Instrumentation and Control Research Technician I/O

About the Position: This is a temporary, full-time Initiatives & Opportunity support staff position. This position will start as soon as possible and run for 2 years. Working 35 hours per week at an hourly rate of $30.00, reporting to the Research and Innovation Operations Manager.

The Instrumentation and Control Research Technician is responsible for leading the instrumentation and control team and carrying out various research projects focused on instrumentation and control in collaboration with research staff, research students, industry partners, and Applied Research and Innovation Office staff.

The incumbent will have two sets of activities: a) Technical Duties and b) Administration Duties.

The incumbent's technical responsibilities include design, installation, implementation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, operation, networking, analysis, and troubleshooting of instrumentation, and electrical processes, measurement devices, various distributed control systems/PLC's for the assigned research projects.

The incumbent will also be responsible for leading research projects, developing purchasing documents, helping with research outreach in collaboration with the Research Lead and Applied Research and Innovation Office.

Specific Accountabilities:

1. Technical Duties
   1. Act as “Principal Investigator” and lead the day-to-day activities of the research projects.
   2. Develop research proposals and scope out project size and budget.
   3. Conduct and carry out research activities including literature review, data analysis, and experimentation in collaboration with researchers and industry partners in the area of instrumentation and control.
   4. Carry out engineering of various research projects with respect to instrumentation including:
      1. Design
      2. Implementation
      3. Installation
      4. Calibration
      5. Documentation
   5. Perform design, installation, and implementation of below control systems and methods for various research projects:
      1. Advanced Process Control (APC)
      2. Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
      3. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
      4. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
   6. Debug research control and instrumentation systems:
      1. Node analysis
      2. Electronic diagnostic testing
      3. Port analysis and communication testing
   7. Troubleshoot research projects with regard to:
      1. Instrumentation
      2. Electrical
      3. Communication
      4. Hardware and software configuration analysis
   8. Oversee construction of control and instrumentation systems including full structural, mechanical, and instrumentation construction for all projects.
   9. Ensure that the projects comply with health and safety regulations.
   10. Ensure that quality standards are maintained.
   11. Provide consultancy support to partners, industry representatives for development of new projects.
   12. Help to prepare technical reports and presentations for research partners.
   13. Work with supervisor to design and develop work plans and coordinate timelines for project completion.
   14. Attend meetings with research teams and industry partners to update activities.
   15. Help the supervisor with coordination of research students’ activities.
2. Administration Duties
   1. Work with the supervisor and Applied Research and Innovation Office to prepare purchase orders.
   2. Liaise with research partners, suppliers, contractors, and relevant authorities for purchasing as well as executing required tasks.
   3. Work with supervisor and Applied Research and Innovation Office for project management within cost and time-constrained environments.
   4. Work with Supervisor to develop task lists for research students.
   5. Support the Research Lead in collaboration with Applied Research Outreach Coordinator to prepare content for promotional literature such as website content, brochures, or flyers and coordinate printing and distribution.
   6. Help with tours to future partners, major contributors, and guests.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a 3-year post-secondary degree or diploma in Instrumentation & Control Engineering Technology.
• Minimum 2 years of experience with Visual Basic interface programming; Software applications programming & troubleshooting; Computer Network & Troubleshooting for isolated systems.
• Working knowledge of a selection of the following systems: Allen Bradley PLC, Triconex PLC, Honeywell Experion, SMAR Fieldbus, Emerson Delta V system.
• Well-developed analytical, problem-solving, and evaluation skills required to troubleshoot, problem solve, and provide analytical solutions to a wide variety of situations.