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
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 GM’s 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 Production‑Ready 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
- Bachelor’s 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
- 8–10+ 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.
