Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Autonomous Material Handling

Description
The Role
GM is transforming material movement inside our plants-from manual, forklift-based flows to highly automated, software-defined Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) and Autonomous Fork Truck (AFT) systems.
As an Autonomous Material Handling Manufacturing Engineer , you will turn early-stage AMR/AFT concepts into plant-ready manufacturing solutions. You will define requirements, run pilots, support launches, and ensure autonomous systems integrate cleanly with GM processes, layouts, safety standards, and operator workflows.
You will collaborate across Manufacturing Engineering, ARC/R&D, Material Flow, Controls/Robotics, IT/OT, Safety, plants, and external suppliers to industrialize next-generation automated material-handling systems that can scale across GM.
What You'll Do
Advance AMR/AFT Technology from Concept to Plant Use

• Translate roadmap direction into detailed engineering requirements, use cases, and test plans.
• Work with ARC/R&D and suppliers to move technologies from lab prototypes to plant pilots.
• Define system interfaces, test cases, and data-collection processes to progress technologies through MRL 1-7.
• Document gaps, risks, and required mitigations for maturity progression.

Lead Manufacturing Integration for Autonomous Material Handling

• Ensure AMR/AFT solutions comply with manufacturing, safety, and IT/OT requirements.
• Develop route definitions, docking/handoff logic, traffic rules, buffer strategies, and exception-handling concepts.
• Integrate AMR/AFT with WMS/MES, PLCs, and plant controls.
• Convert pilot learnings into reusable standard work, templates, and integration guides.

Plan and Run Pilots, Trials, and Pre-Production Deployments

• Lead technical execution at pilot and deployment sites.
• Coordinate on-site testing, shakedowns, and progression from supervised to autonomous operation.
• Validate performance against safety, throughput, and cost-per-move targets.
• Maintain issue logs, risk registers, action plans, and concise leadership updates.

Create and Industrialize Manufacturing Requirements & Standards

• Define plant-ready requirements for AMR/AFT layouts, traffic rules, charging strategies, safety zones, and operator interactions.
• Support creation of standards, reference architectures, PFMEAs, control plans, and launch-readiness criteria.
• Partner with plants to embed autonomous-handling requirements into work instructions and training content.

Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the AMR/AFT manufacturing SME for assigned programs or plants.
• Support Material Flow, Controls, IT/OT, Safety, and Product Engineering in technical trade-offs.
• Prepare concise one-pagers, decks, demos, and technical summaries for leadership and councils.
• Supply data-based inputs for business cases (labor redeployment, cost-per-move, avoided capital).

Support Field Operations, Launch, and Continuous Improvement

• Provide onsite support during key build events, pilots, and launches.
• Ensure clean handoff from development to sustained operation.
• Close feedback loops using real-world performance data and operator input.
• Identify new use cases for AMR/AFT to further reduce manual movement and expand automation.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, automation/robotics, or material-handling system integration.
• Direct experience deploying or supporting automated systems (AMR/AFT/AGV, warehouse automation, or similar).
• Hands-on experience running pilots, trials, or ramp-ups in production or logistics environments.
• Strong understanding of automotive/manufacturing operations, material-flow processes, and automation integration.
• Ability to translate high-level objectives into detailed technical requirements, test plans, and system interfaces.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, ARC/R&D, suppliers, IT/OT, and Safety.
• Familiarity with Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL 1-7) and/or GVDP or similar launch processes.
• Willingness and ability to travel ~25%.

What Could Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Prior plant or launch assignment (2-3 years) in manufacturing, material flow, or automation.
• Hands-on experience configuring, commissioning, or supporting AMR/AFT/AGV systems or warehouse automation platforms.
• Experience with industrial controls, robot/vehicle software, WMS/MES, or IT/OT integration.
• Experience collaborating directly with suppliers/system integrators on design, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and lifecycle support.
• Strong data-analysis capability using visualization tools to evaluate throughput, uptime, and utilization.
• Systems-thinking mindset with the ability to identify cross-system interactions, risks, and trade-offs.

This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.
The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
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