Automation & Controls Engineering Supervisor

Job-ID: 71650Category: ManufacturingLocation: Dearborn, MI, United StatesWorkplace: HybridSchedule: Full timePosted: 2026-10-06Preferred Degree: Bachelor of EngineeringStrategic 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. QualificationsQualifications: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. You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply! 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 of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:• 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.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.For more information on salary and benefits, click here: 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io.This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week #LI-Hybrid #LI-GR1 ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities: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. About the organizationWe build world-class vehicles in our plants around the world, constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. It’s our people who really make the difference. We encourage all of our employees to think outside the box to help us find better and more efficient ways to manufacture our vehicles.About the companyAt Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow’s transportation.