Director of Industrial Automation & Controls

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Industrial Automation & Controls

Location: Dallas, TX

Compensation: $180,000 - $210,000 base salary + bonus + benefits

About the Role

We are partnering with a growing industrial construction and infrastructure services organization to identify an experienced engineering leader to help develop and scale its automation, controls, and systems integration capabilities.

This leadership role focuses on building the technical teams, engineering standards, and delivery processes needed to support increasingly complex automation projects across industrial, mission-critical, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in industrial automation, controls engineering, and systems integration, combined with a proven ability to lead complex projects, modernize aging control systems, and develop high-performing engineering teams.

This is an opportunity to play a significant role in expanding an automation and controls business, with direct influence over technical strategy, project execution, and long-term organizational growth.

What You'll Do

• Lead automation and controls engineering activities across PLC, DCS, SCADA/HMI, instrumentation, industrial networks, and systems integration applications.
• Oversee complex automation projects from initial system architecture and engineering design through programming, testing, startup, commissioning, and customer turnover.
• Develop and execute modernization strategies for aging industrial control systems, including legacy PLC/DCS migrations, obsolete equipment replacement, and system upgrades within active operating facilities.
• Establish scalable engineering standards, technical review processes, programming practices, and reusable system architectures to improve consistency, quality, and project delivery.
• Build, mentor, and lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across controls, instrumentation, SCADA/OT, systems integration, and commissioning.
• Partner closely with construction, electrical, instrumentation, operations, and project management teams to ensure engineering solutions translate into successful field execution.
• Provide technical leadership for mission-critical infrastructure and complex industrial applications, including integration with building management, electrical power monitoring, and other equipment control systems.
• Oversee control system testing and validation activities, including FAT/SAT, functional testing, integrated systems testing, startup, and commissioning.
• Support business development through technical discovery, solution development, project estimating, proposal preparation, and evaluation of project scope and execution risks.
• Develop relationships with customers, equipment manufacturers, and technology partners to support automation integration, modernization, and long-term service opportunities.
• Evaluate industrial network architecture, operational technology cybersecurity, and applicable engineering standards to ensure reliable, maintainable, and secure automation systems.
• Establish processes for technical risk management, engineering performance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement as the business expands.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or systems integration, including substantial technical leadership responsibility.
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams, managing technical project delivery, or developing automation and controls capabilities within complex organizations.
• Demonstrated success delivering complex automation projects from initial engineering and system architecture through programming, integration, startup, and commissioning.
• Significant experience with brownfield modernization, legacy controls replacement, and industrial control system migrations, including projects within active operating facilities.
• Strong technical knowledge of PLC, DCS, SCADA/HMI, industrial instrumentation, control panels, industrial communications, and operational technology systems.
• Hands-on experience with major automation platforms such as Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, Emerson, Honeywell, Yokogawa, or comparable technologies.
• Experience integrating multiple equipment manufacturers, control platforms, and industrial systems within complex operating environments.
• Strong understanding of industrial networks, OT cybersecurity, automation system architecture, and relevant ISA, IEC, NEC, and NFPA standards.
• Experience working within an industrial contractor, engineering services provider, systems integrator, or similarly complex technical organization.
• Familiarity with automation applications across data centers, mission-critical infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, utilities, water treatment, or industrial process environments.
• Proven ability to establish engineering standards, develop technical talent, and build scalable teams and delivery processes.
• Strong commercial judgment, customer-facing communication, and experience supporting technical proposals, project estimating, scope development, and risk evaluation.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or relevant technical certifications are a plus.

Why This Role Stands Out

Play a foundational leadership role in developing and expanding an automation and controls business supported by an established industrial construction and infrastructure platform.

Help shape engineering strategy, technical standards, and team development while delivering sophisticated controls integration and modernization projects across multiple industrial markets.

This opportunity offers a unique combination of hands-on technical leadership, organizational development, and commercial influence, with the ability to build capabilities that support long-term growth.

Workspire Insight

At Workspire, we partner exclusively with organizations that value experienced leadership, operational discipline, and long term investment in talent. Every opportunity we represent is vetted for impact, advancement potential, and cultural alignment because where and how you work matters.

EEO Statement

Workspire and our client partners are proud to be equal opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.