Facilities Engineer, Ford Energy

About the role

Role As a Facilities Engineer specializing in Thermal Fluid Systems, you will play a vital role in ensuring the technical integrity and operational uptime of our startup manufacturing environment. In this mission-critical role, you will:

• Lead with Integrity: Ensure the safe, reliable, and ethical operation of high-stakes thermal utility systems that power our production.
• Innovate: Apply an entrepreneurial mindset to optimize complex boiler and hot oil systems through data-driven maintenance strategies.
• Drive Excellence: Be the subject matter expert for utility reliability, ensuring our facility operates with the precision required to deliver world-class energy products.

Responsibilities

Operational Excellence & Quality Systems

• Drive adherence to the Quality Operating System (QOS) and Production System standards, ensuring consistent execution of quality processes across energy storage system manufacturing.
• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and reliability of hot oil boiler systems and associated utility equipment with unwavering attention to safety and compliance.
• Maintain meticulous utility documentation including SOPs, P&IDs, and compliance logs, ensuring "Audit Ready" status at all times.
• Champion continuous improvement and structured problem-solving, ensuring capability is developed at the lowest level of the organization.

Leadership & Culture

• Embrace the Gemba philosophy: Regularly engage on the floor to monitor equipment health, listen to technicians, and solve problems where the work happens.
• Remove Barriers: Proactively identify and resolve technical constraints to ensure the production team has the utilities required for "First Time Through" (FTT) success.
• Collaborate across functions: Work seamlessly with Production, Quality, and EHS teams to support 24/7 facility operations.
• Coordinate and oversee vendor and contractor activities with a focus on safety, integrity, and high-quality workmanship.
• Establish a “Leaders as Teachers” environment by coaching Team Leaders and Team Members to build quality ownership and capability.
• Foster a culture of accountability, communication, and recognition, reinforcing behaviors that support safety and quality excellence.

Strategic Reliability

• Achieve business results by delivering on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and meeting corporate standards for timing, budget, and First Time Through (FTT) capability.
• Develop and manage predictive and preventative maintenance programs that prioritize long-term asset health over short-term fixes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Assist with capital projects, equipment upgrades, and the commissioning of new utility infrastructure as the site scales.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline; however, candidates with substantial (7+) industrial utilities experience will be considered in place of a Bachelor's degree.
• Experience: 3+ years of experience working with industrial utilities and boiler systems.
• Technical Expertise: Direct experience operating and maintaining hot oil/thermal fluid heating systems.
• Skills: Experience in high-growth manufacturing or chemical processing environments.
• Flexibility to support business needs by working across shifts, including nights, weekends, and extended hours as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, manufacturing, or related field preferred.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Proficiency in reading P&IDs, technical drawings, and experience with CMMS platforms.
• Strong knowledge of electrical and instrumentation systems, PLCs, automation, or SCADA platforms.
• Strong project management skills and experience supervising specialized contractors.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, including pumps, valves, piping, etc.

Capabilities for Success

• Resilient Problem Solver: Remains calm and decisive during utility outages or critical system failures, driving toward rapid restoration.
• Integrity-Driven: Committed to the highest safety standards (OSHA, NFPA) and environmental compliance without compromise.
• Complexity Manager: Skilled at managing the technical nuances of thermal fluid systems while communicating impacts clearly to leadership.
• Agile Mindset: Comfortable navigating the ambiguity of a startup environment where processes are being built and refined in real-time.