Manager – Automation Technology Research at Ford Global Career Site

Dearborn, Michigan, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

12 Jan, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

14 Oct, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Robotics, Automation, Research, Team Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Collaboration, Innovation, Prototyping, Perception, Human-Robot Interaction, Mobile Robotics, Intellectual Property, Project Management, Communication, Technical Supervision

Industry

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing

Description

Strategic Vision & Roadmap: Develop, articulate, and drive the comprehensive vision and strategic roadmap for robotics and automation research at Ford, targeting next-generation automation technologies for deployment within a 3-to-5-year horizon. This includes identifying emerging trends, technologies, and potential disruptive innovations in the field. University Alliances & Long-Term Research: Establish, nurture, and expand strategic partnerships with leading universities and research institutions globally. Direct collaborative research projects focused on robotics and automation concepts that are beyond the 5-year timeframe, ensuring these alliances generate foundational knowledge and intellectual property aligned with Ford's long-term business direction and vision. Ford has existing partnerships, such as with the University of Michigan for robotics research, which includes a dedicated Ford research lab on campus. Customer Engagement & Technology Transition: Maintain and establish strong relationships with key internal downstream customers, such as Manufacturing Technology Development, to understand their needs and facilitate the maturation and seamless transition of robotics and automation technologies from research into their development pipelines for eventual production implementation. Team Leadership & Development: Directly supervise, mentor, and inspire a talented team of roboticists and researchers. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and rapid prototyping, enabling the team to quickly develop hardware and software proof-of-concepts to demonstrate feasibility and impact. Technical Excellence & Innovation: Guide the team in conducting cutting-edge research in areas such as advanced perception, manipulation, mobile robotics, human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) for robotics, and autonomous systems. Oversee the design, development, and testing of robotic prototypes and experimental systems. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with internal Ford teams across product development, manufacturing, advanced engineering, and business units to translate research outcomes into tangible opportunities and to understand future needs. Intellectual Property & Publications: Drive the creation of intellectual property through patents and contribute to the scientific community through publications in top-tier conferences and journals. Resource Management: Manage project budgets, resources, and timelines efficiently to ensure research objectives are met. Master's degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical field. 7+ years of experience in robotics and automation research or development, with a proven track record of innovation and impactful contributions. 3+ years of experience leading and managing technical teams, including direct supervision of researchers or engineers. Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field. Strong publication record in leading robotics and AI conferences (e.g., ICRA, IROS, RSS, NeurIPS, CVPR). Experience managing university research collaborations and a track record of securing external research funding. Familiarity with automotive industry trends and applications of robotics and automation in manufacturing, logistics, or future mobility solutions. Experience in developing quick proof-of-concept systems from ideation to functional demonstration, involving both hardware and software integration. Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, from technical experts to executive leadership.

Responsibilities

Develop and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for robotics and automation research at Ford, focusing on next-generation technologies. Establish partnerships with universities and manage a team to transition research into production-ready solutions.