Controls Engineer, Ford Energy
Ford · Glendale, KY
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $65k–$166k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 11 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Ford (automotive) in Glendale, KY. Program, modify, and troubleshoot machinery utilizing Siemens (SP700), Omron, or other PLC programming software and HMI screens.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, FMEA, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC
- Base pay
- $65k–$166k
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 $65k–$166k.
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
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $90k–$145k, 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.
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 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 Glendale
5 other open roles at this site.
- Production Supervisor (Nights), Ford Energy · Production · Supervisor
- Quality Engineer, Ford Energy · Quality
- Facilities Engineer, Ford Energy · Reliability
- Maintenance Supervisor, Ford Energy · Reliability · Supervisor
- Maintenance Engineer, Ford Energy · Reliability
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.
Why Ford Energy?
At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.
In this position...
As a Controls Engineer, you will be on the ground floor launching a state-of-the-art BESS manufacturing facility in Glendale, Kentucky. As a key member of our start-up team, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build and program the automated systems that bring next-generation energy storage products to the grid. In this critical role, you will:
Optimize with Precision: Provide technical expertise to optimize highly automated manufacturing equipment and processes through visual systems, automation, and advanced levels of process control.
Innovate: Apply an entrepreneurial mindset to deliver data-driven controls solutions for battery cell and BESS module/container manufacturing lines.
Drive Excellence: Be the go-to technical expert for automation reliability, ensuring the facility operates with the precision required to deliver world-class energy products.
What you'll do...
Operational Excellence – Controls & Automation
- •Program, modify, and troubleshoot machinery utilizing Siemens (SP700), Omron, or other PLC programming software and HMI screens.
- •Manage the interaction between servo systems, frequency conversion systems, and upper-level computers; configure parameters appropriately for varying production loads.
- •Support and troubleshoot robotic systems (such as Fanuc), including robot programming and integration with other automation systems.
- •Lead fault analysis and root cause identification for complex automation issues to prevent recurrence; identify and rectify electrical component faults.
- •Establish preventive maintenance plans for equipment and electrical/controls aspects, and mentor/train technicians to enhance the team's overall competence.
- •Support feasibility on product design changes and lead modifications, model code updates, and program backups for automation.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Leadership – Culture
- •Embrace the Gemba philosophy: Regularly engage on the floor to monitor automation health, listen to technicians, and solve problems where the work happens.
- •Remove Barriers: Use Andon data to prioritize efforts to achieve 100% flow; lead Six Sigma project teams focused on efficiency, quality, and reliability.
- •Collaborate across functions: Act as a liaison with IT on IT/Controls interface issues and work with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure efficient installation and validation of new equipment.
- •Ability to demonstrate leadership behaviors combined with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
- •Ensure adherence to the Ford Production System (FPS) and Safety Operating System practices to achieve zero injuries.
Strategic – Reliability
- •Provide input on new equipment design and controls architecture as the site builds out battery cell and BESS assembly capacity.
- •Support new model and equipment launches as required.
- •Report out on key metrics around automation performance and equipment reliability.
Capabilities for Success
- •Resilient Problem Solver: Able to troubleshoot complex automation and controls issues to identify root cause quickly.
- •Self-Starter: Takes ownership of projects and drives them to completion with limited supervision.
- •Strong Communicator: Bridges the gap between shop floor technicians and corporate engineering teams.
- •Agile Mindset: Comfortable working across shifts and navigating the ambiguity of a startup manufacturing environment.
You'll have...
- •Bachelor's degree in engineering required
- •Maintenance experience, including internships, with the ability to optimize equipment programs and troubleshoot to root cause.
- •Flexibility to support business needs by working across various shifts
- •Domestic and international travel may be required
Even better, you may have...
- •Master's degree in Engineering
- •5+ years of relevant Controls Engineering experience
- •Familiarity with Data Collection, AI/ML, IIOT, and Digital Twins
- •Prior experience with Fanuc, ABB, or Universal robots
- •Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and FMEAs
- •Proficiency in AutoCAD, C, and RSLOGIX
- •Skills: Computer efficiency; excellent communicator able to train hourly and salary team members
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 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 child care and more
- •Family building benefits including adop