Director, Core Runtime & Platform Engineering

Ford Motor Company

full-time

Posted on: 4/7/2026

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Palo Alto • California • United States

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Job Level

Lead

Tech Stack

AWS Azure Cloud Distributed Systems Docker Google Cloud Platform Grafana GRPC Kafka Kubernetes Prometheus SDLC TCP/IP

About the role

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Ford’s software-defined manufacturing platform strategy

Requirements

**You’ll have…**
· Bachelor’s 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

Benefits

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 Year’s Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

distributed systemsruntime platformsedge computingcloud-native platformshybrid edge-cloud platformsplatform APIsSDKsinfrastructure automationCI/CDreliability engineering

Soft Skills

engineering leadershipcross-functional collaborationstrategic planningteam developmentoperational rigorcommunicationproblem-solvingproject managementadaptabilitydecision-making