Senior Controls Engineer/Technologist

Senior Controls Engineer/Technologist

Position: permanent, full-time (40 hours a week), based out of the office at 1801 Hollis, Halifax, NS

About EastPoint

EastPoint is a multi-discipline architectural and engineering firm based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Owned by its management and senior employees, EastPoint’s leadership has worked together as a team for more than 20 years. It is the successor firm of Whitman Benn and Associates, which originated in 1933. We service an array of industrial, government, institutional, and commercial clients. Through decades of experience, we have accumulated a deep understanding of design, construction, accessibility, costs, regulatory issues, environmental, and technical solutions to support our clients.

We believe we can work on the most challenging and rewarding projects, anywhere, with the right people. This entrepreneurial spirit has allowed EastPoint to enter new markets and deliver more than 10,000 projects. We’ve put our fingerprint on multidisciplinary projects from facility upgrades to community housing improvements, from new pumping stations to material handling systems. We work on large and small projects to shape places, not only in Nova Scotia, but across Canada and beyond.

Yet of all the things we’ve built, we’re most proud of our company culture. We have organically grown our company since its founding to more than 120 architects, engineers, designers, and professionals. By joining the EastPoint team you will be part of a fun, energetic and collaborative organization that focuses on the quality of your work and not the hours you log. This is an opportunity to work on exciting and creative projects while mentoring a talented and dedicated team of professionals.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Team Lead, Automation, you will be an integral part of EastPoint’s engineering team, developing and implementing technical solutions in both the office and field. Working with an experienced design team, you will participate in all project phases, from proposal preparation and feasibility assessment to detailed design, programming, installation support, and commissioning.

Primary Accountabilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting site reviews for industrial clients and developing solutions using modern technology to best address their automation challenges.
• Work with the team of engineers and technologists to develop control system designs including Bill of Materials (BOM), detailed schematics, panel layouts and installation details.
• Participating in the safety risk analysis process and the design of safety control systems (CSA Z432).
• Configuring and programming of PLCs with distributed I/O, HMI, network devices, and drives (VFD and servo).
• Supporting clients and/or client sub-contractors through all stages of installation, from building control panels to installation at the client site.
• Leading control system start-up, verification and machine/process commissioning activities at client facilities.
• Providing training for machine operators and maintainers on newly installed and commissioned machines/processes.
• Establishing and maintaining solid working relationships with clients.
• Preparing proposals, technical reports, specifications, and cost estimates while seeing projects through from start to finish.
• Providing insight and mentorship to the automation team, ensuring the highest technical standards are achieved.
• Completing project designs on schedule and within budget.
• Identify, analyze and mitigate project risks.
• Ensure that safety is a top priority and work is carried out in accordance with the EastPoint approaches, applicable codes, and client standards and policies.

Skills / Training Requirements

As a Controls Engineer/Technologist your self-starting attitude and effective communication skills allow you to build relationships and deliver work in a way that makes you a client favorite. Your knowledge of industrial control systems is thorough, and you enjoy sharing this knowledge with colleagues and peers and mentoring junior staff. You possess the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university or a Diploma in electrical engineering technology from an accredited college.
• Minimum of 10 years of applicable experience.
• Registered or eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer with Engineers Nova Scotia or as a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) with TechNova (Nova Scotia) or the ability to obtain registration.
• Working knowledge of control system design using applicable Autodesk Products (AutoCAD) or SEE Electrical, and of the various MS Office 365 applications.
• Experience with industrial network configuration, PLC programming, VFD and Servo system application, and operator interface design. Knowledge of Rockwell products and development software is required; Siemens or other platforms would be an asset.
• Experience with vision systems, robotics, AGVs, AMRs, or SCADA an asset.
• Capacity to troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and program issues, both on site and remotely by voice or video call.
• Provide guidance to junior team members, helping them solve complex technical challenges and improve their engineering skills.
• Effectiveness in following project management processes including safety, quality, schedule, and budgets.
• Excellent communication skills and effectiveness in interacting with colleagues, clients, and owners.
• The ability to prioritize tasks and work under tight timelines.
• Ability to obtain a minimum of Reliability status through Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (CISD) within six (6) months. This is a requirement for employment.