Senior Controls and Automation Engineer

Saltworks Technologies

Saltworks Technologies is a leading Canadian cleantech company solving two of the world’s most pressing industrial challenges: water sustainability and critical minerals supply. We design and build advanced industrial water treatment and lithium refining systems for some of the world’s most recognized companies — in semiconductors, mining, automotive, and more. Saltworks is a 2025 Fast 50 Company and EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winner.

Senior Controls & Automation Engineer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Controls & 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.

Key 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.

Qualifications

• 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 experience (Plant PAX/Siemens APL) is a plus.

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.

Benefits

• 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.

How to apply

If you would like to join the Saltworks team, please submit your resume (cover letters are not required). While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications are considered confidential.

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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