Automation Engineer (LAP)
Ford · Louisville, KY
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $84k–$141k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 14 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Ford (automotive) in Louisville, KY.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Robotics, Automation, MES
- Base pay
- $84k–$141k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Kentucky: typical posted base $84k–$145k. This one lists $84k–$141k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 20 controls engineer openings in Kentucky, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kentucky plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 19 other live controls postings in Kentucky.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $90k–$146k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 85%
- ✓ Robotics 85%
- ✓ Automation 80%
- Root cause 45%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 40%
- ✓ Lean 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Power BI / Tableau, Union environment, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Ford
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Ford in Louisville
8 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Production Supervisor (LAP) · Production · Supervisor
- Maintenance Supervisor (KTP) · Reliability · Supervisor
- Production Supervisor (KTP) · Production · Supervisor
- Skilled Trade - Tool and Die Maker - Louisville, KY · Manufacturing · Technician
- Process Engineering Specialist (LAP) · Process
- Controls Engineering Specialist (LAP) · Controls
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Louisville Assembly Plant | Future Home of the Ford Fathom™
Louisville Assembly Plant is undergoing a historic transformation — and there's never been a better time to join this energized team. As the future home of the Ford Fathom™, we are launching the first truck built on Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform, and we're looking for talented people to help lead the way.
In this position...
As an Automation Engineer - You will apply designs, implement, and optimize automated control systems, robotics, and industrial machinery to maximize manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and operational safety. Dayshift; Must be able to work alternate shifts as business needs dictate.
What you'll do...
Automation & New Technology Expertise
- •Hands-on experience with advanced material-handling technologies, including:
- •Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) - Automated Guided Vehicles(AGVs)
- •Automated dock systems (autoloading/unloading, dock scheduling, smart docks
- •Ability to evaluate, pilot, implement, and optimize new logistics technologies
- •Experience defining functional requirements, layouts, and traffic logic for AMR/AGV systems
- •Understanding of fleet management systems, task orchestration, and exception handling
- •Ability to coordinate with automation vendors and system integrators
- •Experience with ASRS material storage/retrieval systems
- •PLC experience
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Systems & Digital Integration
- •Experience integrating AMR/AGV systems with ERP, WMS, and MES
- •Working knowledge of PLC interfaces, sensors, scanners, and safety systems, preference with Allen Bradley and Siemens
- •Strong data analysis skills (Excel, Power BI, SQL, or similar) to monitor system performance and KPIs
Process Improvement & Project Leadership
- •Lead or support automation, digitalization, and smart factory initiatives
- •Apply Lean/CI principles to automated material flows
- •Support plant launches, new line installs, and technology ramp-ups
- •Conduct capacity analysis, ROI justification, and performance validation for automation projects
- •Support plant launches, new line installs, and technology ramp-ups
You'll have...
- •Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related experience
- •3+ years of experience in automation, or manufacturing operations (related internships or co-op experience included)
- •Experience in high-volume manufacturing or automotive environments
- •Validated experience managing a unionized workforce
Even better, you may have...
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 builder…or all the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- •Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
- •Flexible family care, 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 Year’s Day
- •Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $84,480-141,360.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
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.