Automation Controls Engineer

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

As a Process Controls Engineer, you will support the development, execution, and continuous improvement of manufacturing controls across new and existing programs. This role serves both centralized manufacturing engineering and plant operations and requires strong technical skills, creative problem-solving, and sound judgment. You will contribute to controls and automation solutions that enable successful program launches, reliable plant operations, and ongoing process improvements.

What You’ll Do

• Support new program execution, including SOR preparation, forecasting, controls and robotics design, equipment build/run-off, and buyoff.

• Assist with the design, construction, integration, and installation of control systems to support successful launches and long-term performance.

• Stay current with emerging technologies in PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, robotics, and vision systems to help drive innovation and plant readiness.

• Manage assigned program deliverables to meet timing milestones and provide clear status updates to project and engineering leaders.

• Provide technical support for existing programs, including troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and optimization of controls systems.

• Collaborate with senior and lead controls engineers on technical direction and best practices to ensure high-quality project execution.

• Design, review, and troubleshoot electrical control systems for manufacturing equipment in accordance with GM standards.

• Contribute to the development, testing, and implementation of advanced process technologies that improve efficiency, quality, and safety.

• Coordinate with cross-functional partners in engineering, operations, and maintenance to ensure alignment on controls deliverables and issue resolution.

Required Qualifications – Your Skills & Abilities

• Experience in Manufacturing Engineering (ME) and/or plant assignments (2–3+ years) with demonstrated success delivering technical results in controls or automation.

• Strong engineering, critical-thinking, and analytical skills with the ability to solve complex technical problems.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate and align with cross-functional partners.

• Working knowledge of plant floor systems, such as Production Monitoring and Control, Andon Systems, Upload/Download and Compare, Throughput, and Material Call.

• Experience with tooling or manufacturing systems and familiarity with Common Controls Hardware and Common Controls Software Standards.

• Understanding of manufacturing processes and parts design, including applications with Rockwell PLCs, Fanuc robot programming, and CNC equipment (e.g., Siemens Sinumerik).

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Hands-on experience with plant floor controls applications, including automation controls design, debug, and implementation on production equipment.

• Self-motivated, able to manage multiple priorities, and comfortable working both independently and within a team environment.

• Basic project coordination skills, including planning tasks, tracking progress, and identifying risks/issues with escalation as needed.

Preferred Qualifications – What Will Set You Apart

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing control systems and platforms related to controls architecture.

• Deep understanding of high-volume manufacturing processes in shops and related quality systems.

• Working knowledge of manufacturing-related systems such as manufacturing-related information systems and plant-floor data collection tools.

• Familiarity with product launch processes and how they integrate with manufacturing plants and plant floor systems.

• Experience with common industrial controls architectures and/or Matrix vision system programming.

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