Controls and Automation Engineer

Saltworks Technologies: Industrial Water + Lithium; Richmond; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

RRSP matching

Life insurance

Education allowance

Job summary

Saltworks Technologies is seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to join our multi-disciplinary team in Richmond, BC. You will design, implement, and test advanced control systems for water treatment and lithium refining projects, collaborating with Process-Control Engineers to ensure narrative accuracy and system integrity.

The role involves creating design documents, developing PLC code and HMI screens, and supporting commissioning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Professional Engineer registration or eligibility with EGBC.
• 5–8 years of experience designing, implementing, and commissioning controls & automation systems.
• Experience programming PLCs and HMIs with Siemens and Allen-Bradley platforms.
• Strong English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create controls & automation design documents (state flow diagrams, sequence charts, control narratives).
• Deliver complete control packages including I/O mapping, PLC code, and HMI screens.
• Set up operator-friendly simulations and perform thorough testing.
• Support commissioning and troubleshooting of control systems.
• Interface with third-party subsystems using Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and Peer-to-Peer messaging.
• Collaborate with Process-Control Engineers to align narratives and close gaps between Process and Controls.
• Occasionally travel to plant installations for startup and commissioning.

Skills

Ladder programming

STL

FBD

SFC

Siemens STEP7

Siemens WinCC

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

FactoryTalk

Ignition Perspective

PLC/HMI programming

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Tools

Siemens STEP 7

Siemens WinCC

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

FactoryTalk

Ignition Perspective

Job description

Saltworks Technologies is a leading Canadian cleantech company solving two of the world's most pressing challenges: water sustainability and critical minerals supply. We design and build advanced industrial water treatment and lithium refining systems for global leaders in semiconductors, mining, automotive, and industrial processing.

Saltworks is a 2025 Technology Fast 50 company and EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winner. We lead our industry in adopting and developing AI across our products, projects, and operations. Join us and build skills defining the next era of engineering and industrial systems.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Controls & Automation Engineer to join our multi-disciplinary team. Our Controls & Automation team provides engineering design expertise to our complex and highly specialized systems. You will collaborate with multiple teams and develop innovative solutions to some of the toughest environmental challenges facing our planet.

Your Main Tasks Will Include

• Generating controls & automation system design documents, including state flow diagrams, sequence charts, control narratives, etc.
• Delivering complete controls & automation packages of complex water treatment process plants that include I/O mapping, PLC code, HMI screens, etc.
• Setting up operator-friendly simulations of the controls & automation system and facilitating thorough simulation testing.
• Supporting commissioning and troubleshooting of controls & automation systems.
• Interfacing with third-party vendor sub-systems using common industrial communication protocols, including Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and Peer-to-Peer Messaging.
• Working closely with Process-Control Engineers to ensure control narrative accuracy and working towards eliminating gaps between Process and Controls.
• Occasionally traveling to plant installations and working with customers for start-up and commissioning.

You Will Be a Great Fit If You Have

• A degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Registered (or eligible to register) as a Professional Engineer with EGBC.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• 5 - 8years of work experience designing, implementing, and commissioning controls & automation systems (Machinery or Process Solutions).
• Experience with programming in Ladder, STL, FBD, and SFC languages and programming PLCs and HMIs with Siemens STEP 7, Siemens WinCC, Allen Bradley Studio 5000, Factory Talk, and Ignition Perspective.
• Experience identifying and troubleshooting controls and automation system bugs, often under tight deadlines.
• Process library experience is a plus (Plant PAX/Siemens APL).

Why join Saltworks?

At Saltworks, you'll collaborate with talented colleagues to solve complex, real-world problems – designing and delivering innovative water treatment and lithium refining systems for some of the world's most recognized companies. Every team member contributes meaningfully, from early-stage development through field deployment.

Saltworks is investing intentionally in artificial intelligence for engineering and technical work. Engineering offers one of the longest runways for AI-driven productivity and automation, and Saltworks aims to be at the forefront of this shift. We provide the training, computational capacity, and practical tools needed for engineers and technical professionals to apply AI meaningfully in their work.

Why join Saltworks?

At Saltworks, you'll collaborate with talented colleagues to solve complex, real-world problems – designing and delivering innovative water treatment and lithium refining systems for some of the world's most recognized companies. Every team member contributes meaningfully, from early-stage development through field deployment.

Saltworks is investing intentionally in artificial intelligence for engineering and technical work. Engineering offers one of the longest runways for AI-driven productivity and automation, and Saltworks aims to be at the forefront of this shift. We provide the training, computational capacity, and practical tools needed for engineers and technical professionals to apply AI meaningfully in their work.

We Offer

• Competitive compensation package, including medical, dental, vision, RRSP matching, life insurance, AD&D coverage, and an education allowance.
• Culture built on safety, innovation, diversity, and continuous learning.
• Collaborative, cross-functional team environment where every member contributes to project outcomes.
• Regular social activities and company events.

Salary

$95,000 to $120,000 per year (negotiable based on your experience, qualifications, and internal equity).

Location:13800 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, BC V6W 1A8