{"id":3745682,"url":"https://alion.io/job/vitalbio-automation-controls-engineer","title":"Automation Controls Engineer","company":{"id":2134020,"name":"Vitalbio","domain":"vitalbio.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/vitalbio","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Teamtailor","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Oakville, Canada"],"countries":["CA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":85000,"max":105000,"currency":"CAD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":75030},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"GMP","optional":true},{"name":"ISO 13485","optional":true}],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T19:34:49Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T07:03:24Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-11-05T07:03:24Z","days_open":16,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":16},"description":"About you:\nYou are a hands-on Automation Controls Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and making manufacturing equipment run better, faster, and more reliably. You bring strong PLC programming and controls software experience, practical mechanical aptitude, and the ability to troubleshoot both software and hardware.\nIn this role, you will develop, integrate, and optimize automated equipment used to manufacture VitalBio’s diagnostic consumables including systems for reagent handling, component assembly, inspection, and packaging.\nYou’ll work directly with complex machinery, robotics, vision systems, and controls to improve equipment performance, support production, and help scale our manufacturing capabilities.\nAs VitalBio grows, you’ll help bring new automation systems online, improve existing equipment, and build the internal expertise needed to move quickly and reduce reliance on external suppliers. Your work will directly support our mission to make diagnostics more accessible.\nWe’re looking for someone who takes ownership, learns quickly, challenges assumptions, and enjoys turning difficult engineering problems into practical solutions.\nWhat you’ll do:\nDevelop, program, and troubleshoot PLC-based automation systems, primarily using Allen-Bradley controls.\n\nSupport the integration, commissioning, and optimization of automated manufacturing equipment, including robotics, motion-control systems, HMI’s and machine vision.\n\nDiagnose and resolve complex equipment issues involving controls, sensors, communications, and mechanical components.\n\nApply mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot equipment, improve machine performance, and support fixture or component modifications.\n\nWork with equipment suppliers and automation integrators to implement improvements while building internal controls expertise.\n\nSupport equipment acceptance testing, qualification (FAT/SAT, IQ/OQ/PQ), and production ramp-up in a regulated manufacturing environment.\n\nIdentify and implement improvements that increase equipment uptime, throughput, yield, and reliability.\n\nPerform root-cause analysis, resolve recurring automation failures, and maintain appropriate controls documentation, software versions, and change records.\n\nCollaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams to deliver reliable, maintainable automation solutions.\n\nSupport safe equipment operation through appropriate controls design, safety interlocks, troubleshooting, and change management.\n\nOccasional travel to equipment suppliers, up to 10%.\n\nWhat you need:\nBachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.\n\n5+ years of relevant experience, with demonstrated independent PLC programming capability.\n\nStrong hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting experience, including ladder logic, equipment sequences, interlocks, and fault handling.\n\nProficiency with Allen-Bradley PLCs or similar and associated programming software.\n\nExperience integrating or troubleshooting industrial robots, motion systems, sensors, and other automation equipment.\n\nStrong mechanical aptitude and the ability to understand and troubleshoot interactions between mechanical and controls systems.\n\nFamiliarity with industrial communications, electrical schematics, and equipment documentation.\n\nExperience supporting equipment commissioning, qualification, or production operations.\n\nStrong problem-solving skills, technical judgment, and the ability to independently drive issues to resolution.\n\nClear communication skills and the ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams.\n\nBonus points for:\nExperience with Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley, including Studio 5000.\n\nExperience with Epson, Kuka, Fanuc, or ABB robots, Keyence vision systems, or comparable technologies.\n\nBackground with automation integrators, custom machine builders, or high-volume automated manufacturing.\n\nExperience in medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, or other complex manufacturing environments.\n\nHands-on machining, fixture design, fabrication, or 3D printing experience.\n\nFamiliarity with ISO 13485, cGMP, equipment validation, or manufacturing change control.\n\nExperience automating processes involving reagents, precision plastic components, or diagnostic consumables.\n\nThe salary range for this position is $85,000 - 105,000 annually. Compensation will be determined based on the individual's demonstrated experience.\nThis role is a current, onsite vacancy.\n\nAbout Vital Bio\n\nVital is revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostics with our VitalOne platform, delivering real-time care wherever patients are. Our mission is to democratize health technology, making healthcare more accessible and proactive.\nOur global team of experts spans chemistry, software, engineering, and microfluidics. We thrive on change, operate on trust, and value diverse perspectives. Our growth-minded culture empowers front-line decision-making and fosters impactful work.\nWe seek tenacious, bold individuals ready to transform healthcare. At Vital, your talent will make a difference as we work to ensure everyone has access to care when and where they need it.\n\nVital Biosciences Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual needs in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation in order to participate in our hiring process, please contact us to make your needs known in advance\n\nAs part of our recruitment process, we may use automated or AI-supported tools to assist with application review and screening. These tools are used to support, not replace, human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are always made by our hiring team.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5823,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-04T13:14:21Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-11-05T07:03:24Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":null,"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":75030,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/vitalbio-automation-controls-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/vitalbio-automation-controls-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-05T14:03:29Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":18075,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-06T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2134020},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2134020"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fvitalbio-automation-controls-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fvitalbio-automation-controls-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fvitalbio-automation-controls-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/vitalbio-automation-controls-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fvitalbio-automation-controls-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3745682}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"vitalbio.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3745682},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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