Electrical Commissioning Specialist / Lead – Sarnia, ON

twd; Sarnia; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

TWD is seeking an Electrical Commissioning Specialist / Lead to support and lead commissioning of electrical systems across complex energy and infrastructure projects. You will ensure installation, testing, energization, and safe operation, interfacing with engineering, construction, vendors, and clients.

The role offers technical leadership, coordination of commissioning activities, and responsibility for documentation quality, with emphasis on safety and compliance across multi-site projects.

Qualifications

• Licensed professional engineer (P.Eng) with PEO, or CET, or Licensed Construction & Maintenance Electrician (Master Electrician or Red Seal).
• Mandatory safety certifications: CSA Z462 / NFPA 70E, including arc flash awareness.
• Lockout / Tagout (LOTO) for high-voltage energy isolation per O. Reg. 854 s. 185.
• Ontario Mining Safety NORCAT Underground / Surface orientation and Heights training.
• Senior/Lead roles typically require 10+ years of electrical commissioning experience.
• Experience commissioning electrical systems in energy, industrial, utilities or large infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and execute wiring commissioning plans, procedures, schedules, and test documentation.
• Coordinate pre-commissioning, commissioning, energization, and functional testing activities.
• Lead field testing of power distribution, substations, transformers, MCCs, and protection systems.
• Review drawings, specs, and test reports to verify readiness and diagnose issues.
• Provide technical leadership and oversee commissioning teams on project sites.
• Participate in readiness reviews, walkdowns, and project coordination activities.

Skills

Team leadership

Electrical testing

Commissioning planning

Documentation

Safety awareness

Education

P.Eng / PEO

C.E.T.

Master Electrician

Tools

Megger insulation tester

Doble test equipment

Omicron tester

Job description

Electrical Commissioning Specialist / Lead – Join a Team That Puts People First

At TWD, we know the secret to success isn’t just technical skill, it’s the people behind it. That’s why we hire for attitude first. If you’re collaborative, positive, and driven to grow, you’ll thrive here. We’re not a typical EPCM company. We’re a family-oriented team with global reach, working on exciting projects in Oil & Gas, Infrastructure, Renewables, and more. Our name says it all: Together We Deliver.

Job Summary:

As an Electrical Commissioning Specialist / Lead, you will support and lead the commissioning of electrical systems across complex energy and infrastructure projects. The role is responsible for ensuring electrical systems are installed, tested, energized, integrated, and operating safely and in accordance with project requirements, applicable codes, standards, and client expectations. Depending on experience level, the position may provide technical leadership, coordinate commissioning activities, oversee field execution, and serve as a key interface between engineering, construction, vendors, clients, and operations teams.

What You'll Do:

Commissioning Planning & Execution

• Develop, review, and execute electrical commissioning plans, procedures, schedules, and test documentation.
• Coordinate pre-commissioning, commissioning, energization, functional testing, and performance verification activities.
• Review electrical systems and equipment for commissioning readiness and identify outstanding deficiencies.
• Lead or support field testing and commissioning of electrical systems, including power distribution, substations, transformers, switchgear, motor control, protection and control systems, and associated equipment.
• Verify equipment installation, wiring, labeling, configuration, and functionality against approved engineering and project requirements.
• Support system turnover and ensure commissioning documentation is complete, accurate, and traceable.

Testing & Technical Support

• Review and interpret electrical drawings, specifications, equipment documentation, test reports, and commissioning procedures.
• Coordinate and witness electrical testing, including insulation resistance, continuity, grounding, primary and secondary injection, protective relay testing, functional testing, and other commissioning.
• Evaluate test results and assist with identifying equipment, controls, protection, or system performance issues.
• Support system energization and operational readiness activities in accordance with approved procedures and safety requirements.
• applicable tests.
• Troubleshoot electrical system issues and support resolution of deficiencies identified during Project Coordination & Field Leadership

• Coordinate commissioning activities with engineering, construction, project management, vendors, contractors, and client representatives.
• Provide technical direction to commissioning personnel, contractors, and testing teams as appropriate to the role level.
• Participate in commissioning meetings, readiness reviews, walkdowns, and project coordination activities.
• Monitor commissioning progress, identify schedule or technical risks, and communicate issues to project leadership.
• For lead-level assignments, provide technical leadership and oversight for commissioning teams and establish consistent commissioning practices across project sites.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Execute commissioning activities in accordance with applicable electrical codes, industry standards, client requirements, and project procedures.
• Promote safe work practices during electrical testing, switching, energization, and commissioning activities.
• Support electrical safety programs, including safe isolation, lockout/tagout, energized work controls, and commissioning-specific risk assessments.
• Review commissioning records and documentation for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with project quality requirements.
• Participate in incident investigations, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives as required.

Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare and review commissioning procedures, test forms, inspection records, punch lists, reports, and turnover documentation.
• Maintain accurate records of test results, deficiencies, corrective actions, and system status.
• Support preparation of commissioning progress reports and project closeout documentation.
• Ensure changes and field modifications are appropriately documented and communicated to the relevant project disciplines.

What You Bring:

• Primary Qualification (One of the following):
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng) registered with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), OR
• Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.), OR
• Licensed Construction & Maintenance Electrician (Master Electrician or Red Seal ideal),
• Mandatory Safety & Statutory Certifications:
• CSA Z462 / NFPA 70E: Certified in Workplace Electrical Safety, Arc Flash & Shock Hazard Risk Assessment (minimum Category 4 / 40 cal/cm² awareness).
• Lockout / Tagout (LOTO): High-voltage zero-energy verification and complex multi-source isolation protocol per O. Reg. 854 s. 185.
• Ontario Mining Safety: NORCAT Underground / Surface Common Core (or equivalent site orientation) and Working at Heights certification.
• Senior / Lead roles: typically require 10+ years of relevant electrical commissioning, testing, construction, or engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience commissioning electrical systems within energy, industrial, utilities, infrastructure, or other complex project environments.
• Strong knowledge of electrical power systems, equipment, protection and control, testing methodologies, and commissioning practices.

Core Industry Experience

Industrial / Mining Power Systems: 5+ years of hands‑on electrical testing, pre‑commissioning , and dynamic load commissioning in heavy industrial, mining, or large infrastructure environments.

• Statutory Authority Interface: Direct, practical experience preparing inspection packages for and walking down substations/E‑Houses with Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) Mining Inspectors to obtain ESA Certificates of Acceptance / Authorizations to Energize under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and ESA Bulletin 72-3.
• Substation Integration: Experience with commissioning prefabricated electrical rooms (E‑Houses), including medium‑voltage step‑down transformers, switchgear lineups, and 600V Motor Control Centers (MCCs).

Technical & Equipment Competencies

Medium & Low Voltage Distribution

• High‑Potential & Insulation Testing: Proficient in operating high‑voltage test sets: DC Hi‑Pot, VLF (Very Low Frequency), insulation resistance (Megger up to 5kV DC), and Polarization Index (PI) testing on incoming feeders and busbars per IEEE 400.2.
• Protection Relay Testing & Coordination: Familiarity with secondary current injection test sets (e.g., Doble, Omicron, or Megger) to verify overcurrent (50/51), ground fault (50N/51N), undervoltage/overvoltage (27/59), and master lockout (86) relay curves against engineering coordination studies.
• Grounding & Bonding Grid Verification: Hands‑on experience performing fall‑of‑potential 3‑point/4‑point ground impedance testing (IEEE 81) to verify station ground
• Emergency Standby Power: Knowledge of Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS), emergency load shedding, and black‑start generator synchronization.

Heavy Moto Drives & Axial Fans

• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs): Experience with large industrial drives (e.g., ABB ACS880, Schneider ATV900, Eaton, or Allen‑Bradley PowerFlex) powering ≥250 HP f
• Drive Setup & Tuning: Ability to program VFD acceleration/deceleration ramps, FLA current limits, skip/resonance frequencies, thermal curves, and Safe Torque Off (STO) hardwired circuits.
• Harmonic Distortion & Power Quality: Capability to set up power analyzers to measure Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) on 600V buses per IEEE 519 standards during full dual‑fan load operations.
• Motor Protection & Monitoring: Experience verifying motor stator PT100 RTDs, bearing temperature probes, and wiring/calibration of dual‑axis accelerometers into vibration transmitter modules.

Process Interlocks, Burners & Field Devices

• Hazardous Area Classification: Understanding of Class I, Zone 2 / Division 2, Group D wiring standards, explosion‑proof seals (Chico pour verification), and intrinsically safe barriers for gas skids.
• Burner Management Systems (BMS): Familiarity with CSA B149.3 electrical requirements, flame safeguard relays (Honeywell/Fireye), flame scanner microamp signal checking, air differential proving switches, and gas safety shut‑off valve (SSOV) proof‑of‑closure (POC) end‑switch loops.
• Emergency Systems & SIF: Experience verifying hardwired Emergency Stop (E‑Stop) pushbuttons, slam‑shut Emergency Fuel Shutoff (ESD) solenoid valve timing (<2.0)s optical/catalytic LEL gas detector trip outputs.

We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all qualified applicants. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please contact our Human Resources Team.