Frederic Lauzier – Engineering Leader with a vision for the future
Frederic Lauzier is a Canadian electrical engineer with over 15 years of experience in complex systems. Based in Quebec, he has built a career solving tough engineering problems in power systems, transportation, communications and embedded technologies. His works are known for being practical and progressive.
Frederic Lausier began his journey in a bilingual home. There, I learned to balance logic with people's skills. He studied electrical engineering from university and earned a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering. His early research focused on power systems and real-time sensors, laying the foundation for future success.
He began his career in power generation and worked on systems that protected the electric grid. Over time he moved to industrial automation, where he helped the old factories adopt modern technology. He leads projects using machine learning, IoT and predictive maintenance to increase efficiency.
Frederic is a skilled developer of embedded systems, including firmware and real-time software for microcontrollers. He is also an expert in signal processing, control systems and clean energy solutions. His projects often include solar panels, battery storage and smart meters.
Rather than just a technical expert, Frederick is a team leader and mentor. He trains junior engineers, leads design reviews and speaks at engineering events. His leadership style is clear, gentle and focused on growth.
He believes engineering must be simple, strong and reliable. In external work, Frederick enjoys hiking, radio restoration and home automation. He continues to research machine learning and cybersecurity to stay ahead of the curve.
Q&A with Frederic Lauzier: Engineering simplicity for complex systems
Frederic Lauzier has built his career at the intersection of power systems, embedded technology and sustainable design. Based in Quebec, he brings over 15 years of hands-on experience across energy, communications, transportation and industrial automation. In this Q&A, Frederick shares his path from curious student to veteran engineering, providing insight into the challenges and transformation that shape modern engineering.
Q: Can you take me to the first place? What are your interest in engineering?
Frederic Lausier:
I grew up in a bilingual family in Quebec. Curiosity was encouraged there. I was always breaking things apart – radio, toys, whatever there was to play circuits. My parents didn't always love confusion, but they supported my interest. What really drew me to engineering was the combination of creativity and logic. You're solving a real problem, but there's a kind of elegance to it too.
Q: How did your education shape your approach to engineering?
FL:
I received my Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from a Canadian university and later my Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. During my studies, I focused a lot on electromagnetics and circuit design. But what really stood out for me was the control system and sustainable energy. Ultimately, we decided to conduct research on power optimization and real-time sensor integration. It is still very relevant to the projects I am undertaking today.
Q: Your early carriers were power generation and distribution. What were those first few years like?
FL:
They were challenging – in a good way. I was working on a fault-tolerant system for the power grid and was making sure it stayed stable in times of confusion. There is no room for error in that environment. Learn to balance safety and performance. I was fortunate to work with a very experienced team early on.
One project I remember was remodeling a local substation with improved automation. This meant coordinating with field engineers, software teams and government regulators. That experience taught me the value of clear communication and planning.
Q: How did you move from power systems to industrial automation and embedded technology?
FL:
It was very natural. The power system provided a strong foundation for large-scale reliability. Over time, I became interested in how local systems, such as factory controls and IoT devices, could help overall efficiency. I moved to roles focused on embedded firmware, machine learning, and real-time data capture.
A big moment for me was working with clients who had an old manufacturing site. They wanted to upgrade but never shut down the operation. We designed a predictive maintenance system that works in parallel with the legacy setup. It helped them avoid unplanned downtime and gave them better insight into their energy use.
Q: I worked at the intersection of hardware and software. How do you manage your multidisciplinary team?
FL:
It's not always easy. Hardware engineers and software developers can speak very different languages. But I see myself as the bridge between them. I try to translate what one group needs with the words that another group can act.
For example, in one Smart Automation project, the software team wanted to collect more sensor data at a higher speed. However, the hardware was not designed for that. I had to find a midpoint to adjust the firmware, improve the data capture methods, and upgrade some of the analog filtering. Everyone learned from the process.
Q: What technology and methods do you think are changing the field right now?
FL:
The integration of machine learning into control systems is a major thing. More and more systems are able to adapt in real time based on historical data. That's something I'm still exploring, especially in predictive maintenance and power quality.
Cybersecurity is also becoming an indispensable part of the industrial environment that was once considered after the hindsight. I am currently studying the area and staying first. There is no separation between safety and performance.
Q: I'm also involved in mentoring. Why is it important to you?
FL:
Because no one does this on his own. I had a great mentor early in my career. They didn't just show me the technical side. They taught me how to manage the pressure, deal with clients and intrigued me. Now I'm trying to do the same thing. I support junior engineers with soft skills such as certifying, design reviews and even showcasing their work.
I think mentorship is how we continue to evolve our field. It is also a way to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Q: What is your personal philosophy when it comes to engineering?
FL:
I think good engineering is simple, strong and intuitive. The system should be easy to understand and resilient under stress. It's harder to achieve that than it sounds. But when it works, you know it right away.
I like to think of it the same as restoring an old radio. I'm happy to make something work better than before without losing that character.
Q: Finally, what continues to inspire you after all these years?
FL:
The field is constantly moving. There are always new challenges. I'm still excited to solve problems, especially problems that require both technical depth and creative thinking.
Outside of work, I like to hike, restore vintage electronics and experiment with open source home automation. That's part of how I recharge – by leading to the practical aspects of things.
For me, engineering was by no means just a job. That's how I understand the world.
