Director, Hardware Engineering & Integration - ATP

Ford Motor•Dearborn, MI

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is transforming manufacturing by scaling EVs and integrating robotics, additive manufacturing, AI vision, and digital platforms through the Ford Production System and FPS+. The ATP robotics strategy is to own key hardware and platform interfaces while using swappable, purchased robot bodies. This position brings ATP-owned hardware engineering together with the integration and commissioning methods needed to deploy automation consistently across plants. The Director, Hardware Engineering & Integration, ATP reports to the ATP vertical leader for Forge, Print and Global Operations. The role owns engineering for ATP-designed end effectors and tooling, edge compute and enclosures, RoboGym test cells, and cable and wire-harness standards. It also owns the repeatable integration and commissioning method, including virtual commissioning, factory and site acceptance testing, controls integration, and deployment standard work. The director leads ATP's shared integration and build team, develops in-house capability to reduce reliance on outside integrators, and establishes readiness standards for suppliers of robots, AMRs, printers, and vision systems. The role ensures ATP hardware is designed for manufacture and can be transferred to TDM for production, and partners with the Forge-X humanoid program lead, Core controls engineering, and the Forge, Sight, and Print verticals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering, or a related field.
12+ years of experience in automation, robotics, or industrial equipment engineering, including 5+ years leading engineering teams.
Hands-on experience designing robot cells and end-of-arm tooling and commissioning them in a production environment.
PLC and controls integration experience with Rockwell or Siemens, and experience with industrial networks such as PROFINET and EtherNet/IP.
Working knowledge of robot functional safety, including ISO 10218 and ISO 13849, and risk assessment practices.
Design-for-manufacture experience taking hardware from prototype to production.
Experience leading teams on the plant floor and working with plant leadership through launch.

Nice To Haves

Background at an automotive OEM, Tier 1 supplier, or major automation integrator.
Experience with virtual commissioning tools such as Process Simulate or equivalent and digital twin workflows.
AMR fleet deployment experience and familiarity with open interface standards such as VDA 5050 and OPC UA.
Experience with edge computing hardware for industrial environments.
Functional safety certification (TÜV or equivalent) or a Professional Engineer license.

Responsibilities

Lead design and validation of end effectors, grippers, and tooling for high-volume robotic applications.
Own edge compute hardware and enclosures connecting plant equipment to the Ford platform.
Build and maintain RoboGym test cells used to qualify third-party robots against Ford standards.
Set cable and wire-harness standards and develop in-house harnessing capability.
Establish a consistent ATP commissioning method covering risk assessment, virtual commissioning, factory acceptance, site acceptance, and plant handover.
Integrate robots and cells with plant controls, including PLCs, safety PLCs, and HMIs, and with industrial networks such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and OPC UA.
Reduce deployment cost and cycle time through standard designs, reusable controls templates, and lessons-learned processes.
Train and certify plant and ATP engineers to integrate, program, and maintain ATP technology in-house.
Define device-readiness requirements for supplier equipment, including drivers, manifests, Ford-platform data interfaces, and safety documentation.
Align fleet and AMR suppliers to open interface standards such as VDA 5050, and printer and vision suppliers to Ford's device standard.
Run equipment qualification through RoboGym and establish approval for use across plants.
Include integration terms in sourcing so suppliers contribute to integration work.
Design ATP hardware for manufacture, considering cost, tolerances, serviceability, and supplier readiness.
Prepare designs, documentation, and test plans for TDM production without redesign; plan volumes and second sources as deployments grow.
Require documented risk assessments and validated safety functions before production operation, and partner with plant safety, controls, and cybersecurity teams on safe, secure commissioning.
Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, controls, and commissioning engineers.
Build in-house Ford capability by transitioning work from outside integrators, beginning with high-volume applications.
Set team structure, standard work, and career pathways while maintaining high safety and quality standards.