Jonny Wilson — Design Engineer

I'm Jonny Wilson, a design engineer based in Norwich, Norfolk. My work covers electrical and control systems engineering, industrial automation and operational technology (OT) cyber security, with experience in the nuclear, gas and energy sectors.

I've worked on control and instrumentation engineering projects in the nuclear industry and now work in industrial systems integration. My experience includes electrical and control-panel design, PLC and SCADA systems, remote I/O, industrial communications and network architecture.

More recently, an increasing part of my work has involved OT cyber security, particularly applying the IEC 62443 standards to industrial control systems. This includes understanding operational risks, defining network zones and conduits, developing security requirements and considering how cybersecurity measures can be introduced into existing industrial systems.

I'm particularly interested in the overlap between these disciplines. An industrial network cannot be designed in isolation from the equipment it connects, just as a control system cannot be assessed without understanding the process it operates. Good engineering depends on understanding those relationships, documenting assumptions and making decisions that can be justified and reviewed.

My background

My engineering education began at Liverpool John Moores University, where I completed a Foundation Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I subsequently studied Avionics Systems at the University of Liverpool before completing my BEng (Hons) in Engineering through the Open University, specialising in control systems.

I completed the latter stages of my degree while working in industry, which allowed me to apply academic knowledge directly to electrical, control and instrumentation engineering projects. That combination of academic study and practical experience has been an important part of my development as an engineer.

I'm professionally registered as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) and hold Technician Membership of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (TMIET).

My professional development has included training in ISA/IEC 62443 industrial cyber security, functional safety and hazardous-area engineering. I continue to build on that foundation through engineering projects, professional training, technical reading and independent study.

Originally from Northern Ireland, I now live and work in Norwich, Norfolk.

Why I write about engineering

Much of engineering involves working through questions that don't have a simple answer in a textbook.

A standard might define a requirement, but applying it still means understanding the equipment, operating conditions, design constraints and consequences of getting something wrong.

That's what I want this website to concentrate on.

I use it to document what I'm learning, explain technical subjects I've worked through and develop tools that make engineering calculations and decisions easier to follow. Some articles come from questions I've encountered in industry. Others come from independent research, professional development or technical problems I wanted to understand more thoroughly.

I try to make the distinction between what a standard requires, what accepted engineering practice suggests and where professional judgement is needed. Where calculations are involved, I want the assumptions and limitations to be visible rather than hidden behind a result.

I'm not writing as an authority on every subject I cover. This is also a record of my continuing development as an engineer, and I expect my understanding and the material here to improve over time.

Engineering notes, tools and training

The website brings together technical writing, worked examples and tools covering electrical design, control systems and industrial cyber security.

My Industrial Cyber Security for UK Design Engineers guide examines IEC 62443, industrial networking, security architecture and the practical considerations of securing operational technology.

I've also developed a free OT Cyber Security Foundations course, using a fictional industrial facility to work through security concepts and engineering decisions in a consistent setting.

On the electrical engineering side, I've built a Control Panel Load Calculator and Control Panel Heat Calculator to help engineers organise design inputs, understand calculation methods and review results.

These sit alongside articles on BS 7671, hazardous areas, PLC and SCADA systems, engineering practice and professional development.

Professional enquiries

For relevant enquiries concerning electrical and control systems engineering, industrial automation, OT cyber security, technical writing or training, see Professional enquiries.

A note on the material published here

This is an independent personal website. The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or the organisations I work with.

The guides, training and tools are educational resources, not substitutes for competent engineering review, project-specific requirements or professional approval. Calculations and technical conclusions should be independently verified before being used in live engineering or safety-related applications.

Further information is available in the Website terms.