Automation Technologist

The Opportunity:

Make your mark while you grow your career! Reporting to Automation Lead, you will be part of the overall Automation group for Canadian Natural’s Jackfish Thermal Facilities. You will be a part of a team responsible for the safe configuration, maintenance, and optimization of the Jackfish safety and process control systems including Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), and associated Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to maintain integrity and reliability of control systems at Jackfish. The Automation Technologist will be a part of a team that strives towards maintaining industry-leading uptime while implementing engineered automation technologies that positively impact Canadian Natural’s return on investment through process optimization and project initiatives.

• Job location: Lac La Biche, Alberta - Jackfish District Thermal Facilities
• Shift schedule: 8 x 6, 12-hour shifts, except for first and last day on shift (Wednesday start)
• Safety sensitive position: Yes
• Application deadline: October 19, 2025

Key Accountabilities:

• Support and comply with the policies and programs of Canadian Natural’s Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Management System 
• Support process safety with functional safety engineering to maintain safeguards and ensure safe application of changes on SAGD control systems
• Work with a multitude of stakeholders such as Engineering, Operations and Maintenance teams in order to troubleshoot process, instrument, electrical, networking and control problems and provide hands-on training on solutions
• Provide guidance and procedural consistency to the full life cycle of Control Systems, including development, commissioning, start up, operations, and turnaround / maintenance activities
• Act as an automation technical resource to engineering groups, including Measurement, Environment, Reliability, Operations, Production and Capital project teams  
• Participate in commissioning & start-up, project SAT/FAT, and design of new well pads, facility expansions & small projects (MOCs)
• Setup and maintain all hardware, servers, HMIs & networking associated with DCS, PLC, SCADA, & SIS control systems 

What You Bring to the Role:

• An Engineering degree or Engineering Technology Diploma in related disciplines (Process Control, Instrumentation, Electrical/Computer, Petroleum, Chemical), with a minimum of 5 years related industry experience (DCS, SIS, SCADA, PLC, Process Control)
• Registered or eligible for registration as Professional Engineer with APEGA is considered an asset
• Experience with ABB 800xA using Reuse/PC Device Library, SIS systems, Allen Bradley PLC (Control Logix) configuration and maintenance experience are all preferred
• Experience with Windows administration, VMWare and OT & virtual infrastructure is preferred
• SCADA & networking experience as well as previous field, facility and operations experience is preferred
• Experience in a variety of roles from system design, project implementation, commissioning and start-up are preferred
• Experience in Lean Six Sigma is considered an asset

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary, stock options, company matched stock savings plan, annual bonuses
• May be eligible for relocation pursuant to Canadian Natural’s Relocation Policy
• 100% Employer paid extended Health, Dental and Vision Benefits 
• Health & Wellness Spending Account
• Multiple volunteer opportunities within the community
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Access to online learning platforms for continuous learning and development
• Paid vacation and time off during Christmas week and summer Fridays

Check out our COMPENSATION & BENEFITS to learn more about what we have to offer!