Engineering Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan
Engineering director roles in Michigan draw strong interest from international candidates, with major employers like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Bosch providing visa sponsorship across metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids. The state's deep roots in automotive and advanced manufacturing create consistent demand for senior engineering leadership with specialized expertise.
Find Engineering Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 140+ Engineering Director Jobs in Michigan with Visa Sponsorship
See all 140+ Engineering Director Jobs in Michigan with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Engineering Director Jobs in Michigan with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsOverview
At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.
- Job Type: Full time
- Work Type: Remote
About Ford
Do you want to change the world? Ford Motor Company has endured and thrived for more than 120 years by reimagining how things are built. Today, Ford is leading a once-in-a-generation transformation in manufacturing: scaling EVs and integrating robotics, additive, AI vision, and digital platforms into one operating system, built on the Ford Production System (FPS) and its digital layer, FPS+.
Ford runs more than 19,700 robots across 56 plants worldwide. The next step is to make every new robot, vision cell, and printer faster and cheaper to bring on line, and to own the hardware that makes Ford's automation Ford's.
The Opportunity
ATP's robotics strategy is to own the bookends and buy the middle. Ford owns the top layer (the plant ontology, the safety envelope, test and certification, and data rights) and the tool end (end effectors, tooling, and task models). The robot body in the middle is bought and swappable. Between those bookends sits the hardware ATP designs and the integration work that gets every cell running in a plant.
Today that hardware lives with a few teams, and integration is split across controls, launch, and virtual commissioning groups, with much of it bought from outside integrators. Integration is now the largest share of what it costs to deploy a cobot. This role brings both together: one director who owns the hardware ATP designs and the method that integrates and commissions it, plant after plant.
The Position
As Director, Hardware Engineering & Integration, ATP, you will report to the ATP vertical leader for Forge, Print and Global Operations. You will:
- Own engineering of ATP-owned hardware: end effectors and tooling, edge compute and enclosures, test cells for ATP's robot test and certification facility (RoboGym), and cable and wire-harness standards.
- Own the integration and commissioning method: virtual commissioning, factory and site acceptance testing, controls integration, and the standard work that makes each deployment repeatable.
- Lead ATP's integration and build team, a shared crew that installs and commissions robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and vision cells, and grow in-house capability that reduces reliance on outside integrators.
- Own the device readiness standard that suppliers of robots, AMRs, printers, and vision systems must meet: drivers, manifests, data interfaces, and safety documentation.
- Hand designs to TDM, Ford's prototype and manufacturing subsidiary, ready for manufacture so ATP hardware scales from prototype to production.
- Partner with the Forge-X humanoid program lead, Core controls engineering, and the Forge, Sight, and Print verticals.
What You'll Be Able to Do
Engineer the Hardware ATP Owns
- Lead design and validation of end effectors, grippers, and tooling for Ford's highest-volume robotic applications.
- Own edge compute hardware and enclosures that connect plant equipment to the Ford platform.
- Build and maintain the RoboGym test cells where third-party robots are qualified against Ford's standard before they reach a plant.
- Set cable and wire-harness standards and build in-house harnessing capability so prototypes reach production quality without repeated rework.
Own Integration and Commissioning
- Set one commissioning method across ATP: risk assessment, virtual commissioning, factory acceptance, site acceptance, and handover to the plant.
- Integrate robots and cells with plant controls (PLC, safety PLC, HMI) and industrial networks (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA).
- Drive down cost and cycle time per deployment through standard designs, reusable controls templates, and lessons-learned loops.
- Train and certify plant and ATP engineers so plants can integrate, program, and maintain ATP technology in house.
Set the Device and Supplier Readiness Standard
- Define what every supplier device must ship with: a driver, a manifest, a data interface to the Ford platform, and safety documentation.
- Align fleet and AMR suppliers to open interface standards such as VDA 5050, and printer and vision suppliers to Ford's device standard.
- Run the qualification path with RoboGym so new equipment is tested once and approved for every plant.
- Write integration terms into sourcing so suppliers carry their share of integration effort.
Design for Manufacture and Scale with TDM
- Design ATP hardware for manufacture from the start: cost, tolerances, serviceability, and supplier readiness.
- Package designs, documentation, and test plans so TDM builds without redesign.
- Plan volumes and second sources for ATP-owned hardware as deployments grow.
Hold the Safety Bar
- Make functional safety the first gate for every cell: ISO 10218 for industrial robots, ISO/TS 15066 for collaborative applications, and ISO 13849 for safety-related controls.
- Require a documented risk assessment and validated safety functions before any cell runs in production.
