We are proud to announce that Steve Solack, Control Engineering Manager at Mission Design & Automation, has been named a 2025 Engineering Leader Under 40 by Control Engineering Magazine. This award is consistent with what we know about Solack: he is a smart, driven and inspiring engineer who pushes others on our team to think critically and collaborate to develop the best tailored automation solutions for our customers.
Which makes Steve a technical leader
At Mission, Solack, along with his colleague Justin Darga, is responsible for co-leading the controls engineering team, Mission's largest department. As a young and inspiring leader, Solack connects his team by encouraging them, helping them see the value of their contributions and giving them confidence that they can shape the future of automation.
“For me, leadership starts with leading by example. I try to listen carefully to my team, understand their strengths and empower them to take ownership of their work. Take the time to explain the 'why' and allow flexibility in the 'how'. The goal is to make people feel like they are trustworthy, engaged, and that their work matters,” Solack said.
Solack spreads his control expertise beyond Mission's borders and represents the company at various industry events, including an on-camera appearance at the IMTS Creator's Lounge to discuss how automation will continue to transform manufacturing.
In addition, Solack contributes significantly to the success of Mission's collaborative programs in partnership with local universities and enthusiastically invests in the development and mentoring of new engineers.
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“I would tell my younger self that being a strong leader is not about having all the answers, but rather about creating an environment where others can contribute their answers,” Solack said. “Early on I thought leadership was about control, but I've learned that it's about empowering people and trusting the team. This is even more important when your team is constantly growing and changing. Trust your team and they will rally around you.”
Achievements, advancements and career-related industry contributions
Over his 15-year career, Solack has become known for his problem-solving mindset. He continues to invent applications that solve highly complex challenges while leading his team in delivering innovative solutions. At Mission, Solack recently led his team in developing a custom vision system designed to guide a robot to properly pick up irregularly shaped pieces of raw protein and place them on a conveyor belt. This advanced technology is just one example of how Solack's pursuit of out-of-the-box thinking helps solve difficult manufacturing problems every day.
Solack has also made significant contributions to the automation of aerospace manufacturing. He is credited on multiple patents for developing and inventing solutions for a leading aerospace manufacturer and his contributions have improved the way components are manufactured in the aerospace industry. His career reflects both technical innovation and continued leadership growth. He is an outstanding member of our team and a great colleague who you can rely on.
“Being named Engineering Leader Under 40 is both humbling and inspiring. I am deeply grateful for the recognition, but I know this success would not be possible without the amazing team I work with. I share this award with each and every one of them because it is their talent, collaboration and commitment that allows me to do what I do every day,” said Solack.