Global Paint & Materials Engineering Manager
General Motors
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Job Description
The Role
At General Motors, manufacturing innovation starts with the materials and technologies that bring our vehicles to life. As the Global Paint & Materials Engineering Manager, you will lead the engineering organization responsible for the development, validation, deployment, and lifecycle management of paint, coatings, and sealing materials across GM's global manufacturing network.
This highly visible leadership role influences vehicle appearance, quality, durability, manufacturing performance, and cost competitiveness for some of the world's most advanced vehicle programs. You will partner across Design, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and strategic suppliers to develop material solutions that support new technologies, enable manufacturing excellence, and drive continuous improvement across a global footprint.
As a people leader, you will set technical direction, develop organizational capability, and build a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability while helping shape the future of vehicle finishing technologies.
This Role Is Ideal For
Engineering leaders who enjoy developing high-performing technical teams and solving complex manufacturing challenges at a global scale. You'll thrive in this role if you enjoy collaborating across organizations, influencing technical and business decisions, partnering with suppliers, and transforming materials innovation into vehicle quality, manufacturing excellence, and measurable business results.
What You Will Do
- Lead the global engineering team responsible for paint, coatings, and sealing material technologies used throughout GM manufacturing operations.
- Define and execute materials strategies that support vehicle quality, design intent, manufacturing performance, sustainability objectives, and cost competitiveness.
- Establish and maintain material specifications, engineering standards, approval processes, and process control strategies.
- Lead the evaluation, validation, approval, and implementation of new materials, technologies, and supplier solutions.
- Partner with Design, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, and Operations teams to support new vehicle programs and manufacturing initiatives.
- Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships while driving innovation, performance, and competitive sourcing opportunities.
- Provide leadership and technical direction during vehicle launches, production changes, and complex manufacturing or quality investigations.
- Lead annual color program execution, ensuring design intent, durability, manufacturability, and customer expectations are achieved.
- Drive root cause analysis and resolution of material-related quality concerns across manufacturing operations.
- Lead global collaboration efforts that standardize best practices, share technical expertise, and advance engineering excellence across regions.
- Develop future organizational capability through talent planning, coaching, succession planning, and workforce strategy.
Required Qualifications
- Experience with automotive paint shop operations, coatings, sealing systems, or related material technologies.
- Experience leading technical teams within manufacturing, materials engineering, coatings, paint systems, or related engineering environments.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing engineering talent, including performance management, organizational planning, and workforce development.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving engineering, manufacturing, operations, suppliers, and business stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to navigate complex technical and operational challenges.
- Experience supporting manufacturing operations in a production environment.
- Proven ability to influence and communicate effectively across all levels of an organization.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading global engineering teams or multi-region technical initiatives.
- Knowledge of paint shop automation, manufacturing processes, and process control systems.
- Experience supporting vehicle launches, manufacturing start-ups, or major production implementations.
- Technical program or portfolio management experience.
- Red X, DFSS, Lean Manufacturing, or equivalent continuous improvement certifications.
- Experience working across Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, Supplier Quality, and Design organizations.
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
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 Total Rewards resources.
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 How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
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