Manufacturing Controls Engineer

Location: St. Catharines

Job description manufacturing controls engineer job description vacancy status yes - this posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization and is open to new applications. (backfill) ai disclosure as part of the application process, artificial intelligence will be used in the hiring process for this role onsite - this role is categorized as onsite. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to st.

Catharines propulsion plant on a full-time basis. We are looking for controls engineers to join our st. Catharines propulsion plant team. In this role, you will work within the manufacturing engineering (me) organization, supporting any or all production areas of engine assembly and component machining - block, head or crank. You will work in a highly collaborative environment to continuously improve production equipment and processes using advanced automation and controls technologies such as safety plcs, industrial ethernet networks, hmis, robotics, cncs, and vision systems.

You will be responsible for conceiving and managing technical projects of varying scale and complexity, implementing equipment and process changes, and partnering with maintenance to troubleshoot issues. Increasingly, you will also leverage data and analytics to improve safety, quality, uptime, and cost.
Main responsibilities   provide day-to-day controls and automation support for production operations with a strong focus on:
Personnel and equipment safety
Process quality
Equipment, uptime and throughput
Provide technical/engineering support to production and maintenance teams by:
Troubleshooting equipment and process failures (controls, electrical, and related mechanical issues)
Identifying root causes and implementing effective, sustainable countermeasures
Supporting problem-solving activities using structured methodologies
Support predictive and preventative maintenance strategies
Identify, develop, and execute controls-related projects that support departmental and plant objectives, including:
Safety and ergonomic improvements
Quality and error-proofing enhancements
Oee/uptime, throughput, and cost optimization
Energy efficiency and sustainability improvements
Lead and manage machinery/equipment controls throughout the lifecycle to ensure compliance with gm safety and controls standards, including:
Support specification, design review, build, installation, commissioning, and ppap of new equipment
Functional safety validation (e.g., safety circuits, safety plc logic, risk reduction measures)
Integration with plant-level networks, data collection, and monitoring systems
Ensure new and existing equipment meets:
Gm global and local standards (safety, controls, cybersecurity, network)
Ontario esa/mol/ohsa and other applicable codes and regulations
Operational requirements for current and future product and process needs
Ensure accurate, current documentation is available and maintained for all equipment in assigned areas, including:
Electrical and controls drawings and schematics
Program and configuration backups
Manuals, bills of material, and network documentation
Collaboration in developing and maintaining maintenance sops and standardized work
Identify and lead technical training and knowledge transfer opportunities:
Mentor other controls engineers and maintenance teams on new technologies, tools, and standards
Share best practices across areas and shifts
Maintain current knowledge in fields of expertise and emerging technologies, including:
Stay current on equipment standards, legislative and regulatory changes, gm global requirements, and industry trends (e.g., ev propulsion, functional safety, industrial cybersecurity, data analytics, industry 4.0/connected factory)
Proactively update management on risks, opportunities, and recommended actions
Who we are looking for (required qualifications)   strong controls systems technical aptitude obtained through:
An electrical, computer, or mechatronic engineering degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant industrial experience
Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills to work effectively with cross‑functional teams (production, maintenance, engineering, health & safety, quality, suppliers)
Strong work ethic and ownership mindset: self-starter, highly responsible, and able to follow through on assignments
Comfortable working in a fast‑paced production environment with changing priorities
Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, preferably within the automotive or…