
Automation Engineer (LAP)
Required skills
- Louisville Assembly Plant
- Ford Fathom
- electric vehicle
- Universal Electric Vehicle platform
- automation
- control systems
- robotics
- industrial machinery
- manufacturing efficiency
- product quality
Nice to have
- Ford Motor Company
- medical
- dental
- prescription drug coverage
- parental leave
- back-up childcare
Role summary
Louisville Assembly Plant is transforming to become the future home of the Ford Fathom™, launching the first truck on Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform. This Automation Engineer role focuses on implementing and optimizing automated control systems, robotics, and industrial machinery to enhance manufacturing efficiency, quality, and safety. Responsibilities include hands-on work with advanced material-handling technologies like AMRs, AGVs, automated dock systems, and ASRS, as well as integrating these with ERP, WMS, and MES. The role requires PLC experience, strong data analysis skills (Excel, Power BI, SQL), and application of Lean/CI principles. Project leadership for automation and digitalization initiatives, including capacity analysis and ROI justification, is also key. A Bachelor's degree in a related field and 3+ years of experience in automation or manufacturing operations are required, with experience in high-volume manufacturing or automotive environments and managing a unionized workforce being advantageous.
Louisville Assembly Plant | Future Home of the Ford Fathom™
Louisville Assembly Plant is undergoing a historic transformation — and there's never been a better time to join this energized team. As the future home of the Ford Fathom™, we are launching the first truck built on Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform, and we're looking for talented people to help lead the way.
In this position...
As an Automation Engineer - You will apply designs, implement, and optimize automated control systems, robotics, and industrial machinery to maximize manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and operational safety. Dayshift; Must be able to work alternate shifts as business needs dictate.
What you'll do...
Automation & New Technology Expertise
- Hands-on experience with advanced material-handling technologies, including:
- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) - Automated Guided Vehicles(AGVs)
- Automated dock systems (autoloading/unloading, dock scheduling, smart docks
- Ability to evaluate, pilot, implement, and optimize new logistics technologies
- Experience defining functional requirements, layouts, and traffic logic for AMR/AGV systems
- Understanding of fleet management systems, task orchestration, and exception handling
- Ability to coordinate with automation vendors and system integrators
- Experience with ASRS material storage/retrieval systems
- PLC experience
Systems & Digital Integration
- Experience integrating AMR/AGV systems with ERP, WMS, and MES
- Working knowledge of PLC interfaces, sensors, scanners, and safety systems, preference with Allen Bradley and Siemens
- Strong data analysis skills (Excel, Power BI, SQL, or similar) to monitor system performance and KPIs
Process Improvement & Project Leadership
- Lead or support automation, digitalization, and smart factory initiatives
- Apply Lean/CI principles to automated material flows
- Support plant launches, new line installs, and technology ramp-ups
- Conduct capacity analysis, ROI justification, and performance validation for automation projects
- Support plant launches, new line installs, and technology ramp-ups
You'll have...
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related experience
- 3+ years of experience in automation, or manufacturing operations (related internships or co-op experience included)
- Experience in high-volume manufacturing or automotive environments
Validated experience managing a unionized workforce
Even better, you may have...
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 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.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
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.
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