Field Service Technician

• Provide expert field service and technical support for Sterling’s chemical treatment programs in oil sands tailings operations, with a strong focus on polymer-based flocculants, coagulants, and associated dosing systems.

• Support commissioning, optimization, and troubleshooting of Sterling’s treatment programs to ensure consistent performance, improved dewatering, enhanced fines capture, and reliable water recovery for customer sites.

• Conduct proactive and reactive service visits, performing diagnostics on dosing systems and chemical treatment programmes.

• Ensure Sterling’s product application meets design expectations by verifying dosing accuracy, chemical make-down efficiency, mixing performance, and system reliability under tailings operating conditions.

• Maintain detailed field documentation, including service records, operational observations, equipment performance data, process deviations, chemical consumption patterns, and site-specific challenges.

• Prepare thorough post-service reports for internal and customer stakeholders to support Sterling’s value delivery and continuous improvement objectives.

• Provide onsite training to customer operations teams, covering safe handling of flocculants and coagulants, polymer make-down best practices, storage and preparation requirements, equipment operation, troubleshooting techniques, and proper maintenance of Sterling-supported systems.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma required; Technical Diploma or Certificate in Chemical Technology, Industrial Technology, Instrumentation, Mechanical Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence with a clean driving record.
• Ability to obtain/maintain: CSTS-2020, WHMIS 2015, H2S Alive, First Aid/CPR, TDG and Safe Work Permit

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Technical Knowledge & Industry Expertise

• Strong knowledge of flocculants, coagulants and specialty chemical programs used in tailings treatment.
• Understanding of polymer activation, hydration behavior, dilution requirements, and performance impacts on MFT/FFT treatment, thickener feed, cyclone overflow, and secondary dewatering processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot chemical treatment systems including polymer make-down units, dosing skids, aging tanks, dilution water systems, inline mixers, and related equipment.
• Familiarity with oil sands tailings processes, including fines agglomeration, settling, dewatering, water recovery, and tailings deposition strategies.
• Knowledge of SDS documentation, WHMIS standards, chemical-handling requirements, Job Hazard Analysis, and Alberta OHS legislation.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and diagnostic ability to identify chemical-treatment issues such as under- or over-dosing, polymer degradation, activation failures, or mixing inefficiencies.
• Competent in reading and interpreting P&IDs, chemical dosing schematics, polymer system drawings, and instrumentation diagrams.
• Clear communication skills for interacting with customer operators, process engineers, and Sterling technical specialists.
• High-quality report writing skills to document service activity, dosing adjustments, chemical-performance observations, and improvement recommendations.
• Ability to provide customer-focused technical training, reinforcing Sterling’s commitment to safe, effective chemical program execution.

Abilities & Attributes

• Comfortable working in tailings environments, chemical systems areas, slurry-processing operations, and high-hazard field locations under strict PPE and environmental controls.
• Physically capable of lifting 50 lbs, climbing equipment, working at heights, and performing field service tasks in varying conditions.
• Willingness to travel to multiple oil sands customer sites across northern Alberta.
• Strong safety-first mindset aligned with Sterling’s and customer safety expectations, including full adherence to LOTO, chemical handling procedures, and site-specific protocols.
• Availability for extended hours, overtime, turnaround support, and emergency service calls to meet customer operational needs.