Lead Automation Controls Engineer

Job Description The Role The Technical Lead, Controls and Automation is a senior individual contributor responsible for leading the design, integration, launch, and continuous improvement of advanced manufacturing systems. This role provides technical leadership across controls, robotics, collaborative robotics (cobots), automation technology, and machine vision applications.

This person will serve as a hands-on technical lead who can solve complex manufacturing problems, guide project execution, and support the successful deployment of new equipment and process improvements in a fast-paced plant and manufacturing engineering environment.

The ideal candidate combines strong controls fundamentals with practical experience in automation integration, vision technology, and robotics. Core Responsibilities Lead the controls and automation scope for new equipment, major upgrades, and continuous improvement projects, with responsibility across controls, robotics, cobots, and machine vision applications.

Develop, review, and approve controls hardware concepts, software design approaches, integration plans, and equipment commissioning activities. Provide technical leadership for automation system architecture, equipment functionality, and overall system performance.

Diagnose and resolve complex issues related to controls, robotics, machine vision, safety systems, and equipment reliability. Support plant operations by driving improvements in safety, quality, throughput, cost, and operational performance.

Partner with manufacturing engineering, plant engineering, operations, maintenance, suppliers, integrators, IT, and launch teams to deliver project timing and business objectives. Support the application and integration of collaborative robotics and vision-enabled automation solutions in production environments.

Evaluate and help implement emerging automation technologies with a focus on scalability, maintainability, and low-risk launch execution. Provide technical direction, coaching, and day-to-day support to less experienced engineers, integrators, and technical resources.

Help standardize methods, improve technical discipline, and strengthen execution practices across controls, robotics, and vision systems. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on technical experience. 5+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation engineering, robotics engineering, or manufacturing systems integration.

Strong knowledge of industrial control systems and the ability to apply that knowledge in a manufacturing or production environment. Experience with PLC and HMI programming, industrial networking, and controls system troubleshooting. Demonstrated experience integrating or supporting robotics, automated equipment, or advanced manufacturing systems.

Working knowledge of machine vision, error-proofing, automated inspection, or sensor-based manufacturing applications. Experience leading technical workstreams or serving as a senior technical resource on complex automation projects. Ability to manage multiple technical assignments with a high level of autonomy, urgency, and accountability.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience with collaborative robots (cobots), robotic integration, or flexible automation solutions in manufacturing. Experience with automation system architecture, controls standards, or common controls solutions.

Experience supporting equipment buyoff, installation, launch, commissioning, and production startup. Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, industrial Ethernet, and related plant-floor communication interfaces. Experience with machine vision, vision-guided robotics, automated inspection, or error-proofing systems.

Experience influencing technical decisions, mentoring others, and driving improvements beyond an immediate assignment area. Familiarity with manufacturing safety systems and safe automation design practices. Experience working directly with suppliers, system integrators, and cross-functional plant teams. 

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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