Automation Engineer

Job Overview

Job Category

Engineers

Sectors

Education

Environment

Indoors primarily with occasional outdoors

About This Career

Think of driverless cars or automatic doors. To you, that’s all in a day’s work in the world of automation engineering – processes and instruments behaving exactly as they should based on electrical signals and mechanical responses. In the oil and gas industry, technology continually evolves, and, increasingly, equipment contains more automated components. That puts your skills to the test.

The oil and gas industry uses sophisticated systems to monitor, measure and control oil and gas wells, facilities and pipeline operations. The control and measurement of all ‘mission-critical’ processes is fundamental to business and environmental performance, economics and safety.

Automation Engineers analyze the automated control requirements of process, electrical, instrument and mechanical equipment to design these systems. Engineers in this specialty design the automated system, choose the appropriate technology and suppliers for the engineering, and manage the system’s installation through to completion.

Automation Engineers ensure that systems run smoothly and safely, oil and gas production is maximized, regulatory requirements and internal standards of measurement are compliant, and costs are kept in check.

When you start in this occupation, activities may include:

Researching, selecting or applying sensors, communication technologies or control devices
Designing systems for automating industrial tasks
Designing electronic control systems for mechanical systems

As you advance you may take on additional tasks including:

Overseeing the work of contractors in accordance with project requirements
Designing advanced electronic control systems for mechanical systems
Providing training on topics such as mechatronics or automated control

Education

A post-secondary degree in the areas of computer engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, electromechanical engineering, electrical engineering or a related discipline from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required.

Certifications

Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
International Society of Automation (ISA) certification is considered an asset

Licensing

To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings.
Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.

You’re a problem solver that remains calm in high pressure situations. You come up with creative solutions using skills and knowledge.