Group Lead, Controls Engineering

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 104,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Bonus

Stock Purchase Plan

Health Care Benefits + $600 HealthCare

Employee Engagement Events

Employee Development Programs

Job summary

ATS Industrial Automation in Cambridge, Ontario, seeks a Group Lead, Controls Engineering to lead a group of Control Systems Software Designers, guiding design, development and delivery of automated solutions.

You will load tasks, supervise six group members, drive project milestones, and collaborate with management to optimize controls technology while upholding safety and ethical standards.

Qualifications

• A post-secondary diploma, degree, or equivalent qualification in electrical, mechanical, software controls, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation or controls development.
• Experience leading teams of three or more controls/software professionals on large-scale automation projects.
• Strong knowledge of current industrial controller hardware, controls architecture, and programming software.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate team activities and project deliverables.
• Excellent verbal and written communication across project teams.
• Ability to lead, engage, and motivate team members.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct and control the activities of a group of Control Systems Software Designers.
• Load and assign tasks to employees and contractors within the group.
• Participate in regular loading meetings with other Group Leads.
• Accountable for the quality, content and on-time delivery of deliverables issued by his/her group.
• Develop plans to support proposal and project deliverables.
• Manage group performance toward milestones and KPIs.
• Enforce department procedures and best practices.
• Collaborate to improve methods and tools for integrating controls technology, safety and functionality.
• Recruit and onboard new group members.
• Set goals and manage performance with the Manager.
• Conduct 1:1 meetings with group members to coach.
• Oversee cost and schedule of projects assigned to the group.
• Facilitate daily visual management meetings.
• Verify deliverables meet standards for safety and completeness.
• Perform code reviews.
• Approve material requisitions for projects.
• Maintain forecast information and execution improvement plans.
• Review new controls related products for cost-effective solutions.
• Ensure compliance with ATS Code of Business Conduct.
• Work in health, safety and environmental procedures.
• Ensure employees follow Health and Safety procedures.

Skills

Team leadership

Project planning

Staff development

Recruitment

Budget & scheduling

Code reviews

Education

Electrical, Mechanical or Software Controls diploma/degree

Tools

Industrial controllers

Controls programming software

Job description

Location: Cambridge, ON, CA, N3H 4R7

Date: Oct 15, 2026

Group Lead, Controls Engineering

Join our globally growing team at ATS Industrial Automation where we create complex automation solutions at the highest level that sustainably impact lives around the world.

At ATS, a publicly traded global company with a proud 40-year history, we help drive the future with our factory-wide automation solutions. At ATS Industrial Automation, what we do matters - both to our customers and to their customers. With 1000 skilled employees around the world, we design, build and service mission-critical automated assembly and test solutions for mobility, nuclear and specialty automation. Our customers are leaders in their industries and rely on us to deliver what we promise - on time and on budget. Combined with our broad product portfolio, financial strength and global presence, we provide our customers with the best automation solutions wherever and whenever they need them.

• Pay Rate: $50.00 - 68.75 per hour
• Eligible for Annual Incentive Bonus
• Stock Purchase Plan
• Health Care Benefits + $600 Health Care Spending Account
• Employee Engagement Events (Employee BBQ’s and lunches, weekly treat day, etc.)
• Employee Development Programs

Major Duties

Plan, organize, direct and control the activities of a group of Control Systems Software Designers. This includes ensuring the quality and content of the deliverables generated by the group.

