Automation Engineer (LAP)

Ford Motor • Louisville, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Louisville Assembly Plant is undergoing a transformation as the future home of the Ford Fathom™, the first truck built on Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform. The Automation Engineer applies designs, implements, and optimizes automated control systems, robotics, and industrial machinery to maximize manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and operational safety. The position is dayshift, with the ability to work alternate shifts as business needs dictate.

The role focuses on advanced material-handling automation, including AMRs, AGVs, automated dock systems, and ASRS. It also involves integrating automation with plant systems, supporting smart factory initiatives and manufacturing launches, and improving automated material flows. The position is based at Louisville Assembly Plant and is identified as onsite.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in automation or manufacturing operations; related internships or co-op experience count.
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing or automotive environments.
• Validated experience managing a unionized workforce.
• Hands-on experience with AMRs, AGVs, and automated dock systems, including autoloading/unloading, dock scheduling, or smart docks.
• Understanding of fleet management systems, task orchestration, and exception handling.
• PLC experience.
• Experience integrating AMR/AGV systems with ERP, WMS, and MES.
• Working knowledge of PLC interfaces, sensors, scanners, and safety systems.
• Strong data analysis skills using Excel, Power BI, SQL, or similar.
• Ability to work alternate shifts as business needs dictate.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Preference for experience with Allen-Bradley and Siemens systems.
• Experience with ASRS material storage/retrieval systems.

Responsibilities

• Apply designs, implement, and optimize automated control systems, robotics, and industrial machinery.
• Evaluate, pilot, implement, and optimize new logistics technologies.
• Define functional requirements, layouts, and traffic logic for AMR/AGV systems.
• Coordinate with automation vendors and system integrators.
• Integrate AMR/AGV systems with ERP, WMS, and MES.
• Lead or support automation, digitalization, and smart factory initiatives.
• Apply Lean/CI principles to automated material flows.
• Support plant launches, new line installations, and technology ramp-ups.
• Conduct capacity analysis, ROI justification, and performance validation for automation projects.
• Monitor system performance and KPIs using data analysis.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and other family-building benefits.
• 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.
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level