Launch Lead

General Motors Company; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors Company in Arlington, TX is seeking a Body Shop Launch Lead to drive launch readiness and execution across Body Shop operations. You will connect Plant Launch Team, engineering, quality, and supply chain to ensure safe, on-time builds at target quality levels within takt time.

The role requires rotating through 1st–3rd shifts, travel up to 25%, and strong leadership with lean manufacturing expertise. Relocation benefits may apply and onsite work is expected.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of automotive/program launch or high-volume manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or related field.
• Willing to rotate through all 3 shifts (1st, 2nd & 3rd).
• Willing to travel 25% domestically and/or internationally.
• Willing to work overtime, weekends, holidays, as needed.
• Strong leadership and technical skills with the ability to influence across levels.
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing operations, safety standards, and lean principles.
• Experience with budget management and performance metrics.
• Familiarity with labor agreements and corporate compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead launch readiness and execution for a plant area, process, or function.
• Coordinate with Plant Launch Team, area leadership, and cross-functional partners.
• Identify launch risks and develop countermeasures to ensure on-time, high-quality builds.
• Communicate status to Plant Launch Operations Manager and area leadership.
• Manage resources, budgets, and daily launch activities to meet takt time and program timing.
• Train Body Shop organization and share lessons learned for future phases.

Skills

5+ years experience

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Shift rotation

Travel 25%

Overtime flexibility

Leadership

Manufacturing knowledge

Budget & metrics

Labor agreements knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Sponsorship: 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., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

Please Note: Onsite - This role is categorized as onsite. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Arlington, TX on a full-time basis.

Relocation: This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

The Role

The Body Shop Launch Lead is a manufacturing professional responsible for leading launch readiness and execution for an assigned plant area, process, or functional discipline. The role serves as the primary connection between the Plant Launch Team, area leadership, manufacturing engineering, product engineering, quality, supply chain, maintenance, and production operations. The Launch Lead translates program requirements into executable plant actions and ensures that the assigned area is prepared to build the product safely, at the required quality level, within takt time, and according to program timing. The role is accountable for identifying launch risk early, coordinating countermeasures, communicating status, and driving issues to closure through Launch Team Release and the transition to stable production. The specific area of responsibility may include Body Shop, Paint, Stamping, General Assembly, Quality, Material, Electrical, Chassis, or another manufacturing function, depending on the launch program and plant structure.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities):

• The Body Shop Launch Lead is responsible for the flawless execution of the program deliverables within Body Shop
• Provides Level 1 & 2 outline for all Body Shop Master Dot activities ensuring updates with the appropriate countermeasures.
• Aligns and Communicates Body Shop's status to the Plant Launch Operations Manager and the Body Shop Area Director
• Works with the Material Launch Manager to help coordinate and validate the material plan for Body Shop
• Coordinates quality plans with Quality Systems
• Holds team accountable to achieve manpower targets
• Identify and resolve issues to ensure a successful launch
• Cross-Functional leadership & coordination between Production and Body Manufacturing Engineering
• Strategic planning and execution of layout, process, and equipment/technology deployment
• Train Body Shop organization
• Share Lessons Learned for next phases
• Provides leadership to the Body Shop launch structure
• Coordinates daily activity of launch personnel
• Manage all activities between PIT/IRT, facilities, equipment, and budget
• Establishes plant participation for Validation Center builds and tool shops, for system buyoffs
• Exhibit active participation as a member of the Launch Team and attends all Launch Team meetings, including the daily build wrap-up meetings
• Input into pre-production budget requirements: resources, materials, training aids, etc.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• 5+ years Previous experience in automotive/program launch or high-volume manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Ability and willingness to work / rotate through all 3 shifts (1st, 2nd & 3rd)
• Ability to travel 25% of the time or higher based on business needs domestically and/or internationally.
• Ability and willingness to work over-time, weekends, holidays, etc. as needed
• Strong leadership and technical skills with the ability to influence across levels.
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing operations, safety standards, and lean principles.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic and operational plans.
• Experience with budget management and performance metrics.
• Familiarity with labor agreements and corporate compliance standards.

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Prior body launch experience or launch manager for a program
• Demonstrated high level of analytical ability where the problems are unusual and difficult.
• Demonstrated strong technical skills and work measurement techniques to drive continuous improvement activities.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with others.

Sponsorship: 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., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

Onsite - This role is categorized as onsite. This means the succes