OT Controls Systems Specialist

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Strathcona Resources Ltd. is one of North America’s fastest growing pure play heavy oil producers with operations focused on thermal oil and enhanced oil recovery near the Cold Lake and Lloydminster regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Strathcona is committed to doing business the right way, guided by our core values: Integrity, Energy, and Intelligence. These values define who we are as a company, how we work together, and how we make decisions: We prioritize respect, accountability, and collaboration. That means everyone can shape and strengthen our culture and drive results in meaningful ways. Our people bring energy and curiosity to solve problems and deliver results. Be part of a team where performance, collaboration, and innovation come together to drive success.

We are seeking an experienced OT Control Systems Specialist to join the team responsible for the control systems, networks, infrastructure, and cyber security that Strathcona's field operations depend on every day. Reporting to the Team Lead, Operational Technology, this role is a key technical resource to the automation group and other technical teams, supporting field and corporate groups across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The successful candidate will apply strong technical expertise to keep production systems secure and reliable, implement established standards, resolve complex control system issues, and work closely with operations, vendors, and technology teams. The role combines hands-on support with project execution, documentation, testing, commissioning, and continuous improvement across the operational technology environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical support for operational technology and control systems, working under the direction of the Team Lead and collaborating with automation, network, cyber security, operations, and engineering teams

• Put safety first and follow established documentation, management of change, testing, and approval requirements for every control system change

• Configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize control systems, human-machine interfaces, servers, networks, and related operational technology infrastructure

• Implement operational technology security controls, including network separation, secure remote access, account management, patching, backups, recovery testing, and vulnerability remediation

• Maintain accurate inventories, system drawings, configurations, procedures, and support records, and identify assets requiring upgrades before they fall out of vendor support

• Execute assigned project work, identify technical and operational risks, provide status updates, and escalate priorities or high-risk issues to the Team Lead

• Support site programs through design reviews, factory and site acceptance testing, commissioning, startup, turnaround activities, and handover to operations

• Coordinate technical activities with operations, vendors, service providers, and technology teams, and provide timely support for control room communications, operator alarms, and production-impacting incidents

• Improve the reliability and completeness of operational data, support real-time monitoring and historian integrations, and contribute technical expertise to practical initiatives such as computer vision for leak and spill detection

Required Qualifications

• Technical diploma or degree in a relevant field such as instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or information technology; P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset

• 5-8+ years of hands-on experience with operational technology, automation, or control systems in oil and gas, including experience supporting multiple sites or projects in an operating environment.

• Strong knowledge of oil and gas operations and field infrastructure, ideally thermal and conventional production, and demonstrated experience with control systems and automation platforms such as DeltaV and Allen-Bradley.

• Solid understanding of field networks and communications, including wireless, radio, cellular, and satellite, and of operational technology security practices such as network separation, secure remote access, patching, backups, and recovery

• Experience with operational data historians and dashboards such as PI, field data capture, and production reporting systems, including measurement requirements, alarm management, and functional safety practices

• Strong troubleshooting, documentation, communication, and stakeholder collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and escalate risks appropriately

Work Environment

• This position can be based at our Calgary office, or at our Bonnyville or Lloydminster field office

• Regular travel between our offices and to field locations across Alberta and Saskatchewan, regardless of home base

Great things aren’t done by one person, they’re done by a team.

We believe meaningful results come from people with unwavering commitment to integrity, energy, and intelligence – how we show up matters just as much as what we deliver. We value our work, our communities, and our commitments – but most of all, we value the team of people who make what we do possible.

Apply to Strathcona

If you have what it takes to be a great Strathcona team member, we want to hear from you. We appreciate all interest in this opportunity but only those selected to advance through the process will be contacted.