Factory Test Automation Lead

Ecolab; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits: dental, vision, prescription

RRSP matching

Vacation: 3 weeks

Professional development allowance

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

CoolIT, an Ecolab Company, Calgary-based leader in Direct Liquid Cooling technology, seeks a Factory Test Automation Lead to drive automation of test systems across production lines. You will lead the Automation team, shape the roadmap, and set standards for PLCs, HMIs, software, and data acquisition to improve quality and throughput.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with Product Quality, IT/Data, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations, to ensure integrated test environments

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industrial experience in factory automation, production automation, controls, or automated test systems.
• Experience developing, commissioning, and supporting automated equipment in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, industrial controls, sensors, and automated data acquisition systems.
• Experience supporting automated End-of-Line or factory test systems in an industrial manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Champion a safety-first approach to factory automation.
• Lead and develop the Factory Test Automation team.
• Develop and maintain the factory test automation roadmap.
• Establish standards for PLCs, HMIs, automation software, industrial communications, data acquisition, and test system architecture.
• Drive standardization and reuse of automation solutions across CDU, PCL, RM, and other production lines.
• Prioritize projects based on quality risk, production capacity, cycle time, equipment reliability, and ROI.
• Manage automation project scope, resources, schedules, technical risks, and deployment.
• Lead the automated capture, validation, and storage of factory test data in a centralized database with product-level traceability.
• Establish standardized test data architecture including serial numbers, test results, measurements, limits, failures, timestamps, and revisions.
• Integrate factory test equipment with databases, dashboards, MES/ERP, and other manufacturing systems as applicable.
• Work cross-functionally with Product Quality, Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Product, Engineering, IT/Data, and Operations

Skills

Industrial automation

PLC & HMI

Automation leadership

Data acquisition

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Python

SQL databases

MES/ERP integration

Job description

Join CoolIT, an Ecolab Company, a global leader in Direct Liquid Cooling technology for data centers, supercomputers, and high-performance computing environments.

The Factory Test Automation Lead, reporting within the Product Quality organization, is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated factory test systems supporting CoolIT production operations.

This role provides technical, project, and people leadership for the Factory Test Automation team. The position focuses on improving product quality, test repeatability, production throughput, equipment uptime, data integrity, and manufacturing efficiency through automation. The Factory Test Automation Lead works closely with the Factory Test Systems Lead to ensure that test equipment, instrumentation, controls, software, and data systems operate as an integrated factory test environment.

What’s in it For You

• Day 1 Coverage : Employer-paid comprehensive benefits, including dental, prescription drug, vision, paramedical coverage, and a $1,000 annual Flexible Spending Account.
• RRSP: 2% employer-sponsored contribution.
• Enjoy three weeks of vacation, six flex days, and a one-week paid company-wide holiday shutdown.
• $1,000 Annual professional development allowance to support your ongoing learning, skill development, and career growth.
• Dress for your day in a casual, professional environment.
• Work in a hybrid environment.

What You Will Do

• Champion a safety-first approach to factory automation.
  Lead and develop the Factory Test Automation team.
• Develop and maintain the factory test automation roadmap.
  Establish standards for PLCs, HMIs, automation software, industrial communications, data acquisition, and test system architecture.
• Drive standardization and reuse of automation solutions across CDU, PCL, RM, and other production lines.
• Prioritize projects based on quality risk, production capacity, cycle time, equipment reliability, and return on investment.
• Manage automation project scope, resources, schedules, technical risks, and deployment.
• Lead the automated capture, validation, and storage of factory test data in a centralized database,ensuring product-level traceability.
• Establish standardized test data architecture, including serial number, test results, measurements,limits, failures, timestamps, and test/software revisions.
• Integrate factory test equipment with databases, dashboards, MES/ERP, and other manufacturing systems as applicable.
• Work cross-functionally with Product Quality, Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Product, Engineering, IT/Data, and Operations

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of industrial experience in factory automation, production automation, controls, or automated test systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing, commissioning, and supporting automated equipment in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, industrial controls, sensors, instrumentation, and automated data acquisition systems.
• Experience supporting automated End-of-Line or factory test systems in an industrial manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Python or similar programming languages for automation, test execution, or data processing.
• Experience with SQL databases, automated test data storage, and integration with MES, ERP, or quality systems.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/TCP/IP, Modbus, BACnet, and CAN
• Familiarity with APIs, dashboards, manufacturing analytics, machine vision, robotics, motion control, or AI-enabled manufacturing applications.

Skills

• Strong focus on safety, equipment reliability, test data integrity, standardization, and continuous improvement.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a proactive, hands‑on approach.
• Strong technical leadership with the ability to lead automation projects and cross-functional technical teams.
• Ability to translate factory test, product quality, and data requirements into practical, scalable automation solutions.
• Strong troubleshooting capability across PLCs, instrumentation, industrial networks, software, and databases.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced production environment.

We thank every candidate in advance; however, we will contact only those selected for an interview. Please note: immigration sponsorship is not available for this role.

Successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo background checks, including criminal record checks and education verification.

ABOUT COOLIT, AN ECOLAB COMPANY

Founded in Calgary, Alberta in 2001, CoolIT Systems is the leading Direct Liquid Cooling technology provider for data centers, supercomputers, and desktop computers. We design and manufacture solutions used by the largest tech companies globally.

Recognized as one of “The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2023” by Financial Times and honored with the Deloitte Fast 50 Clean Technology award in 2022, as well as the Deloitte Fast 500 distinction in both 2021 and 2022, CoolIT’s rapid growth is capturing global attention.

As demand for generative AI, high-performance computing and cloud solutions rapidly expands, there has never been a more exciting time to join our team.

#LI-Onsite = position is fully onsite and is not available for remote work

During pre-screening, we may use an AI tool, supported by human oversight, to efficiently manage tasks such as resume screening and/or interview scheduling. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo pre-hire background checks as a condition of employment.