Control Room Operator

The Opportunity:

At Canadian Natural, we are proud to be a leader in Canada’s energy industry. Join us and help drive innovation and long-term value through integrity, teamwork, and a passion for doing things right.

Make your mark while you grow your career! Are you seeking an opportunity to demonstrate and develop your Control Room Operator skill set? If so, this is an incredible opportunity where you will contribute to the success of our Operations team by monitoring, adjusting, and maintaining equipment throughout various units in the Primary Upgrading Area at our Horizon facility.

You will play a pivotal role in safely and efficiently running critical plant operations that keep our upgrading facilities performing at their best. In this role, you will be the central point of control for complex process units, making real ‑ time decisions that directly impact production reliability, environmental performance, and the safety of our people and assets. This is an opportunity for a skilled and motivated operator to contribute to a high ‑ performing team, deepen their technical expertise, and support the safe, stable, and optimized operation of one of our most essential areas. If you thrive in a fast ‑ paced environment, bring strong situational awareness, and are committed to operational excellence, we’d like to meet you.

- Job location: Fort McMurray, Alberta - Horizon Oil Sands Site

- Shift schedule: 7 x 7, 12-hour shifts (days and nights)

- Safety sensitive position: Yes

- Application deadline: February 17, 2026

Key Accountabilities:

- Must have safety as a core value with an excellent work ethic, a proactive attitude, be a self-starter, possess high level standards, equipment ownership, pride in their workplace with the ability to climb ladders and be at heights of 100+ feet, while working in all climates including -25°C and less sometimes for extended periods

- Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), including review of and improvement to existing SOP’s, develop new SOP’s as required, participate in safety audits and safety programs and maintain a safe work environment

- Ensure proper turn-over by providing effective written and oral communications to the relieving shift and technician that covers routine and non-routine issues, problems faced, unit operating conditions, etc.

- Safely operate, monitor, adjust, and maintain process parameters to ensure production rates are achieved while rotating between different processing units within Primary Upgrading

- Develop competencies to effectively troubleshoot and problem-solve operating issues that will impact safety, reliability or production

What You Bring to the Role:

- Experience with control room setting and DCS operation, preferably Delta V, but others such as Honeywell is considered an asset

- Minimum of 5 years of DCS Panel experience in a refinery, petro-chemical or oil sands upgrading facilities, with preference being given to those with heavy oil/ crude distillation, and operating units such as Diluent Recovery, Vacuum Distillation and Delayed Coking

- Some commissioning and start-up experience with heavy oil equipment would be considered an asset but not required

- Minimum 3 rd Class Power Engineering Certification

- High School Diploma or demonstrated equivalent and a Valid Class 5 Driver’s License

What We Offer:

- Competitive salary, stock options, company matched stock savings plan, annual bonuses

- 100% Employer paid extended Health, Dental and Vision Benefits

- May be eligible for relocation pursuant to Canadian Natural’s Relocation Policy

- May be eligible for additional premiums

- Company Sponsored Fly-In/Fly-Out from Calgary or Edmonton, Alberta

- First class camp facilities

- Health & Wellness Spending Account

- Multiple volunteer opportunities within the community

- Employee & Family Assistance Program

Check out our COMPENSATION & BENEFITS to learn more about what we have to offer!