Team Lead, Operational Technology

Strathcona Resources Ltd

$110K — $130K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Technical diploma or degree in instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or IT; P.Eng. or C.E.T. preferred.
  • 8-10+ years in operational technology, automation, or control systems in oil and gas; 3+ years in a leadership role managing teams and budgets.
  • Strong knowledge of oil and gas operations, control systems, and automation platforms like DeltaV or FactoryTalk.
  • Familiarity with field networks and communication methods (wireless, radio, cellular, satellite) and operational technology security best practices.
  • Experience with operational data historians and production reporting systems, including alarm management and safety practices.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of operational technology, network, and cybersecurity professionals, managing budgets and vendor performance.
  • Prioritize safety in every change to control systems through rigorous documentation and change control processes.
  • Oversee the operational technology security program, ensuring it meets Canadian industry standards and is backed by a reliable recovery plan.
  • Maintain separation between operational technology and corporate networks, defining access protocols and infrastructure standards for consistency.
  • Keep an organized inventory of field systems, ensuring they are up-to-date and planning upgrades ahead of vendor support expiration.
  • Drive project planning and risk management, ensuring smooth execution across the group's initiatives.
  • Serve as the primary liaison among operations, vendors, and technology teams, managing escalations and supporting communication with field operators.
  • Enhance real-time monitoring and data integrity while supporting AI applications like computer vision for environmental safety.

Benefits

  • Flexible work location options between Calgary, Bonnyville, or Lloydminster.
  • Regular travel opportunities to field locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, providing diverse work experiences.
Full Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Team Lead, Operational Technology to lead the team responsible for the networks, infrastructure, and cyber security that Strathcona's field operations depend on every day. The team is a key resource to the automation group and other technical teams, and supports field and corporate groups across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The successful candidate will set direction and standards for the group, keep our production systems secure and reliable, develop their people, and act as the main link between operations, vendors, and our technology teams – while staying close enough to the technology to make sound decisions and lead on complex problems.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop a team of operational technology, network, and security professionals, and own the team's budget, vendor contracts, and service provider performance

  • Put safety first, with documentation and change control on every control system change

  • Own the operational technology security program, aligned with Canadian industry standards and regulatory requirements, with reliable backups and a tested recovery plan

  • Keep operational technology separate and protected from the corporate network, control who can access it, and set common infrastructure and network standards so projects are built consistently

  • Maintain a clear inventory of field systems, keep them patched and current, and plan upgrades before systems fall out of vendor support

  • Lead planning, prioritization, and risk management across the group's projects

  • Run site programs through testing, commissioning, startup, and handover, and plan ahead for turnaround windows

  • Act as the main point of contact between operations, vendors, service providers, and our technology teams, the escalation point for high-risk issues, and a key support to control room communications and operator alarms

  • Improve field communications so operational data is reliable and complete, advance real-time monitoring, and support practical AI initiatives such as computer vision for leak and spill detection

Required Qualifications

  • Technical diploma or degree in a relevant field such as instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or information technology; P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset

  • 8-10+ years of experience with operational technology, automation, or control systems in oil and gas, including 3+ years leading technical teams and owning budgets, vendor relationships, and multiple projects at once

  • Strong knowledge of oil and gas operations and field infrastructure (ideally thermal and conventional production) and of control systems and automation platforms such as DeltaV, FactoryTalk, or Allen-Bradley

  • Solid understanding of field networks and communications – wireless, radio, cellular, and satellite – and of operational technology security, including network separation and secure remote access

  • Experience with operational data historians and dashboards (such as Pi), field data capture, and production reporting systems, including measurement requirements, alarm management, and functional safety practices

Work Environment

  • This position can be based at our Calgary office, or at our Bonnyville or Lloydminster field office

  • Regular travel between our offices and to field locations across Alberta and Saskatchewan, regardless of home base

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