Research Council Officer- GTL Engine Research Facility

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The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the Government of Canada's largest research organization supporting industrial innovation, the advancement of knowledge and technology development. We collaborate with over 70 colleges, universities and hospitals annually, work with 800 companies on their projects, and provide advice or funding to over 8000 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) each year.

We bring together the brightest minds to deliver tangible impacts on the lives of Canadians and people around the world. And now, we want to partner with you.  Let your expertise and inspirations make an impact by joining the NRC.

At the NRC, we know that diversity enables excellence in research and innovation. We are committed to a diverse and representative workforce, a safe and respectful work environment, and contributing to a more inclusive Canadian innovation system.  We welcome all qualified applicants and encourage you to complete the employment equity self-declaration questions during the job application process.

Please let us know of any accommodation measures required to help you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Please note that the information you provide will be treated confidentially. 

Your Challenge

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada's largest research and technology organization.

We are looking for a Research Council Officer for the Engine Research Facility of the Gas Turbine Laboratory (GTL) to lead the instrumentation team of our Aerospace Research Centre to provide high-quality research and client services in aircraft engine and aircraft component testing. The selected candidate would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

Our test facilities include support equipment such as dynamometers, thrust beds, and equipment to provide engine test conditions like clouds of water droplets, ice crystals and hail. A wide variety of measurements are used to monitor the equipment and safety, including aerodynamic, vibration, video, and water content measurement.   

Your responsibilities will include: planning integration of client equipment with facility measurement and control systems; ensuring that facility control systems provide accurate test conditions (icing, airflow, shaft power or thrust); and leading data acquisition and controls upgrades to meet future needs like hybrid/all-electric propulsion. As well, you will supervise about 3 instrumentation technologists responsible for the installation, maintenance, calibrations and troubleshooting of instrumentation, data acquisition and control systems. These tasks will be done in collaboration with the Engine Research Facility Team including the design, instrumentation and mechanical groups and team lead.

You will be expected to use your technical expertise to perform complex technical work with full autonomy, and prepare technical reports, working schedules, technical presentations and technical drawings for internal and external clients. Some administrative work related to team management, procurement and project management is to be expected.

This is an exciting job opportunity if you want to apply your leadership skills and technical expertise to work with and develop world-class test facilities!

Screening Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

M.Eng., M.Sc., M.A.Sc. in Electrical, Computer Systems, Mechanical, Industrial or Process Engineering.

A Bachelor's degree in a related field combined with relevant experience may also be considered.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Significant experience in controlling and measuring aerodynamic processes, such as aircraft engine tests, or other industrial or test facilities; 
• Significant experience in coordinating multiple-parallel activities in a facility, laboratory or technical service; including scheduling of resources and of equipment, operation, maintenance, training and oversight of laboratory users, purchasing and inventory control;
• Significant experience in programming and the specification, integration, maintenance and upgrades of instrumentation and controls; 
• Experience with gas turbines, turbomachinery, heating/cooling systems, or other flow control systems;
• Experience with complex data acquisition and control systems required; 
• Experience supervising a small team of technical staff including assignment of tasks, scheduling, optimizing workload distribution, providing guidance and evaluating performance; and
• Experience with the following is an asset:
  • Programmable Logic Controllers;
  • LabView programming;
  • Integrated real-time data analysis for control;
  • Advanced vibration or other high-speed monitoring for test equipment.

Condition of Employment

 Secret (II)

Language Requirements

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical Competencies

• Solid knowledge in process management, such as propulsion tests, including ability to analyse equipment performance to ensure reliable control and operation and to identify opportunities to improve test quality, efficiency, reliability and safety;
• Solid knowledge of operation and control of equipment such as instrumentation, sensors, transmitters, signal conditioners, transducers; 
• Knowledge of the measurement and recording of process variables, such as temperature, pressure, flow, vibration, strain; including ability to ensure necessary calibration procedures are completed;
• Ability to read and produce technical and P&ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagram) drawings;
• Solid knowledge in programming, integration of different measurement systems and test-specific calculations, verification, validation and management of measurement systems to ensure test repeatability including a formal quality system such as ISO 9000;
• Knowledge in Programmable Logic Controllers, PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) and feedforward controls and operating principles and protections of machinery with the ability to effectively perform troubleshooting; 
• Solid knowledge of project management principles, client interactions, used in industrial facilities; and
• The following competencies will be considered as assets:
  • Knowledge of Human Machine Interfaces;
  • Knowledge of programming in LabView®;
  • Knowledge of Gas Turbine Testing;
  • Knowledge of aircraft and engine certification;
  • Knowledge of adverse environment testing.

Behavioural Competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profiles: Research; Supervisor; Technology Extension

View all competency profiles

Relocation

Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff this position at the RCO-2 to RCO-4 level, which is an intermediate-career level position with a salary range of $74,230 to $148,657. 

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including comprehensive health and dental plans, pension and insurance plans, vacation and other leave entitlements.

Notes

• ​A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
• Due to supervisory role, the work is primarily on-site in Ottawa. Telework would be occasional only.
• Some travel is required, including to Thompson, Manitoba.
• Work will be mostly in office or test control room environments. It will include working in industrial test environments and outdoors. Hazards to manage include elevated sound levels, hot and cold work environments, hot and cold surfaces, high pressure, process gas piping, Class IV lasers, combustible liquid fuels, and gases that are combustible, toxic or oxygen-displacing. The incumbent is expected to help management ensure safe work environments for themselves and their team, and to have tolerance for uncomfortable environments (tight quarters, hot or cold temperatures) and PPE requirements, including noise levels requiring hearing protecting.
• A flexible schedule and overtime are required sometimes.
• Willingness to work shifts during special projects.
• This position is being advertised internally and externally simultaneously, however first consideration will be given to internal NRC applicants.
• Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their cover letter how they meet the education and experience factors listed on the poster. Candidates must use the education/experience criteria as a header and then write one or two paragraphs demonstrating how they meet them by providing concrete examples.  In addition, the candidate is encouraged to describe in detail when, where and how he/she gained the experience.  Failure to provide an appropriate cover letter will result in the rejection of your application.  Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.