Engineering Manager - Vehicle Automation

POSITION TITLE: Engineering Manager - Vehicle Automation 

LOCATION: Ontario Branch (Collingwood, Barrie, Sudbury, or Waterloo) 

At MacLean Engineering, we're not just building machines - we're pioneering innovations, that redefine industry standards. We are looking for a Vehicle Automation Engineering Manager for the Telematics Automation and Controls Division who is passionate about pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence and wants to be at the forefront of technological advancements in the mining industry. We prioritize safety, integrity, and teamwork in everything we do by ensuring that every member of our team feels respected, heard, and inspired to excel. Join us in building a brighter future together at MacLean Engineering! 

The Position: As the leader for the Automation group, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our vehicle technology. Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, your expertise will drive the product roadmap and tech stack to enable both tramming and application specific automation across our full fleet of products. This role offers an exciting opportunity to apply your technical skills, creativity, and strategic influence to solve complex challenges in a fast-paced and rewarding environment while mentoring and empowering the team. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of a rapidly growing technology sector, directly contributing to innovative solutions for real-world challenges in underground mining battery electric and diesel automation. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

Technical Leadership & Strategy 
 

• Lead the design and development of autonomous systems across perception, mission-level planning, navigation, real-time reasoning, and low-level control for complex mobile robotic platforms, with a focus on robust, scalable deployment in underground mining environments.
• Architect and implement autonomy stacks using ROS (Robot Operating System), simulation environments such as Gazebo, and model-based design tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink), applying advanced control strategies like MPC (Model Predictive Control) and leveraging digital twin frameworks to validate performance from concept through production.
• Guide the integration of advanced technologies, including ABB robotic platforms, and evaluate emerging tools to enhance autonomy capabilities.
• Define modular, scalable system architectures with a deep understanding of integration protocols such as UDP, MQTT, and DDS (Data Distribution Service), ensuring efficient, real-time communication across vehicle and edge systems.

Team Development & Agile Execution 
 

• Lead a multi-team automation group through agile execution, serving as Scrum of Scrums facilitator to coordinate sprint planning, remove blockers, and drive alignment across workstreams at scale.
• Provide technical mentorship and role-based development for team members across autonomy, robotics, and control disciplines, with a focus on cultivating system-level thinking and innovation.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development to ensure technical depth and long-term succession planning within the group.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement 
 

• Translate operational and customer use cases into scalable autonomy system architectures, interface definitions, and technical roadmaps.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with controls, telematics, systems, and product management teams to ensure cohesive development and deployment of automation features.
• Act as technical point-of-contact for program management and senior leadership, aligning automation deliverables with business and field performance goals.

Compliance, Documentation & Quality 
 

• Ensure rigorous documentation of system design, configuration, and testing activities to support compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ISO 19296, ISO 13849, ISDO 61508).
• Lead efforts to standardize design reviews, hazard assessments, and design validation workflows that support traceability, auditability, and long-term maintainability.

Deployment, Testing & Delivery 
 

• Oversee system-level testing and validation, including simulation environments, HIL (hardware-in-the-loop), and on-vehicle evaluation under real-world conditions.
• Direct development of internal tooling and observability frameworks that improve system visibility, test repeatability, and development velocity.
• Ensure field-readiness of autonomous features through iterative deployment cycles, pilot programs, and integration with production vehicle workflows.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, leadership abilities, and problem-solving capabilities. They will demonstrate organizational skills, discipline, an aptitude for proactive learning, and a positive attitude. Additionally, they should meet the following qualifications: 
 

• Minimum 10 years of engineering development experience in vehicle automation, robotics, mechatronics and software engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience with the job responsibilities and duties described above, mining or mobile vehicle specific experience is an asset.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in other languages, primarily Spanish and French, is an asset.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, robotics, computer science, or a related field is an asset.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng) license or similar certification.

First Year Goals: 
 

1. Establish a unified, high-performing automation organization by integrating existing teams under a shared vision, delivery model, and culture-implementing a Scrum of Scrums framework, clear roles, cross-functional communication, joint technical backlogs, and a focus on shared ownership and iterative delivery.
2. Advance key autonomy projects-such as GPS-denied tramming and robotic underground applications-toward production readiness by maturing prototypes into robust systems through validation milestones, system-level requirements, simulation and HIL testing, and scalable, maintainable architectures spanning multiple operation modes.
3. Launch and drive development of the next critical autonomy application by collaborating with academic and internal teams to define requirements, decompose the problem, integrate with the tramming stack, and begin prototyping and de-risking toward a scalable, production-ready solution.

Closing: Inspired by over 50 years of pioneering excellence, MacLean Engineering continues to lead the way in underground mining equipment solutions. Rooted in our founder's unwavering commitment to safety, productivity, and enduring quality, we are driven by innovation and expansion. With facilities strategically located across Ontario in Collingwood, Owen Sound, Barrie, and Sudbury, and across the globe in Mexico, South Africa, and Australia, our dedicated workforce of skilled tradespeople collaborates in a safety-centric environment to deliver superior components and equipment to the underground mining, municipal, environmental, and industrial sectors. Join us at MacLean Engineering and be part of a legacy built on innovation, quality, and lasting impact 

To facilitate mentorship, team development, and hands-on exposure to our products and broader business operations, people managers are expected to maintain a strong in-office presence-this role is therefore an in-office position. 

Please note that employment with MacLean Engineering is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check conducted by our third-party provider, Sterling Backcheck. This process may include verification of employment history, education, and a criminal record check, depending on the requirements of the position.

We thank all applicants in advance for their application and interest in MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co Limited. However only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co. Limited is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005). 

MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co. Limited will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.