Automation and Controls Apprentice
Bilfinger UK LImited
Chesterfield (S41 7TD)
Closes on Friday 27 March 2026
Posted on 27 January 2026
Contents
Summary
As part of our continued growth in Automation, Bilfinger UK are looking for 1 candidate to join the team in Chesterfield as an Automation and Controls Apprentice.
- Wage
-
£14,918.80 to £24,126.96, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Automation and controls engineering technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
38 hours, times to be confirmed, Monday - Friday.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
The Automation and Controls Apprentice will:
- Be a committed member of the team and enthusiastic about learning new technologies / processes
- Work as directed by the Senior/Lead Engineer and Project Manager
- Carry out all work in full adherence to our quality system, whilst meeting timescale targets
- Be proactive and strive for high quality as standard
As an Automation and Controls Apprentice, your activities will include the following:
- Learning to understand and use various design documents as part of project delivery (including customer requirements, standards, design documents and drawings)
- Ensuring all work meets requirements and is delivered on time.
- Contributing to the development of documentation (e.g. Functional Design Specifications (FDS), Detail Design Specifications (DDS), test specifications, Operation & Maintenance manuals, risk assessment, method statement, site test documentation)
- Contributing to the development of software applications, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI) and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
- Carrying out testing activities (modular testing, Internal Factory Acceptance Test (IFAT), Customer Factory Acceptance Test (CFAT), System Integration Test (SIT) and Site Acceptance Test (SAT))
- Maintaining detailed test records and observation report records
- Supporting Senior/Lead Engineer with commissioning duties on site
- Working proactively as part of a team and show initiative
- Working as directed by Senior/Lead Engineer or Project Manager and reporting on progress and issues
- Adhering to the business Health and Safety policies
Where you'll work
Chesterfield Office
St Mary's Court
St Mary's Gate
Chesterfield
S41 7TD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHESTERFIELD COLLEGE
Training course
Automation and controls engineering technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Safety Effective - The ability to work safely in an industrial environment and where required, produce risk assessment and method statement documentation. Be able to apply the principles of functional machinery or process safety including SIL (Safety Integrated Level) and PL (Performance Level) terminology.
- Engineering documentation - Production and interpretation of a range of technical documentation (device manuals, operating procedures, schematics, fault reports etc), and working with company documentation systems.
- Project engineering capabilities - Support of installation, commissioning, shut-down, start-up and maintenance, service, or support of a wide range of systems and devices.
- Diagnostic capabilities - Fault finding, diagnosis, rectification and reporting of automation control systems and controls applications via the utilisation of formal problem solving methods and diagnostic tools or software.
- Instrumentation configuration and calibration - Set-up, calibrate and commission a wide variety of field level instrumentation that interfaces to automation and control systems
- Industrial Networks configuration and support - configure, assist commissioning and continued support of industrial network solutions at all hierarchical levels of control system integration using the requisite tools and or software.
- HMI and SCADA configuration and programming - Make changes to existing systems or implement new configurations.
- PLC or Robot configuration and programming - Implement complex PLC or Robot program content and configurations to affect changes to increase availability and or efficiency of automation controlled machinery and the ability to configure PLC and or Robot hardware and program a wide variety of PLC’s and or Robot’s.
- Safety Effective - The ability to work safely in an industrial environment and where required, produce risk assessment and method statement documentation. Be able to apply the principles of functional machinery or process safety including SIL (Safety Integrated Level) and PL (Performance Level) terminology.
- Engineering documentation - Production and interpretation of a range of technical documentation (device manuals, operating procedures, schematics, fault reports etc), and working with company documentation systems.
- Project engineering capabilities - Support of installation, commissioning, shut-down, start-up and maintenance, service, or support of a wide range of systems and devices.
- Diagnostic capabilities - Fault finding, diagnosis, rectification and reporting of automation control systems and controls applications via the utilisation of formal problem solving methods and diagnostic tools or software.
- Instrumentation configuration and calibration - Set-up, calibrate and commission a wide variety of field level instrumentation that interfaces to automation and control systems
- Industrial Networks configuration and support - configure, assist commissioning and continued support of industrial network solutions at all hierarchical levels of control system integration using the requisite tools and or software.
- HMI and SCADA configuration and programming - Make changes to existing systems or implement new configurations.
- PLC or Robot configuration and programming - Implement complex PLC or Robot program content and configurations to affect changes to increase availability and or efficiency of automation controlled machinery and the ability to configure PLC and or Robot hardware and program a wide variety of PLC’s and or Robot’s.
Training schedule
Automation and Controls Engineering Technician level 4.
Mandatory qualifications:
Learning Provider: Chesterfield College.
The training provided will meet the required knowledge, skills and behaviours as required in the Automation and Controls Engineering Technician apprenticeship standard and the location of this training is to be confirmed.
More training information
Qualifications:
- GCSE or equivalent (Grade 4/C or above) in English Language
- GCSE or equivalent (Grade 4/C or above) in Mathematics
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or above)
- Maths (grade 4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Patience
Other requirements
Candidates could be required to work away from home or on sites which are not local to their home address.
About this employer
Bilfinger UK is a leading engineering and maintenance provider, supporting customers across the chemical & petrochemical, nuclear, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals & biopharma, power & energy, utilities, renewables and food & beverage markets. We enhance the efficiency of assets, ensuring a high level of availability and reducing maintenance costs. We have extensive experience in onshore and offshore facilities; specialising in asset management services throughout all life cycle phases from consulting, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning. This commitment is delivered by an experienced and highly competent workforce of over 4,500 employees operating from 14 offices in strategic industrial hubs, upholding the highest standards of safety, compliance and quality.
After this apprenticeship
To develop into a fully qualified Automation and Controls Engineering Technician with the potential to develop this role beyond.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHESTERFIELD COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010938.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 27 March 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.