Controls Innovation Leader

Quest Global; City of Schenectady (NY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Vision insurance

Short/Long Term Disability

Job summary

Quest Global is searching for a seasoned software leader in Greenville, SC, to define and execute a multi-year software strategy for controls and automation. You will own the operating model, KPIs, and governance, driving Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma practices while scaling AI/ML-enabled products from concept to production.

Lead global teams and partner with executives to align strategic aims. Remote-ready capabilities and a focus on developer productivity, tooling, and quality gates will be

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or related field.
• 8+ years in software engineering or industrial automation software.
• 3+ years in people management leading global teams.
• Strong foundation in modern software development and architecture.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute multi-year software strategy for controls and automation.
• Own operating model, KPIs, delivery metrics, and governance for the software org.
• Lead AI/ML-enabled product development from concept to production.
• Oversee internal tools and automation to boost developer productivity.
• Enforce coding standards, version control, and release management with customers.

Skills

C#

C++

Python

Java

Software architecture

CI/CD pipelines

DevOps practices

Lean principles

Agile methods

Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Git

GitLab

Bitbucket

MQTT

OPC UA

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and digital expertise. By bringing together technologies and industries, alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise, we are able to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most critical and large-scale challenges across the aerospace & defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor industries.

We are looking for humble geniuses, who believe that engineering has the potential to make the impossible possible; innovators, who are not only inspired by technology and innovation, but also perpetually driven to design, develop, and test as a trusted partner for Fortune 500 customers. As a team of remarkably diverse engineers, we recognize that what we are really engineering is a brighter future for us all. If you want to contribute to meaningful work and be part of an organization that truly believes when you win, we all win, and when you fail, we all learn, then we’re eager to hear from you.

The achievers and courageous challenge-crushers we seek, have the following characteristics and skills:

Key Responsibilities

What You will Do

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the multi-year software and operations strategy for controls and automation, including the transition toward software-defined automation and hardware-agnostic control logic, aligned with business objectives.
• Operations & Operational Excellence: Own the operating model for the software organization; measuring current and establishing new KPIs, delivery metrics (e.g., cycle time, on time delivery, first pass yield, defect escape rate), and governance cadences that drive predictable, high-quality execution.
• Process & Continuous Improvement: Design, standardize, and continuously improve engineering processes using Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma principles; eliminate waste, reduce rework, and scale best practices across global teams.
• AI Product Development: Lead the identification, prioritization, and delivery of AI/ML-enabled products and features—such as predictive maintenance, intelligent diagnostics, AI-assisted engineering tools, and process optimization—from concept through production.
• Engineering Productivity & Tooling: Oversee the development of internal tools, libraries, frameworks, and automation that improve developer productivity, controls software quality, and consistency across the global engineering team.
• Global Software Standards & Governance: Working with the customer to enforce coding standards, version control policies, release management, and quality gates that enable quick deployment into their software environment.
• Technology Scouting & Innovation Pipeline: Evaluate emerging technologies; including generative AI, edge computing, and digital twins, and manage a structured proof-of-concept-to-production pipeline with clear business cases.
• People Leadership & Talent Development: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of software engineers; set goals, manage performance, and foster a culture of ownership, accountability and innovation.
• Cross-Functional & Executive Partnership: Partner with Operations, Engineering, and IT leadership to align priorities, and communicate roadmap, risks, and results to executive stakeholders.

Strategic Partnerships

Manage relationships with key software vendors, AI partners, and customer development teams to ensure the speed and quality required to deliver the roadmap.

What You Will Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field; MBA or equivalent business experience a plus.
• Experience: 8+ years of experience in software engineering or industrial automation software, 3+ years in people-management roles leading multi-disciplinary or global teams.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Strong foundation in modern software development (C#, C++, Python, or Java) and software architecture, with working knowledge of industrial automation software (PLC/DCS/SCADA, IEC 61131-3) experience a plus.
  • Proven experience implementing and scaling CI/CD pipelines, version control (Git, GitLab, Bitbucket), automated testing, and DevOps practices.
  • Familiarity with industrial data architectures, including MQTT, OPC UA, and cloud-to-edge data pipelines.
  • Operational Excellence: Demonstrated track record of building operating models, defining KPIs, and driving continuous improvement using Lean, Agile, or Six Sigma methodologies.
  • Leadership: Proven ability to lead senior engineers and managers through complex software transformations, organizational change, and digital integration programs.
  • Strategic & Business Acumen: Ability to identify industry trends, build business cases, and communicate delivery goals and objectives to executive stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience leading the development and launch of AI/ML or generative AI products, including model lifecycle management and responsible AI practices.
• Experience applying product management practices—road mapping, customer discovery, and value-based prioritization to software or AI products.
• Knowledge of formal verification methods and automated testing strategies.
• Background in cybersecurity (IEC 62443) and secure software development lifecycles.
• Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or SAFe/Agile certification.

Pay Range

Pay Range: (100K to 130K USD).

Compensation decisions are made based on factors including experience, skills, education, and other job-related factors, in accordance with our internal pay structure. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan.

Work Requirements

Hybrid: We offer flexible work options, including hybrid arrangements, to support the need of the role and align with company policies. This position is located in Greenville/SC and is considered hybrid with 3 days required on-site.

• You must be able to commute to and from the location with your own transportation arrangements to meet the required working hours.
• Shop floor environment, which may include but not limited to extensive walking, and ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

Travel Requirements

Due to the nature of the work, 15% of travel is required.

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance
• Short/Long Term Disability