- Partner with plant safety, controls, and cybersecurity teams on safe and secure commissioning.
Build and Lead the Team
- Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, controls, and commissioning engineers.
- Convert outside integrator work into in-house Ford capability, starting with the highest-volume applications.
- Set team structure, standard work, and career pathways, with a high bar for safety and quality.
Functional & Technical Knowledge
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering, or a related field.
- 12+ years in automation, robotics, or industrial equipment engineering, including 5+ years leading engineering teams.
- Hands-on experience designing robot cells and end-of-arm tooling and commissioning them in a production environment.
- PLC and controls integration experience (Rockwell, Siemens) and industrial networks (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP).
- Working knowledge of robot functional safety (ISO 10218, ISO 13849) and risk assessment practice.
- Design for manufacture experience, taking hardware from prototype to production.
- Experience leading teams on the plant floor and working with plant leadership through launch.
Preferred Requirements
- Background at an automotive OEM, Tier 1 supplier, or major automation integrator.
- Virtual commissioning tools (for example, Process Simulate or equivalent) and digital twin workflows.
- AMR fleet deployment and open interface standards (VDA 5050, OPC UA).
- Edge computing hardware for industrial environments.
- Functional safety certification (TÜV or equivalent) or a Professional Engineer license.
What You'll Receive in Return
As part of the Ford family, you'll enjoy excellent compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You'll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition.
Overview
At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.
- Job Type: Full time
- Work Type: Remote
About Ford
Do you want to change the world? Ford Motor Company has endured and thrived for more than 120 years by reimagining how things are built. Today, Ford is leading a once-in-a-generation transformation in manufacturing: scaling EVs and integrating robotics, additive, AI vision, and digital platforms into one operating system, built on the Ford Production System (FPS) and its digital layer, FPS+.
Ford runs more than 19,700 robots across 56 plants worldwide. The next step is to make every new robot, vision cell, and printer faster and cheaper to bring on line, and to own the hardware that makes Ford's automation Ford's.
The Opportunity
ATP's robotics strategy is to own the bookends and buy the middle. Ford owns the top layer (the plant ontology, the safety envelope, test and certification, and data rights) and the tool end (end effectors, tooling, and task models). The robot body in the middle is bought and swappable. Between those bookends sits the hardware ATP designs and the integration work that gets every cell running in a plant.
Today that hardware lives with a few teams, and integration is split across controls, launch, and virtual commissioning groups, with much of it bought from outside integrators. Integration is now the largest share of what it costs to deploy a cobot. This role brings both together: one director who owns the hardware ATP designs and the method that integrates and commissions it, plant after plant.
The Position
As Director, Hardware Engineering & Integration, ATP, you will report to the ATP vertical leader for Forge, Print and Global Operations. You will:
- Own engineering of ATP-owned hardware: end effectors and tooling, edge compute and enclosures, test cells for ATP's robot test and certification facility (RoboGym), and cable and wire-harness standards.
- Own the integration and commissioning method: virtual commissioning, factory and site acceptance testing, controls integration, and the standard work that makes each deployment repeatable.
- Lead ATP's integration and build team, a shared crew that installs and commissions robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and vision cells, and grow in-house capability that reduces reliance on outside integrators.
- Own the device readiness standard that suppliers of robots, AMRs, printers, and vision systems must meet: drivers, manifests, data interfaces, and safety documentation.
- Hand designs to TDM, Ford's prototype and manufacturing subsidiary, ready for manufacture so ATP hardware scales from prototype to production.
- Partner with the Forge-X humanoid program lead, Core controls engineering, and the Forge, Sight, and Print verticals.
What You'll Be Able to Do
Engineer the Hardware ATP Owns
- Lead design and validation of end effectors, grippers, and tooling for Ford's highest-volume robotic applications.
- Own edge compute hardware and enclosures that connect plant equipment to the Ford platform.
- Build and maintain the RoboGym test cells where third-party robots are qualified against Ford's standard before they reach a plant.
- Set cable and wire-harness standards and build in-house harnessing capability so prototypes reach production quality without repeated rework.
Own Integration and Commissioning
- Set one commissioning method across ATP: risk assessment, virtual commissioning, factory acceptance, site acceptance, and handover to the plant.
- Integrate robots and cells with plant controls (PLC, safety PLC, HMI) and industrial networks (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA).
- Drive down cost and cycle time per deployment through standard designs, reusable controls templates, and lessons-learned loops.
- Train and certify plant and ATP engineers so plants can integrate, program, and maintain ATP technology in house.
