APC Specialist - Advance Process Control
Posted 4 days ago by Square One Resources
Negotiable
Inside
Undetermined
England, UK
Summary: The role of APC Specialist involves leading the design and implementation of advanced process control solutions within the pulp and paper industry. The specialist will focus on optimizing production, energy usage, and process stability while driving continuous improvement initiatives. This position requires deep technical expertise in process control systems and collaboration with various engineering teams. The role is based in the UK and involves European travel.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop, configure, and deploy Advanced Process Control (APC) applications to optimise production, energy usage, and process stability.
- Integrate APC solutions with DCS, PLC, and MES systems.
- Collaborate with operations and process engineers to identify opportunities for APC application across pulp, recovery, and paper sections.
- Support model predictive control (MPC) and Real Time optimisation (RTO) strategies.
- Analyse process data using statistical and AI/ML-based tools to identify process inefficiencies.
- Implement and fine-tune soft sensors, inferential models, and control algorithms for critical parameters (eg, consistency, brightness, moisture, basis weight).
- Drive continuous improvement projects to enhance yield, reduce variability, and lower operating costs.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for APC-related technologies, tools, and best practices.
- Provide training and mentorship to plant engineers and control room operators.
- Troubleshoot APC and DCS performance issues, collaborating with automation and IT teams.
- Partner with process, IT, and data analytics teams to ensure APC systems align with digital manufacturing goals.
- Establish KPIs and governance frameworks for APC performance monitoring.
- Support corporate digital transformation initiatives (eg, Industry 4.0, predictive control, and smart manufacturing).
Key Skills:
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Instrumentation, Control Systems, or Process Automation.
- Extensive experience in process control within the pulp & paper, chemicals, or process manufacturing sector.
- Proven experience with APC platforms (eg, Aspen DMCplus, Honeywell Profit Controller, Yokogawa APC, ABB, or equivalent).
- Strong understanding of DCS systems (ABB, Honeywell, Emerson, or Siemens).
- Expertise in PID tuning, model-based control, and dynamic process modelling.
- Proficiency in data analytics tools (eg, MATLAB, Python, OSIsoft PI, Seeq).
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: undetermined
Country: UK
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Job Title: APC specialist - Advance Process Control
Location: UK based (European travel required)
Salary/Rate: Negotiable depending on experience
Start Date: November 2025
Job Type: 12 Month contract (Inside IR35)
Introduction:
We are looking for an APC Subject Matter Expert (SME) with deep technical expertise in process control systems, optimisation, and performance improvement within the pulp and paper industry. The APC SME will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of advanced process control solutions to enhance productivity, quality, and energy efficiency across multiple production lines (eg, pulp mills, recovery boilers, paper machines, and bleaching processes).
Key Responsibilities:
APC Strategy & Implementation
Develop, configure, and deploy Advanced Process Control (APC) applications to optimise production, energy usage, and process stability.
Integrate APC solutions with DCS, PLC, and MES systems.
Collaborate with operations and process engineers to identify opportunities for APC application across pulp, recovery, and paper sections.
Support model predictive control (MPC) and Real Time optimisation (RTO) strategies.
Process Optimisation
Analyse process data using statistical and AI/ML-based tools to identify process inefficiencies.
Implement and fine-tune soft sensors, inferential models, and control algorithms for critical parameters (eg, consistency, brightness, moisture, basis weight).
Drive continuous improvement projects to enhance yield, reduce variability, and lower operating costs.
Technical Expertise & Support
Serve as the subject matter expert for APC-related technologies, tools, and best practices.
Provide training and mentorship to plant engineers and control room operators.
Troubleshoot APC and DCS performance issues, collaborating with automation and IT teams.
Collaboration & Governance
Partner with process, IT, and data analytics teams to ensure APC systems align with digital manufacturing goals.
Establish KPIs and governance frameworks for APC performance monitoring.
Support corporate digital transformation initiatives (eg, Industry 4.0, predictive control, and smart manufacturing).
Required Skills/Experience:
Bachelors or Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Instrumentation, Control Systems, or Process Automation.
Extensive of experience in process control within the pulp & paper, chemicals, or process manufacturing sector.
Proven experience with APC platforms (eg, Aspen DMCplus, Honeywell Profit Controller, Yokogawa APC, ABB, or equivalent).
Strong understanding of DCS systems (ABB, Honeywell, Emerson, or Siemens).
Expertise in PID tuning, model-based control, and dynamic process modelling.
Proficiency in data analytics tools (eg, MATLAB, Python, OSIsoft PI, Seeq).
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply now with your updated CV in Microsoft Word/PDF format.
Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.
Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.