Senior Director, Plant Control Systems

Overview
Senior Director, Plant Controls Systems is a senior leadership position responsible for the strategic direction, governance, and operational excellence of Plant Control Systems engineering within the organization. This role ensures the discipline's standards, processes, and talent are world‑class, supporting both project delivery and long‑term business objectives in the nuclear sector.

Your role

Define, implement, and continuously improve discipline‑specific standards, procedures, design guides, and best practices.

Oversee the governance and oversight function, ensuring independence from daily operations and fostering a culture of constructive challenge and evidence‑based decision‑making.

Define and maintain the capabilities to be a CANDU OEM.

Fleet‑wide strategy for the plant control system architecture across refurbishment/new build/digital upgrades, and lifecycle/obsolescence roadmaps (DCS/PLC refresh) for the digital control architecture; integrates CSA N‑series, CNSC expectations and knowledge management.

Lead the discipline's interface to the organization's cyber program and ensure designs implement CSA N290.7:21 Defensive Cyber Security Architecture (zones/CEAs), supply‑chain cyber controls, and incident response readiness.

Drive process and regulatory compliance, ensuring quality and continuous improvement across all projects.

Lead and sponsor engineering improvement activities to meet customer requirements and achieve business and financial goals.

Act as the escalation point for technical issues and disputes, resolving them collaboratively with project leadership.

Capture, share, and utilize engineering knowledge across the organization, incorporating lessons learned and best practices.

Lead a team of Discipline Managers.

Manage project‑related human resource issues and resolve work performance problems.

Interpret and apply negotiated agreements with bargaining agents as they affect the rights, obligations, and working conditions of employees.

Lead the development and execution of strategic plans for the discipline, including capability building, succession planning, and resource management.

Define and maintain technical training qualifications and certification requirements for each skill category/job family.

Mentor, coach, and develop engineering staff, fostering knowledge transfer and a collaborative technical community. Including overseeing the development of future knowledge & skill sets with the support of Project Directors.

Interface with senior executives, project partners, and external stakeholders to ensure effective engineering support.

About You

Engineering or technical degree from a recognized university; advanced degree preferred.

Minimum 15 years of instrumentation & control engineering experience.

Professional Engineer (P.Eng) registration with PEO or equivalent required.

Demonstrated experience in leading significant engineering departments and multi‑disciplinary teams.

Experience with a variety of SCADA / PLC / DCS platforms.

Extensive knowledge of INPO/WANO fundamentals, nuclear safety practices, and regulatory requirements.

Experience with system & software qualification processes, experience with N290.14 considered an asset.

Experience working throughout various stages of complex engineering projects from conception to commissioning.

Experience collaborating with supply chain professionals and building supply chain strategies.

Meaningful experience working at project site, experience at a commercial nuclear power plant considered an asset.

Advanced capabilities in process improvement, equipment reliability, and operational excellence.

Visionary, results‑oriented, and highly motivated leader.

Strong business acumen, technical expertise, and people management skills.

Excellent communicator, negotiator, and influencer.

Ability to drive change, enhance productivity, and deliver results in a complex, regulated environment.

Commitment to safety, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Reward & benefits
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at Atkins

Réalis in Canada.

Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a…