Manufacturing Controls Engineering Lead

General Motors; Tennessee; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors Bedford casting operations seeks a seasoned Controls Engineering Supervisor to lead a team responsible for development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of industrial controls systems. You will collaborate across manufacturing, maintenance, quality, IT, and leadership to boost safety, quality, throughput, and equipment reliability.

You will guide root-cause analysis, controls planning for multiple processes, and ensure designs meet buyoff and testing standards while using

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree or equivalent hands-on experience in a technical field.
• 5+ years in controls or automation engineering within manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems and production environments.
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming, networking, and troubleshooting.
• Analytical mindset, problem-solving skills, and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for controls, automation, IT, maintenance, and trades partners.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for PLC/HMI and network issues; close actions.
• Oversee controls planning for die-casting, machining, melting, and material handling.
• Review hardware/software designs, controls architecture, testing, commissioning, and buyoffs.
• Coordinate with area engineers on process changes, project timing, and sourcing.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, costs, and investment forecasts.
• Support data analytics and plant digital initiatives through PLC config and data validation.
• Apply GM safety standards and ensure safe work practices are the priority.
• Use data-driven methods to improve equipment availability, cycle time, and costs.
• Lead Bedford controls team and share best practices across the group.

Skills

Controls engineering

Team leadership

PLC programming

HMI programming

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Industrial Ethernet

PLC programming

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

In this role, you will lead a team of Controls Engineers for the development, implementation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of industrial controls systems supporting GM Bedford's casting operations. You will partner with manufacturing engineering, maintenance, operations, quality, IT, suppliers, and plant leadership to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, throughput, and equipment reliability.

You will lead a team to solve diverse, non-standard problems; develop practical solutions with limited precedent; and influence decisions across the plant through technical expertise, data, and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and direction for controls, automation, IT, maintenance, and skilled-trades partners.

• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for PLC, HMI, drive, network, safety, and equipment-control issues; follow actions through closure.

• Lead controls planning and execution for die-casting, machining, melting, material handling, and plant improvement projects.

• Review and guide hardware designs, software changes, controls architecture, testing, commissioning, buyoff, and documentation.

• Coordinate with area manufacturing engineers on process changes, equipment planning, model change, throughput, sourcing, and project timing.

• Develop project scopes, schedules, cost estimates, investment forecasts, business cases, appropriation requests, and execution plans.

• Support Device Level Analytics and related plant digital initiatives through PLC configuration, device onboarding, data validation, health checks, and training.

• Apply GM controls, electrical, safety, lockout, ESWP, and equipment buyoff standards; ensure safe work practices are the highest priority.

• Use data and statistical problem-solving methods to improve equipment availability, cycle time, quality, capacity, and cost.

• Maintain effective working relationships with plant leadership, hourly employees, union partners, suppliers, contractors, and technical organizations.

• Lead a team of controls engineers and share lessons learned, standards, and best practices across the Bedford controls team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on technical experience.

• 5+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation engineering, robotics engineering, or manufacturing systems integration.

• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems and the ability to apply that knowledge in a manufacturing or production environment.

• Experience with PLC and HMI programming, industrial networking, and controls system troubleshooting.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated technical leadership experience integrating or supporting robotics, automated equipment, or advanced manufacturing systems.

• Experience supporting equipment buyoff, installation, launch, commissioning, and production startup.

• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, industrial Ethernet, and related plant-floor communication interfaces.

• Experience with machine vision, vision-guided robotics, automated inspection, or error-proofing systems.

• Experience influencing technical decisions, leading others, and driving improvements beyond an immediate assignment area.

• Familiarity with manufacturing safety systems and safe automation design practices.

• Experience working directly with suppliers, system integrators, and cross-functional plant teams.

About GM

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We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

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