Optimization Engineering Group Manager - General Assembly Manufacturing Engineer
General Motors, Lansing, MI, United States
**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.
**The Role**The **General Assembly Automation & Optimization Group Manager** leads a team of manufacturing engineers delivering turnkey automation and process optimization projects across General Assembly (GA) in North America. The role owns the full lifecycle from opportunity identification through concept, sourcing, design, build, validation, and launch to ensure solutions meet **safety, quality, throughput, and cost** targets while supporting flawless program launches.You will work closely with **GA Shop Directors, MO Optimization, IE, ME, Material, Product Engineering, plant leadership, and suppliers** to shape the GA automation roadmap and execute a portfolio of high-impact projects. This position backfills the current GA Optimization Manager role and reports to the **Sr. Manager – Strategic Commodities & Manufacturing Engineering Install**.**What You'll Do****Strategy, Roadmap & Portfolio Management*** Lead the **GA Optimization team** in delivering automation and process optimization (material flow and process) projects across multiple GA plants.* Build, maintain, and continuously refine the **GA automation/optimization roadmap**, aligned to LTP, throughput targets, program timing, and plant priorities.* Own the **project funnel and governance** from idea through execution, including business case development, labor-efficiency / people-reduction confirmation, and project prioritization.* Ensure robust **Project Management Commitment/Approval Forms** (including people-reduction assumptions and deauthorization dates) are accurate and aligned with plant staffing plans.**Technical & Program Leadership*** Oversee development of **concepts, SORs, and automation kickoff packages**, ensuring adherence to GM standards (safety, controls, documentation, GDHS, etc.).* Provide technical and program leadership through **design reviews, simulations, FMEAs, and run-at-rate/dynamic validation** at both suppliers and plants.* Coordinate with **Execution Managers and plant ME** to plan and manage install, commissioning, and launch with minimal production disruption.* Champion **standard work, lessons learned, and reuse** of proven solutions, tooling, and suppliers across sites to accelerate replication and reduce cost.**People Leadership & Culture*** Build, lead, and develop a **high-performing engineering team**, setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and driving career development and succession planning.* Foster a strong **safety and quality culture**, ensuring all solutions meet or exceed GM and regulatory requirements.* Create an environment of **innovation, continuous improvement, and cross-plant collaboration** within the optimization team.**Stakeholder & Communication*** Act as a key partner to **GA Shop Directors, plant leadership, and central ME** on automation and optimization strategy.* Communicate **status, risks, trade-offs, and decisions** clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.* Align early and often with plants and suppliers to ensure solutions are **launch-ready, serviceable, and sustainable** in high-volume production.**Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)*** **Bachelor’s degree in Engineering** (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field).* **8+ years** of experience in manufacturing engineering, GA engineering, or closely related automotive/manufacturing roles.* **3+ years** of people leadership experience (e.g., supervisor, group manager), including performance management and talent development.* Proven experience **leading automation projects** (robotics, material handling, fastening, vision, or similar) from concept through launch.* Demonstrated ability to **manage a portfolio of projects** with clear priorities, timing, and budget control.* Excellent **cross-functional communication and influence** skills, including collaboration with plants, central ME, suppliers, and leadership.* Ability and willingness to **travel frequently** (up to 75%) to plants and suppliers as project needs require.**What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)*** **Master’s degree** in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business.* Strong understanding of **GA processes, tooling, ergonomics, throughput, and launch readiness**.* Experience as a **GA Execution Manager, GA Optimization lead, or equivalent multi-plant automation leadership** role.* Deep knowledge of **industrial robotics, PLCs/controls, vision systems, and error-proofing** in high-volume assembly environments.* Track record of delivering **labor-efficiency / people-reduction and productivity improvements** while improving safety and quality.* Evidence of **innovation** (patents, invention disclosures, or novel automation solutions) in complex GA environments.#LI-MH1GM 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).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 at least 50% or more on a frequent basis.This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.**About GM**Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.**Why Join Us**We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.**Benefits Overview**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 .**Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)**General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit .