Manager, Automation & Controls Engineering

About Innovative:

Located in Barrie, Ontario, Innovative Automation designs and delivers advanced custom automation solutions for global manufacturers, including Fortune 500 companies. At Innovative, we lead globally, industry-wide, and locally—with passion and pride. We foster a culture where collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement are part of everyday work, and where people are supported to grow both technically and professionally.

At Innovative Automation, we:

• Invest in employee growth through training, development, and advancement opportunities
• Encourage a “work hard, play hard” environment
• Support community involvement and team connection through events and fundraisers
• Value safety, family, and well-being alongside performance and quality

What We Offer:

• Employer-matched RRSP
• Flex-time
• Extended health care benefits
• Educational assistance programs
• Employee and community events
• Costco membership
• Tool replacement program

The Opportunity:

New Role – Lead, Innovate, and Grow with a High-Performing Team!

We are seeking a Manager, Automation & Controls Engineering to join our team in Barrie. This is more than just a leadership role, it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a company known for its collaborative culture, technical excellence, and commitment to continuous improvement.

You’ll be joining a team of passionate, highly skilled professionals who take pride in their work, support one another, and genuinely enjoy what they do. The organization values innovation, accountability, and people first leadership, creating an environment where employees are empowered to contribute, grow, and succeed.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, the Manager, Automation & Controls Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership across the Controls Software, Electrical Design, and Electrical Assembly teams, ensuring alignment, performance, and accountability through Group Leaders. This role is responsible for driving performance, fostering collaboration, and aligning team objectives with broader organizational goals.

Working closely with the Mechanical Manager and Senior Leadership Team, the Manager, Automation & Controls Engineering plays a key role in shaping direction, optimizing processes, and delivering high-quality automation solutions.

What you’ll do:

Strategic Management

• Innovate: Help keep IA on the leading edge of technologies. Develop process and tools to drive IA value to promote sales in areas such as life sciences (GAMP/cleanroom), Artificial Intelligence, Improving our machine vision solutions, test equipment.
• Assumes full accountability for strategic mandates and special projects as assigned by the VPO.
• Participate in the development and execution of the company’s business strategies to attain the goals of the Senior Management Team
• Support corporate growth and profitability. Develop and implement team goals, KPIs, and long-term strategies aligned with company growth
• Monitor and identify industry trends, business opportunities, and as required seek training to keep abreast of changing technologies
• Evaluate the effectiveness of skills, processes, and technologies to drive Continuous Improvement initiatives and perpetually seek productivity and efficiency improvements.

Operations and Quality Management

• Evaluate and plan overall resource levels to meet current and projected Sales and business activity levels
• Oversee controls architecture development, ensuring compliance with customer specifications, safety standards, and project timeline.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of controls on projects—hardware design, programming, electrical assembly, development, integration, testing, and commissioning—while playing a primary leadership role in ATP execution, system testing, and development plan build‑out.
• Oversee PLC/HMI programming, Robotic integration, and System development (debugging)
• Actively participate in Internal Audits of our Quality Management System & Health and Safety Management System.
• Actively participate and support any asset management initiatives as prescribed in our Quality Management System (ex. Calibration, Quality Records)
• Lead and support the investigation, response, and implementation of corrective action requests (CARs) to address design non-conformances and quality issues, ensuring effective resolution and prevention of future occurrences

Leadership and People Management

• Participate collaboratively with HR in the hiring process & appointment of competent leaders
• Conduct annual and semi-annual reviews of direct reports
• In collaboration with Group Leaders, establish personalized and departmental training plans which includes identification of developmental needs of others, coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills
• Review annual and semi-annual reviews from Group Leader and participate in reviews as required
• Approve and monitor vacation requests of direct reports in a timely manner
• Review direct reports online timecards for accuracy
• Communicate appointed delegate for vacation coverage

Department Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Create and drive an IA standard methodology through design/assembly. IEC vs NFPA., single line drawings, standard panel layouts, standard cable sets and more.
• Provides updates to the progress of projects, solutions and corrective actions as required and follow-up with weekly production meeting requirements in a timely manner.
• Acts as a liaison between Design/Manufacturing Group personnel, client, and related departments.
• Participate in design reviews as required.
• Champion a strong safety culture by leading risk assessment activities and ensuring managers and teams consistently identify hazards and implement controls aligned with the hierarchy of controls.
• Prioritize external Supplier requirements as required to support production plan.
• Manage team resources; communications, equipment, vehicles, company tools, etc. to ensure well maintained and available.
• Act as point of contact in collaboration with Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) to resolve facility related issues or support continuous improvement goals.
• Conduct regular inspections to ensure employee health and safety and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Build a network of contractors (ESP - Engineering Service Providers).

Key Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of business systems &related software (MS Office Suite, ERP)
• Working knowledge of Eplan, PLC/HMI Controls, Vision for guiding robot process, LIN communications, CANBUS or Ignition
• Comfortable with multiple robotics systems
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing concepts
• Working knowledge of manufacturing (ex. Fabrication, automation -PLC and mechanical and electrical assembly)
• Working knowledge and understanding of standards associated with industrial automation. For example, CSA, ANSI, RIA, and ISO standards relative to machine design, machine safety, guarding, and robotics.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001
• Working knowledge of required third party inspections (ex. PHSR, ESA, TSSA)
• Certified Machine Safety Expert (CMSE) certification an asset

Performance and KPI Measures

Key performance and drivers directly associated with the Controls Manager position include, but may not be limited to the following:

• On Time Delivery
• Performance to Budget
• Customer Satisfaction
• Employee Engagement
• Department Utilization
• Deliverables associated with continuous improvement projects as / when defined
• KPI benchmarks subject to be adjusted based on business conditions

What you’ll need:

• Minimum Diploma in Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, Trade License, or equivalent specialized experience
• Minimum 8 - 10 Years’ Experience within the Industrial Automation or Automotive Manufacturing Field
• Professional Engineer of Ontario designation is preferred
• Proven experience managing a large team
• Changing job conditions may require periodic skill upgrades
• Ability to travel globally as required

Physical Demands:

• This position may require periods of sitting, standing and frequent walking. It also requires the ability to handle attention to detail, tight deadlines, responsibility and accountability and the ability to multi-task. Requires use of a computer.

For more information, visit our website at www.innovativeautomation.com.

If you require any accommodation during our recruitment process, please let us know.

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