Manager of Advanced Robotics Development

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. Were turning todays impossible into tomorrows 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 peopleas we aim to makedriving safer smarter and more connected shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

The Role

Manager Advanced Robotics Development

The Autonomous Robotics Center (ARC) is a multidisciplinary organization developing the next generation of intelligent highly automated manufacturing systems for General Motors. The Manager Advanced Robotics Development leads a team of entry-level and senior robotics and vision engineers responsible for designing validating and industrializing advanced automation solutions that strengthen GMs manufacturing capability and roadmap.

This role owns the strategy and execution for turning research concepts into robust production-ready robotics and vision technologies with minimal barriers to deployment. The manager will partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering Automation Standards plant manufacturing teams and Research & Development to ensure that ARC-developed solutions are aligned with GM standards scalable across plants and ready for safe reliable operation in GM production environments.

The person in this role brings deep industry experience strong supplier relationships and working knowledge of GM automation standards to accelerate technology hardening and adoption across the enterprise.

What You Will Do

Lead Advanced Robotics & Vision Development

• Build and manage a high-performing team of robotics and vision engineers (entry-level through senior) focused on advanced automation and intelligent manufacturing systems.
• Define technical direction development standards and best practices for robotics and vision within ARC.

Translate Research into Production-Ready Technologies

• Own the end-to-end process for maturing robotics and vision concepts from research prototypes into validated hardened solutions ready for plant rollout.
• Structure development pipelines (requirements simulation lab demos pilot cells and production trials) to minimize barriers from prototype to deployment.
• Ensure solutions meet manufacturing requirements for safety throughput quality maintainability and total cost of ownership.

Interface with Manufacturing Engineering Automation Standards & R&D

• Serve as a primary technical interface between ARC Manufacturing Engineering Automation Standards and R&D for robotics vision and advanced automation topics.
• Align ARC development work with GM automation standards controls architectures preferred platforms and approved supplier ecosystems.
• Feed lessons learned from deployments back into standards design guidelines and best practices.

Engineer ProductionReady Robotics Systems

• Oversee design and integration of advanced robotic cells including robots PLCs safety systems machine vision and material handling.
• Ensure systems are architected for reliability maintainability diagnostics and future scalability across multiple plants and programs.

Drive Industrialization & Deployment

• Lead design reviews build phases FAT/SAT and launch support for ARC-developed automation both in labs and at manufacturing sites.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and plant launch teams to plan and execute technology introductions pilots and scale-up.

Technical Governance & System Performance

• Set expectations and review standards for robot PLC and automation software developed by the team.
• Ensure robust commissioning troubleshooting and optimization to maximize uptime and achieve stable repeatable performance in production environments.

Supplier and Ecosystem Engagement

• Maintain strong relationships with key robot vision and automation suppliers and integrators.
• Evaluate and select platforms that align with GM standards and long-term manufacturing strategy.
• Coordinate joint development trials and roadmap alignment with strategic partners.

Develop People Culture and Ways of Working

• Recruit mentor and grow engineers across levels providing clear development paths in robotics controls and vision.
• Foster a culture of experimental rigor safety continuous learning and high-velocity execution.
• Promote collaboration across ARC verticals (e.g. controls systems software) to deliver integrated solutions.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

Educational Foundation

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Electrical Robotics Controls Mechatronics Computer Engineering or a related field.
• Strong training in robotics controls and automation technologies.

Technical Mastery in Robotics & Automation

• Extensive hands-on experience with industrial robotics including one or more of: FANUC Universal Robots or equivalent platforms.
• Strong expertise in programmable logic controllers (PLCs) automatic control systems and mechatronics in manufacturing environments.
• Proven background in designing programming integrating and validating robotic systems with a focus on safety reliability and robust production performance.

Controls PLCs and HMIs

• Proficiency with Rockwell ControlLogix and Siemens S7-1500 (or similar) PLC families for complex automation cells.
• Experience building and maintaining HMIs using tools such as Siemens TIA Portal and Rockwell FactoryTalk View for intuitive operations and diagnostics.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (Profibus Profinet Ethernet/IP TCP/IP) and system-level integration across automation platforms.

Vision & Sensing Integration

• Practical experience integrating machine vision systems (e.g. Matrox Keyence or equivalent) for inspection guidance localization and quality assurance.
• Ability to define vision requirements lighting optics and inspection strategies suitable for robust plant operation.

Standards Safety and GM Alignment

• Familiarity with relevant safety and automation standards such as ISO 10218 IEC 61131 ANSI/RIA R15.06 and functional safety concepts.
• Working knowledge of or strong aptitude to rapidly learn GM manufacturing and automation standards architectures and preferred technology stacks.

Leadership & Execution

• 5 years of experience leading teams or major technical workstreams in robotics automation or controls engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to scope prioritize and deliver complex automation projects on time and within constraints.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to align stakeholders across Manufacturing Engineering R&D plants suppliers and leadership.

Field Readiness & Collaboration

• Willingness and ability to travel to GM manufacturing sites and supplier facilities for hands-on troubleshooting commissioning and launch support.
• Enthusiasm for multidisciplinary development and global collaboration with a track record of building trust and shared success across diverse technical teams.

What Will Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred Qualifications)

Advanced Education & Research Experience

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics Controls Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Mechatronics or a closely related discipline.
• 2 years of research or advanced development experience (academic institutional or industrial) in intelligent automation or robotics.

Deep Industry & Integration Background

• 810 years of experience in manufacturing automation ideally within automotive OEMs or Tier-1 integrators.
• Proven track record as an automation integrator with certifications and substantial experience in industrial robot and PLC programming across multiple platforms.
• Direct experience working with or inside GM or other global OEMs on large-scale automation deployments is highly desirable.

Motion Drives and Advanced Control

• Experience configuring and optimizing servo drive systems (e.g. Siemens G120/S120 Rockwell PowerFlex/Kinetix).
• Background in advanced motion control coordinated multi-axis systems or force/impedance control for robotic applications.

Project & Portfolio Leadership

• Demonstrated success leading high-risk technically complex projects from concept through plant deployment.
• Ability to build and manage a portfolio of automation initiatives balancing near-term launches with long-term capability building.

Growth-Oriented Mindset

• Strong desire to continuously learn and master emerging technologies in robotics AI-enabled automation and vision.
• Comfortable operating in an R&D-to-production translation space where requirements evolve and rapid iteration is required.

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 were looking out for your well-beingat work and at homeso you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

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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.

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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