Senior Controls Engineer (Automation)

General Motors; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with a focus on industrial automation to lead design, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing systems. You will provide technical leadership across projects, mentor teams, and drive safe, reliable equipment from concept through implementation.

The role requires 4+ years in controls/automation within manufacturing, with strong problem-solving, PLC/HMI/robot/CNC expertise, and the ability to coordinate across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 4+ years in manufacturing automation or controls roles.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills for high-volume production.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and commissioning of automation and controls solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting on production equipment.
• Define controls architecture and standards for projects.
• Mentor engineers, technicians, and suppliers in controls design and commissioning.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, maintenance, and quality teams.
• Own and improve plant floor systems including monitoring and data collection.
• Ensure safety, quality, and productivity targets including cyber considerations.
• Develop and maintain documentation for electrical/controls designs.
• Manage project scope, estimates, progress, risks, and changes.
• Collaborate with external suppliers to meet performance expectations.

Skills

Controls engineering

Automation experience

PLC/HMI/robot/CNC platforms

Project management

Root cause analysis

Manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PLC platforms

Industrial robots

CNC controls

Job description

Job Description

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with a focus on industrial automation to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing systems. In this role, you will provide technical leadership across multiple projects and production areas, guiding teams in the delivery of safe, reliable, and highly capable equipment.

This position is a strong fit for experienced controls engineers who have deep automation experience in manufacturing environments, even if they have not previously worked with our company or our specific standards. The emphasis is on demonstrated technical leadership, problem-solving, and ownership from concept through implementation.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design, development, and commissioning of automation and controls solutions for new equipment, process changes, and major upgrades.
• Serve as a technical leader for troubleshooting and issue resolution on production equipment, driving structured root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Define controls architecture and standards for assigned projects or areas, including PLCs, HMIs, robots, drives, networks, and safety systems.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to other engineers, technicians, and suppliers on controls design, programming, and commissioning best practices.
• Coordinate with cross-functional partners in engineering, operations, maintenance, and quality to align requirements, prioritize issues, and ensure successful project outcomes.
• Own and improve plant floor systems such as production monitoring, and/or alerting, data collection, material call, and related manufacturing information systems.
• Ensure that controls solutions support safety, quality, and productivity targets, including functional safety and cyber considerations where applicable.
• Lead the development, review, and maintenance of documentation for electrical/controls designs, programs, and system changes, ensuring clarity and long‑term maintainability.
• Manage the controls scope for projects, including defining work packages, estimating effort, tracking progress, and managing changes, risks, and issues.
• Partner with external suppliers and integrators, providing clear specifications and technical oversight to ensure delivered systems meet functional and performance expectations.

Required Qualifications – Your Skills & Abilities

• Experience across multiple manufacturing engineering and/or plant-based automation roles (typically 4+ years) with a track record of successful individual and team-based achievements in controls or automation.
• Strong engineering, critical thinking, and analytical skills with the ability to solve unusual and difficult technical problems in high‑volume production environments.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and align cross‑functional partners and stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of plant floor systems, including production monitoring and control, andon or alert systems, upload/download and compare tools, throughput monitoring, and material call or dispatch systems.
• Prior work experience with tooling or automated manufacturing systems and solid knowledge of commonly used industrial controls hardware and software platforms (for example, PLC/HMI/robot/CNC platforms from major vendors).
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and part design interfaces, with experience applying PLC platforms, industrial robot programming, and CNC controls.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience in industrial automation or controls.
• Proven project management skills, including planning, execution, stakeholder communication, and proactive risk/issue management for controls‑related scope.

Preferred Qualifications – What Will Set You Apart

• Strong understanding of high‑volume Automotive & allied industry manufacturing processes in production shops and associated quality management systems.
• Proven experience leading new product or process launch activities, ensuring controls strategies are integrated with plant systems and aligned to launch deliverables and timing.
• Experience defining, developing and/or improving existing controls standards, templates, and best practices across multiple lines, plants, or projects.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop less‑experienced engineers and technicians in automation and controls disciplines.

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. The selected candidate will be required to travel on a regular basis (25-50%) for this role. 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.

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.

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.