Director, Automation & Controls Engineering

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

As Director, Automation & Controls Engineering, you will lead the team building the automation backbone of Divergent’s next generation of machines and factories. You will define and deliver the controls, robotics, electrical, safety, and factory automation systems that turn complex manufacturing technology into reliable, scalable, and increasingly autonomous production.

This role owns both the technical direction and organizational capability required to push industrial automation forward—from first-of-kind machine development through fleet deployment and factory scale. You will build the architectures, standards, teams, and engineering systems that enable Divergent to move faster, automate more, reduce operator dependency, and create manufacturing systems capable of scaling far beyond traditional factories.

• •Lead delivery of electrical, PLC, HMI, SCADA, motion control, robotics, and machine-safety systems from

• •Set technical direction for controls architecture, technology platforms, engineering standards, and integration across Divergent machines and factories.
• •Build scalable capabilities through modular architectures, reusable libraries, standardization, and disciplined configuration management.
• •Establish technical governance and engineering rigor to improve consistency, reliability, maintainability, and development efficiency.
• •Drive systemic reliability improvements by incorporating operational failures, corrective actions, and production learnings into future designs.

• •Define and execute the technology roadmap for industrial robotics, autonomous machine operation, and advanced factory automation.
• •Drive initiatives that reduce manual labor, operator dependency, manufacturing complexity, and cost while improving productivity.
• •Develop the technical capabilities, partnerships, and scalable automation platforms required for increasingly autonomous machines and factories.

• •Build and develop a high-performing engineering organization through hiring, coaching, delegation, performance management, and development of technical leaders.
• •Establish an effective operating rhythm with clear ownership, priorities, accountability, resource management, and measurable outcomes.
• •Translate business objectives into engineering strategy, roadmaps, and investment priorities, balancing production support, reliability, technical debt, and future development.
• •Lead cross-functional alignment and execution across Machine Development, R&D, Supply Chain, Production, Service, and other operational teams.

Basic

• •Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• •Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• •Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• •Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• •Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fa