Senior Automation Engineer

As an Engineer in the petrochemical sector, you play a leading role in the design, development and improvement of a plant and you work closely together on the largest projects. Together with a team of experts, you will provide efficient and sustainable solutions that meet the highest standards.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of automation discipline within large-scale projects.
• Lead the development and expansion of PLC and SCADA systems.
• Perform programming tasks including disassembly, reprogramming, testing, and commissioning of installations.
• Support software migrations to newer versions and platforms.
• Diagnose and resolve complex automation issues and breakdowns.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
• Guide the team in structuring and future-proofing automation solutions.
• Ensure proper documentation aligned with organisational standards.
• Contribute to cybersecurity improvements at PLC level (passwords, certificates).

Requirements

• Min. 7–10 years of experience as an Automation Engineer.
• Experience in a similar environment
• Proficiency in PLC programming and automation software.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, control technology, industrial networks, and automation hardware/software.
• Strong expertise in Siemens S7 PLC and TIA Portal.
• Experience with Siemens WinCC SCADA and upcoming transition to Ignition.
• Familiarity with Sepasoft Batch Sequencer.
• Solid understanding of ISA-88 and ISA-95 standards, including batch process control and data structures.
• Cybersecurity awareness at PLC level is a plus.
• Strong communication skills to convey technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to work independently and systematically.
• Willingness to support and train team members.
• High availability and presence onsite, especially during the onboarding phase.
• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Electromechanics with a specialisation in Process Automation or equivalent experience.
• Fluent in Dutch (spoken and written).
• Practical English skills for reading technical documentation and participating in technical and safety discussions.

At STAR, your career is our primary focus. We match you with challenging projects, offer personal guidance and create opportunities for you to develop your career. Together we ensure that you get the most out of your career.