Senior Automation Engineer

Job summary

Develop and debug PLC programs from scratch for custom industrial equipment, configure motion control systems, and test and commission machines before shipment and at customer sites. Maintain technical documentation, troubleshoot electrical and mechanical issues, coordinate across engineering teams, and mentor other engineers.

Job details

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (On-site) Reports to: Electrical Engineering Manager Compensation: $115,000+ CAD, DOE Our client is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of large-scale, custom industrial equipment for the heavy manufacturing sector, handling everything from mechanical and electrical engineering to PLC programming and assembly in-house. They're looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to join a growing electrical engineering team as they invest further in their controls capabilities. Your Role: Every project here is custom, there's no off-the-shelf system to plug in and go. As Senior Automation Engineer, you'll write PLC programs from scratch for large, one-of-a-kind machines, then see them through testing and on-site commissioning, acting as the team's go-to controls expert on projects that will genuinely challenge you. What You'll Do: Program and debug PLC logic (ladder logic and structured text) on Allen-Bradley platforms for custom equipment builds Write structured, well-documented, reusable code, largely from scratch given the custom nature of each project Configure and start up motion control systems, including servo drives and VFD motors Test and commission machines prior to shipment, and troubleshoot electrical/mechanical issues during testing and installation Travel occasionally (roughly 10% or less) for on-site commissioning and customer training Maintain accurate testing records, specifications, and design documentation Act as a liaison between mechanical engineering, testing, and the electrical design team Provide informal mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers What You'll Bring: 5+ years of hands-on PLC programming / controls engineering experience Strong experience with Allen-Bradley PLC platforms (RSLogix 5000/500); HMI programming a plus Proven ability to write controls code from scratch for custom equipment, not just modify or maintain existing programs Experience with motion control systems: servo drives, VFD motors, and device networking Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics; comfortable using AutoCAD Electrical to update drawings Engineering degree, technical diploma, or equivalent hands-on experience in electrical/controls Must be legally authorized to work in Canada (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or equivalent) without the need for employer-sponsored work permit support Why Join? This is a rare chance to do genuinely from-scratch controls engineering, not templated logic inherited from someone else, on equipment builds that are one-of-a-kind every time. The company is investing heavily in its controls and automation capabilities as it grows, giving you real visibility and room to shape how the team's technical practices evolve. You'll also mentor other engineers along the way, building your leadership profile alongside your technical one.

What you’ll do

Develop and debug PLC programs from scratch for custom industrial equipment, configure motion control systems, and test and commission machines before shipment and at customer sites. Maintain technical documentation, troubleshoot electrical and mechanical issues, coordinate across engineering teams, and mentor other engineers.

Requirements

Requires at least five years of hands-on PLC programming or controls engineering experience, including strong Allen-Bradley experience and the ability to create controls code for custom equipment. Candidates should have motion-control experience, be able to interpret electrical schematics and use AutoCAD Electrical, and have an engineering degree, technical diploma, or equivalent experience; authorization to work in Canada without employer sponsorship is required.

Listed skills

• Technical Documentation · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• PLC Programming
• Allen-Bradley PLC Platforms
• Ladder Logic
• Structured Text
• Controls Engineering
• Motion Control
• Servo Drives
• VFD Motors
• Device Networking
• HMI Programming
• Electrical Schematics
• AutoCAD Electrical
• Machine Testing and Commissioning
• Electrical and Mechanical Troubleshooting
• Technical Documentation
• Mentoring

Job areas

• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Technology
• Management & Leadership