A system including a vehicle having a network comprising a plurality of end points and a controller, where the controller includes an automation definition circuit, an automation management circuit, and an automation execution circuit. The automation definition circuit is structured to interpret an automation description. The automation management circuit is structured to provide an automated action plan in response to the automation description, and to store the automated action plan as a data file on a data storage communicatively coupled to the controller. The automation execution circuit is structured to provide an automation command in response to the automated action description, where an end point of the plurality of end points is responsive to the automation command to implement an automated vehicle response.