Global Paint & Materials Engineering Manager

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.

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.)
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.
The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
Relocation benefits are available for candidates who qualify under company policy.
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.
Total Rewards | Benefits Overview
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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.
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