Controls Engineering Leader

Job Description

The Role

The Controls Engineering People Leader is responsible for leading a team of controls/automation engineers and technicians supporting highvolume manufacturing operations. You will own the strategy execution and continuous improvement of plant control systems (PLCs HMIs industrial networks drives safety circuits data collection systems) to enable safe reliable and efficient production.

This is a handson leadership role balancing daytoday production support with longterm upgrades standardization and technical talent development while reinforcing a strong safety culture.

What Youll Do (Key Responsibilities)

People Leadership & Safety

• Lead coach and develop a team of controls engineers and/or technicians including performance management mentoring training and succession planning.

• Set clear priorities manage workload and remove roadblocks so the team can meet safety quality delivery and cost objectives.

• Implement and maintain key safety processes and programs including gRisk Management of Change (MOC) and other plant safety requirements.

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all controls work meets applicable safety cybersecurity and regulatory standards.

Controls Strategy Standards & Governance

• Own and maintain plant controls standards (PLCs HMIs safety controls networks robots/cobots drives field devices) and ensure alignment to GM/global specifications.

• Ensure all changes to control systems follow MOC and are properly documented (backups drawings network layouts bills of material change logs).

• Stay current on new controls technologies (PLC HMI networks robotics/cobots vision diagnostics) and guide the adoption of best common systems and methods.

Operations Support & Continuous Improvement

• Provide technical direction for troubleshooting controls automation and networking issues to support OEE throughput and scrap reduction targets.

• Support and improve preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for controls and automation equipment.

• Use structured problem solving and root cause analysis to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability errorproofing process capability and data visibility.

Project & Vendor Management

• Plan and execute controlsrelated projects (new equipment refurbishments line moves upgrades obsolescence mitigation and integration of emerging technologies such as AI/cobots and advanced diagnostics).

• Provide direction to project teams across multiple organizations and levels; coordinate closely with product engineering plant engineering maintenance and other manufacturing engineers.

• Manage controlsrelated vendors and contractors including scope definition proposal review safety expectations and ensuring safe compliant execution.

• Lead departmental initiatives related to controls hardware software licenses and support contracts.

CrossFunctional Collaboration

• Partner with operations maintenance engineering and leadership to prioritize work align on scope and deliver robust solutions that support Safety Quality Delivery and Cost.

• Maintain effective working relationships with plant leadership central engineering OEMs and other crossfunctional GM organizations.

Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Controls/Automation Engineering Mechatronics Computer Engineering or related technical field; or equivalent relevant experience.

• 5 years of controls/automation engineering experience in a manufacturing environment (stamping assembly machining body shop paint or similar heavy industrial preferred).

• Demonstrated people leadership experience (direct supervision team lead or project leadership of technical staff).

• Strong handson experience with PLC and HMI platforms (e.g. AllenBradley/Rockwell Siemens or equivalent).

• Experience with industrial networks (e.g. EtherNet/IP Profinet DeviceNet ControlNet Profibus) and network troubleshooting.

• Working knowledge of machine safety (safety PLCs interlocks light curtains safety relays risk assessment safe stop lockout/tagout concepts).

• Proven track record applying structured problem solving and root cause analysis to reduce downtime and improve reliability.

• Strong communication collaboration and stakeholder management skills across operations maintenance engineering and leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fastpaced productioncritical environment.

• Willingness to provide offshift and weekend support as needed for major downtime events launches and critical projects.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Deep technical knowledge in controls or automation engineering disciplines in highvolume manufacturing.

• Experience in automotive or highvolume metal/assembly manufacturing.

• Experience with robotics/cobots (programming integration safety zoning and commissioning).

• Experience leading capital projects from concept through commissioning and handover.

• Demonstrated success developing and mentoring engineers/technicians and building highperformance technical teams.

• Strong interpersonal skills and communication methods that build effective partnerships and alignment with business leaders and crossfunctional teams.

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

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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.

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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