Electrical Design Engineers for Automation, Machinery and Intralogistics Projects
Ed Burch – Senior Consultant, Cartisian Technical Recruitment, says:
Electrical design sits at the heart of many engineering-led businesses, particularly within special-purpose machinery, system integrators, and intralogistics environments. From the design of control panels to the production of accurate electrical schematics and field wiring diagrams, the quality of electrical design directly influences build quality, commissioning success, safety, and long-term compliance.
At Cartisian Technical Recruitment, we work closely with organisations where electrical design capability is business-critical, and where understanding the specific technologies and machines involved is essential to making the right hire.
Electrical Design in Real Engineering Environments
Terms such as automation and intralogistics are useful, but in practice, electrical design engineers work on very tangible machines and systems. By honing in on the specific technologies involved, it becomes much easier to understand the skills required — and where experience genuinely adds value.
We regularly support recruitment for electrical design engineers working on projects including:
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Packaging machinery
Electrical design for form-fill-seal machines, cartoners, case packers, palletisers, and inspection systems. This typically involves control panel design, high-speed I/O, safety integration, and detailed field wiring documentation for installation and commissioning. -
Conveyor and material handling systems
Design of electrical systems for belt, roller, and modular conveyors, including motor control, sensors, scanners, zoned control, safety circuits, and integration with warehouse or line-level control systems. -
Assembly and production machinery
Bespoke assembly machines incorporating pneumatics, servos, vision systems, robotics, and safety devices. These projects demand clear schematics, robust panel layouts, and close collaboration with mechanical and controls teams. -
Machine tools and industrial equipment
Electrical and safety design for CNC machines, presses, test rigs, and other production equipment, often within regulated manufacturing environments where compliance and documentation are critical. -
Intralogistics and automated handling solutions
Electrical design supporting automated storage, sortation, pallet handling, and goods-to-person systems, where reliability, maintainability, and functional safety are key considerations.
Across these applications, electrical design engineers are typically responsible for:
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Designing control panels housing PLCs, drives, safety controllers, power distribution, and I/O
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Producing electrical schematics using EPLAN Electric P8 or AutoCAD Electrical
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Creating field wiring diagrams, cable schedules, and termination details
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Supporting build, installation, commissioning, and handover phases
Functional Safety, Machine Safety & Compliance
Alongside core electrical design, many roles now require a solid understanding of functional safety and machine safety, particularly in safety-critical or regulated environments.
We regularly support clients seeking engineers with experience in:
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Functional safety principles and safety-related control systems
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Machine safety design and risk reduction measures
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Compliance with the Machinery Directive / Machinery Regulation
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Safety standards
For many businesses, safety and compliance are not separate disciplines , they are embedded within the electrical design function. Engineers who understand both the technical design tools and the regulatory framework are increasingly in demand.
Sought-After Electrical Design Skills
While every role is different, we regularly recruit electrical design engineers with experience across:
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EPLAN and AutoCAD Electrical
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Control panel design and documentation
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Field wiring, I/O mapping, and installation drawings
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Functional safety and machinery compliance
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Automation, special-purpose machinery, and material handling environments
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Close collaboration with mechanical, controls, and software teams
Importantly, not every position requires deep expertise in every area. Understanding where specific machine experience is essential, and where adjacent experience can translate, is often the difference between a good hire and a great one.
Supporting Engineers at Every Stage
Cartisian supports electrical design recruitment across the full experience spectrum:
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Principal and Lead Electrical Designers providing technical authority and safety oversight
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Senior Electrical Engineers delivering complex, compliant designs
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Mid-level Engineers building depth across machines and systems
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Graduate and Junior Electrical Engineers taking their first steps into industry
Many organisations are focused on building long-term capability, blending experienced engineers with emerging talent. We regularly advise on role structuring, team balance, and how to develop safety-critical skills over time.
A Specialist, Adaptable Approach
As a specialist technical recruitment consultancy, we adapt our approach to the specific machines, technologies, and standards our clients work with. That might mean sourcing an experienced EPLAN designer for packaging machinery, an engineer with conveyor and intralogistics experience, or identifying a graduate with strong fundamentals who can grow into a compliant design role.
Just as importantly, we provide honest guidance on the skills available in the market — helping clients understand what is realistic, where compromises may be required, and how to shape roles to attract the right engineers.
Our focus is on long-term fit, technical capability, and compliance, not short-term fixes.
Contact Cartisian Technical Recruitment
If you’re hiring electrical design engineers, or would value a conversation about machine-specific skills, functional safety, or compliance-driven roles, we’d be happy to talk.
Cartisian Technical Recruitment
0121 295 1623
ed.burch@cartisian.com
www.cartisian.com