Descripción

Job Description
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.

Role Summary

The Senior Robotics Researcher will drive advanced robotics research and development to support GM’s future manufacturing and product strategies. This role combines deep technical expertise, hands-on experimentation, and close collaboration with cross-functional partners to create innovative, scalable robotic solutions for complex industrial applications.

Key Responsibilities

Generate innovative concepts, propose and lead R&D projects, and evaluate emerging technologies to address critical business and technical needs.
Lead research and experiments to collect data, validate concepts, and advance state-of-the-art solutions in your domain.
Produce high-quality research reports, external publications, and records of invention that clearly document new ideas and research results.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry and academic developments to continually grow core technical skills and competencies.
Build and manage strong partnerships with divisional teams and stakeholders to align on objectives and deliverables.
Ensure proper laboratory safety practices, including use and maintenance of personal protective equipment, and clear communication of laboratory hazards.
Execute complex technical and special assignments with minimal guidance.
Support lab leadership in identifying megatrends in technology and business strategies across the automotive sector and related industries.
Contribute to GM’s strategic response to emerging threats and opportunities in robotics and automation.
Represent GM as a technical leader in external technical and business communities (e.g., conferences, standards bodies, industry consortia).
Lead technical discussions, design reviews, and peer reviews as an expert in your field, clearly communicating results and progress across the organization.
Continuously grow and diversify your skills and technical competencies.
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art research in specialized robotics domains and consistently exhibit innovative thinking and strong cross-functional partnership.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree required in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
PhD preferred in a related discipline with a focus on robotics, controls, or intelligent systems.
3–5 years of experience as an individual researcher in robotics or closely related areas.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a track record of clear technical documentation and presentations.

Technical Skills & Experience

Robot kinematics and dynamics: forward/inverse kinematics, advanced kinematic modeling, and novel robot configuration development.
Robot motion and trajectory planning: time-optimal, collision-free, and constraint-aware path planning.
Robot control methods: position, velocity, force/torque, impedance, and vision-based control.
Closed-loop and automatic control: stability, overshoot, path accuracy, and control tuning for industrial systems.
Multi-robot systems: coordination, collaboration, and synchronization of multiple robots.
Industrial articulated robots: programming, commissioning, and optimization for processing, assembly, and material handling.
Industrial mobile robots: navigation, coordination, and integration into manufacturing environments.
Industrial hardware and system integration: hardware design, system configuration, and integration of robots, sensors, and controllers.
Fanuc robot programming: advanced applications using KAREL and related toolsets.
ROS-based control architectures: development of robot control stacks and integration with industrial systems.
Digital twins and offline programming: expert-level modeling, simulation, and offline programming of robotic systems.
Physical behavior of robotic systems: understanding thermal growth, vibration, stability, path accuracy, and dynamic effects.
End-to-end AI for robot control: data-driven and learning-based control strategies for industrial applications.
Modular and hybrid control schemes: combining classical control with AI while ensuring reliability, explainability, and safety.
Industrial application development: robotic solutions for processing, assembly, and material handling.

Manipulation & End-Effector Expertise

Gripper and end-effector design: vacuum, mechanical, soft-robotic, and hybrid grippers.
Handling challenging materials and parts, including:
- Flexible materials (e.g., cardboard, wiring harnesses)
- Deformable parts (e.g., seals, trims)
- Large rigid structures (e.g., closures, castings)
Grasp planning under uncertainty: robust strategies for variable pose, compliance, and contact conditions.
In-process manipulation: integrated manipulation with processes such as welding and other value-add operations.

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.)

Este puesto se clasifica como híbrido. Esto significa que se espera que el candidato seleccionado se presente en una ubicación específica al menos 3 veces por semana {o con otra frecuencia indicada por su líder}.

Este puesto podría ser elegible para beneficios de relocalización.

Información sobre diversidad

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Declaración de igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo (EE.UU.)

General Motors se enorgullece de ser un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. Todos los solicitantes calificados serán tenidos en cuenta para el empleo sin distinción de raza, color, religión, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad de género, nacionalidad, discapacidad o condición de veterano protegido.

Adecuaciones (EE.UU. y Canadá)

General Motors ofrece oportunidades a todos los solicitantes de empleo, incluyendo las personas con discapacidades. Si necesita una adecuación razonable para ayudarle con su búsqueda o solicitud de empleo, envíenos un correo electrónico a [email protected] o llámenos al 800-865-7580. En su correo electrónico, incluya una descripción del puesto específico que está solicitando, así como el título del empleo y el número de solicitud del puesto que está solicitando.