Controls Engineering Specialist

Ford Motor Company; Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 84,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and prescription drug

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Paid time off

Holiday time off

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Controls Engineering Specialist at the Chicago Stamping Plant to design, implement, and maintain automation and control systems for stamping processes. You will optimize equipment effectiveness, troubleshoot PLCs and Fanuc robots, and ensure safety standards are met.

The role requires 2+ years in controls engineering, a degree in engineering, and hands-on experience with AB hardware. The position is on-site with rotating shifts and strong teamwork expectations.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of Controls Engineering experience (internships, co-ops counted).
• Strong knowledge of PLC logic and control systems.
• Experience with automated stamping equipment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review and optimize automation cycle times using plant monitoring software.
• Troubleshoot PLCs, robots, and automation components.
• Update backups and program logic for new installations.
• Coordinate automation campaigns and engineering changes.

Skills

Controls engineering

PLC logic

Electrical background

Robot integration

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

RSLogix

Allen Bradley PanelView

AB Servo drives

AB VFD drives

Fanuc robots

Kawasaki programming

Ethernet / networking

AutoCAD (electrical schematics)

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...

As a Controls Engineering Specialist at our Chicago Stamping Plant, you will design, implement, and maintain automation and control systems for stamping processes. This includes optimizing equipment effectiveness, troubleshooting PLCs and robots (Fanuc), and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

What You’ll Do...

• Use Vis Plant monitoring software to review cycle times of automation, review and follow up automation project's and installations
• Troubleshoot PLC, robot, and other automation problems
• Update program backups for automation
• Program new installations of Body tooling and conveyor systems
• Reprogram automation for engineering changes and improvements
• Coordinate automation campaigns

You’ll have...

• High School Diploma or GED required
• 2+ years of Controls Engineering experience (relevant internship, co-op, or Controls Technician experience will be considered).
• Fundamental working knowledge of PLC logic and controls (RSLogix)
• Electrical Background (electrician or technician) or related experience
• Allen Bradley Panel View use/programming AB Servo and AB VFD drives
• Fundamental working knowledge of Fanuc robots
• Familiarity with VFDs, Armor starts, encoders, network/Ethernet controls
• Ability to work rotating shifts and hours, including days, nights, and weekends
• Successful candidates will exhibit strong leadership, interpersonal, team-building, and communication skills.

Even better, you may have...

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
• 2+ years of Controls Engineering experience
• Strong problem-solving skills, including 8Ds, FMEAs, and DMAICs
• Ability to independently troubleshoot all body equipment and continuously evaluate equipment for improvement for quality and delivery
• Fanuc robot experience
• Kawasaki programming, RS Logics, Microsoft Office
• PLC
• Ability to read prints, AutoCAD, interpret, and modify electrical schematics
• Experienced in laser burning
• Strong understanding of conveyor system programming and body tooling techniques, in addition to networking understanding, DH+, Ethernet, and remote IO
• Ability to read blueprints
• Simulation modeling exposure
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience
• Lean Tools – 5S, Kanban, Poka-yoke, and Value Stream Mapping
• DMAIC and DMADV (DFSS) Project Methodology experience
• TQM and Kaizen Methods
• FMEA, PPAP, and DOEs experience
• Visual Factory Management

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 7 and ranges from $84,480-$141,360.

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.