Controls Engineer

Socket.dev; Sterling Heights (MI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Prescription drug coverage

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a skilled Controls Engineer to join its Manufacturing team in Michigan. You will lead problem solving for tooling, equipment and conveyor performance, and implement improvements using Factory Information Systems data.

The role requires hands-on PLC, CNC and robot troubleshooting, with the ability to coordinate resources and drive root-cause analysis across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical/ mechanical/ controls or automation engineering.
• Electrical background preferred for hands‑on troubleshooting.
• Strong aptitude to learn and apply controls knowledge quickly.

Responsibilities

• Lead problem solving to resolve tooling, equipment and conveyor performance issues.
• Develop and implement improvements to control systems using FIS data.
• Lead troubleshooting and coordinate resources to identify root causes.
• Assist in training manufacturing personnel and plant electricians.
• Integrate controls into IT systems like FIS, QWX, QTS.
• Review project installations and reprogram equipment for engineering changes.

Skills

Off-shift work

Controls engineering

PLC programming

Siemens PLC

Modicon PLC

CNC/Motion controls

Robot troubleshooting

FIS data review

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Controls/Automation Engineering

Electrical background preferred

Tools

Siemens PLC

Schneider PLC

Bosch PLC

CNC/Motion controls

ABB/FANUC robot

Job description

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

As part of our Manufacturing team, you’ll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we’re constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love.

In this position...

Lead problem solving to assist plants and implementation teams in resolving tooling, equipment and conveyor performance issues and downtime.

Responsibilities

What you will do...

• Experience interacting with senior management, process engineering, safety, IT, and plant production teams.
• Self-starting, self-directed with extremely good influential, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong manufacturing background with heavy emphasis on production related controls experience.
• Comfortable with working off shift or 4-crew.
• Develop and implement improvements to control systems and equipment using Factory Information Systems (FIS) data.
• Lead problem solving in resolving equipment performance issues.
• Lead trouble shooting; coordinate resources to find root cause and fixes, manage and breakdown problems into items that can be validated.
• Assist in the training of manufacturing personnel and plant electricians.
• Assist in integration of controls into IT systems like Factory Information Systems (FIS), Error Proofing, QWX, and QTS.
• Troubleshoot machinery, robot, automation, and controls issues and downtime
• Use FIS plant monitoring software to review cycle times of equipment.
• Review and coordinate project installations.
• Reprogram equipment for engineering changes and improvements
• Maintain program backups for machinery and automation

Qualifications

You'll have ...

• High School Diploma or GED
• Ability to work an off-shift schedule.
• 3 year or more of Controls Engineering experience in manufacturing environment
• 3 years or more experience with PLC logic, controls, Siemens and Modicon programming
• Interest in controls engineering with strong aptitude to quickly learn and apply controls knowledge.
• Direct program experience with assembly and machining controls architectures (hardware/software).
• Knowledge of programming principals on Siemens, Schneider, Bosch PLC along with CNC/Motion controls systems.
• Knowledge and ability to troubleshoot PLC, CNC, robot, and other automation issues.
• Knowledge of cell machining systems and integration of CNC controls, gantries and auxiliary equipment an asset.
• Knowledge of ABB/FANUC robot
• Knowledge of assembly and machining RFID systems including complexity management, and QOS strategies.
• Knowledge of Vision Systems
• Able to read Controls (electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic) prints.

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, Mechanical, Controls or Automation Engineering
• Electrical background (electrician or technician) preferred
• Interest in controls engineering with strong aptitude to quickly learn and apply controls knowledge.
• Solid understanding of laser burning
• Knowledge of international electrical/safety standards (UL, ISO, IEC etc) and familiarity with internal/external safety processes (risk assessments, PSS, integrated safety etc).
• Understanding of communication network architectures and field bus protocols.
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience
• Lean Tools – 5S, Kanban, Poka-Yoke, Value Stream Mapping experience
• Understanding of 8D, FMEA, and DMAIC processes
• Familiar with TQM and Kaizen methods
• One or more years of experience with MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage

Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $72,480-121,440.

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $84,480-141,360.

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $96,720-162,120.

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.

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