Control Panel Builder

Location: Factory-Based, Bedfordshire | Department: Electrical | Salary: £16 -£20 PH

The Opportunity

Shepherd Stubbs are recruiting on behalf of an established specialist engineering business for an experienced Control Panel Builder to join its electrical production team.

This is a hands-on, workshop-based position focused on the manufacture and assembly of high-quality, bespoke control panels for industrial machinery and automation systems.

The role will suit someone who enjoys working on small-batch, highly varied projects where attention to detail, quality workmanship and practical electrical skills are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and wire low-voltage control panels, working with systems from 110–600V AC, single and three-phase, and 24V DC.
• Interpret electrical schematics, mechanical layout drawings and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Install and terminate a range of electrical components, including:
  • Circuit protection devices
  • Relays and solenoid valves
  • Inverter drives and soft starts
  • Contactors
  • HMIs
  • PLC systems, including Mitsubishi, Allen-Bradley and Siemens
• Work across a variety of panel types, including:
  • Junction boxes
  • HMI enclosures
  • MCCs
  • Multi-door control cabinets
• Fabricate and assemble panel components using hand and power tools.
• Measure, mark out and work with a range of materials, including stainless steel, GRP, mild steel and galvanised steel.
• Carry out continuity testing and basic functional checks.
• Maintain a clean, organised and efficient workshop environment.
• Work closely with design and test engineers, following guidance from supervisors and team leaders.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in electrical control panel building.
• Strong ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and mechanical layout drawings.
• Experience with wire selection, crimping, ferrule termination and cable routing.
• Good understanding of both AC and DC control systems.
• Excellent attention to detail and a consistent focus on quality.
• Competence using workshop tools and equipment safely.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider engineering team.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Formal electrical qualifications.
• Completed electrical apprenticeship.
• Experience using EPLAN and interpreting detailed BOMs.
• Experience within food machinery, industrial automation or a similar engineering environment.
• Knowledge of electrical testing procedures and control panel safety checks.

Career Development

This role offers excellent opportunities for professional development and progression within a growing engineering environment.

Potential future career paths include:

• Panel Shop Team Leader / Supervisor
• Electrical Assembly & Test Technician
• Controls Engineer – PLC/HMI development and system integration
• Testing Engineer – QA testing and diagnostics
• Electrical Design Technician – EPLAN, BOMs and system layouts
• Commissioning Engineer – machine validation and customer-site testing, including UK and international travel

Working Hours

The position is contracted at 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Standard breaks include:

• Morning: 10-minute break, 10:00am–10:10am
• Lunch: 30-minute break, 1:00pm–1:30pm

Typical working pattern:

• Monday: 7:30am–1:00pm / 1:30pm–4:00pm
• Tuesday: 7:30am–1:00pm / 1:30pm–4:30pm
• Wednesday & Thursday: 7:30am–1:00pm / 1:30pm–5:00pm
• Friday: 7:30am–12:00pm

Additional overtime may be available.

Overtime

Overtime is generally available and is paid at 1.5x the standard hourly rate for Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings.

Employees are expected to work a reasonable amount of overtime when requested by their Supervisor or Manager.

Salary

Salary/rate of pay: Competitive and dependent on experience.

Benefits

• Annual bonus scheme, subject to company performance
• 20 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 26 days with length of service
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Company sick pay scheme
• Workwear provided
• Subsidised vending machines with drinks and snacks
• Staff meals
• Company events

Interested? Shepherd Stubbs would be pleased to hear from experienced Control Panel Builders who are looking for their next opportunity within a specialist engineering and manufacturing environment.