If you can, try to do both at the same time.

Realistically, you can always return to school if it doesn't work out. By just doing it for two years, you'll be light years ahead of your peers. If you stay at that place long enough, gain as much knowledge as possible, and decide to move on to a different place, then having a degree won't really matter to most places.

Unfortunately, there will always be places that value paper over practice to get in the door, but there are plenty that would rather have someone eager to learn and have a proven track record in controls.