Automotive Manufacturing & Robotics Journalist
About The Position
Automotive News is seeking an ambitious, forward-looking journalist to cover the transformation of how vehicles are designed, sourced, built, and delivered. This role focuses on the intersection of manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, supply chains, and industrial strategy. The journalist will help industry leaders understand how emerging technologies, geopolitical forces, workforce changes, and new production models are reshaping the automotive value chain. Key questions for this role include how AI will change engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing; the future of the factory; building resilient supply chains; identifying truly transformative technologies; the evolution of labor, productivity, costs, and competitiveness; and which companies are best positioned to succeed in this new industrial era. The journalist will break news, develop deep sourcing, deliver analysis, and identify emerging trends across multiple platforms and formats, collaborating with video, social, audio, data, and events teams. The ideal candidate possesses strong reporting instincts, intellectual curiosity, an understanding of how professional audiences consume information, and is comfortable representing the Automotive News brand.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- Seven or more years of journalism experience.
- Demonstrated success producing high-impact business journalism and breaking exclusive news.
- Experience covering automotive, manufacturing, technology, transportation, industrials, business, or related sectors.
- Exceptional reporting, interviewing, and writing skills.
- Ability to explain complex technical topics in clear, engaging language.
- Strong news judgment and analytical thinking.
- Ability to connect technological developments to business strategy and competitive advantage.
- Experience developing executive-level sources.
- Comfort working across text, video, audio, social, and live journalism formats.
- Familiarity with data analysis, financial disclosures, and regulatory documents.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
- Interest in experimenting with new storytelling formats and audience engagement approaches.
Responsibilities
- Own coverage of manufacturing innovation and industrial transformation.
- Break exclusive news on manufacturing strategy, factory investments, supply chain developments, and emerging technologies.
- Cover how AI is transforming engineering, design, purchasing, logistics, and production operations.
- Report on advances in robotics, automation, autonomous systems, and next-generation manufacturing technologies.
- Examine how digital twins, simulation, additive manufacturing, software-defined production systems, and advanced analytics are changing vehicle development and production economics.
- Track the evolution of supply chain strategies, sourcing decisions, reshoring efforts, and critical materials procurement.
- Analyze how geopolitical shifts, trade policy, and industrial policy affect manufacturing footprints and investment decisions.
- Explain the implications of automation and technology adoption for labor, skills, productivity, and competitiveness.
- Identify emerging startups, technologies, and business models influencing the future of automotive manufacturing.
- Produce exclusive news, enterprise reporting, investigations, profiles, and explanatory journalism.
- Translate complex technical and industrial topics into clear, actionable insights for automotive decision-makers.
- Develop a strong network of sources across automakers, suppliers, technology companies, startups, universities, investors, consultants, and policymakers.
- Collaborate with video, audio, social media, and data teams to extend reporting across platforms.
- Contribute to newsletters, podcasts, video programs, data products, and live journalism experiences.
- Work with colleagues in North America, Europe, and Asia to identify global trends and produce coordinated coverage.
- Serve as an on-camera or on-stage representative of Automotive News when appropriate.
- Moderate panels, interviews, and discussions at Automotive News events.
- Represent Automotive News at industry conferences, manufacturing facilities, and technology showcases.
- Build relationships with executives, engineers, innovators, investors, and policymakers shaping the future of mobility and manufacturing.
Benefits
- Retirement plan savings contributions
- Bonus opportunities based on individual and company performance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
