Job Title

Ford Motor Company is transforming manufacturing into a software-defined, intelligent, and globally connected system. Within the Advanced Technology & Platforms (ATP) organization, the Core vertical builds the foundational platform stack that powers this transformation across Fordu2019s global manufacturing network. Coreu2019s platform includes: u00b7 CoreOS u2014 the operating and orchestration layer for software-defined manufacturing u00b7 FMIL (Ford Manufacturing Intelligence Layer) u2014 the real-time signal, execution, and decisioning layer connecting factory systems, devices, and applications u00b7 CoreDS u2014 the data platform enabling traceability, analytics, and enterprise-scale intelligence In this positionu2026 The Director, Core Runtime & Platform Engineering leads the engineering organization responsible for the runtime, edge, connectivity, cloud infrastructure, developer platform, and reliability layers that enable CoreOS and FMIL to operate securely and at scale across plants, vehicle programs, and ATP product platforms. This leader builds the platform backbone that connects industrial devices, controls, real-time signals, and manufacturing applications into a unified execution environment, while also delivering APIs, SDKs, and reusable platform services that allow teams to build once and scale consistently across Ford. Reporting to the Director of Software, Controls & Diagnostics (CoreOS, FMIL & CoreDS), this role is central to delivering the runtime and signal layer that powers ATPu2019s u201cBuild Once, Scale Everywhereu201d strategy and enables closed-loop learning across manufacturing systems. What youu2019ll dou2026 1. Lead the Core Runtime Platform u00b7 Architect and deliver the runtime platform that powers CoreOS and FMIL across Ford manufacturing environments u00b7 Build a secure, scalable execution layer supporting orchestration, device integration, event processing, and platform interoperability u00b7 Enable FMIL as the real-time signal, orchestration, and decisioning layer connecting factory systems and applications u00b7 Establish platform standards for runtime services, deployment models, lifecycle management, and system interfaces u00b7 Drive the evolution of Core from point solutions into a globally managed industrial software platform 2. Build the Core Developer Platform (APIs & SDKs) u00b7 Define and deliver platform APIs, SDKs, and shared services enabling ATP products and engineering teams to build on Core u00b7 Create reusable primitives for telemetry, eventing, orchestration, device abstraction, identity, and policy control u00b7 Establish developer standards, tooling, and integration patterns to eliminate one-off solutions across plants and products u00b7 Enable Forge, Sight, Print, Volt, and future platforms to extend Core through standardized interfaces and services u00b7 Drive platform adoption by improving developer productivity, consistency, and reuse 3. Industrial Edge & Distributed Systems u00b7 Lead development of edge computing platforms for real-time manufacturing environments u00b7 Architect distributed systems supporting high-throughput, low-latency workloads across thousands of factory devices u00b7 Build resilient edge runtimes supporting local processing, failover, and intermittent connectivity u00b7 Establish orchestration patterns across cells, lines, plants, and global manufacturing networks 4. Device Connectivity & Industrial Middleware u00b7 Own the middleware connecting PLCs, robotics, vision systems, and industrial equipment to Core platforms u00b7 Standardize interfaces for telemetry, command/control, and interoperability across manufacturing systems u00b7 Define integration patterns across protocols such as EtherCAT, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, CAN, OPC UA, MQTT, TCP/IP, and gRPC u00b7 Build reusable adapters, APIs, and SDKs that simplify onboarding of factory devices and applications u00b7 Ensure consistent publishing of factory signals into FMIL and CoreDS 5. Cloud & Hybrid Platform Infrastructure u00b7 Architect and operate hybrid edge-cloud infrastructure connecting plant environments with centralized cloud platforms u00b7 Build and manage cloud-based control planes for orchestration, fleet management, telemetry aggregation, and lifecycle control u00b7 Design secure edge-to-cloud patterns enabling global visibility, coordination, and system-level optimization u00b7 Develop cloud-native services supporting CoreOS, FMIL, and CoreDS at enterprise scale u00b7 Partner with data and enterprise teams to enable scalable storage, compute, and processing capabilities u00b7 Implement solutions using AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, and related technologies 6. Real-Time Data, Telemetry & CoreDS Integration u00b7 Build real-time ingestion and streaming systems connecting factory signals to CoreDS u00b7 Ensure seamless integration between edge-generated data and cloud data platforms u00b7 Enable high-fidelity data pipelines supporting AI/ML, diagnostics, analytics, and traceability u00b7 Support closed-loop systems where factory signals u2192 insights u2192 actions continuously improve performance u00b7 Contribute to manufacturing data models, access patterns, and system-wide data consistency 7. Observability, Diagnostics & Runtime Integrity u00b7 Build platform-wide observability across edge and cloud environments using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry u00b7 Enable real-time monitoring, alerting, and diagnostics across all deployments u00b7 Ensure runtime and telemetry signals are high-quality, structured, and actionable u00b7 Support diagnostics and AI/ML systems through reliable signal and data availability u00b7 Improve transparency and operational trust across engineering, launch, and plant teams 8. Reliability, Deployment & Global Scale u00b7 Define deployment, rollout, upgrade, and rollback strategies across edge, on-prem, and cloud environments u00b7 Establish SRE and release engineering practices for mission-critical manufacturing systems u00b7 Define SLAs for uptime, latency, reliability, and deployment stability u00b7 Lead global rollout of Core platforms aligned to ATP lifecycle models (TRL/MRL/IRL) and launch playbooks u00b7 Partner with Launch, Field, Compass, and product teams to enable repeatable, scalable deployments 9. Engineering Leadership & System Execution u00b7 Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization across runtime, edge, infrastructure, connectivity, and platform domains u00b7 Drive engineering excellence in architecture, SDLC, testing, release management, and operational rigor u00b7 Develop senior technical talent and create clear career pathways tied to platform and business outcomes u00b7 Align execution with ATP operating model, lifecycle governance, and platform priorities u00b7 Translate strategy into roadmaps, staffing plans, and delivery execution 10. Cross-Functional Platform Leadership u00b7 Partner with Controls, Diagnostics, Data, and ATP vertical teams to deliver integrated manufacturing platforms u00b7 Align with plant operations, global manufacturing engineering, and vehicle programs u00b7 Contribute to enterprise standards for software-defined manufacturing and industrial platform architecture u00b7 Support system priorities including runtime adoption, AIR integration, diagnostics readiness, and platform reuse u00b7 Serve as a key leader in shaping Fordu2019s software-defined manufacturing platform strategy What success looks like... u00b7 A standardized Core runtime platform deployed across plants, programs, and ATP products u00b7 A scalable edge-to-cloud operating model enabling global orchestration and visibility u00b7 Broad adoption of APIs, SDKs, and platform services across engineering teams u00b7 Reliable, high-quality factory data powering CoreDS, analytics, and AI/ML systems u00b7 Closed-loop learning systems improving manufacturing performance through real-time signals u00b7 Increased platform reuse across sites, reducing duplication and accelerating deployment u00b7 Strong engineering execution aligned to lifecycle gates, launch readiness, and measurable plant value Youu2019ll haveu2026 u00b7 Bacheloru2019s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field u00b7 10+ years in software, platform, or infrastructure engineering u00b7 5+ years leading engineering teams delivering complex systems at scale u00b7 Experience building distributed systems, runtime platforms, or edge computing systems u00b7 Experience designing and operating cloud-native and hybrid edge-cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure; Kubernetes) u00b7 Experience building platform APIs, SDKs, or reusable developer systems u00b7 Strong understanding of industrial systems, factory automation, and device integration Experience in several of the following: u00b7 Distributed systems and container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker) u00b7 Edge computing and real-time systems u00b7 Hybrid edge-cloud architectures and distributed control planes u00b7 Platform APIs, SDKs, and developer tooling u00b7 Industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Profinet, CAN, OPC UA, MQTT, etc.) u00b7 Streaming and messaging systems (Kafka, NATS, Pub/Sub) u00b7 Observability platforms (Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry) u00b7 Infrastructure automation, CI/CD, and reliability engineering u00b7 Building platforms that scale across multiple products, plants, or business domains Even better, you may haveu2026 u00b7 Experience with software-defined manufacturing or industrial automation platforms u00b7 Familiarity with TRL/MRL/IRL lifecycle models u00b7 Experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing environments u00b7 Experience integrating runtime, data, and controls-adjacent systems into unified platforms Why join us... This is an opportunity to help define the platform foundation for Fordu2019s next generation of manufacturing. You will lead the engineering systems that make software-defined manufacturing real at scale by connecting machines, signals, factory systems, and product platforms into a common runtime backbone. You will also help create the APIs, SDKs, and developer platform capabilities that allow ATP teams to build on Core consistently rather than reinventing infrastructure product by product. The work will directly shape how Ford deploys, scales, and learns across plants, programs, and ATP products worldwide. If you are excited by industrial-scale software, real-world systems, and building platforms that matter in production, this role offers the chance to lead at the center of that transformation. What you'll receive in return... 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 builderu2026or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including: u2022 Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage u2022 Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more u2022 Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more u2022 Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases u2022 Tuition assistance u2022 Established and active employee resource groups u2022 Paid time off for individual and team community service u2022 A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Yearu2019s Day u2022 Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time. This position is a leadership level 4. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: 2026 LL4 Benefits Summary ( 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 1-888-336-0660. This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid #LI-WC2 Requisition ID : 61804