Senior Materials Engineer

GM • Warren, MI

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Materials Engineer is responsible for developing, validating, and supporting paint shop manufacturing materials with a primary focus on Topcoat Systems . This work is performed within centralized manufacturing engineering or plant/assembly environments where creativity, initiative, and a high level of independent judgment are essential. In this role, you will collaborate with suppliers, manufacturing sites, and engineering teams to drive material innovation, ensure robust processes, and support high-quality vehicle finishes.

Requirements

• 5+ years of direct automotive coatings experience with proven expertise in materials, formulations, and application processes.
• Advanced technical knowledge of paint materials engineering, including topcoat systems, curing behavior, rheology, and material–process interactions.
• Strong understanding of paint shop manufacturing best practices, including booth operations, application equipment, quality controls, defect reduction methods, and environmental compliance.
• Working knowledge of material procedures, validation protocols, testing methods (e.g., appearance metrics, durability testing, adhesion, corrosion), and qualification requirements for production release.
• Proven project management capability with the ability to lead material development initiatives, manage timelines, coordinate suppliers/equipment SMEs, and deliver technical milestones.
• Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites, suppliers, and development locations as required to support material launches and problem resolution.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree (MS) in Chemistry or Engineering.
• Background in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Metallurgical Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Partner with materials suppliers to develop, evaluate, and approve materials to applicable GM materials specifications.
• Provide technical direction to manufacturing sites and new paint shop teams on proper processes and equipment to support paint materials.
• Support development and testing of advanced process technologies and materials.
• Lead project management activities across equipment SMEs, suppliers, and manufacturing teams to execute new material launches.
• Drive development projects for new materials and applications to reduce cost, improve environmental performance, or enhance product quality.
• Plan and implement material tests and development programs to support problem-solving and technical advancement.
• Participate in the Global Technical Team to drive alignment on new technology development, materials standardization, and equipment requirements.
• Develop new materials testing procedures to validate evolving product requirements.
• Own and maintain engineering documents including material specifications, process control plan templates, PFMEA, Bill of Operations, and Bill of Materials.

Benefits

• From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions.
• Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees