Director, Core Runtime & Platform Engineering

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 Fords global manufacturing network.

Cores platform includes:

CoreOS the operating and orchestration layer for software-defined manufacturing

FMIL (Ford Manufacturing Intelligence Layer) the real-time signal execution and decisioning layer connecting factory systems devices and applications

CoreDS the data platform enabling traceability analytics and enterprise-scale intelligence

In this position

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 ATPs Build Once Scale Everywhere strategy and enables closed-loop learning across manufacturing systems.

What youll do

1. Lead the Core Runtime Platform

Architect and deliver the runtime platform that powers CoreOS and FMIL across Ford manufacturing environments

Build a secure scalable execution layer supporting orchestration device integration event processing and platform interoperability

Enable FMIL as the real-time signal orchestration and decisioning layer connecting factory systems and applications

Establish platform standards for runtime services deployment models lifecycle management and system interfaces

Drive the evolution of Core from point solutions into a globally managed industrial software platform

2. Build the Core Developer Platform (APIs & SDKs)

Define and deliver platform APIs SDKs and shared services enabling ATP products and engineering teams to build on Core

Create reusable primitives for telemetry eventing orchestration device abstraction identity and policy control

Establish developer standards tooling and integration patterns to eliminate one-off solutions across plants and products

Enable Forge Sight Print Volt and future platforms to extend Core through standardized interfaces and services

Drive platform adoption by improving developer productivity consistency and reuse

3. Industrial Edge & Distributed Systems

Lead development of edge computing platforms for real-time manufacturing environments

Architect distributed systems supporting high-throughput low-latency workloads across thousands of factory devices

Build resilient edge runtimes supporting local processing failover and intermittent connectivity

Establish orchestration patterns across cells lines plants and global manufacturing networks

4. Device Connectivity & Industrial Middleware

Own the middleware connecting PLCs robotics vision systems and industrial equipment to Core platforms

Standardize interfaces for telemetry command/control and interoperability across manufacturing systems

Define integration patterns across protocols such as EtherCAT Profinet Ethernet/IP CAN OPC UA MQTT TCP/IP and gRPC

Build reusable adapters APIs and SDKs that simplify onboarding of factory devices and applications

Ensure consistent publishing of factory signals into FMIL and CoreDS

5. Cloud & Hybrid Platform Infrastructure

Architect and operate hybrid edge-cloud infrastructure connecting plant environments with centralized cloud platforms

Build and manage cloud-based control planes for orchestration fleet management telemetry aggregation and lifecycle control

Design secure edge-to-cloud patterns enabling global visibility coordination and system-level optimization

Develop cloud-native services supporting CoreOS FMIL and CoreDS at enterprise scale

Partner with data and enterprise teams to enable scalable storage compute and processing capabilities

Implement solutions using AWS GCP Azure Kubernetes and related technologies

6. Real-Time Data Telemetry & CoreDS Integration

Build real-time ingestion and streaming systems connecting factory signals to CoreDS

Ensure seamless integration between edge-generated data and cloud data platforms

Enable high-fidelity data pipelines supporting AI/ML diagnostics analytics and traceability

Support closed-loop systems where factory signals insights actions continuously improve performance

Contribute to manufacturing data models access patterns and system-wide data consistency

7. Observability Diagnostics & Runtime Integrity

Build platform-wide observability across edge and cloud environments using tools such as Prometheus Grafana and OpenTelemetry

Enable real-time monitoring alerting and diagnostics across all deployments

Ensure runtime and telemetry signals are high-quality structured and actionable

Support diagnostics and AI/ML systems through reliable signal and data availability

Improve transparency and operational trust across engineering launch and plant teams

8. Reliability Deployment & Global Scale

Define deployment rollout upgrade and rollback strategies across edge on-prem and cloud environments

Establish SRE and release engineering practices for mission-critical manufacturing systems

Define SLAs for uptime latency reliability and deployment stability

Lead global rollout of Core platforms aligned to ATP lifecycle models (TRL/MRL/IRL) and launch playbooks

Partner with Launch Field Compass and product teams to enable repeatable scalable deployments

9. Engineering Leadership & System Execution

Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization across runtime edge infrastructure connectivity and platform domains

Drive engineering excellence in architecture SDLC testing release management and operational rigor

Develop senior technical talent and create clear career pathways tied to platform and business outcomes

Align execution with ATP operating model lifecycle governance and platform priorities

Translate strategy into roadmaps staffing plans and delivery execution

10. Cross-Functional Platform Leadership

Partner with Controls Diagnostics Data and ATP vertical teams to deliver integrated manufacturing platforms

Align with plant operations global manufacturing engineering and vehicle programs

Contribute to enterprise standards for software-defined manufacturing and industrial platform architecture

Support system priorities including runtime adoption AIR integration diagnostics readiness and platform reuse

Serve as a key leader in shaping Fords software-defined manufacturing platform strategy

What success looks like...

A standardized Core runtime platform deployed across plants programs and ATP products

A scalable edge-to-cloud operating model enabling global orchestration and visibility

Broad adoption of APIs SDKs and platform services across engineering teams

Reliable high-quality factory data powering CoreDS analytics and AI/ML systems

Closed-loop learning systems improving manufacturing performance through real-time signals

Increased platform reuse across sites reducing duplication and accelerating deployment

Strong engineering execution aligned to lifecycle gates launch readiness and measurable plant value

Youll have

Bachelors degree in Computer Science Electrical Engineering or related field

10 years in software platform or infrastructure engineering

5 years leading engineering teams delivering complex systems at scale

Experience building distributed systems runtime platforms or edge computing systems

Experience designing and operating cloud-native and hybrid edge-cloud platforms (AWS GCP Azure; Kubernetes)

Experience building platform APIs SDKs or reusable developer systems

Strong understanding of industrial systems factory automation and device integration

Experience in several of the following:

Distributed systems and container orchestration (Kubernetes Docker)

Edge computing and real-time systems

Hybrid edge-cloud architectures and distributed control planes

Platform APIs SDKs and developer tooling

Industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT Profinet CAN OPC UA MQTT etc.)

Streaming and messaging systems (Kafka NATS Pub/Sub)

Observability platforms (Prometheus Grafana OpenTelemetry)

Infrastructure automation CI/CD and reliability engineering

Building platforms that scale across multiple products plants or business domains

Even better you may have

Experience with software-defined manufacturing or industrial automation platforms

Familiarity with TRL/MRL/IRL lifecycle models

Experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing environments

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 Fords 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 youll receive in return...

You may not check every box or your experience may look a little different from what weve 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 builderor all of the above No matter what you choose we offer a work life that works for you including:
Immediate medical dental vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days paid parental leave new parent ramp-up programs subsidized back-up childcare and more
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement fertility treatments and more
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
A generous schedule of paid holidays including the week between Christmas and New Years Day
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 the United States if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please call 1-.

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.

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