R&D/Vision Engineering Supervisor

Ascension Automation Solutions Ltd.; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental care

Extended health care

Paid time off

Long‑term Disability

Job summary

Ascension Automation Solutions Ltd. is seeking an experienced R&D / Vision Engineering Supervisor to lead our Computer Vision Engineering and Product Development teams in Canada and across North America.

You will own the machine vision and AI R&D function, guiding a multidisciplinary team while remaining hands‑on in design, development, and deployment of advanced inspection and computer vision systems for industrial automation projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Automation, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering (or related).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in machine vision, AI/ML, or automation/manufacturing engineering.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering/technical teams.
• Strong Python (PyTorch, YOLO, Tkinter) and deep learning implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of computer vision, R&D, and automation engineers.
• Set technical direction and roadmap for machine vision and R&D initiatives.
• Design and implement machine vision solutions using traditional and AI approaches.
• Deploy and commission systems on customer sites across North America.

Skills

Python (PyTorch, YOLO, Tkinter)

Leadership experience

Machine vision / AI

C++

C#

Education

Bachelor's degree in Automation/Computer Engineering/Robotics/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Cognex

Keyence

Matrox

Job description

We are currently looking for an experienced R&D / Vision Engineering Supervisor to lead our Computer Vision Engineering and Product Development teams, with responsibilities spanning Ai-powered machine vision, traditional inspection systems, and broader automation and robotics R&D.

As the R&D / Vision Engineering Supervisor, you'll take ownership of Ascension's machine vision and AI R&D function — leading a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical staff while remaining hands‑on in the design, development, and deployment of advanced inspection and computer vision systems across our industrial automation projects.

You'll direct the development of AI‑powered and traditional inspection tools (CNNs, YOLO, GAN‑based dataset augmentation, edge AI deployment), oversee system integration with robotics and automation hardware, and guide the commissioning of real‑time machine vision systems on customer sites across North America.

You will also help shape the team's technical roadmap and processes, mentor engineers and supervisors, support business development and customer‑facing technical work, and contribute to a wide range of automation and robotics projects — from custom product development to new technology exploration.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth in vision systems and machine learning with proven leadership experience, a track record of delivering results, and the ability to manage complex projects and people from concept through commissioning.

Additional support for skills development will be available through training offerings provided by Ascension Automation Solutions after a 90‑day probation period.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

Supervise, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team of computer vision, R&D, and automation engineers

Set technical direction and roadmap for machine vision and R&D initiatives

Coordinate cross‑functional collaboration between vision, controls, and mechanical teams

Plan, track, and report on project timelines, deliverables, budgets, and team capacity

Support business development, customer engagement, and technical sales for vision and automation projects

Technical Responsibilities

Design and implement machine vision solutions using traditional and AI‑based approaches

Program in Python using PyTorch, YOLO, and Tkinter for real‑time CV/ML systems

Direct dataset generation, annotation strategy, model training, and architecture optimization

Build, test, debug, and maintain custom inspection hardware and software

Train and deploy deep learning models, including edge deployment on resource‑constrained devices

Integrate vision and Ai systems with robotic and automation hardware

Deploy and commission systems on customer sites (Canada, USA, Mexico)

Troubleshoot complex integration and vision issues in the field

Write technical documentation, user instructions, and project reporting

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Automation, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree an asset

Minimum 5 years of experience in machine vision, Ai/ML, or automation/manufacturing engineering

Proven leadership experience, including direct supervision or management of engineering/technical teams

Strong experience with Python (PyTorch, YOLO, Tkinter) and deep learning/neural network implementation (CNNs, GANs, object detection)

Experience with traditional machine vision hardware (Cognex, Keyence, Matrox, etc.)

Track record of deploying vision or Ai systems into live production/manufacturing environments

Knowledge of robotics, PLCs, and industrial automation systems

Familiarity with C#, C++, and system integration is an asset

Business development, customer‑facing, or account management experience is an asset

Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or C.E.T. designation is an asset

Strong communication, documentation, and problem‑solving skills

Willingness to travel up to 25% to project sites across North America

Salary: $115,000 – $145,000 CAD/year, plus overtime, site bonus (if applicable), and double‑time rates as applicable. Salary will be determined based on skill and experience.

Willingness to travel: Travel and fieldwork throughout Canada and the USA is required (up to 25%).

Work Location:

Cambridge main office, project sites

Experience:

Python (PyTorch, YOLO, & TKinter): 1 years (required)

Industrial or Automation experience an asset

Dental care

Extended health care

Paid time off

Long‑term Disability

About the Company

Established in 2013, Ascension Automation Solutions are experts in the field of industrial robotics with a specialty in robotic manufacturing applications, providing everything from system design to machine commissioning. We tackle any project, including but not limited to custom automation (design and build), machine retrofit, automation integration, and all required maintenance and service. Our team is always up for a challenge – if you can think of it, we can do it.