Controls Lead

Company Overview:

IMG Factory Automation ULC (IMG) is a System Integrator specializing in Assembly and Joining automation equipment. We provide custom Turn-Key automation equipment from our 10,000 sq ft facility in Windsor and we service Tier 1 automotive suppliers throughout the Continental US, Canada and Mexico.

We pride ourselves on employing the best and most talented professionals in the industry. Our growing team consists of engineers and project managers with extensive experience, and we are looking to find the next key individual to join our organization and add to our talent pool.

IMG’s Guiding Principles & Core Beliefs
We have a Passion for Innovation and Invention

This passion is our motivation to provide our customers with solutions that are the Benchmark of the Industry

Integrity is Who we are, what we do and How we Operate

• Ethical Business Conduct is the basic foundation of our organization
• We do the right thing even when no one is watching

We strive to create a Workplace where Employees can and want to contribute their Very Best

• Our employees’ diverse Talent, Initiative, Leadership and Creativity are keys to our success
• We Motivate & Empower our employees to adopt Extreme Ownership

We believe in Accountability

• We hold each other accountable through supportive actions
• We uphold our responsibility towards our customers by sharing a vested interest in their Success
• We recognize our social responsibilities towards the Communities in which we operate, and we strive to participate by providing Opportunities, Support and Engagement

Position Summary

The Controls Lead is responsible for leading the controls engineering, robot programming, offline development, and commissioning support functions within the Business Unit. This position provides technical leadership, resource planning, customer interface, and execution oversight to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements and IMG standards.

The Controls Lead is accountable for controls and robot engineering resource forecasting, technical execution, controls budget performance, commissioning readiness, and continuous improvement while supporting the Business Unit’s revenue, margin, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives. This role works closely with Project Management, Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, Manufacturing, Procurement, IMG-IN, Controls Engineering Management, and Customers throughout the project lifecycle.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Serve as the technical lead for Controls and Robot Engineering within the assigned Business Unit.
• Assign, oversee, and manage Controls Engineers and Robot Engineers assigned to Business Unit projects.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and deliverables for assigned engineering team members.
• Support, coach, and train Business Unit assigned engineers to strengthen technical capability and execution consistency.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, urgency, and continuous improvement.
• Line up IMG-IN, along with Project CE, an offline Developer assigned by Offline manager on project scope.
• Help develop IMG-IN engineering team. Review Offline Programs supplied by IMG-IN and provide quality feedback.

Customer & Project Interface

· Interface directly with customers during project kickoffs, controls design reviews, robot reviews, customer specification reviews, and technical project meetings.

· Review and understand customer control, electrical, robot, safety, and plant standards to ensure project execution meets customer requirements.

· Support Project Managers in communicating controls scope, technical risks, timing concerns, and customer-driven changes.

· Participate in project tollgate reviews, risk reviews, customer buyoffs, and launch readiness reviews as required.

· Represent the Business Unit professionally with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.

Engineering Resource Planning

• Provide the Controls Engineering Manager with a rolling resource forecast a minimum of 12 weeks in advance, or longer when required by project complexity and commissioning needs.
• Coordinate with the Controls Engineering Manager to align available resources with Business Unit project priorities and customer commitments.
• Identify resource constraints early and develop mitigation plans with the Business Unit General Manager and Controls Engineering Manager.
• Plan for any special contract resources needed for the project and work with Engineering Management and Procurement to source required expertise or manpower.
• Ensure controls engineering labor is effectively utilized and aligned with project budgets, with controls engineering resource cost carried by the Business Unit.

Project Execution

• Lead controls execution from project kickoff through design, build support, offline development, debug, commissioning, customer buyoff, and final acceptance.
• Develop and maintain controls engineering schedules that support overall project milestones and commissioning timing.
• Manage the project controls engineering budget, hours, and timeline; identify corrective actions when performance trends off plan.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to ensure deliverables control align with the project schedule, cost targets, customer requirements, and risk plan.
• Identify technical risks early, escalate issues appropriately, and drive timely resolution.
• Responsible for ensuring safety process and workbook is conducted on all projects

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction for PLC, HMI, robot, vision, safety, servo, motion, network, and controls architecture decisions.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, applicable safety standards, industry practices, and IMG engineering standards.
• Review and approve controls design approach, robot programming approach, offline development deliverables, sequence of operations, and software documentation as required.
• Adhere to IMG Engineering standard processes and the One IMG Way for controls execution.
• Drive standardization, reuse of proven controls concepts, and continuous improvement across Business Unit projects.
• Support estimating activities by providing controls concepts, engineering labor estimates, assumptions, technical risks, and commissioning support requirements.

Electrical Design, Build & Commissioning Support

• Interface with the Electrical Lead on project design requirements, controls architecture, panel design considerations, field wiring needs, safety circuits, and customer specifications.
• Work closely with Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, Manufacturing, and Build Leaders to resolve controls, electrical, robot, and integration issues.
• Support Engineering Change Requests, design revisions, software revisions, and field changes related to controls and robotics.
• Drive timely resolution of controls-related rework, non-conformance issues, punch list items, and commissioning roadblocks.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions related to controls engineering, programming, commissioning, or launch issues.
• Ensure accurate and complete controls release packages, backups, software documentation, and turnover information are maintained.

Business Unit Responsibilities

• Support Business Unit revenue, margin, quality, and delivery objectives.
• Monitor engineering hours versus budget and identify corrective actions when needed.
• Participate in project risk reviews and monthly project health reviews.
• Support estimating activities by providing technical concepts, labor estimates, and design assumptions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve engineering efficiency and project profitability.
• Adhere to the "One IMG Way" engineering standards, processes, and best practices.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in controls engineering, robot programming, automation systems, or industrial equipment integration, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership, technical lead, commissioning lead, or project execution leadership experience.
• Strong technical expertise in PLC programming, HMI development, robot programming, industrial networks, safety systems, servo/motion systems, and automated equipment commissioning.
• Strong understanding of customer controls specifications, electrical design requirements, robot standards, machine safety, manufacturing processes, and assembly operations.
• Demonstrated ability to plan resources, manage engineering budgets, support project schedules, and lead technical issue resolution under time-sensitive launch conditions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and engineering documentation tools.

Competencies & Behavioral Expectations

• Demonstrates strong leadership, accountability, professionalism, and ownership in all aspects of work.
• Leads by example and fosters a collaborative, team-oriented environment across Controls, Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Project Management, and IMG-IN.
• Communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, team members, and leadership.
• Works with urgency to meet customer, schedule, budget, commissioning, and launch requirements.
• Uses sound judgment, technical discipline, and problem-solving skills to resolve project and engineering challenges.
• Supports the development of team members through coaching, mentoring, standards alignment, and knowledge sharing.
• Maintains the highest level of integrity, reliability, safety, and commitment to quality.

Benefits:

• RRSP Matching program
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Vacation

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Pay: $52.00-$58.00 per hour

Work Location: In person