Director, AI Architecture & Autonomous Building Systems

Johnson Controls; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 217,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson Controls in Glendale is seeking a seasoned Director of AI Architecture & Autonomous Building Systems to lead the technology strategy for our BAS and Controls portfolio, guiding edge, cloud, AI services, and cybersecurity to create self-optimizing buildings.

You will manage global engineering leaders, drive modern software delivery, and partner with product, marketing, and IT to align RD with market needs while accelerating our Autonomous Buildings vision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field required.
• 10+ years in software engineering, architecture, or product development.
• 3+ years leading engineering teams or large technology initiatives.
• Experience with cloud, edge, and connected systems architecture.
• Experience delivering AI-enabled software products.
• Strong cybersecurity understanding and secure design.
• Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute software strategy for IoT edge, cloud, and AI-enabled products.
• Lead global teams of engineers and architects across centers.
• Drive Agile practices and modern software delivery methodologies.
• Establish end-to-end architecture across BAS portfolio and AI services.
• Collaborate with Product, Marketing, and IT to align RD with market needs.
• Monitor KPIs and ensure cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Software architecture

AI architecture

Cloud+edge computing

Cybersecurity

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

DevOps/CI-CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or PhD)

Tools

Cloud platforms

CI/CD tools

AI/ML development tools

Job description

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is transforming the future of buildings through smart, connected, and increasingly autonomous technologies. Our Building Automation Systems (BAS) portfolio helps customers operate facilities more efficiently, reduce energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, and achieve sustainability goals through intelligent controls, software, and digital services. As we accelerate our Autonomous Buildings vision, we are investing in AI-enabled technologies that simplify operations, improve technician productivity, and unlock new levels of building intelligence. This role will help define and lead that transformation.

Your Role

The Director, AI Architecture & Autonomous Building Systems will serve as the technology and architecture leader for our Building Automation Systems (BAS) and Controls portfolio. This role will define the long-term architecture strategy spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations. The successful candidate will help drive the evolution from traditional building automation systems to intelligent, self-optimizing building ecosystems while enabling scalable innovation across controls, software, and digital services. This position is fundamental to accelerating our Autonomous Buildings vision, providing the architectural leadership, technical governance, and engineering alignment necessary to deliver differentiated market solutions, strengthen competitive advantage, and unlock new growth opportunities through AI-enabled building intelligence and edge-to-cloud innovation.

Your Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the software development and deployment strategy for IoT edge, cloud-hosted, and AI-enabled software products. Partner with Building Automation Systems product leadership to prioritize and deliver technology roadmaps. Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to prioritize and refine system requirements. Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to advance AI-enabled building controls and autonomous building capabilities.
• Team Management and Development: Lead and inspire global teams of software engineering managers, architects, and engineers across multiple engineering centers. Foster effective collaboration across geographies and cultures while providing clear direction and accountability. Promote a culture of quality, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Recruit, develop, and retain top technical talent. Coach and mentor engineering leaders and team members to support their professional growth and development.
• Management and Delivery: Drive the transformation of installation, configuration, commissioning, monitoring, and service workflows through AI-enabled solutions. Ensure successful delivery of product functionality, performance, quality, compliance, and productivity objectives. Implement and continuously improve Agile development practices and software lifecycle processes. Monitor program health, identify risks, and proactively drive mitigation plans. Improve engineering effectiveness through AI-assisted development practices and modern software delivery methodologies.
• Technical Oversight: Define end-to-end architecture spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations. Establish architecture standards and technical direction across the BAS portfolio. Drive adoption of modern development tools, frameworks, and engineering best practices. Champion DevOps, CI/CD, automation, and AI-enhanced software development methodologies to accelerate delivery and improve quality. Leverage AI-powered development tools and intelligent agents to enhance developer productivity and accelerate innovation.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment between R&D initiatives and market needs. Collaborate with external vendors and technology partners to integrate capabilities and accelerate innovation. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including User Experience, IT, and Cybersecurity teams.
• Operational Excellence: Establish KPIs to measure technology adoption, engineering effectiveness, product performance, and project success. Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, regulatory, industry, and quality requirements. Evaluate cloud infrastructure utilization and identify opportunities to optimize cost, performance, and scalability.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, product development, or related technical disciplines.
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams, architecture functions, or large-scale technology initiatives.
• Proven experience defining architecture strategy for complex software platforms spanning cloud, edge, and connected systems.
• Experience delivering cloud-connected, AI-enabled, or intelligent software products.
• Deep understanding of enterprise software architecture, distributed systems, cloud platforms, APIs, and modern software development practices.
• Experience with Agile software development, DevOps, CI/CD, and software lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure software design.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy across large organizations and multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or PhD) in a relevant technical or business discipline.
• Domain expertise in Building Automation Systems (BAS), Building Management Systems (BMS), smart buildings, HVAC controls, energy management, industrial automation, IoT, or other connected systems environments.
• Proven success driving AI-enabled innovation, intelligent automation, or enterprise-scale technology transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with software solutions supporting installation, commissioning, monitoring, service, or technician workflows.
• Experience leading globally distributed engineering organizations.

HIRING SALARY RANGE

$145,000 - 217,000

Benefits and Compensation

This role offers a competitive bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile.

Hiring Process and Tools

To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non-discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.

About Johnson Controls: Enhancing the Intelligence of Buildings

Your buildings have a purpose. They are places for people to live or work. Facilities for learning or healing. Venues for entertainment and shopping. Sites for the specialized storage of tangible goods or mission-critical data. Your buildings have a huge variety of functions; they are central to your mission. This is where Johnson Controls comes in, helping drive the outcomes that matter most. Through a full range of systems and digital solutions, we make your buildings smarter. A smarter building is safer, more comfortable, more efficient, and, ultimately, more sustainable. Most important, smarter buildings let you focus more intensely on your unique mission. Better for your people. Better for your bottom line. Better for the planet. At Johnson Controls, we’ve been making buildings smarter since 1885, and our capabilities, depth of innovation experience, and global reach have been growing ever since. Today, we offer the world’s largest portfolio of building products, technologies, software, and services; we put that portfolio to work to transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play.