Automation Supervisor

General Motors•Warren, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. In this Automation Supervisor role, you will lead a team of manufacturing controls and/or vision engineers responsible for planning, designing, integrating, installing, and supporting automated production systems across central engineering, the plant, and OEM partners. You will manage both individual project workload and cross-functional project teams to deliver safe, high-quality, and on-time launches of new and existing products.

Requirements

10–15 years of experience in manufacturing engineering and/or automation, with significant exposure to complex automated production systems.
5+ years leading large manufacturing automation projects end-to-end, including specification, procurement, integration, launch, and debug.
Demonstrated people leadership experience managing engineers or technical staff (e.g., goal setting, coaching, performance reviews, and development planning).
Strong project management skills, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams (product engineering, plant engineering, other ME groups, and vendors) on large-scale automation projects.
Proven safety and risk management experience implementing and maintaining key safety processes and programs on automated equipment (e.g., risk assessments, g-Risk, machine safeguarding, LOTO).
Automotive manufacturing experience supporting plant-floor automation and/or launch activities.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
Ability to work effectively in both central engineering and plant environments, including time on the plant floor around operating equipment.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% (domestic and/or international) based on program and launch needs.

Nice To Haves

7+ years’ experience in manufacturing engineering/automation leading complex controls projects and production launches.
Direct plant launch and commissioning experience with automated equipment, including debug, runoffs, and ramp-up to rate.
Hands-on expertise with GM controls standards and systems, such as GCCH, GCCS, GPM&C, PR&T, GSIP, and GM industrial network standards.
Strong working knowledge of robotics and vision platforms, for example: Fanuc or similar industrial robots Matrox/Cognex or similar vision systems Rockwell/Siemens PLCs and HMIs
Demonstrated ability to teach, mentor, and develop less-experienced controls or vision engineers, including training on GM GPS and VS controls standards.
Experience managing multiple greenfield and brownfield automation projects in body, GA, or other vehicle manufacturing areas.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a controls/vision engineering team responsible for automated production systems, including project assignment, coaching, performance feedback, and career development.
Prioritize team workload to ensure successful execution of multiple concurrent automation projects and support activities.
Provide end-to-end project leadership for large controls automation projects, from requirements and specifications through procurement, integration, debug, launch, and handoff to operations.
Own procurement and launch of new and major program automation equipment, including RFQ support, vendor technical reviews, runoffs, and buyoffs.
Partner closely with product engineering, plant engineering, manufacturing engineering, and OEMs to align automation solutions with product and process requirements and successfully launch new products.
Diagnose and correct deficiencies in manufacturing processes, leveraging structured problem-solving and data to drive uptime, throughput, and quality improvements.
Maintain strong working relationships with organizational leadership, plant leadership, and external vendors, representing the automation team in status updates, issue resolution, and strategic planning.
Stay current on controls and automation technologies, including PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, robots, and machine vision platforms, and drive adoption of best-fit solutions.
Lead and participate in safety g-Risk activities (GM safety risk assessment process) and ensure automation solutions comply with GM and regulatory safety standards.
Support deployment of best common systems and methods as defined in the PT Global Controls Bill of Process and related GM controls standards (e.g., GCCH, GCCS, GPM&C, PR&T, GSIP).
Provide technical direction and oversight to outside vendors delivering controls, robotics, and vision systems, ensuring conformance to GM standards and project requirements.
Mentor and guide less-experienced controls and vision engineers, sharing best practices in GPS and VS controls standards and helping build technical depth across the team.
Execute full people-leader responsibilities for direct reports, including: Setting and reviewing goals in the CAP process (goal setting, mid-year, and year-end reviews). Managing results, providing timely feedback, and coaching individual performance. Supporting compensation planning and communication. Building training and development plans aligned to technical and career growth.
Implement and maintain key safety processes and programs for automated equipment, ensuring robust lockout/tagout, guarding, and functional safety practices in collaboration with EHS and plant leadership.