Shell

Control System Engineer/Specialist

Sarnia - Refinery Full time
Ontario, Canada


Job Family Group:

Discipline Engineering


Worker Type:

Regular


Posting Start Date:

January 14, 2026


Business Unit:

Downstream and Renewables


Experience Level:

Experienced Professionals


Job Description:

What’s the role

The Shell Sarnia team is looking for a Control Systems Engineer/Specialist to join their Process Automation Control & Optimization (PACO), comprising of a team of 7, and will partner closely with other experienced engineers and technologists in addition to collaborating with others trades colleagues such as Electricians, Millwrights, and Instrumentation Specialists. This role involves providing engineering support, troubleshooting, and maintaining distributed control system (DCS)/programmable logic controller (PLC) applications for different process units at the Sarnia Manufacturing Centre.

This is a hybrid role under Shell’s current policy, offering work‑from‑home flexibility. Please note that, due to the hands‑on nature of the role, you will be expected to spend approximately three (3) days per week on‑site. This arrangement may be subject to change.

The Sarnia Manufacturing Centre (SMC) has been part of our Canadian portfolio since 1963 and includes both a refinery and a chemicals plant. The refinery can process up to 85,000b/d of crude oil, which is then converted and refined to help meet southern Ontario’s transportation fuel needs (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel). The refinery also provides key base materials for chemicals and propane producers in the Sarnia area, including for the Shell Chemical plant adjacent to the refinery. The Shell Chemical plant, which was built in the 1970s, is a key North American producer of IsoPropyl Alcohol - a key ingredient in hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and other medical uses.

The Shell Sarnia Manufacturing Center’s (SMC) is proud to share that we, and our partners, have been recognized for our outstanding achievement in winning the 2024 Best Site Award from the International Benchmarking Consortia (IBC) of Independent Project Analysis (IPA). This award reflects our community’s exceptional local talent and commitment to excellence in project management. The International Benchmarking Consortia (IBC) from IPA is a globally recognized authority in project evaluation, providing rigorous and independent assessments of project performance. IPA’s Best Site Award is given annually and highlights exemplary project execution and management.

Accountabilities:

  • Provide technical support for instrument related hardware (DCS, PLC, transmitters, valves, tank gauge systems)

  • Ensure system compliance with Shell and Site operational technology cyber security practices

  • Participate in manage of change (MOC), Process Safety Startup Review (PSSR) meetings Complete MOC evaluation and PSSR action items for Instrument and Process Control related items

  • Support project design and implementation processes by assisting in creation of Basis of Design (BOD) and engineering package documentation to meet Shell and PACO standards

  • Maintain regular communication with internal site departments, while working closely with key stakeholders to ensure projects are advocated and benefits are supported, and collaborating with Production teams to maintain unit performance as needed Provide control support to Turnarounds, HAZOP and Risk Assessments as needed

  • Champion efforts to keep instrument documentation updated across Intools, P&IDs, and Loop Drawings

  • Participate in factory acceptance and site acceptance testing

  • Take a role in identifying and troubleshooting complex field instrumentation problems and developing technically sound solutions

  • Support failure analysis and causal investigation of control failures or incidents. Develop solutions to prevent future occurrence

  • Collaborate with other engineering disciplines to resolve complex problems as part of run-and-maintain activities

  • During the construction phase, to be involved and to support the activities of the engineering and construction company (EPCM) and of the main automation contractor (MAC) with respect to control narrative review and factory acceptance testing

  • Support activities of the engineering and construction company (EPCM) and the main automation contractor with respect to control narrative review and factory acceptance testing during construction phases of various projects 

  • Participate in systems upgrades and reliability

  • Track KPI's for DCS and PLC to ensure they are regularly updated & reported for maintaining system reliability

  • Configure DCS (Honeywell Experion PKS/Foxboro IA) to implement new process control/Advanced Process Control (APC) strategies

  • Promote the use of new technology and best practices

  • Participate in and comply with safety programs

What you bring

  • Must have legal authorization to work in Canada on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer

  • Engineering Degree or Engineering Technology Diploma

  • At least 6 years of relevant industry experience

  • Knowledge of Controls Systems, Honeywell Experion PKS, Honeywell TDC3000 and/or Foxboro IA series, Foxboro EVO series is a requirement

  • Familiarity with using DCS and PLC software applications such as Modicon and HIMA (SIS)

  • Ability to independently troubleshoot Process Control problems and provide operational guidance and engineering solutions

  • Must be willing to provide some off-hours support during upsets, outages, Turnarounds, and emergencies

If you don’t see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed in the posting above, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown that women & those from under-represented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We are committed to creating a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse company and we strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientations, and life experiences to apply. 

After you submit your application, you will receive an email providing a link to an online assessment that is a mandatory part of the process and must be successfully completed within 3 days of receiving the initial assessment invite. The email will come from HireVue - please check your spam/junk mailbox if you do not see the email. Once completed, your application will be reviewed to determine the next steps. Thank you for your interest in Shell. 

What we offer

The base salary range for this position is $118,000 - $168,000 per year.  Individual pay will be based on various factors, such as relevant work experience, education, certifications, skill level, seniority, and internal equity

You bring your skills and experience to Shell and in return you work with talented, committed people in an innovative work environment. You’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills you need to grow in an environment where we value honesty, integrity, and respect for one another. You’ll be able to balance your priorities as you become the best version of yourself.

  • Progress as a person as we work on innovative projects together

  • Continuously grow the transferable skills you need to get ahead

  • Work at the forefront of technology, trends, and practices

  • Collaborate with experienced colleagues with unique expertise

  • Achieve your balance in a values-led culture that encourages you to be the best version of yourself

  • Benefit from flexible working hours, and the possibility of remote/mobile working

  • Perform at your best with a competitive starting salary and annual performance related salary increase; our pay and benefits packages are among the best in the world

  • Take advantage of paid parental leave, including for non-birthing parents

  • Join an organization working to become one of the most diverse and inclusive in the world

  • We strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation, and life experiences to apply

  • Grow as you progress through diverse career opportunities in national and international teams

  • Gain access to a wide range of training and development programs

We'd like you to know that Shell has a bold goal: to become one of the world’s most diverse and inclusive companies. You can get to know more about how we're working towards that goal, click here.

Shell in Canada

Shell Canada is part of a global group of energy and petrochemicals companies with an average of 92,000 employees in more than 70 countries and has been operating in Canada since 1911.

Shell Canada is one of the few truly integrated energy companies in Canada with all of Shell’s global businesses represented, including upstream, integrated gas, downstream, and renewables and energy solutions. That means we do everything from exploration, gas production, refining and manufacturing, to providing fuels and developing energy solutions for our customers.

At a glance, our businesses and projects in Canada include:

  • Joint Venture Partner (40%) with LNG Canada which will export Canadian natural gas to Asian markets

  • Shale gas and liquids assets in Alberta and British Columbia

  • A network of 1,400 retail stations across Canada

  • The Scotford Complex in Alberta, includes an upgrader, chemicals plant and is home to the Quest carbon capture and storage facility

  • The Sarnia Manufacturing Centre refinery in Ontario

  • Investments in renewables and energy solutions, including EV charging, hydrogen and biofuels

  • 15 Shell-owned distribution terminals, three of which have marine operations

  • Shell Aviation Canada delivers across a network of 27 airport fixed-based operations and airport consortiums, from coast to coast. Shell Aviation provides 1.7 billion liters of high-quality fuel annually in Canada and offers reliable and safe into-plane delivery

  • Strong Sulphur and Lubricants businesses as well as an innovative Supply and Trading business

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