexBiomanufacturingFermentation SystemsProcess Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Phasebiolabs via Ashby

THE COMPANY 

Phase Biolabs is a deep tech company building biomanufacturing platforms. We use engineered biocatalysts to convert waste and low-value feedstocks like CO2 into sustainable chemicals and fuels, starting with ethanol. Phase develops and scales these industrial bioprocesses from lab to pilot and commercialises them with industrial partners through retrofit models.

YOUR ROLE

As our EC&I engineer, you will own the electrical, control and instrumentation side of our fermentation systems. You will be our technical lead for adjusting and maintaining existing systems and work with external engineering partners to design the control system as we scale our process. This will involve ensuring the design meets our process needs, then installing, commissioning and running it.

This position is for an experienced, hands-on engineer who wants to build, test and improve real systems. Your work will directly shape how our first commercial plant is designed and operated.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Act as our technical point of contact with the external engineering company designing the control system and panels for our next fermentation systems
  • Work with our process team to define control and instrumentation requirements, and review design documents such as P&IDs, control narratives, I/O lists, schematics and instrument lists
  • Install, wire, calibrate and loop-check instruments, equipment and cabling, including in ATEX-zoned areas handling flammable gases
  • Support commissioning and handover of the new pilot, and help optimise it in early operation
  • Keep our current pilot running: maintain instruments, tune controllers and data logging, and make PLC changes
  • Help select and procure instruments and equipment, and coordinate contractors on site
  • Contribute to HAZOP and other safety reviews
  • Keep as-built drawings and equipment records up to date

YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO

  • Likes being in the plant room as much as at the desk
  • Takes ownership of a scope and sees it through
  • Treats safety as part of good engineering, not an afterthought
  • Enjoys working across disciplines rather than in one narrow specialism
  • Communicates clearly with people outside your discipline

WHAT A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE LOOKS LIKE

  • An HNC/HND or degree in electrical, control and instrumentation or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience through an apprenticeship
  • 5+ years of hands-on EC&I, controls or instrumentation work in a process environment, such as chemical, energy, biotech, food or water
  • Has installed wiring, instruments and equipment in hazardous areas, with a working knowledge of ATEX/DSEAR zoning and how equipment is selected and installed for each zone
  • Reading and checking EC&I design documentation, and discussing it with design engineers
  • Hands-on with field instruments and controllers, including calibration and differential pressure measurement
  • A strong grasp of LV electrical controls: relay logic, contactors, overloads and inverters
  • PLC experience on any platform.
  • Can read and modify electrical drawings in AutoCAD

NICE TO HAVE

  • CompEx certification
  • Pilot plant, R&D or new-process experience
  • Experience producing EC&I design documentation or control philosophies
  • Taking part in HAZOP/HAZID studies

If this role excites you but your experience doesn't tick every box below, apply anyway — we're looking for the right person, not a perfect CV.

THE HIRING PROCESS

We will review your cover letter and CV and invite you to an initial screening interview if we think you might be a good fit. Our process includes two additional interviews (30-45 minutes each). If successful, we will carry out referencing will prior to making an offer. All interviews are remote.

We endeavour to provide feedback to all interviewees. Applications are being considered on an rolling basis.

COVER LETTER

Include a brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in the job.

HOW TO APPLY

Only applications received through our website will be reviewed.

Please submit your application here: https://phasebiolabs.com/career

Phase Biolabs is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from everyone and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

If you have any questions, please email the Phase Hiring Team at hr@phasebiolabs.com.

Source: Phasebiolabs careers (Ashby)

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