Job Title: Controls Engineering Manager
Job Description
The Controls Engineering Manager leads the controls engineering function, providing people management and technical leadership across multiple concurrent automation projects. This role focuses on developing engineers, ensuring high-quality controls design, and standardizing processes rather than performing day-to-day hands-on programming. The manager reviews technical outputs, balances competing design approaches, and supports long-term organizational health while project managers handle daily project execution.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the controls engineering team of approximately six engineers, with potential growth and inclusion of co-op students.
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and employee development discussions to support career growth and engagement.
- Ensure engineers are aligned with longer-term development goals and broader organizational objectives.
- Review and validate technical outputs from the controls team, including PLC logic, controls software, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
- Make sound technical judgments when engineers propose different design approaches, selecting solutions that balance safety, quality, and efficiency.
- Improve engineering quality and consistency across the controls organization through continuous improvement initiatives.
- Establish, standardize, and refine controls engineering processes and practices to drive repeatable, high-quality project outcomes.
- Collaborate closely with project managers and other stakeholder groups to support technical quality across approximately six to seven concurrent projects.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance across multiple projects without acting as the day-to-day project manager.
- Support the design and review of safety systems and design-for-safety approaches, ensuring appropriate machine safety and risk management.
- Contribute to quality control and quality assurance activities related to controls and automation deliverables.
- Assist with troubleshooting and problem-solving of controls, electrical, and software-related issues as needed.
- Help shape the longer-term structure, capabilities, and standards of the controls engineering organization.
Essential Skills
- Proven people management experience, including at least 6+ years in technical roles with a minimum of 2+ years in a managerial capacity.
- Strong experience in PLC-based automation systems, ideally with significant experience in Allen-Bradley platforms.
- Ability to review and assess ladder logic, controls software, and PLC programming for technical quality and safety.
- Experience with safety systems and design-for-safety principles in industrial automation environments.
- Experience with SCADA systems and related industrial automation software.
- Experience contributing to or overseeing quality control and quality assurance related to controls engineering and automation.
Additional Assets
- Experience with AVEVA InTouch (AVEVA / Wonderware) SCADA software is a strong nice-to-have.
- Experience working in highly regulated environments, such as medical device or similar industries, is beneficial but not mandatory.
- Strong combination of electrical/electronics and software experience, enabling effective review across disciplines.
- Previous experience improving engineering processes within an automation environment, including standardization and best-practice development.
- Exposure to site safety practices and risk assessment within industrial or automation projects.
- Experience collaborating with project managers and cross-functional teams on complex automation projects.
Work Environment
The organization typically runs approximately six to seven projects concurrently, with dedicated project managers overseeing day-to-day execution while the Controls Manager focuses on technical quality, people development, and process standardization. The environment emphasizes industrial automation, PLC and SCADA technologies, electrical and controls design, machine safety, and continuous improvement of engineering practices, offering the opportunity to shape a high-performing technical team and influence long-term organizational standards.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ottawa, ON.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ottawa, ON.
Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Ottawa,ON.
À propos d'Actalent
Actalent est un leader mondial dans les services dingénierie et de sciences ainsi que dans les solutions de talents. Nous aidons des entreprises visionnaires à faire progresser leurs initiatives dingénierie et de science grâce à laccès à des experts spécialisés qui favorisent léchelle, linnovation et la rapidité de mise sur le marché. Avec un réseau de près de 20 000 consultants et 5 000 clients à travers les États-Unis, le Canada, lAsie et lEurope, Actalent dessert de nombreuses entreprises du Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers dêtre lune des 500 meilleures firmes de conception de lEngineering News-Record (ENR) pour nos services de conception en ingénierie et un lauréat du prix ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® tant pour le service client que pour les talents.
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About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
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