Senior Controls and Automation Engineer

Saltworks Technologies Inc; Richmond; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

RRSP matching

Life insurance

AD&D coverage

Education allowance

Job summary

Saltworks Technologies is seeking a Senior Controls & Automation Engineer to design controls for complex water treatment and lithium refining systems, from architecture through commissioning. You will mentor teams, produce control narratives, PLC code, HMIs, and simulations, and support field start-up.

Based in Richmond, BC, you will collaborate with process engineers, interface with third-party subsystems, and occasionally travel to installations to ensure successful startup and commissioning.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of work experience designing, implementing, and commissioning controls & automation systems (Machinery or Process Solutions).
• Degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Registered (or eligible to register) as a Professional Engineer with EGBC.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience with programming in Ladder, STL, FBD, and SFC languages and programming PLCs and HMIs with Siemens STEP 7, Siemens WinCC, Allen Bradley Studio 5000, Factory Talk, and Ignition Perspective.
• Process library experience is a plus (Plant PAX/Siemens APL).

Responsibilities

• Generating controls & automation system design documents, including state flow diagrams, sequence charts, control narratives, etc.
• Delivering complete controls & automation packages of complex water treatment process plants that include I/O mapping, PLC code, HMI screens, etc.
• Setting up operator-friendly simulations of the controls & automation system and facilitating thorough simulation testing.
• Supporting commissioning and troubleshooting of controls & automation systems.
• Interfacing with third-party vendor sub-systems using common industrial communication protocols, including Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and Peer-to-Peer Messaging.
• Working closely with Process-Control Engineers to ensure control narrative accuracy and working towards eliminating gaps between Process and Controls.
• Occasionally traveling to plant installations and working with customers for start-up and commissioning.

Skills

Ladder/PLC programming

English communication

Troubleshooting controls

Education

Engineering degree (Electrical/Mechatronics)

Tools

Siemens STEP 7

Siemens WinCC

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

FactoryTalk

Ignition Perspective

Job description

Saltworks Technologiesis a leading Canadian cleantech company solving two of the world's most pressing challenges: water sustainability and critical minerals supply. We design and build advanced industrial water treatment and lithium refining systems for global leaders in semiconductors, mining, automotive, and industrial processing.

Saltworks is a 2025 Technology Fast 50 company and EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winner. We lead our industry in adopting and developing AI across our products, projects, and operations. Join us and build skills defining the next era of engineering and industrial systems.

The role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a SeniorControls & Automation Engineer to join our multi-disciplinary team. You will design controls for our complex and highly specialized systems, from early architecture decisions through to commissioning. You will be a technical resource for other teams and projects, and your work will help solve some of the toughest environmental challenges facing our planet.

Your main tasks will include:

• Generating controls & automation system design documents, including state flow diagrams, sequence charts, control narratives, etc.
• Delivering complete controls & automation packages of complex water treatment process plants that include I/O mapping, PLC code, HMI screens, etc.
• Setting up operator-friendly simulations of the controls & automation system and facilitating thorough simulation testing.
• Supporting commissioning and troubleshooting of controls & automation systems.
• Interfacing with third-party vendor sub-systems using common industrial communication protocols, including Modbus, Ethernet/IP, and Peer-to-Peer Messaging.
• Working closely with Process-Control Engineers to ensure control narrative accuracy and working towards eliminating gaps between Process and Controls.
• Occasionally traveling to plant installations and working with customers for start-up and commissioning.

You will be a great fit if you have:

• 8+ years of work experience designing, implementing, and commissioning controls & automation systems (Machinery or Process Solutions).
• A degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Registered (or eligible to register) as a Professional Engineer with EGBC.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience with programming in Ladder, STL, FBD, and SFC languages and programming PLCs and HMIs with Siemens STEP 7, Siemens WinCC, Allen Bradley Studio 5000, Factory Talk, and Ignition Perspective.
• Experience identifying and troubleshooting controls and automation system bugs, often under tight deadlines.
• Process library experienceis a plus (Plant PAX/Siemens APL).

Why join Saltworks?

At Saltworks, you'll collaborate with talented colleagues to solve complex, real-world problems – designing and delivering innovative water treatment and lithium refining systems for some of the world's most recognized companies. Every team member contributes meaningfully, from early-stage development through field deployment.
Saltworks is investing intentionally in artificial intelligence for engineering and technical work. Engineering offers one of the longest runways for AI-driven productivity and automation, and Saltworks aims to be at the forefront of this shift. We provide the training, computational capacity, and practical tools needed for engineers and technical professionals to apply AI meaningfully in their work.

Why join Saltworks?

At Saltworks, you'll collaborate with talented colleagues to solve complex, real-world problems – designing and delivering innovative water treatment and lithium refining systems for some of the world's most recognized companies. Every team member contributes meaningfully, from early-stage development through field deployment.
Saltworks is investing intentionally in artificial intelligence for engineering and technical work. Engineering offers one of the longest runways for AI-driven productivity and automation, and Saltworks aims to be at the forefront of this shift. We provide the training, computational capacity, and practical tools needed for engineers and technical professionals to apply AI meaningfully in their work.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation package, including medical, dental, vision, RRSP matching, life insurance, AD&D coverage, and an education allowance.
• Culture built on safety, innovation, diversity, and continuous learning.
• Collaborative, cross-functional team environment where every member contributes to project outcomes.
• Regular social activities and company events.

Salary: $110,000 to $140,000 per year (negotiable based on your experience, qualifications, and internal equity).

Location:13800 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, BC V6W 1A8

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