Paint Process Engineer

General Motors; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a paint engineering professional to develop and optimize paint shop processes, equipment layouts, and standardized work. You will support launches, process changes, and ramp-ups while driving improvements in first-time quality, throughput, and uptime.

The role requires collaboration with production, maintenance, quality, environmental, safety, and supplier teams to resolve issues and sustain gains, with focus on adherence to environmental requirements and safe practices.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, process engineering, or related field, preferably in an automotive paint shop.
• Analytical, troubleshooting, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, process documentation, and equipment specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Commitment to safe work practices and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain paint shop processes, layouts, and standardized work.
• Support new product launches, process changes, equipment installation, and ramp-up.
• Monitor process performance and lead improvements in quality, throughput, and uptime.
• Troubleshoot paint defects, process variation, and production interruptions.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to resolve problems and sustain improvements.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Process engineering

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Robotics/Automation

Manufacturing data systems

Job description

What You’ll Do

These responsibilities align with GM paint engineering examples covering product launches, process improvements, defect troubleshooting, equipment uptime, facility planning, and cross-functional project execution. Develop, implement, and maintain paint shop processes, equipment, layouts, and standardized work. Support new product launches, process changes, equipment installation, commissioning, and production ramp-up. Monitor paint process performance and lead improvements in first-time quality, throughput, equipment uptime, material usage, and scrap. Troubleshoot paint defects, process variation, equipment issues, and production interruptions. Analyze process data and use structured problem-solving methods to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Develop and maintain process control plans, failure-mode analyses, reaction plans, engineering documentation, and change records. Partner with production, maintenance, quality, environmental, safety, and supplier teams to resolve problems and sustain improvements. Coordinate vendors and contractors during equipment design, installation, testing, and acceptance. Train and support plant personnel on process requirements, standardized work, and process changes. Promote safe work practices, ergonomic improvements, waste reduction, and compliance with applicable environmental requirements. Communicate project status, risks, decisions, and results to plant and engineering leadership.

Your Skills & Abilities

Experience in manufacturing, process engineering, or related field, preferably in an automotive paint shop. Demonstrated analytical, troubleshooting, project-management, and problem-solving skills. Ability to interpret engineering drawings, process documentation, and equipment specifications. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a production environment. Commitment to safe work practices and continuous improvement.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, chemical, manufacturing, industrial, paint, or a related engineering discipline. Knowledge of automotive paint processes, materials, equipment, and quality requirements. Experience with automotive paint shop launches, process controls, or equipment commissioning. Knowledge of electrocoat, pretreatment, sealer, primer, basecoat, clearcoat, or paint application systems. Experience with process control plans, failure-mode analyses, structured problem solving, lean manufacturing, or Six Sigma. Familiarity with paint quality measurement, robotics, automation, or manufacturing data systems. Experience coordinating suppliers, contractors, or capital projects. Manage production and skilled trades employees. Ability to manage UAW employees.

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.

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