Maintenance Engineer - Planta Ford Irapuato

We are seeking a highly skilled Maintenance Engineer to join our engineering team. In this role, you will serve as the deep technical authority responsible for ensuring the optimal performance, stability, and evolution of our automation and control technologies. You will bridge the gap between IT and OT, hands-on troubleshooting complex floor issues, executing critical system upgrades, and leading our transition toward predictive maintenance and AI-driven manufacturing solutions.

Technical Leadership & Troubleshooting

• Act as the ultimate technical escalation point on the shop floor, diagnosing and resolving advanced controls, automation, and MES issues.
• Execute system upgrades, retrofits, and technical repairs on control systems (PLCs, drives, robotics, vision, and fastening systems).
• Maintain, optimize, and protect the integrity of product traceability and MES systems under the Ford Automation Standard Template platform

Safety & Compliance

• Verify and validate technical adherence to safety protocols and standards
• Execute machinery access and operation Risk Assessments.
• Configure and validate intrinsic safety systems (such as Safemove, Distributed Safety, and ANSI/RIA 15.06 standards).

Quality Assurance

• Ensure control systems guarantee the accurate capture, storage, and traceability of critical quality parameters.
• Validate that no maintenance intervention or control modification compromises data flow, error-proofing (poka-yokes), or product traceability before releasing equipment back to production.

Delivery & Operational Support

• Provide advanced technical support to the shop floor and actively participating in and taking ownership of Control Center processes (DCC, ZCC, MCC) when required.
• Technically sustain equipment availability and cycle times to meet production volume targets.

Cost & Asset Management

• Optimize the use of floor resources and consumables, ensuring all activities are logged in Maximo/MFM for cost traceability per asset.
• Apply CAPEX/OPEX management and MRO/FRACAS strategies to execute technology improvement projects aimed at reducing operating costs based on asset criticality.

Maintenance & Continuous Improvement

• Adherence to Maintenance Operating System methodology and analytical tools (RCA, PMO, MRO, Constraint Management) to sustain 24/7 operations.
• Drive the evolution of machinery from time-based maintenance to cycle-based and predictive maintenance using advanced instrumentation and IIoT.
• Manage the spare parts-to-asset link to guarantee long-term technical maintainability.

People & Innovation

• Lead the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maintenance operations.
• Create, update, and improve technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and documentation.
• Provide technical training and mentorship to Skilled Trades and junior engineering staff.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, Electromechanical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Certifications: Certifications or qualifications in the deployment/use of AI models are highly preferred.
• Experience: 2-3 years of progressive experience specializing deeply in automation and control systems (Siemens). Proven hands-on experience with manufacturing automation and electromechanical equipment, IT-OT integration, and MES systems.
• Languages: Fluent bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English (technical, professional, and conversational).

Technical Skills:

• Advanced PLC Programming: Ladder, Block, STL, Safety, Motion, OPC UA, and FAST platform.
• Advanced Robotics: Hands-on experience with Robotstudio, IRC Prog 2, iRVision, FlexVision, and major brands (Fanuc, ABB).
• Industrial IoT & Integration: Node-Red and IT-OT convergence (OPC UA)
• Hardware & Panel Design: Control panel design compliant with electrical regulations (NFPA79, NEC, UL508A). CAD proficiency (AutoCAD/EPLAN) for electrical, pneumatic, and fluid schematics.
• HMI & Visualization: Design and integration of HMI, SCADA, and ANDON interfaces.
• Power Electronics: Strong understanding of power electronics and industrial motors.

Functional & Leadership Skills:

Strong capability in interpreting electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic drawings.

• Project management skills, including CAPEX/OPEX tracking, benchmarking, and leading new program launch phases (runoffs and commissioning).
• Proven ability to lead projects to on-time delivery, manage change, drive innovation, and foster the transfer of best practices.

DISCLAIMER: Ford Motor Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, as we are committed with a diverse workforce, and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran and basis of disability

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