Automation Control Specialist

Automation Controls Specialist 

Company Overview 

Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders.  

Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.  

Our Purpose, Vision and Values 

Our purpose, vision and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals. 

Our Purpose is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders. 

Our Vision is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources. 

Our Values include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner. 

Role 

We are seeking an Automation Control Specialist to join our Maintenance Team. In this role, you will be responsible for the programming, maintenance, optimization, and troubleshooting of the Emerson DeltaV Distributed Control System (DCS) and associated automation infrastructure. In a mining processing environment—spanning crushing, grinding, flotation, leaching, and tailings management—this role ensures maximum process uptime, safety compliance, and operational efficiency through robust control strategies.This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization committed to innovation, sustainability, and leadership in the clean energy sector. 

The role is based at Thacker Pass site and reports to the Maintenance Manager. Occasional travel to other LAC offices, project sites, or vendor locations may be required. 

Key Responsibilities  

• Program, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot DeltaV Distributed Control System (DCS) applications and associated automation systems.  

• Develop and maintain HMI graphics, control logic, and process control strategies to support safe and efficient plant operations.  

• Troubleshoot control system issues, tune control loops, and optimize automation performance to improve reliability and production.  

• Support electricians, instrumentation technicians, and operations personnel with automation-related technical issues.  

• Analyze process data to identify opportunities for process improvements and implement corrective actions.  

• Perform system backups, software updates, licensing management, and maintain the integrity of the control system database.  

• Support commissioning, startup, testing, and loop checks for new instrumentation and control systems.  

• Maintain and troubleshoot industrial communication networks and interfaces between DCS, PLC, and field devices.  

• Ensure automation systems comply with safety standards, environmental regulations, cybersecurity requirements, and Management of Change (MOC) procedures.  

• Participate in the design, maintenance, and testing of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and critical control interlocks.  

• Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase equipment reliability, plant uptime, and operational efficiency.  

• Participate in an on-call rotation to support 24/7 plant operations as needed. 

• Builds and maintains trusted relationships across all teams while championing a culture that reflects and supports our Purpose, Vision, and Values 

• Perform other duties as assigned 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent technical training and experience may be considered.  

• Three (3) or more years of experience programming, configuring, and maintaining distributed control systems (DCS) or programmable logic controllers (PLC).  

• Experience with Emerson DeltaV is strongly preferred.  

• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Honeywell, ABB, or Yokogawa is preferred.  

• Experience in mining, mineral processing, chemical processing, or another heavy industrial manufacturing environment.  

• Knowledge of industrial instrumentation including pressure, temperature, level, flow, and density measurement devices.  

• Experience with industrial communication protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP, Profibus, Foundation Fieldbus, or OPC.  

• Familiarity with process historians such as OSIsoft PI or similar data analysis tools.  

• Understanding of process control, control loop tuning, automation troubleshooting, and industrial networking.  

• Working knowledge of Management of Change (MOC), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), and industrial cybersecurity best practices.  

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and problem-solving skills.  

• Ability to work safely in an industrial environment while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE) and navigating active plant facilities. 

• Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values 

Working at Lithium Americas 

At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long-term growth and skills development.. 

We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.