Department: Engineering

Location: Temecula, CA

Position Overview

The Director of Engineering is a key leadership role within the industrial automation division, responsible for guiding all aspects of the engineering lifecycle—from technical design through field execution. This role provides direct supervision of the Project Manager and Field Superintendent, ensuring effective coordination between engineering, planning, and on-site activities.

Acting as a cross-functional leader, the Director of Engineering works with the Director of Operations and the Director of Project Management to drive the design, development, and delivery of SCADA and automation systems by aligning technical execution with project objectives, operational requirements, and client expectations. The role requires a system-driven/team mindset, and continuous engagement with both internal teams and external stakeholders.

Success in this role hinges on technical expertise, strategic planning, and professional execution. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of industrial controls, systems integration, and project delivery workflows, along with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and performance optimization.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

General Duties

• Serve as the central technical point of contact across departments and ensure the smooth operation of engineering workflows through proactive engagement and direct involvement in day-to-day technical activities.
• Partner with the executive and leadership team to shape engineering strategy, process improvements, and organizational initiatives, contributing both strategic guidance and operational support.
• Evaluate, refine, and implement best practices to increase technical efficiency and consistency, including hands-on participation in workflow development and process validation.
• Uphold ATSI’s mission and corporate standards in all engineering-related activities by setting an example through active leadership and technical engagement.
• Execute additional responsibilities in alignment with business needs, maintaining a visible and involved leadership presence across engineering functions.

Supervision and Coordination

• Provide direct leadership and technical oversight to the SCE, CSE, and AE teams, ensuring cohesive execution of design, programming, and integration efforts across all project phases.
• Collaborate closely with the Project Manager and Field Superintendent to maintain seamless alignment between engineered solutions and field implementation activities.
• Serve as the senior point of escalation for resolving engineering resource conflicts, technical bottlenecks, and schedule deviations.
• Promote a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, engineering excellence, and interdepartmental synergy.
• Facilitate routine technical and coordination meetings with engineering staff to define priorities, communicate expectations, and ensure clarity on deliverables.

Project Oversight

• Lead the development of detailed engineering work plans, aligning resource assignments, task durations, and milestones with overall project schedules.
• Ensure engineering deliverables—including control system architectures, I/O lists, panel designs, and programming—meet ATSI’s quality standards and align with customer specifications and timelines.
• Integrate engineering activities with project management processes, including procurement, submittals, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and field deployment.
• Oversee the use of ERP tools for tracking BOMs, project documentation, and workflow status to maintain data accuracy and transparency across teams.

Engineering Leadership

• Provide technical direction for control system design, PLC/HMI programming, and SCADA integration to ensure reliability, scalability, and field-readiness.
• Coordinate closely with field personnel and commissioning teams to verify that engineering outputs translate effectively into installation and startup success.
• Lead the development and enforcement of standardized engineering templates, QA/QC checklists, and version-controlled document libraries.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts, driving the integration of best-in-class tools, design methodologies, and automation frameworks.

Strategic Execution & Performance Optimization

• Define and institutionalize engineering workflows that support repeatability, scalability, and high-quality system delivery across diverse customer projects.
• Track and report engineering performance metrics, including task efficiency, design accuracy, and rework rates, to inform tactical decisions and strategic planning.
• Conduct formal design reviews and peer evaluations to validate technical completeness, ensure adherence to standards, and mentor junior engineering staff.
• Promote innovation in engineering approaches by evaluating new platforms, software tools, and emerging technologies relevant to SCADA and industrial automation.

Certifications (Preferred, but not required)

• Direct experience in systems integration for municipal water/wastewater, industrial automation, or energy-related sectors.
• PMP certification or equivalent experience in managing engineering deliverables within structured project environments.
• Familiarity with California electrical code, labor law compliance, and safety regulations governing engineering design and field execution.