Set the Device and Supplier Readiness Standard
- Define what every supplier device must ship with: a driver, a manifest, a data interface to the Ford platform, and safety documentation.
- Align fleet and AMR suppliers to open interface standards such as VDA 5050, and printer and vision suppliers to Ford's device standard.
- Run the qualification path with RoboGym so new equipment is tested once and approved for every plant.
- Write integration terms into sourcing so suppliers carry their share of integration effort.
Design for Manufacture and Scale with TDM
- Design ATP hardware for manufacture from the start: cost, tolerances, serviceability, and supplier readiness.
- Package designs, documentation, and test plans so TDM builds without redesign.
- Plan volumes and second sources for ATP-owned hardware as deployments grow.
Hold the Safety Bar
- Make functional safety the first gate for every cell: ISO 10218 for industrial robots, ISO/TS 15066 for collaborative applications, and ISO 13849 for safety-related controls.
- Require a documented risk assessment and validated safety functions before any cell runs in production.
- Partner with plant safety, controls, and cybersecurity teams on safe and secure commissioning.
Build and Lead the Team
- Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, controls, and commissioning engineers.
- Convert outside integrator work into in-house Ford capability, starting with the highest-volume applications.
- Set team structure, standard work, and career pathways, with a high bar for safety and quality.
Functional & Technical Knowledge
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering, or a related field.
- 12+ years in automation, robotics, or industrial equipment engineering, including 5+ years leading engineering teams.
- Hands-on experience designing robot cells and end-of-arm tooling and commissioning them in a production environment.
- PLC and controls integration experience (Rockwell, Siemens) and industrial networks (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP).
- Working knowledge of robot functional safety (ISO 10218, ISO 13849) and risk assessment practice.
- Design for manufacture experience, taking hardware from prototype to production.
- Experience leading teams on the plant floor and working with plant leadership through launch.
Preferred Requirements
- Background at an automotive OEM, Tier 1 supplier, or major automation integrator.
- Virtual commissioning tools (for example, Process Simulate or equivalent) and digital twin workflows.
- AMR fleet deployment and open interface standards (VDA 5050, OPC UA).
- Edge computing hardware for industrial environments.
- Functional safety certification (TÜV or equivalent) or a Professional Engineer license.
What You'll Receive in Return
As part of the Ford family, you'll enjoy excellent compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You'll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition.
Engineering Director Job Roles in Michigan
See all 140+ Engineering Director Jobs in Michigan
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Engineering Director Jobs in MichiganEngineering Director Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for engineering directors in Michigan?
Michigan's automotive and technology sectors include some of the most active visa sponsors for engineering director roles. Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Stellantis, Bosch, Aptiv, and Magna International have all filed H-1B visa petitions for senior engineering positions in recent years. Large tech employers with Michigan offices, including Google and Microsoft, also sponsor at the director level, though automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers represent the largest share of sponsorships in this state.
Which visa types are most common for engineering director roles in Michigan?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for engineering directors in Michigan, as these roles typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific engineering discipline, meeting the specialty occupation standard. Candidates with extraordinary recognition in their field may qualify for the O-1A. Senior professionals transferring within a multinational corporation, such as from a German or Japanese automotive parent company, often come through on L-1A intracompany transferee visas instead.
Which cities in Michigan have the most engineering director sponsorship jobs?
Metro Detroit, including Dearborn, Auburn Hills, and Troy, concentrates the highest volume of engineering director sponsorship activity given the headquarters presence of Ford, GM, and Stellantis along with their dense Tier 1 supplier networks. Ann Arbor is a secondary hub with a strong mix of automotive R&D, University of Michigan spinouts, and technology firms. Grand Rapids sees smaller but steady demand, particularly in medical device and advanced manufacturing engineering leadership.
How to find engineering director visa sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search for engineering director roles across Michigan without sorting through positions that don't offer sponsorship. You can narrow results by location to focus on metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, or Grand Rapids. Because engineering director positions are senior and competitive, reviewing active listings on Migrate Mate regularly gives you a clear picture of which employers are actively hiring and sponsoring at this level.
Are there any Michigan-specific considerations for engineering directors seeking visa sponsorship?
Michigan's prevailing wage requirements for H-1B sponsorship reflect the high seniority of engineering director roles, so employers must certify that the offered compensation meets Department of Labor wage levels for this occupation in the relevant metro area. The state's strong university pipeline, particularly through University of Michigan and Michigan State, means employers are accustomed to sponsoring engineering talent. Candidates in automotive software and electrification are seeing particularly active hiring as OEMs accelerate their EV development programs.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored engineering director jobs in Michigan?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.