Manufacturing Controls Engineer
General Motors
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
General Motors in St. Catharines, Ontario, seeks a Manufacturing Controls Engineer to join the ME team. You will work across Engine Assembly and component machining, using safety PLCs, HMIs, robotics, CNCs, and vision systems to improve production through automation and data analytics.
This onsite, full-time role requires leadership, a strong engineering background, and flexibility for off-shift work. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.
Qualifications
- Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronic Engineering degree or equivalent
- Strong leadership and communication across cross-functional teams
- Willing to work off-shifts and weekends as required
- Experienced with PLC-based automation, robotics, vision systems, HMIs, and industrial networks
- Proficient with Microsoft Office for reporting and project management
- Knowledge of OHSA/Electrical Code requirements
Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day controls and automation support for production operations with a focus on safety, quality, uptime
- Troubleshoot equipment and process failures and implement sustainable countermeasures
- Develop and execute controls-related projects to improve OEE, energy efficiency, and throughput
- Lead lifecycle management of machinery and equipment ensuring safety and cybersecurity compliance
- Maintain electrical and controls drawings, backups, manuals, and network documentation
- Mentor engineers and share best practices across shifts
- Stay current with industry trends and GM standards in automation, safety, and data analytics
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
We are looking for Controls Engineers to join our St. Catharines Propulsion Plant team.
This posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization and is open to new applications. (Backfill)
As part of the application process, Artificial Intelligence will be used in the hiring process for this role.
This role is categorized as onsite. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to St. Catharines Propulsion Plant on a full-time basis.
In this role, you will work within the Manufacturing Engineering (ME) organization, supporting any or all production areas of Engine Assembly and Component machining – Block, Head or Crank. You will work in a highly collaborative environment to continuously improve production equipment and processes using advanced automation and controls technologies such as safety PLCs, industrial Ethernet networks, HMIs, robotics, CNCs, and vision systems. You will be responsible for conceiving and managing technical projects of varying scale and complexity, implementing equipment and process changes, and partnering with maintenance to troubleshoot issues. Increasingly, you will also leverage data and analytics to improve safety, quality, uptime, and cost.
- Provide day-to-day controls and automation support for production operations with a strong focus on:
- Personnel and equipment safety
- Process quality
- Equipment, uptime and throughput
- Provide technical/engineering support to production and maintenance teams by:
- Troubleshooting equipment and process failures (controls, electrical, and related mechanical issues)
- Identifying root causes and implementing effective, sustainable countermeasures
- Supporting problem‑solving activities using structured methodologies
- Support predictive and preventative maintenance strategies
- Identify, develop, and execute controls‑related projects that support departmental and plant objectives, including:
- Safety and ergonomic improvements
- Quality and error‑proofing enhancements
- OEE/uptime, throughput, and cost optimization
- Energy efficiency and sustainability improvements
- Lead and manage machinery/equipment controls throughout the lifecycle to ensure compliance with GM Safety and Controls standards, including:
- Support specification, design review, build, installation, commissioning, and PPAP of new equipment
- Functional safety validation (e.g., safety circuits, safety PLC logic, risk reduction measures)
- Integration with plant‑level networks, data collection, and monitoring systems
- Ensure new and existing equipment meets:
- GM global and local standards (Safety, Controls, Cybersecurity, Network)
- Ontario ESA/MOL/OHSA and other applicable codes and regulations
- Operational requirements for current and future product and process needs
- Ensure accurate, current documentation is available and maintained for all equipment in assigned areas, including:
- Electrical and controls drawings and schematics
- Program and configuration backups
- Manuals, bills of material, and network documentation
- Collaboration in developing and maintaining Maintenance SOPs and standardized work
- Identify and lead technical training and knowledge transfer opportunities:
- Mentor other Controls Engineers and Maintenance Teams on new technologies, tools, and standards
- Share best practices across areas and shifts
- Maintain current knowledge in fields of expertise and emerging technologies:
- Stay current on equipment standards, legislative and regulatory changes, GM global requirements, and industry trends (e.g., EV propulsion, functional safety, industrial cybersecurity, data analytics, Industry 4.0/connected factory)
- Proactively update management on risks, opportunities, and recommended actions
- Strong controls systems technical aptitude obtained through:
- An Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronic Engineering degree, or
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant industrial experience
- Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills to work effectively with cross‑functional teams (Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Health & Safety, Quality, Suppliers).
- Strong work ethic and ownership mindset:
- Self‑starter, highly responsible, and able to follow through on assignments
- Comfortable working in a fast‑paced production environment with changing priorities
- Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, preferably within the automotive or high‑volume industrial sector.
- Flexibility and adaptability:
- Able to move quickly between assignments and equipment areas as priorities change
- Comfortable supporting off‑shift and weekend activities as required by operations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of automation and control systems, including:
- PLC‑based automation
- Industrial robotics
- Vision systems
- HMIs and industrial networks (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Profinet)
- CNCs and related motion control
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project) for communication, reporting, and project management.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve results within a team environment, including times with minimal direct supervision.
- Demonstrated knowledge of mechanical concepts and how they interface with electrical/controls systems (e.g., pneumatics, hydraulics, motion control, tooling, guarding).
- Knowledge of the requirements of:
- Ontario Ministry of Labour / Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
- Ontario Electrical Code
Our facility operates on a 3‑shift basis. This position requires flexibility to work off shifts and weekends to support production, maintenance, and project activities. While a “home” shift may be assigned, schedule flexibility is an essential requirement of this position. Candidates must be prepared for rotating or non‑standard hours based on business needs.
The salary range for this role is $81,300.00 to $122,000.00. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
- Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and supplemental benefits for pregnancy, parental and adoption leave.
- Healthcare, dental and vision benefits including health care spending account and wellness incentive.
- Life insurance plans to cover you and your family.
- Company and matching contributions to a Defined Contribution Pension plan to help you save for retirement.
- GM Vehicle Purchase Plan for you and your family.
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need gm immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full‑time basis. This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1‑800‑865‑7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
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