Specific Responsibilities

• General supervision, training, and guidance of all designers that are part of his/her group
• Responsible for loading and assignment of tasks to employees and contractors within his/her group
• Participate in regular loading meetings with other Group Leads.
• Accountable for the quality, content and on-time delivery of deliverables issued by his/her group
• Develop plans to support proposal and project deliverables.
• Responsible for group performance in respect to meeting departmental and project-based milestones and KPIs.
• Enforce department procedural compliance and best practices.
• Works with other members of the Controls Engineering department to continuously improve methods and tools for integrating controls technology, driving enhanced safety and functionality.
• Participate in recruitment activities and onboarding of new group members.
• Collaborate with Manager to set goals and manage successful performance for his/her group members
• Evaluate group member performance and complete regular reviews
• Conduct 1:1 meetings with group members (6 reports) on regular basis to continuously develop and coach
• Responsible for Cost and Schedule oversight of all the projects assigned to the group
• Facilitates daily visual management meetings with their group
• Verifies that all work produced by his/her design group members is acceptable based on the functionality, adherence to standards, accuracy, completeness, and consideration for safety.
• Performs code reviews
• Approves all material requisitions for projects assigned to his/her group.
• Maintains labour, material and schedule forecast information and any appropriate execution improvement plans provided to Program Management for programs assigned to his/her group.
• Reviews and evaluates new controls related products to provide a cost effective, and up-to-date controls solution.
• Ensures that all business activities are performed with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with the ATS Code of Business Conduct.
• Work in compliance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures.
• Ensures that all employees, under their direction, are aware of, and follow all Health and Safety procedures, established by ATS and assumes responsibility for their safety.

Qualifications

Education:

A post-secondary diploma, degree, or equivalent qualification in electrical, mechanical, software controls, or a related technical discipline.

Experience:

5+ years of progressive experience in an industrial automation or controls development environment, including the design, programming, integration, and troubleshooting of control systems for automated assembly equipment.

Demonstrated technical leadership experience, including leading teams of three or more controls/software professionals on large-scale and/or technically complex automation projects involving multiple processes, systems, or technologies.

Strong knowledge of current industrial controller hardware, controls architecture, and programming software, with the ability to provide technical direction and support effective problem resolution.

Proven ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate team activities and project deliverables, effectively managing competing priorities, schedules, and deadlines.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information, priorities, risks, and expectations clearly across project teams and stakeholders.

Demonstrated ability to lead, engage, and motivate team members, fostering collaboration, accountability, and a strong focus on achieving shared objectives.

Strong sense of ownership and accountability, with the ability to take responsibility for critical deliverables, address challenges proactively, and drive work through to successful completion.

Health & Safety Requirements

All employees have the responsibility to work in a healthy and safe manner, report any health, safety or environmental concern to their manager or supervisor in a timely manner, and participate in the safety culture of the organization.

Employee responsibilities for Health, Safety and Environment include:

• Work in conformance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures and compliance to legislative requirements
• Refrain from removing or altering safety devices or guarding unless hazardous energies are controlled through lockout-tagout methods
• Report any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts, defect in any equipment or protective device, and any accidents/incidents to the supervisor
• Ensure that the required protective equipment is used for assigned tasks
• Attend all required health, safety and environmental training
• Assist in investigating accidents/incidents where applicable
• Refrain from engaging in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct

Why should you join ATS Industrial Automation?

• Be a part of an engaged, empowered and innovative global workforce
• We offer a robust total rewards package- Competitive starting salaries, comprehensive health and dental benefits, overtime pay, employee bonus, RSP matching, Employee Share Purchase Program
• We provide awesome work perks such as treat days, gourmet coffee and beverages, subsidized breakfast and lunches in our cafeteria, employee referral bonuses and lots more.
• We are intentional about your professional growth and development through internal career opportunities and our educational reimbursement program.

The Compensation offered will be based on the local job market and may vary depending on factors such as the job- related knowledge, skills, experience of the selected candidate, as well as other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of these benefit plans will be provided when the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment.

This role represents an existing vacancy within the organization.

ATS is in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), 2005 and will, upon request, assist those who may require specific accommodations due to personal disability. We would ask those who require assistance to notify our offices as soon as possible if accommodation is necessary.

The ATS applicant tracking system may utilize AI software with pre-defined, rule-based filters to organize and manage application materials. Rule-based filters operate solely on fixed criteria and do not perform autonomous evaluation or generate independent recommendations. All hiring decisions continue to involve human review and judgment.

If you're excited about this role, but do not meet all the qualifications listed above, you are still encouraged to apply.