
Controls and Automation Engineer
Synthomer · Chester, SC
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Synthomer (chemicals) in Chester, SC. 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Automation, Painting / coating
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in South Carolina: typical posted base $97k–$125k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 20 controls engineer openings in South Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
South Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 19 other live controls postings in South Carolina.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $97k–$125k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- PLC 70%
- ✓ Automation 70%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 40%
- Team leadership 35%
- Root cause 35%
- Robotics 25%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Synthomer
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Synthomer in Chester
2 other open roles at this site.
- Process Engineer · Process
- Production Manager · Production · Manager
Full description from SynthomerAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Project
1. Provide full support to ensure projects are delivered within time, to budget and to the required quality.
2. Develop conceptual designs with respect to key equipment
requirements
and required technology needs, while working with internal and external specialists.
3. Prepare basic and detailed engineering documentation as required to support the execution of projects.
4. Design and specify C&A Engineering for new projects with the responsible engineer for the project.
5. Responsible for checking & approval of third-party design work & documents to ensure compliance to Synthomer standards.
6. Provide C&A Engineering cost estimates to Project Managers. Ensure all related information is suitably documented and updated.
7. Organize and participate in risk assessments and safety studies of designs.
8. Support construction activities to ensure the project is delivered as per the design.
9. Prepare test plans, procedures and functional progress reports to ensure on time delivery of plant mechanical completion.
10. Actively supports the commissioning team and start-up activities through to handover to end user.
Maintenance
1. Identify and analyze plant engineering problem and recommend cost effective solutions to resolve them.
2. Conduct process control optimization studies and implement the required rectification measures in line with operation needs.
3. Identify and improve procedures for control system maintenance for efficiency and increased reliability.
Engineering
1. Supports the development and implementation of Engineering Best Practices throughout the region.
2. Delivers functional engineering in line with the Global Project Framework.
3. Provides engineering support activities for manufacturing facilities.
4. Carry out plant capacity and productivity studies as well as execute process improvement activities.
5. Ensures all engineering work meets the required company standards and statutory compliance.
6. Proposes best available technology that will aid cost reduction, improvement in production quality, reduction of energy and total asset life cycle costs.
Expected Deliverables
1. URS and FDS for Control systems, with appropriate architecture and standardization.
2. Selection of suitable hardware and software for DCS and SIS.
3. Coding and execution of changes and set up of control logic.
Other
Responsibilities
1. Provide engineering support activities for manufacturing facilities as required.
Education
- ✓Degree in Electrical & Electronic / Instrumentation / Control Automation / Chemical Engineering or equivalent, with minimum 5 years’ experience in related field.
Experience
- ✓Working in execution of capital projects through lifecycle, developing / maintaining best engineering practice, facilitating technology selection, and continuous improvement.
- ✓Ability to select the appropriate execution strategy and develop budgets for C&A elements.
- ✓💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation
- ✓🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme
- ✓📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
- ✓🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
- ✓🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
- ✓👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
- ✓🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
- ✓📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
- ✓💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
- ✓🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
- ✓🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
- ✓🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.
At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Job
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