Ford Motor Company

Optimization Engineering Manager (Vehicle Assembly)

Ford Motor Company • $138K — $261K *
Chicago, IL 60629In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
4 days ago
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial)
  • 10+ years of engineering leadership in high-volume manufacturing, preferably automotive assembly
  • MBA or Master's in Engineering Management preferred
  • Deep understanding of Maintenance Operating Systems and Final Assembly logistics
  • Proven financial acumen for managing multi-million-dollar CAPEX budgets.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and coach the Maintenance Operating System (MOS) across all production departments
  • Drive predictive and preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime
  • Oversee the plant's infrastructure and ensure regulatory compliance
  • Identify and resolve bottlenecks that limit production throughput
  • Analyze equipment effectiveness to prioritize engineering resources
  • Lead cross-functional sessions to tackle systemic throughput issues
  • Manage capital investment projects and ensure alignment with plant strategy.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, and prescription coverage
  • Flexible family care and parental leave programs
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy reimbursement
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and their families
  • Tuition assistance for ongoing education
  • Active employee resource groups
  • Paid time off for community service
  • Generous paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Optimization Engineering Manager will serve as the strategic architect of the plant's technical and operational efficiency. This role is responsible for driving the Maintenance Operating System (MOS) across all production departments, optimizing plant throughput via constraint management, and leading the Industrial Engineering team to ensure lean manpower distribution. The position acts as the central point for capital investment, bridging the gap between local area engineering needs and long-term plant investment strategies.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance & Facilities Leadership (MOS)
  • System Ownership: Lead and coach the Maintenance Operating System (MOS) across Body, Paint, Final Assembly, and Facilities to ensure standardized practices.
  • Reliability Strategy: Drive Predictive and Preventive Maintenance (PdM/PM) programs to reduce unplanned downtime and improve Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF).
  • Facilities Management: Oversee the plant's physical infrastructure, utilities, and environmental systems to ensure 100% uptime and regulatory compliance.


Plant Constraint Management & Throughput
  • Bottleneck Analysis: Serve as the plant lead for the Constraint Management Process, identifying and resolving bottlenecks that limit Jobs Per Hour (JPH).
  • OEE Improvement: Analyze Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) data to prioritize engineering resources toward the highest-impact areas.
  • Continuous Improvement: Lead cross-functional "War Room" sessions to address systemic throughput issues.


Industrial Engineering & Manpower Management
  • Team Supervision: Lead and mentor the Industrial Engineering (IE) department.
  • Labor Optimization: Direct manpower allocation and distribution studies to ensure the plant meets labor productivity targets.
  • Work Content Standards: Oversee the development of standardized work and time studies (e.g., MODAPTS) to balance lines and optimize headcount.


Capital Investment & Matrix ME Management
  • CAPEX Oversight: Responsible for requesting, securing, and coordinating Capital Investment projects. Develop business cases for new equipment and technology.
  • Matrix Leadership: Provide functional direction to Area ME Managers (Body, Paint, Final). While they report locally to production, you ensure their projects align with plant-wide capital strategy and engineering standards.
  • Launch Readiness: Coordinate with the Product Development teams to ensure the facility is prepared for new vehicle programs and model year changes.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial).
  • An MBA or Master's in Engineering Management is preferred.
  • Experience: 10+ years of engineering leadership in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
    • Experience in automotive assembly is preferred.
  • Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of Maintenance Operating System and Final Assembly logistics.


Technical Skills
  • Financial Acumen: Proven ability to manage multi-million-dollar CAPEX budgets and calculate ROI/NPV for engineering projects.
  • Systems Expertise: Proficiency in Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Constraint Management software, and Lean Manufacturing principles (TPS/Six Sigma).
  • Project Management: Experience leading large-scale facility installations or vehicle launches.


Leadership Soft Skills
  • Matrix Influence: Ability to lead and align managers who do not have a direct reporting line to you.
  • Coaching: A "servant leader" mentality focused on developing the technical skills of maintenance and IE staff.
  • Conflict Resolution: Ability to balance the competing needs of different production areas (Body vs. Paint vs. Final) for limited capital and manpower resources.


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 leadership level 5 and ranges from $138,240-261,720.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5

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.

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About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles in addition to offering financial services. The company sells to dealerships for retail sales, and for sale to fleet customers, including commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Ford’s vehicle portfolio includes automobiles, buses, tractors, and trucks. Retail financing includes retail installment sale contracts for new and used vehicles, and direct financing leases for new vehicles to retail customers, government entities, daily rental car companies, and fleet customers. Finance receivables in the non-consumer portfolio include products offered to automotive dealers. Ford’s environmental initiatives include compressed natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles, electric drive vehicles, Hydrogen, PC power management, and so on. Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company Careers

Join the dynamic team at Ford Motor Company, a global leader in automotive innovation and manufacturing. At Ford, we are committed to driving human progress by providing outstanding vehicles and mobility solutions. This is an exciting time to become part of our inclusive team, where job opportunities abound and growth is not just a possibility, but a promise.

Work You’ll Do

At Ford Motor Company, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our professionals are at the forefront of automotive technology, leading projects that redefine transportation and sustainability. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement and respect for all, Ford offers a workplace where leadership, diversity training, and innovation are part of everyday life.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Ford’s commitment to excellence is why we are a leader in the automotive sector. We offer a variety of career paths, from engineering to marketing, all designed to foster professional and personal growth. Our team benefits from Ford’s commitment to professional development and networking opportunities, ensuring that every team member can reach their full potential.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that makes a difference. Ford Motor Company is pioneering developments in electrification, autonomous vehicles, and smart mobility solutions. Our team of over 190,000 employees worldwide is dedicated to crafting experiences that improve the way the world moves.

Be Part of a Great Team

Working at Ford means more than just having a job; it means being part of a global family. Our culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that underpin everything we do. We believe in nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

Future-Proof Your Career

Ford Motor Company is not just a great place to work; it’s a place to build a lasting career. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, comprehensive health care, and retirement plans that rank among the best in the industry. We support career advancement through extensive training programs and hands-on experience in the latest automotive technologies.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student interested in an internship, Ford has opportunities that will harness your skills and ignite your ambition. Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful, designed to match your skills and passions with the right position.

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Learn more about Ford Motor Company
Size
183,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.8 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ
F
* Ladders Estimates

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