Automation & Controls Engineering Supervisor

Lincoln Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI is seeking a senior controls leader to guide powertrain and final assembly automation programs. You will lead a high‑impact team, shape controls engineering playbooks, and partner with Manufacturing, IT, Product Development, and suppliers to improve uptime, quality, and throughput.

This leadership role requires 10+ years in controls engineering, a strong track record in PLC/robot systems, and travel up to 40%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of controls engineering experience leading complex work.
• Strong project management, organizational, and cross-functional leadership.
• Hands-on troubleshooting PLC, robot, vision, network, and automation systems.
• Experience with PLC platforms Schneider, Bosch, Siemens, Rockwell.
• Networking protocols, fieldbus architectures, and IT standard applications.
• RFID systems, complexity management, scheduling, and QoS strategies.
• Familiarity with UL, ISO, IEC standards and integrated safety processes.
• Ability to interpret electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic prints and connect design decisions to plant outcomes.
• Experience with GPDS deliverables and manufacturing readiness.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally (Canada/Mexico).

Responsibilities

• Drive accountable controls delivery for Powertrain and Final Assembly programs.
• Set direction for strategic controls engineering priorities.
• Partner with manufacturing leaders to resolve issues and deliver scalable solutions.
• Champion advanced automation, data integration, and supplier capability development.
• Lead and develop a high-performing technical team and knowledge systems.
• Translate field experience into stronger specifications and launches.
• Sustain the controls engineering playbook, including standards and training.
• Oversee safety, IT systems integration, and risk assessment questionnaires.
• Lead reviews of cycle line, layouts, and QA for manufacturing readiness.
• Travel as needed up to 40% domestically/internationally.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

PLC troubleshooting

Robot systems

Industrial automation

Networking protocols

RFID knowledge

Electrical prints

Safety standards

GPDS deliverables

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Schneider

Bosch

Siemens

Rockwell

Job description

Strategic Leadership Mandate

As a senior technical and people leader, you will guide teams and strategic initiatives supporting Vehicle Operations and Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering while partnering across Manufacturing, IT, Product Development, Research and Advanced Engineering, and supplier organizations. Your leadership will help define how Ford designs, validates, deploys, and continuously improves automation and controls solutions across a complex global manufacturing footprint.

This position offers the opportunity to influence the controls engineering agenda for next-generation manufacturing. The successful candidate will lead high-value initiatives tied to uptime, quality, throughput, launch readiness, safety, data enablement, and Zero Fault Forward capability—bringing clarity, discipline, and technical judgment to the systems that keep production moving.

• Drive accountable controls delivery of Powertrain and Final Assembly programs, ensuring disciplined execution across scope, timing, cost, quality, supplier performance, risk resolution, manufacturing readiness, and launch.

• Set direction for strategic controls engineering priorities that improve manufacturing execution, operational reliability, and technical readiness.

• Partner with manufacturing leaders to uncover systemic opportunities, resolve complex issues, and deliver practical, scalable solutions.

• Champion advanced automation, error proofing, data integration, connected manufacturing, and supplier capability development.

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing technical team while building durable knowledge systems, standards, and lessons learned.

• Translate field experience into stronger specifications, smarter launches, and more resilient manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

The supervisor is accountable for disciplined end-to-end program delivery—driving scope, timing, cost, quality, supplier performance, risk resolution, and launch readiness—and will help establish and sustain the controls engineering playbook, including standards, lessons learned, useful-life matrix inputs, SME-based training, Basket of Goods cost information, component selection, deviation management, IT systems integration standards, and risk assessment questionnaires. The role also provides leadership across cycle line and facilities layout reviews, controls design reviews, machinery safety risk assessments, tool buy-off and build follow-up, common programming practices, safety requirements, Protag reviews, troubleshooting and fault analysis, FIS and IIoT data direction, throughput and constraint analysis, Andon functionality, PLC logic, station numbering, and downtime issue resolution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant controls engineering experience, with demonstrated ability to lead complex technical work.

• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

• Hands-on expertise troubleshooting PLC, robot, vision, network, and broader automation systems.

• Knowledge of industrial automation programming principles, including Schneider, Bosch, Siemens, and Rockwell platforms.

• Experience with networking, communication protocols, fieldbus architectures, and IT standard applications.

• Knowledge of RFID systems, complexity management, scheduling, and quality-of-service strategies.

• Familiarity with international electrical and safety standards, including UL, ISO, IEC, risk assessments, PSS, and integrated safety processes.

• Ability to interpret electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic prints and connect design decisions to plant-floor outcomes.

• Experience supporting programs from cost study through launch, including GPDS deliverables and manufacturing readiness.

• Ability to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally, including Canada and Mexico.

• This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660. This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.