Body Department Controls Engineer

General Motors; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite role

Relocation benefits

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Body Department Controls Engineer to lead safe and efficient operation of automated body shop systems. You will troubleshoot, upgrade, and improve controls, robotics, and process automation on the plant floor, coordinating with operations and maintenance teams.

This onsite role requires shift rotation and weekend or extended hours during launches or critical activities; travel to suppliers or GM locations may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related engineering discipline.
• Experience supporting industrial automation or controls in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, control-panel drawings, equipment specs, and engineering docs.
• Strong problem-solving, data-driven troubleshooting, and structured analysis.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and diagnose automation faults, alarms, and production interruptions.
• Lead or support design, programming, integration, and commissioning of body equipment and systems.
• Develop & maintain automation documentation, electrical drawings, and software backups.
• Coordinate with suppliers and contractors on controls design and site installation.

Skills

Industrial automation

Automation systems

Robotics

PLC programming

HMI

Electrical schematics

Project management

Collaboration

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, controls, automation, computer, mechanical, manufacturing, or related engineering

Associate’s degree and equivalent relevant experience

Tools

Rockwell Automation

Siemens controls platforms

Devicenet networks

Industrial Ethernet

Fanuc robotics

Power BI

Job description

Job Description

The Role

The Body Department Controls Engineer is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation and improvement of automated body shop systems. This role provides technical leadership for controls, robotics, process automation, plant-floor systems, and equipment integration across the body department.

The engineer supports daily production, new product and equipment launches, troubleshooting, system upgrades, and continuous improvement. This position works closely with body operations, skilled trades, maintenance, quality, safety, information technology, manufacturing engineering, suppliers, and contractors to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and equipment performance.

This is an onsite manufacturing engineering role requiring regular presence in the body department and on the plant floor. The role requires shift rotation, weekends, shutdown, or extended-hours support during launches, critical equipment work, troubleshooting, and planned maintenance activities. Travel to suppliers or other GM locations may be required based on business needs.

What You’ll Do

• Analyze, troubleshoot and diagnose automation faults, controls issues, communication problems, equipment alarms, and recurring production interruptions.
• Provide engineering support on equipment, automation systems, interface systems and robots using standard engineering software and hardware tools.
• Lead or support the design, programming, integration, installation, commissioning, validation, and launch of new or modified body equipment and systems.
• Develop and maintain automation requirements, control-panel documentation, electrical drawings, software backups, network documentation, equipment standards, and change records.
• Coordinate with suppliers and contractors on controls design, equipment builds, factory testing, site installation, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Improve equipment availability, throughput, first-time quality, process stability, energy performance, and material utilization through data-driven problem solving.
• Apply structured problem-solving methods to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Support machine safety, risk-reduction activities, safeguarding, validation, lockout requirements, and compliance with applicable GM safety standards.
• Collaborate with maintenance and skilled trades to improve preventive maintenance, troubleshooting methods, spare-parts strategy, and technical training.
• Support plant-floor systems and manufacturing data interfaces used for production monitoring, routing, tracking, traceability, and reporting.
• Participate in program timing reviews, equipment design reviews, readiness assessments, production trials, and launch activities.
• Create, maintain, and improve standardized work, programming practices, troubleshooting guides, and engineering procedures.
• Provide technical direction to less-experienced engineers, suppliers, contractors, and plant support personnel as needed.
• Communicate project status, technical risks, decisions, and results to plant and engineering leadership.
• Support TIP (Throughput Improvement) initiatives as required.
• Perform training and mentorship to skilled trades and junior personnel.
• Provide a safe environment and comply with all policies.
• Support DLA (Device Level Analytics) initiatives, software implementation and system validation.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, controls, automation, computer, mechanical, manufacturing, or a related engineering discipline, or an Associate’s degree and equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience supporting industrial automation or controls in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control-panel drawings, equipment specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex automation and equipment problems using data and structured problem‑solving methods.
• Strong communication, organization, project‑management, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with autonomy and accountability.
• Commitment to safe work practices and continuous improvement.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Working knowledge of programmable logic controllers, human‑machine interfaces, industrial networks, drives, sensors, safety circuits, robotics, and electrical control systems.
• Experience in an automotive manufacturing or body shop environment.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation or Siemens controls platforms, industrial Ethernet, Devicenet networks, motion control, and variable‑frequency drives.
• Experience with Fanuc robotics systems.
• Experience with vision systems, Fanuc 2D/3D, Keyence, or Photoneo.
• Knowledge of plant‑floor production monitoring, routing and tracking, traceability, or manufacturing execution systems.
• Experience with equipment commissioning, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, or production launch.
• Familiarity with error proofing, data analytics, Power BI, or other automation‑support tools.
• Knowledge of structured problem solving, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, failure‑mode analysis, process control plans, and change management.

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 includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc). 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 may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

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.

Why Join Us

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.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we’re looking out for your well‑being‑at work and at home‑so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

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.

All employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Accommodations

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.