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Sr. Director, Network Engineering
- Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI)
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We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Director of Network Engineering to lead the design, deployment, and operational excellence of our enterprise network across global automotive manufacturing facilities. This role will manage a global team of six Directors of Platform Engineers (Direct reports) and an organization of 300+ people, focusing on modernization and platform-based network strategies to ensure robust, secure, and scalable LAN, WAN, wireless, and 5G networks that support mission-critical manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with leadership experience in complex, industrial, and operational technology environments.
+ Lead the **network engineering organization** responsible for LAN, WAN, wireless, and **5G-enabled networks** across automotive manufacturing facilities globally.
+ Define and execute a **strategic network platform roadmap** aligned with manufacturing digitalization, Industry 4.0, IIoT, and edge computing initiatives.
+ Ensure **network reliability, resiliency, and performance** to support manufacturing operations, including OT/IT convergence.
+ Oversee **network security and compliance** across all sites in partnership with cybersecurity teams.
+ Implement **network automation, monitoring, and observability frameworks** to reduce operational toil and improve service quality.
+ Collaborate with **manufacturing, IT, and supply chain leaders** to translate business needs into network requirements.
+ Drive **vendor and partner management** , including evaluation, selection, and performance oversight of network service providers and technology vendors.
+ Mentor, grow, and lead a **high-performing network engineering team** , fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
+ Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in **Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field** .
+ **15+ years** of network engineering experience, with at least **5 years in a leadership role** managing large, global networks.
Preferred Qualifications:
+ Experience in **automotive manufacturing or other industrial sectors** with complex, multi-site networks.
+ Knowledge of **Industry 4.0, IIoT, edge computing, and 5G-enabled manufacturing** .
+ Experience implementing **network as code frameworks or automation platforms** in large-scale environments
+ Proven experience in **network modernization and platform-based approaches** in manufacturing or industrial environments.
+ Strong expertise across **LAN, WAN, wireless (Wi-Fi 6/6E), SD-WAN, 5G, and network security** .
+ Familiarity with **industrial networking protocols** (Ethernet/IP, etc.) and OT/IT convergence.
+ Experience with **network automation and observability tools** (Ansible, Terraform, NetOps frameworks, monitoring platforms).
+ Strong vendor management experience with Cisco, Palo Alto, or equivalent enterprise networking technologies.
+ Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
+ Strong communication skills, capable of influencing both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
**Requisition ID** : 54040
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