ENGINEER, DESIGN AND FABRICATION

INVEST OTTAWA – AREA X.O

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Programs at Area X.O, the Engineer, Design and Fabrication is responsible for establishing and operating the Area X.O design and fabrication lab and serves as its primary technical resource. The lab spans machining and metalwork, electronics and simple printed circuit board fabrication and assembly, embedded systems, and additive manufacturing. The role requires direct operation of shop and fabrication equipment, not specification and oversight alone. Its primary purpose is to enable rapid prototyping and accelerated development for the client companies, startups, and SMEs engaged at Area X.O, converting concepts, requirements, and failed or incomplete hardware into physical articles that can be tested and iterated within compressed development timelines. The Engineer, Design and Fabrication is also responsible for the secure operation of the lab, including equipment selection and commissioning, operating procedures, user training and authorization, and ongoing safety management.

Work Model:

In person role at our Area X.O site located in Nepean

Corporate Pay Band D: $76,000 - $114,000

Hiring Salary Range: $76,000 - $104,500 (Segment 1 - Segment 2)

Reason for Opening: This is an anticipated role. The position is contingent on confirmation of program funding, and posting does not guarantee that the role will be filled. Applicants will be notified of any change in status.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

Client Collaboration & Communication

- Work directly with client companies, engineers, and researchers to establish build objectives and translate loosely defined requirements into a manufacturable design and a realistic build plan




- Advise on design for manufacturability, material and process selection, tolerances, cost, and lead time, and explain trade-offs clearly to audiences without a fabrication background
- Collaborate with integration, field support, and test and evaluation engineers on parts, fixtures, enclosures, mounts, and test hardware
- Support tours, demonstrations, and client-facing activities involving the lab

Prototyping & Fabrication

- Produce prototype parts, assemblies, and small production runs across the full range of lab capability
- Machine and fabricate metal parts: operate manual and CNC milling and turning equipment, and perform sheet metal work, drilling, cutting, joining, finishing, and assembly to drawing and to tolerance
- Design, fabricate, assemble, and rework circuit boards, including through-hole and surface-mount components, wiring harnesses, and cable assemblies, and bring up, test, and debug electronic hardware
- Develop embedded systems: select microcontrollers and modules, write and flash firmware, interface sensors and actuators, and debug hardware and software together at the bench
- Prepare, print, post-process, and iterate additive manufacturing parts across available processes and materials, and choose between additive, subtractive, and off-the-shelf solutions
- Produce and modify CAD models, drawings,



and CAM programs, apply design for manufacturability and assembly, and reverse-engineer or repair existing hardware where no documentation exists
- Diagnose and resolve machine, tooling, process, material, and quality problems
- Develop workable solutions under schedule pressure where no established approach exists, without compromising safety or the validity of the result

Lab Setup, Safety & Operations

- Set up and commission the lab, including layout, workflow, equipment specification, procurement support, installation, calibration, and acceptance
- Own lab safety management: hazard assessment, written safe operating procedures, machine guarding, pre-start health and safety reviews, lockout/tagout, ventilation and fume extraction, ESD control, personal protective equipment, and chemical and material handling and disposal
- Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety legislation and organizational policy
- Establish and administer machine-specific training and authorization for all users, and maintain a current register of user qualifications
- Maintain preventive maintenance schedules, tooling, consumables, spares, and material inventory
- Administer the job intake queue and prioritize competing work across concurrent client projects and program deadlines
- Support capital and operating budget planning for the lab

Leadership & Standards

- Serve as the technical authority for fabrication at Area X.O, and promote an iterative, prototype-driven approach across the team and client base
- Establish and uphold standards for workmanship, documentation, and shop discipline
- Train,

📌 Engineer, Design and Fabrication (Ottawa)
🏢 Invest Ottawa
📍 Ottawa