Sr. Process Control Systems Engineer

About the Role

Join Equinox Gold as the Senior Control Systems Engineer, the technical authority for PLC, SCADA/HMI, and related control applications across U.S. operations. This role leads the design, development, optimization, and lifecycle management of plant process-control systems, establishing technical standards and change-control practices. You will drive complex troubleshooting, commissioning, and site integrations while providing technical direction to site personnel, contractors, and system integrators.

Mesquite Mines, Equinox Gold's first operating mine since 2018, is a stable, long-running open-pit gold mine in Imperial County, California, with production expected to continue for years. Castle Mountain is Equinox Gold's 100%-owned expansion project, poised to become a cornerstone asset producing ~200,000 ounces of gold annually over a 14-year life. Equinox Gold is a growth-focused producer with a diversified portfolio of high-quality, long-life mines across the Americas, fostering a safe, inclusive, and rewarding workplace.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control strategies, PLC logic, sequencing, interlocks, permissives, alarms, operator interfaces, and system integrations to support safe and efficient plant performance.
• Lead technical review, testing, approval, documentation, and implementation of process-control changes in accordance with management-of-change and change-control requirements.
• Lead complex troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and resolution of control-system issues affecting safety, reliability, production, or product quality; provide after-hours technical escalation for critical incidents, planned outages, and commissioning activities.
• Lead or provide technical oversight for plant startups, shutdowns, commissioning, expansions, equipment upgrades, platform migrations, acquisitions, and new-site integrations; identify and drive control-system improvements and optimization opportunities in partnership with Plant Operations, Metallurgy, Electrical/Instrumentation, and Maintenance.
• Establish and maintain programming, documentation, backup, configuration-management, and lifecycle standards across supported sites; evaluate control-system technologies and recommend architecture, platform standards, upgrades, and replacement strategies.
• Maintain technical ownership of process-control applications; provide technical direction for work performed by contractors, vendors, and system integrators; coordinate with IT on shared infrastructure and cybersecurity requirements.
• Provide regular updates to the IT Manager on control-system performance, risks, incidents, planned changes, and lifecycle priorities.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience designing, programming, integrating, commissioning, and supporting industrial process-control systems in mining, mineral processing, manufacturing, utilities, or another continuous-process environment.
• Experience serving as a senior technical resource across multiple sites, platforms, projects, migrations, or acquisitions is strongly preferred.
• Advanced expertise in PLC programming, SCADA/HMI development, and control-system integration, with strong working knowledge of control strategies, sequences, interlocks, alarms, and operator interfaces.
• Rockwell Automation (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk) strongly preferred; ability to evaluate and support multiple platforms as standards evolve.
• Leads complex troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and control-system changes in live production; working knowledge of industrial Ethernet and control protocols for integration design and IT coordination.
• Experience establishing programming, documentation, configuration-management, MOC, and lifecycle standards.
• Reviews contractor and system-integrator designs, programs, test plans, and commissioning deliverables for technical acceptability; provides technical direction across Operations, Metallurgy, Electrical/Instrumentation, Maintenance, IT, and vendors without direct supervisory authority.
• Available to travel between U.S. sites and support outages, commissioning, urgent incidents, and after-hours callouts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation, Computer Engineering, Instrumentation, or a related discipline is preferred. An associate degree combined with substantial progressively responsible industrial-controls experience may be considered.
• Preferred certifications: Rockwell Automation or equivalent platform certification; ISA CCST, ISA CAP, or equivalent; mining or mineral-processing experience.

Working Conditions

Work is performed at an active mine site, including open pit mining, processing facilities, leach pads, maintenance areas, and office environments. Exposure to extreme desert climate conditions such as high heat, cold temperatures, wind, dust, and occasional precipitation or flash flooding may occur. Work areas may involve proximity to large mobile equipment, moving mechanical parts, blasting activities, noise, vibration, diesel exhaust fumes, chemicals, fuels, oils, airborne particles, or other industrial hazards typical of mining operations. Outdoor work on uneven or rough terrain is common, and employees may encounter desert wildlife and native plant life.

Required personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn as determined by job duties, task hazards, and work location. PPE includes, but is not limited to, hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear, and other PPE as required.

Physical Demands

• Manual dexterity; handling and grasping; fingering and fine motor skills.
• Speaking clearly; hearing in speech, radio, and environmental ranges; seeing, reading, and comprehension; near and distant vision; depth perception.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain situational awareness in an active mining environment.
• Physical activities may include standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, climbing, kneeling, crouching, or working on uneven surfaces.
• Use of hands and fingers to operate tools, equipment, controls, or computer systems is required.
• May be required to work while wearing required PPE, including respiratory and hearing protection.

Specific physical demand requirements will be provided during the interview process.

Pay

The salary range for this position is from $107,416.00 to $130,000.00.

Benefits

• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock potential for growth and progression with a top mining company.
• Competitive Compensation: Attractive pay coupled with bonus incentives.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Company-matched program designed to support long-term financial security.
• Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Extensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Paid Time Off: Maintain a healthy work-life balance.