Director of Controls Design

Posted Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM

AIT is the world's largest provider of automation, factory integration and tooling solutions dedicated to the global aerospace, defense, and space launch vehicle industries. AIT offers a competitive compensation package (including free medical options for employees and their family), casual work environment and excellent growth opportunities.

We’re seeking a senior technical leader to own the controls system design for complex automated manufacturing systems. This role leads electrical and software engineering teams and defines scalable, executable control architectures from concept through customer acceptance.

You’ll serve as the technical authority for controls design
, partnering with customers, project management, and controls build groups to ensure solutions meet performance, quality, and schedule expectations.

• Lead all electrical and software design activities across automation programs
• Define and maintain standard controls architectures, platforms, and coding practices
• Own controls design quality, technical risk, and compliance to customer and industry standards
• Serve as the controls design leader for engagement with customer engineering teams
• Guide complex technical decisions and resolve high-risk design issues
• Support estimating, concept development, and new technology integration
• Develop and mentor electrical and software engineering leaders and senior engineers

• Bachelor’s degree in Software, Electrical, Computer, or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• Six years programming in C/C++/C# for Windows
• Six years programming industrial PLC environments, Siemens is preferred
• Proven leadership experience in multi-project engineering environments
• Ability to balance technical excellence with schedule, cost, and execution realities

• This position may require a government security clearance.

• Indoor, Office environment. Temperature controlled.

• No adverse environmental conditions expected.

• Standard work schedule, overtime may be necessary for meeting deadlines, required travel, emergent conditions.

• This position can involve travel up to 50% of the time.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
• Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

AIT enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. As appropriate, each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements. All employees that work in or enter the production environment are required to wear personal protective equipment.

It is our policy to provide quality products and services that meet customer expectations and delivery requirements. Accordingly, each employee must conform to the AIT Quality Policy and carry out job activities in compliance with applicable AIT Quality System documents and customer contracts. Each employee must read and understand his/her Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction responsibilities.

Each employee must read, understand, and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality, and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures, and policies pertaining to his/her job.

This position may require a government security clearance; you must be a US Citizen (non-dual citizen) for consideration.

To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at AIT must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e. current green card…