Co-op/Intern Student - Electrical Specialist (12 or 16 month term)

Location: Calgary, AB, CA

Spartan Controls is an employee-owned company and leading provider of data management, industrial automation, valves, measurement and control solutions for process industries in Western Canada and beyond.  We are dedicated to providing exceptional sales, support and service experiences for our diverse customer base in industries such as mining, power, oil & gas, municipal, pulp & paper, and chemical.

Spartan is committed to creating a sustainable modern world with innovative automation. Our focus is Customer Outcomes.  By leveraging applied automation we assist customers improving their Safety, Reliability, Operations and Productivity.

Our employee ownership model creates a unique culture of community, creativity, entrepreneurship, and a place to build your career.  Spartan Controls provides an environment that not only encourages you to do your best, but also empowers you to do what it takes to create a solution, address a need, or respond to an issue.

Summary

We are recruiting for Co-op/Intern Students to work as Electrical Specialists with our Operations - Systems, Software & Solutions (S3) teams in Calgary.  The successful candidates will work a 12 or 16 month term that is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the full lifecycle of electrical hardware projects—from design/drafting through to engineering and project execution. This is a great opportunity to gain practical experience and contribute to innovative industrial automation solutions.

The successful candidate will spend the half of the internship with the Computer Aided Design (CAD) team, collaborating with sales, engineering, project management, and manufacturing to meet project requirements through essential design and drafting services. This phase will provide a strong foundation in design principles, CAD standards, and project workflows. In the latter half of the internship, the role will expand to include more technical responsibilities, involving real-world engineering challenges and the application of electrical knowledge to assist with heat and power calculations, panel design, DCS/PLC hardware, and system integration tasks.

We’re looking for motivated students with a passion for Electrical Engineering, a keen eye for detail, strong customer first focus, and an interest in control systems and industrial automation.

Work Term: 12 or 16 months, starting January 2027

Role and Responsibilities

Responsibilities (CAD Designer Phase)

As an integral component of the project team, demonstrating strong team player abilities.

Preparing a variety of different drawing types using AutoCAD Electrical, including but not limited to:

Electrical panel assemblies, including Motor Control Centres (MCC)

Electrical building (E-house) electrical wiring

Instrumentation loops and integration wiring

Process & Instrument Diagrams (P&IDs)

Valve and actuator assemblies

Work closely with engineering, project management, and manufacturing groups to understand and fulfill drawing deliverable requirements.

Responsible for drawing product quality control with adherence to company standards and procedures

Report progress of design assignments to engineers and other team members to meet project schedules

Contribute ideas to improve team project workflows and document best practices as you learn them.

Responsibilities (Electrical Specialist Phase)

Assist the CAD team in preparing and reviewing electrical drawings under the guidance of senior engineers, learning how to ensure design accuracy and compliance with specifications and standards.

Learn about relevant safety standards, installation methods, and engineering practices by reviewing documents and supporting overall project team.

Contribute to the design process by helping with tasks related to:

Assisting with the design and engineering of control system panels and junction boxes

Gaining exposure to control system and network architecture fundamentals

Supporting the development and maintenance of design and standards documentation

Performing basic heat and power load calculations

Learning key design considerations for hazardous and non-hazardous area classifications

Provide general technical assistance to manufacturing, service, and sales teams, gaining exposure to cross-functional collaboration in a team orientated environment.

Participate in customer-focused activities by observing meetings and assisting in documentation or follow-up, learning how to support client needs and manage expectations.

Take the initiative to understand engineering processes and tools and look for opportunities to support their continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Skills

Currently enrolled in an undergraduate Engineering program, preferably in Electrical  Engineering

Students enrolled in a post-secondary Co-op/Internship program, and returning to school upon work term completion, are preferred.

Demonstrated Customer Service and/or Sales an asset

Broad understanding of instrumentation and control technology with common engineering tools and work processes

Proficiency in MS Office programs; Word, Power Point, Excel

High level technical skills and willingness to learn

Strong communication and time management skills

Collaborative team player and strong work principles

Excellent office organizational and operational skills

Detail oriented

Entrepreneurial work ethic

Spartan is committed to providing a safe workplace for all employees. This position is classified as safety-sensitive, and as such, the successful candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment alcohol & drug test.

Applications will be reviewed after the closing date and those candidates selected for the next steps in the recruitment process will be contacted directly.

As part of our recruitment process, successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment security background check.

Spartan recognizes that there are many ways in which candidates develop