Senior Controls and Automation Technician

About Us Nerva Energy is a Canadian energy consulting firm, empowering high-performance smart buildings to go beyond industry standards and create energy opportunities with exclusive award-winning technologies. Nerva specializes in delivering technology solutions to create advanced, high-performance buildings. As a Senior Controls and Automation Technician, you will play a leading technical role in supporting Nerva’s customers through advanced building & HVAC controls planning, installation, verification, commissioning, diagnostics, and performance optimization. You will remain aligned with the strategy, commitments, and goals of the company while providing leadership, expertise, and mentorship to the controls team. Job Summary As a Senior Controls Technician, you will leverage more than a decade of hands-on experience and an applied-engineering background to oversee the planning, installation, commissioning, validation, optimization, and troubleshooting of building controls, automation systems, and performance technologies. Unlike a traditional technician role, you will take ownership of complex diagnostics, lead system start-up activities, validate design intent, assure system performance, and serve as a senior technical resource for both internal staff and clients. You will collaborate closely with engineers, project leaders, senior technicians, and operations personnel to ensure the reliable, efficient, and optimized performance of automated systems. Key Responsibilities - Lead the verification, commissioning, and start-up of advanced building & HVAC control systems, HMIs, supervisory controllers, and complex instrumentation/electrical control systems. - Diagnose and resolve high-level control system issues including logic errors, communication failures, sensor/IO irregularities, system integration faults, and performance deviations. - Oversee and review technical documentation—control drawings, schematics, P&IDs, sequence-of-operations, wiring diagrams, loop sheets, configuration logs, and commissioning reports. - Perform and supervise system validation and performance testing, ensuring strict adherence to design specifications, safety standards, and operational requirements. - Document testing, diagnostics, configuration changes, and commissioning outcomes with precision and consistency. - Collaborate with engineers, project managers, commissioning agents, and vendors to plan, coordinate, and execute complex installations, commissioning activities or system upgrades. - Provide senior-level technical support, guiding operations and support teams through advanced troubleshooting and best practices. - Mentor and train junior and intermediate technicians, providing direction, coaching, and skills development support. - Lead continuous improvement initiatives, recommending and reviewing changes to control logic, system configuration, documentation standards, and quality procedures. - Ensure complete and accurate project close-out documentation, including as-builts, configuration records, commissioning packages, and turnover documentation. - Perform senior technical duties as required, consistent with extensive experience and certification. Required Qualifications - Ideally, graduation from an accredited engineering technology or applied science program — eligible for or holding a professional designation (C.E.T. or equivalent). - Minimum of 10 years of experience in controls, automation, building systems, or related technical fields. - Extensive experience with automated control systems, including planning, installation, commissioning, diagnostic analysis, system optimization, and integration—preferably in commercial HVAC or building automation environments. - Strong ability to read, interpret, and analyze mechanical, electrical, and controls documentation, including advanced technical schematics. - Proven ability to solve complex, multi-system control problems methodically and efficiently. - Exceptional communication skills—capable of representing Nerva professionally to clients, contractors, and partners while producing clear, accurate documentation. - Ability to lead field activities, work independently with minimal oversight, and make sound technical decisions based on experience, judgment, and system design intent. Preferred / Asset Qualifications - Experience commissioning advanced BAS, DDC systems, or industrial automation equipment in building-automation, manufacturing, or industrial settings. - Strong understanding of controls safety standards, mechanical-electrical integration, and system-level compliance requirements. - Demonstrated leadership or mentorship experience—training technicians or operators in controls, troubleshooting, and maintenance practices. - Experience with change-management and configuration-control processes, including documentation and version control of logic or instrumentation updates. What We Offer - A senior technical role with significant responsibility and leadership opportunity. - Opportunity to influence project outcomes and control strategies within high-performance building environments. - Collaborative, safety-focused workplace culture committed to accuracy, documentation, standards, and continuous improvement. - Competitive compensation and strong long-term career progression opportunities within a growing company. What the job offers - Paid travel - Paid meals - Paid accommodations - Company vehicle for job site travel - Competitive pay scale - Overtime after 44 hrs at time and a half - +25% hourly base wage per diem for out-of-town work - No-cost benefit package (after 3-month probationary period) - Quarterly profit share (after 3-month probationary period) IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not an apprenticeship position. Skills, education, and experience that are considered assets - HVAC experience - Advanced computer skills - Electrical knowledge - Mechanical aptitude - Hand tool and power tool experience - Post-secondary coursework - Trade tickets (licenses) not required but considered an asset Accessibility Commitment We welcome applications from persons with disabilities and will provide accommodations during all stages of the hiring process, upon request. This statement will be included in job postings and communicated to all applicants: - When invited to an interview - Within any job offer provided All hiring managers at Nerva Energy will treat all applicants with dignity and respect. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Pay: CA$45.00-CA$65.00 per hour Benefits: - Company car - Company events - Dental care - Extended health care - On-site gym - On-site parking - Paid time off - Profit sharing - Vision care Experience: - Building Automation: 10 years (preferred) - HVAC: 10 years (preferred) Licence/Certification: - Class G Drivers License (preferred) Willingness to travel: - 75% (preferred)