Director Controls and Software Development Engineer Director Controls and Software Development Engineer

Körber Group • Pine Grove Township, PA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Pioneer your career! Körber is the home for passionate people who innovate, collaborate and love what they do. Entrepreneurial spirit is our joint DNA. We develop future technologies and support talents to deploy their skills and reach their full potential. Together, we aim for being the first to do the right thing at the right time. Join the home for entrepreneurs!

We are seeking a Director of Controls & Software Development to lead and elevate the engineering teams responsible for our multi-level PLC and IPC controls architecture. You will set the technical direction, build high-performing talent, and drive a culture of rigor, ownership, and predictable execution, ensuring our control systems are robust, scalable, and aligned to product and customer needs.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in multi‑level controls architectures (PLC, IPC, system‑level orchestration)
• Strong PLC development skills and standards knowledge, ideally with Allen‑Bradley and Siemens platforms
• Proficiency in modern software engineering practices and languages such as C++ and C#
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high‑performing technical teams
• Strong systems‑thinking skills to define interfaces, resolve integration challenges, and make architecture trade‑offs
• Excellent cross‑functional communication and alignment capabilities
• Proven experience establishing engineering standards, reusable frameworks, and scalable development practices
• Ability to drive structured reviews, validation, and simulation to ensure predictable, high‑quality delivery
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills within complex automated or mechatronic environments
• Experience evaluating and optimizing system performance, latency, and real‑time behavior
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation, or industrial software development
• Significant experience designing or governing multi‑level controls architectures across PLC and IPC layers
• Proven leadership experience in technical teams or engineering organizations within automation, robotics, or material handling
• Successful track record delivering complex automated or mechatronic systems from concept through validation
• Experience establishing engineering standards, platforms, or reusable frameworks across multiple products
• Familiarity with industrial safety systems, networking, fieldbus protocols, and system integration best practices
• Experience defining and governing controls architectures for productized or platform‑based automation solutions
• Willingness to travel up to 40% (including international); valid passport required
• Eligible applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Controls Architecture and Software Engineering organization, building strong technical teams and leaders
• Own the multi‑level controls architecture, defining system structure, interfaces, standards, and design principles
• Establish and govern best practices for PLC logic, IPC applications, modular design, safety, diagnostics, and documentation
• Drive development of scalable, maintainable controls software across PLC and IPC layers
• Partner cross‑functionally (Mechanical, Electrical, Vision, Product, Program) to ensure cohesive system design and aligned requirements
• Implement structured reviews, simulation strategies, and validation processes to ensure quality and early risk identification
• Define and maintain the controls technology roadmap, including platform modernization and long‑term architecture evolution
• Serve as the technical authority for controls architecture decisions, guiding teams through complex system‑level trade‑offs
• Govern interface contracts and a unified controls data model to ensure clear, stable integration across PLC, IPC, vision, and WCS layers
• Implement release management, versioning, and change‑control processes to ensure long-term reliability and maintainability

Benefits

• You will enjoy a flexible work environment that supports your work-life balance; we offer paid time off for parental leave and 22+ days off for personal time and holidays
• You will have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance plans with FSA or HSA options, and a 401(k) plan with a company match up to six percent
• You are provided with several company-paid benefits, including vision insurance, short and long-term disability and basic life insurance plans, and educational and employee assistance programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees