Description
As Director, Hardware Engineering & Integration, ATP, you will report to the ATP vertical leader for Forge, Print and Global Operations. You will own engineering of ATP-owned hardware: end effectors and tooling, edge compute and enclosures, test cells for ATP's robot test and certification facility (RoboGym), and cable and wire-harness standards.
You will own the integration and commissioning method: virtual commissioning, factory and site acceptance testing, controls integration, and the standard work that makes each deployment repeatable.
You will lead ATP's integration and build team, a shared crew that installs and commissions robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and vision cells, and grow in-house capability that reduces reliance on outside integrators.
You will own the device readiness standard that suppliers of robots, AMRs, printers, and vision systems must meet: drivers, manifests, data interfaces, and safety documentation.
You will hand designs to TDM, Ford's prototype and manufacturing subsidiary, ready for manufacture so ATP hardware scales from prototype to production.
You will partner with the Forge-X humanoid program lead, Core controls engineering, and the Forge, Sight, and Print verticals.
Responsibilities:
- Engineer the Hardware ATP Owns
- Lead design and validation of end effectors, grippers, and tooling for Ford's highest-volume robotic applications.
- Own edge compute hardware and enclosures that connect plant equipment to the Ford platform.
- Build and maintain the RoboGym test cells where third-party robots are qualified against Ford's standard before they reach a plant.
- Set cable and wire-harness standards and build in-house harnessing capability so prototypes reach production quality without repeated rework.
- Own Integration and Commissioning
- Set one commissioning method across ATP: risk assessment, virtual commissioning, factory acceptance, site acceptance, and handover to the plant.
- Integrate robots and cells with plant controls (PLC, safety PLC, HMI) and industrial networks (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA).
- Drive down cost and cycle time per deployment through standard designs, reusable controls templates, and lessons-learned loops.
- Train and certify plant and ATP engineers so plants can integrate, program, and maintain ATP technology in house.
- Set the Device and Supplier Readiness Standard
- Define what every supplier device must ship with: a driver, a manifest, a data interface to the Ford platform, 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 the qualification path with RoboGym so new equipment is tested once and approved for every plant.
- Write integration terms into sourcing so suppliers carry their share of integration effort.
- Design for Manufacture and Scale with TDM
- Design ATP hardware for manufacture from the start: cost, tolerances, serviceability, and supplier readiness.
- Package designs, documentation, and test plans so TDM builds without redesign.
- Plan volumes and second sources for ATP-owned hardware as deployments grow.
- Hold the Safety Bar
- Make functional safety the first gate for every cell: ISO 10218 for industrial robots, ISO/TS 15066 for collaborative applications, and ISO 13849 for safety-related controls.
- Require a documented risk assessment and validated safety functions before any cell runs in production.
- Partner with plant safety, controls, and cybersecurity teams on safe and secure commissioning.
- Build and Lead the Team
- Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, controls, and commissioning engineers.
- Convert outside integrator work into in-house Ford capability, starting with the highest-volume applications.
- Set team structure, standard work, and career pathways, with a high bar for safety and quality.