Our client is on the hunt for a Senior Control Systems Lead in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Looking for a significant career opportunity without the big-city grind? Join a top-tier global organization where you can lead meaningful, plant-wide automation initiatives while enjoying shorter commutes, more space and the outdoors right at your doorstep.

The Senior Control Systems Lead will act as a technical authority for the critical control systems supporting a large continuous-process operation. This is a senior position requiring someone who can combine deep controls knowledge with project leadership, lifecycle planning and the ability to coordinate operations, engineering teams, contractors and automation vendors.

Senior Control Systems Lead responsibilities:

- Provide site-level technical leadership for DCS, PLC, SCADA, SIS and related instrumentation and automation systems
- Lead control-system modernization, migration, replacement and lifecycle-management initiatives
- Develop project scopes, technical requirements, control-system specifications, cost estimates and execution plans
- Act as the owner’s representative on automation projects, ensuring solutions meet operational, safety, reliability and business requirements
- Review and approve controls-related engineering designs, vendor submissions, project deliverables and system documentation
- Coordinate engineering consultants, system integrators, automation vendors, contractors, operations and maintenance teams
- Manage controls projects through design, procurement, configuration, testing, installation, commissioning and startup
- Support FAT, SAT, loop checks, system integration, commissioning and operational handover
- Provide senior-level troubleshooting support for complex control-system, instrumentation and integration issues
- Participate in HAZOPs, Management of Change processes and process-safety initiatives
- Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, changes and technical priorities
- Develop long-term strategies for control-system reliability,



obsolescence management and future capital requirements
- Mentor engineering, technical and operational personnel in control-system practices and troubleshooting

The successful candidate has:

- A degree or technical diploma in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Instrumentation, Automation Engineering Technology or a related discipline
- Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) or other relevant professional designation
- At least 10 years of progressive industrial automation, instrumentation or control-systems experience
- Extensive experience supporting control systems within a large continuous-process facility
- Experience leading a major DCS modernization, migration, replacement or lifecycle program
- Robust working knowledge of DCS, PLC, SCADA and SIS technologies
- Experience with major control platforms such as Honeywell TDC3000 or Experion, ABB 800xA, Emerson DeltaV, Rockwell PlantPAx or comparable systems
- Experience acting as a site controls lead, owner’s representative, automation project manager or Main Automation Contractor lead
- A strong understanding of control-system design, instrumentation, system integration, process safety, commissioning and startup
- Experience managing engineering consultants, EPC firms, automation vendors and system integrators
- Strong project-management capabilities, including scope, budget, schedule, risk and change management
- Experience in pulp and paper, refining, petrochemicals, chemicals or another complex continuous-process industry
- Pulp and paper controls experience would be a significant asset
- PMP certification would be considered an asset
- Strong written and spoken English communication skills

Compensation and benefits:

- Salary range from $135,000 to $150,000
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Pension plan
- RRSP matching
- Long-term career growth with a global organization, including potential opportunities across North America and internationally

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada. Only candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted.

📌 Senior Control Systems Lead (Grande Prairie)
🏢 The Headhunters Recruitment
📍 Grande Prairie