Controls Engineer

Armstrong Fluid Technology; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Armstrong Fluid Technology seeks a Control Engineer to define requirements and design the next‑generation hardware and software topology for a unified Soft PLC platform. You will migrate legacy applications to standardized, version‑controlled product applications and lead HMI migrations across the product line.

The role emphasizes repeatable, reliable control solutions, standard BOMs, and controlled documentation, with collaboration across cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in control systems engineering or industrial automation.
• Experience with PLC/Soft PLC platforms and control logic programming in a formal NPD lifecycle.
• Familiarity with Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Bacnet and testing methodologies.
• Experience with BOM/drawing release and configuration control in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Design control system hardware and software as standard, configurable products.
• Define and maintain standard BOMs, drawings, and documented functionality.
• Apply DFM/DFMEA and configuration management for scalable production.
• Lead migration of legacy control applications to the unified Soft PLC platform.
• Design and execute HMI migrations with templates and consistent interfaces.
• Coordinate changes to control logic and documentation via ECR/ECN/ECO.
• Define and execute standard test procedures and validation protocols for all units.
• Participate in design reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI design

Control systems

DFM/DFMEA

Version control

Modbus/Ethernet/IP/Bacnet

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Carel PLC

JACE PLC

Job description

Imagine working at the forefront of innovation in fluid-flow technology, with over 1,400 colleagues across the globe, and contributing to a legacy of excellence that spans eight manufacturing facilities on four continents. Armstrong Fluid Technology is more than just a leader in our industry; we are a community of the brightest and most creative minds, driven by a shared mission to engineer the future and safeguard our planet. As part of our team, you'll be immersed in an environment that fosters growth, creativity, and collaboration. Here, you'll have the opportunity to push boundaries, tackle exciting challenges, and develop cutting‑edge solutions that promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Every day offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future, driving innovations that help lower global carbon footprints. Together, we’re creating a legacy that goes beyond business—one that’s changing the world for the better.

In this role, you will work directly with the control team to define requirements and design the next‑generation hardware and software topology for our optimisation product line — developed and released as a standard product, not as a series of one‑off custom solutions. This role is critical to our initiative of unifying multiple controller platforms into a single Soft PLC platform, enabling advanced control features, improving system performance, and reducing overall operational costs. The Control Engineer will bring a standardized product development mindset to everything we build: control solutions that are repeatable and reliable across every unit we manufacture, and that are released with standard Bills of Materials (BOMs), controlled drawings, and clearly documented functionality. Responsibilities include migrating legacy applications to the new platform as standardized, configurable product applications, supporting platform integration, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to enhance reliability and scalability. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to strategic technology initiatives that directly impact product performance, customer satisfaction, and long‑term business growth.

Key Accountabilities

Standardized Product Development

• Design control system hardware and software as standard, configurable products — establishing standard control architectures, application templates, and reusable code libraries that are repeatable across product variants and manufacturing plants.
• Define and maintain standard BOMs, controlled drawings, and documented product functionality for control system offerings, ensuring every unit shipped is built, configured, and behaves the same way.
• Apply design‑for‑manufacturability, design‑for‑serviceability, and configuration management principles so that control products can be produced, tested, and supported at scale by production and service teams.

Platform Unification & Application Migration

• Lead migration of legacy control applications to the unified Soft PLC platform, converting one‑off legacy applications into standardized, version‑controlled product applications.
• Design and execute HMI migrations using standard templates and consistent interface patterns across the product line.
• Coordinate changes to control logic, configuration, and system documentation through formal engineering change management (ECR/ECN/ECO), keeping BOMs, drawings, and software baselines aligned at every release.

Product Quality, Validation & Release

• Implement advanced control features and system enhancements within the standard product architecture — extending the platform rather than creating custom variants.
• Work with cross‑functional teams to create and monitor development and rollout plans for new platform capabilities, following a structured (stage‑gate) product development process.
• Define and execute standard test procedures, validation protocols, and acceptance criteria so that performance and reliability are verified consistently on every unit produced.
• Participate in design reviews, DFMEA/risk assessments, troubleshooting sessions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

To Thrive In This Role, You Should Bring

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in control systems engineering or industrial automation, including hands‑on experience developing standard, repeatable products — not solely one‑off, project‑based systems.
• Proven experience with PLC/Soft PLC platforms, control logic programming, and system integration within a formal product development lifecycle (e.g., stage‑gate / NPD).
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Bacnet) and system testing methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience with engineering change management, BOM and drawing release, and configuration control in a manufacturing environment, with the ability to work in cross‑functional teams on large‑scale engineering initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Industrial Automation & Control Systems
  • PLC programming background utilizing Ladder Logic, Function Block, and Structured Text — with emphasis on modular, reusable, and version‑controlled code libraries.
  • HMI Design & Development
  • Control Logic Design & Troubleshooting
  • Standardized Product Development: standard BOMs, controlled drawings, configuration management, and engineering change processes (ECR/ECN/ECO)
  • Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Serviceability, and DFMEA
  • Carel and JACE PLC
• Network and Communication protocols
  • Industrial Networking: Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Bacnet
  • Network Troubleshooting & Configuration
• HVAC industry experience is a must
• Knowledge of different control algorithm and model is an asset (PID control)

Soft Skills

• The capability to simplify complex problems, conduct root cause analysis, and provide clear, well‑thought‑out recommendations.
• Team‑oriented leadership skills with a proactive approach.
• A product mindset — the discipline to design for repeatability, reliability, and scale rather than building one‑off solutions, and to follow standard documentation and release processes.
• An ability to communicate openly and authentically in all situations.

Why Armstrong Fluid Technology?

By joining us, you’ll become part of a global community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fluid‑flow technology while upholding Armstrong's commitment to sustainability. You’ll have endless opportunities to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the world. Together, we'll build tomorrow’s solutions today.