Controls engineer Jobs in Vancouver, BC

Job Overview

Established in 2002, General Fusion is a global leader in the race to commercialize clean fusion energy. We are pursuing a uniquely practical approach, Magnetized Target Fusion, and aim to provide zero-carbon fusion power to the grid in the early to mid-2030s. Today at our state-of-the-art labs in Richmond, BC, we’re operating a groundbreaking fusion demonstration machine called Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), designed to achieve transformational technical milestones and accelerate General Fusion’s technology to commercialization. Our path to market is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at Position Overview:General Fusion is searching for an Electrical Engineer with strong controls experience to join our Controls & Electronics team on our path to commercial fusion. Reporting to the Manager, Controls & Electronics, you will design, build, test, and commission the electrical and control hardware behind our one-of-a-kind experimental machines - including the high-voltage pulsed power, vacuum, gas handling, and diagnostic systems that support our plasma physics experiments. You will also support shot operations, working with operators to keep the machine running safely and repeatably through experimental campaigns. Our machines are one-of-a-kind experiments, built and modified on tight timelines, with requirements that evolve as the physics does. We design, build, and test our own control panels in-house, and much of the work involves high-voltage and pulsed power systems, where grounding, noise, and safety need careful attention. We are looking for an engineer who is as comfortable with a wire stripper and a multimeter as with a schematic or PLC code, and who wants to see their work through from the drawing board to the experiment floor. This is a hybrid role, but predominantly on site at General Fusion's facilities in Richmond, BC: panel building, testing, and commissioning happen in our lab and on the experiment floor. Design and documentation work can sometimes be done remotely. The role may require occasional shift work or flexible hours to support shot operations during experimental campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• Design electrical and control hardware for experimental machines and supporting subsystems - power distribution, control panels, interlocks, instrumentation, and cabling - from component selection through schematics, panel layouts, I/O lists, and bills of materials.
• Build, wire, and test control panels in-house alongside our technicians. Contribute towards creating standardized hardware test procedures.
• Develop reusable, standardized panel designs and hardware building blocks for common needs, rather than one-offs.
• Design and implement safety systems for high-voltage equipment, including E-Stop chains, interlocks, safety relays, and safety-rated I/O.
• Write, test, and maintain PLC logic for interlocks, sequencing, and monitoring, along with simple operator HMIs.
• Install, commission, and troubleshoot systems on the experiment floor, applying sound grounding, shielding, and noise-mitigation practices.
• Support shot operations: help sequence plasma compression shots safely and repeatably, keep the machine within safe limits, respond quickly when operators need support, and feed operator input back into system improvements.
• Keep as-built documentation, test records, and safety analyses current, and write quick start and troubleshooting guides so operators can resolve common issues themselves.
• Ensure designs comply with the Canadian Electrical Code, CSA standards for industrial control panels, and lab safety requirements, and champion a strong safety culture.
• Plan your own work packages and collaborate with physics, mechanical, electrical, and software teams to turn experimental requirements into reliable, maintainable hardware.

Relevant Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent, and registration (or eligibility for registration) as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with EGBC.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and commissioning electrical control systems in R&D, manufacturing, or process environments, including taking control panels from schematic through build and test.
• Hands-on panel building and wiring skills, and confidence with test equipment such as multimeters, insulation resistance testers, and oscilloscopes.
• Practical understanding of grounding, shielding, and electrical noise in industrial or lab settings.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across electrical, mechanical, and software domains.
• Working knowledge of the Canadian Electrical Code and CSA requirements for industrial control panels.
• PLC programming experience in IEC 61131-3 languages on at least one major platform (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens, Allen-Bradley), and familiarity with industrial protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus, and EtherNet/IPA pragmatic, self-directed approach and the ability to deliver quality work under schedule pressure.
• Clear technical communication and documentation skills.
• Commitment to safe work practices in a lab or R&D environment.

Preferred

• Experience guiding or mentoring technicians.
• Experience with high-voltage, pulsed power, high-current, vacuum, or cryogenic systems.
• Experience designing safety circuits for high-voltage or hazardous-energy equipment, and working knowledge of machine and functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 13849, IEC 62061).
• Electrical trade certification or a background as an industrial electrician or electrical technician.
• Proficiency with electrical schematic capture and panel design tools (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical).
• Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition (e.g., thermocouples, pressure and vacuum gauges, flow meters).
• Experience in fusion, high-energy physics, particle accelerator, semiconductor, or similar high-tech R&D facilities.
• Hands-on experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT and TwinCAT HMI, LabVIEW, or Python.
• Experience leading a control system redesign or migration on an operating R&D or production system.
• Exposure to broader controls and data systems: SCADA, OPC UA, motion control, alarm and logging design, time-series databases, and CI/CD for controls software.

Salary Range

The typical hiring range for this position is $100,000 - $140,000. The posted salary range encompasses two job levels. The appropriate level will be determined through the interview process based on the candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. The final salary offer will be aligned with the assessed level and the candidate’s overall suitability for the role. General Fusion considers many factors when determining total compensation including job specific or highly specialized knowledge, skills and experience, proficiency, job location and internal equity.

What We Offer

• Flexible hours
• Four weeks' vacation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• RRSP Contribution
• Support for professional development
• Great company culture – social events, weekly lunch program, bike rides, Sun Run, etc.

Applications

We thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Candidates who hold P.Eng or EIT credentials will be hired under the Engineer title. Those without these credentials will be assigned an equivalent title that matches the scope of their position.

Diversity

General Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.

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