Automation System Programmer

About us

Tata Steel Minerals Canada Limited (TSMC) with its headquarters at 1000 Sherbrooke W., Suite 1120, Montreal (Quebec), operates iron ore mines in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. TSMC is a joint venture between Tata Steel Limited and the Government of Quebec. Tata Steel, part of the Tata Group of Companies, is one of the world’s top 10 steel producers and a fortune 500 company.

The opportunity

Tata Steel Minerals Canada is currently seeking a Automation Systems Programmer to join the Processingteam to work on a Fly-in/Fly-out basis of 2 weeks On/Off to and from the Menihek region in Labrador, near the town of Schefferville, QC. Operations at our mine site are running 24/7 all year long. Standard work schedules are of 12 hours per day.

Reporting to the Automation Manager, the purpose of the role is to design, program and troubleshoot machine control software, instruments and other process automation systems. The System Programmer will be required to maintain, troubleshoot, & program a variety of PLC’s, PI system and Wonderware HMI, Windows Server, Network Switches for the process plant to ensure accurate, reliable, and safe operation.

The main pick-up points are St. John’s, Gander, Deer Lake, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush in NL, Halifax, NS, Moncton, NB, and Montreal, QC.

Major Responsibilities

Design, program, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot PLC-based machine-control and process-automation systems to ensure safe and reliable plant operation.
Develop, modify, integrate, test, and validate automation software using Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Sequential Function Chart/Grafcet, and Structured Text.
Configure and support PLC platforms including Schneider Modicon Quantum and M340, Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/MicroLogix, and Siemens S7 systems.
Develop and maintain HMI/SCADA applications, tag databases, alarms, trends, graphics, and OPC connections using Wonderware ArchestrA, PanelView, Simatic, and related platforms.
Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, PLC-to-instrument communications, servers, ConneXium switches, RuggedCom switches, and associated network services.
Participate in I/O checks, loop testing, pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, ramp-up, and performance testing of plant equipment and control systems.
Investigate automation, instrumentation, communication, and electronic failures; identify root causes and implement approved programming or configuration changes.
Collect and document user and operational requirements; develop logical and physical specifications, control narratives, drawings, operating standards, and maintenance procedures.
Prepare and maintain software backups, revision records, reports, manuals, technical documentation, and system recovery information.
Provide technical guidance to technicians during loop testing and field troubleshooting, review test results, and deliver training for reliable operation and maintenance of automation systems.
Support process-control and safety standards, cybersecurity practices, Management of Change requirements, and rigorous Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance.

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, you will be expected to manage and handle the following working conditions; A fast-paced environment, extreme weather conditions, handling heavy loads, physically demanding, attention to detail, hand-eye co-ordination, combination of sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, kneeling. It is to note that you will also be working at heights.

Your Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Controls, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline; or an Electrical/Automation Engineering Technologist diploma.
• Relevant PLC, HMI/SCADA, industrial-networking, or process-control training/certification is preferred.
• Equivalent education supported by substantial industrial automation and systems-integration experience may be considered.
• French and English capability is an asset
• Minimum 4 years of relevant industrial experience in programming and automation projects; 5 or more years in a mining process plant, heavy industry, or systems-integration environment is preferred
• Demonstrated experience in process-plant control, instrumentation, automation software development, testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting
• Hands-on experience with Schneider Modicon Quantum/M340, Allen-Bradley 1756/1400 or comparable platforms, and Siemens S7 PLCs.
• Experience with Wonderware ArchestrA, OPC servers, PI System or Wonderware Historian, industrial Ethernet networks, VFD interfaces, and field instrumentation is highly desirable
• Advanced PLC programming using Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Sequential Function Chart/Grafcet, and Structured Text.
• Ability to configure HMI/SCADA graphics, alarms, trends, tag lists, historians, OPC communications, and PLC/server services.
• Ability to configure and troubleshoot industrial networks and managed switches, including ConneXium and RuggedCom equipment.
• Ability to read and develop control narratives, logic diagrams, P&IDs, electrical drawings, network architecture, I/O lists, and technical specifications.
• Strong fault-finding, root-cause analysis, software testing, commissioning, documentation, and revision-control capability.
• Knowledge of process safety, Management of Change, industrial cybersecurity, lockout/tagout, and applicable HSE and environmental requirements.
• Computer literacy including SAP maintenance functions, technical reporting, and standard Microsoft 365 applications.
• Strong communication, teamwork, training, planning, and problem-solving skills; ability to work safely at a remote mine site.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position.

At Tata Steel Minerals Canada, we value diversity in our workforce and encourage all candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, age, origin, culture, and experience. We promote the hiring of women, Aboriginals and as a priority member of communities with which we have an agreement, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

We thank all applicants for their interest in TSMC. Please note however that due to the high volume of applications, only those who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.