Job Overview
The Automation & Controls Engineer III is a senior individual contributor who independently leads the technical delivery of industrial automation and process control systems throughout the project lifecycle. The role translates process requirements into safe, reliable, maintainable, and standardized control solutions, including control narratives, system architecture, PLC software, HMI/SCADA applications, control panels, industrial networks, testing, commissioning, and turnover.
In addition to delivering complex project work, the Level III engineer strengthens the capability of the team through technical leadership, sound judgment, mentoring, clear communication, and disciplined follow-through. The successful candidate demonstrates the interest and potential to grow into broader technical, project, or people leadership responsibilities as opportunities develop.
Key Responsibilities
- Own assigned automation scope from requirements definition and design through programming, testing, commissioning, deficiency resolution, and turnover.
- Develop control strategies and documentation, including process control narratives, cause-and-effect logic, functional descriptions, alarm philosophy, I/O requirements, network architecture, and testing records.
- Translate process requirements into robust PLC code and HMI/SCADA applications using structured, reusable, and supportable design practices.
- Lead technical coordination with Process, Electrical, Applications, Project Management, Commissioning, Operations, clients, vendors, panel shops, and system integrators.
- Define and review control system architecture, hardware selection, communications, industrial networks, cybersecurity requirements, remote connectivity, and interfaces with third-party systems.
- Prepare or review panel requirements, drawings, bills of material, and vendor submittals; resolve technical comments; and support or lead factory acceptance testing.
- Plan and execute software reviews, simulations, FAT, pre-commissioning checks, site acceptance testing, and commissioning readiness reviews.
- Provide on-site and remote commissioning, start-up, troubleshooting, optimization, and operational support while coordinating safely with site personnel.
- Identify scope gaps, integration risks, schedule concerns, and quality issues early; communicate their impact clearly; and drive practical resolution.
- Deliver assigned work on time and within the approved engineering budget, with accurate forecasting and timely escalation when conditions change.
- Drive standardization of control narratives, PLC/HMI libraries, SCADA templates, naming conventions, testing methods, documentation, and lessons learned.
- Contribute to practical IoT, data, analytics, and AI-enabled automation initiatives where they improve engineering quality, delivery, or plant support.
Level III Leadership Expectations
- Lead through technical credibility, influence, and example, including when not serving as the formal project or people manager.
- Take accountability for outcomes, not only assigned tasks; close communication and action loops and follow issues through to resolution.
- Mentor and coach Level I and II engineers through design and software reviews, collaborative problem-solving, field support, and constructive technical feedback.
- Provide technical direction, delegate appropriate work, establish clear decision boundaries, and help less experienced colleagues build confidence and independence.
- Facilitate technical discussions, align stakeholders, and make or recommend decisions based on safety, quality, lifecycle cost, schedule, and operational impact.
- Build trust with clients and internal partners through clear expectations, professional judgment, responsiveness, and dependable follow-through.
- Remain effective under pressure, adapt plans when conditions change, and model a practical, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach.
- Demonstrate readiness for broader leadership by improving team practices, sharing knowledge, and taking initiative beyond individual project assignments.
What Success Looks Like
- Projects receive complete, reliable, testable, and maintainable automation deliverables with fewer late-stage surprises.
- Technical risks and scope gaps are identified early, communicated clearly, and resolved with appropriate ownership.
- Clients, project teams, vendors, and commissioning personnel know what is required, by whom, and by when.
- Junior and intermediate engineers become more independent because of effective coaching, reviews, and knowledge sharing.
- The broader team benefits from practical standards, reusable solutions, lessons learned, and stronger execution discipline.
Required Skills and Experience
- Required Skills:
- Demonstrated experience converting process requirements and control narratives into complete, tested control solutions.
- Working knowledge of instrumentation, motor control, variable-frequency drives, industrial communications, control panels, and plant network architectures.
- Experience with software quality reviews, FAT, commissioning, start-up, troubleshooting, and field issue resolution.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear technical documentation and adapt communication for clients, operators, engineers, vendors, and leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, manage competing commitments, work independently, and proactively escalate risks.
- Customer-focused, safety-conscious, accountable, curious, and comfortable working through ambiguity.
- Experience with Ignition or comparable modern SCADA platforms (Preferred).
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools and the ability to learn new engineering and digital platforms.
- Experience: Minimum five years of progressively responsible industrial automation or process control experience, with demonstrated independent ownership of project deliverables. Strong hands-on experience developing PLC software and HMI/SCADA applications for process or industrial systems.
- Experience in water, wastewater, renewable natural gas, anaerobic digestion, resource recovery, or related process industries (Preferred).
- Education: Diploma or bachelor's degree in electrical, controls, automation, mechatronics, computer, or related engineering discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
Other Requirements
- Must be legally authorized to work in Canada with the ability and willingness to travel to the United States or other countries occasionally. Travel required up to 30% of the time.
- A Professional engineering designation or eligibility for registration in Ontario is preferred.
- This is primarily an office-based position in Burlington, Ontario; however, the role requires periodic visits to manufacturing facilities, vendor locations, and project sites to support fabrication, testing, installation, and commissioning activities.
