ACE is proud to celebrate two members of our engineering team who have been recognized among the 2026 Engineering Leaders Under 40 by Control Engineering and Plant Engineering: Quentin Leitz, Operations Manager - New England, and Rob Pifer, Manufacturing Systems Manager.
The annual program recognizes engineers under 40 who are making an impact through technical expertise, leadership, problem-solving, and contributions to the people and organizations around them.
For ACE, this recognition is especially meaningful. It marks the ninth consecutive year that two ACE employees have been selected for the program, reflecting the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit at the core of our company.
Rob Pifer’s impact at ACE reaches well beyond his role as the newly announced Manufacturing Systems Manager. Through his commitment, Rob has helped expand ACE’s capabilities while creating new opportunities. Rob regularly shares his knowledge with other engineers, mentors team members, and develops tools and improvements that make work more efficient. His willingness to look for better ways to solve problems has led to improvements in infrastructure, processes, and the resources available to his team.
Rob has also played an important role in establishing ACE’s Manufacturing Systems Intelligence Group (MSIG), helping shape the vision and direction as ACE continues to expand its manufacturing intelligence and MES capabilities. His contributions have helped bring people and expertise together around customer challenges and the evolving needs of modern manufacturing.
Whether he is mentoring a colleague, developing a new solution, or helping shape a growing area of ACE’s business, Rob brings a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to his work. His influence can be seen not only in the solutions ACE delivers, but also in the people and capabilities he helps develop along the way.
As the Operations Manager for ACE's New England office, Quentin Leitz brings a people-first approach to leadership that strengthens both his team and the work they deliver for customers. Quentin has played an important role in developing ACE’s engineering talent, improving processes, and fostering collaboration across teams. He creates an environment where engineers are empowered to take ownership, develop their skills, and work together to solve complex challenges. His focus on workforce development and operational improvement has helped his teams consistently deliver high-quality solutions while building strong, long-term customer relationships.
Quentin is also someone his colleagues and customers can rely on when challenges arise. He brings sound judgment, accountability, and integrity to difficult situations, helping teams work through problems while keeping customer needs at the forefront.
His impact extends beyond individual projects. By investing in people, strengthening how teams work together, and continually looking for ways to improve operations, Quentin helps ACE deliver for customers while building a stronger organization.
Learn more about Quentin Leitz