**Accommodations**General
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**The Role**The **General Assembly Automation & Optimization Group Manager** leads a team of manufacturing engineers delivering turnkey automation and process optimization projects across General Assembly (GA) in North America. The role owns the full lifecycle from opportunity identification through concept, sourcing, design, build, validation, and launch to ensure solutions meet **safety, quality, throughput, and cost** targets while supporting flawless program launches.You will work closely with **GA Shop Directors, MO Optimization, IE, ME, Material, Product Engineering, plant leadership, and suppliers** to shape the GA automation roadmap and execute a portfolio of high-impact projects. This position backfills the current GA Optimization Manager role and reports to the **Sr. Manager – Strategic Commodities & Manufacturing Engineering Install**.**What You'll Do****Strategy, Roadmap & Portfolio Management*** Lead the **GA Optimization team** in delivering automation and process optimization (material flow and process) projects across multiple GA plants.* Build, maintain, and continuously refine the **GA automation/optimization roadmap**, aligned to LTP, throughput targets, program timing, and plant priorities.* Own the **project funnel and governance** from idea through execution, including business case development, labor-efficiency / people-reduction confirmation, and project prioritization.* Ensure robust **Project Management Commitment/Approval Forms** (including people-reduction assumptions and deauthorization dates) are accurate and aligned with plant staffing plans.**Technical & Program Leadership*** Oversee development of **concepts, SORs, and automation kickoff packages**, ensuring adherence to GM standards (safety, controls, documentation, GDHS, etc.).* Provide technical and program leadership through **design reviews, simulations, FMEAs, and run-at-rate/dynamic validation** at both suppliers and plants.* Coordinate with **Execution Managers and plant ME** to plan and manage install, commissioning, and launch with minimal production disruption.* Champion **standard work, lessons learned, and reuse** of proven solutions, tooling, and suppliers across sites to accelerate replication and reduce cost.**People Leadership & Culture*** Build, lead, and develop a **high-performing engineering team**, setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and driving career development and succession planning.* Foster a strong **safety and quality culture**, ensuring all solutions meet or exceed GM and regulatory requirements.* Create an environment of **innovation, continuous improvement, and cross-plant collaboration** within the optimization team.**Stakeholder & Communication*** Act as a key partner to **GA Shop Directors, plant leadership, and central ME** on automation and optimization strategy.* Communicate **status, risks, trade-offs, and decisions** clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.* Align early and often with plants and suppliers to ensure solutions are **launch-ready, serviceable, and sustainable** in high-volume production.**Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)*** **Bachelor’s degree in Engineering** (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field).* **8+ years** of experience in manufacturing engineering, GA engineering, or closely related automotive/manufacturing roles.* **3+ years** of people leadership experience (e.g., supervisor, group manager), including performance management and talent development.* Proven experience **leading automation projects** (robotics, material handling, fastening, vision, or similar) from concept through launch.* Demonstrated ability to **manage a portfolio of projects** with clear priorities, timing, and budget control.* Excellent **cross-functional communication and influence** skills, including collaboration with plants, central ME, suppliers, and leadership.* Ability and willingness to **travel frequently** (up to 75%) to plants and suppliers as project needs require.**What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)*** **Master’s degree** in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business.* Strong understanding of **GA processes, tooling, ergonomics, throughput, and launch readiness**.* Experience as a **GA Execution Manager, GA Optimization lead, or equivalent multi-plant automation leadership** role.* Deep knowledge of **industrial robotics, PLCs/controls, vision systems, and error-proofing** in high-volume assembly environments.* Track record of delivering **labor-efficiency / people-reduction and productivity improvements** while improving safety and quality.* Evidence of **innovation** (patents, invention disclosures, or novel automation solutions) in complex GA environments.#LI-MH1GM 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).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 at least 50% or more on a frequent basis.This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.**About GM**Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.**Why Join Us**We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.**Benefits Overview**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 .**Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)**General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit .**Accommodations**General
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