Website General Motors
At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. The Senior Robotics Researcher will drive advanced robotics research and development to support GM’s future manufacturing and product strategies. This role combines deep technical expertise, hands-on experimentation, and close collaboration with cross-functional partners to create innovative, scalable robotic solutions for complex industrial applications.
Key Responsibilities
- Generate and test novel hypotheses in robotics through hands-on experimentation and simulation to validate new approaches for manufacturing applications.
- Develop and refine robotics algorithms, motion planning, and control methods to address complex industrial challenges.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams — including manufacturing, product engineering, and AI/ML — to integrate robotics solutions into GM’s broader strategy.
- Lead the design, building, and testing of robotic systems and prototypes in a lab environment.
- Document and communicate research findings through internal reports, patents, and peer-reviewed publications.
- Mentor junior researchers and foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
- Evaluate commercial robotic systems and technologies for applicability to GM’s manufacturing needs.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
- 5+ years of hands-on robotics research experience, with a proven record of solving complex real-world problems.
- Extensive experience with robot simulation environments (ROS/ROS2, Gazebo, MuJoCo, Isaac Sim, or similar).
- Proficiency in Python and C++ for robotics development.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a track record of clear technical documentation and presentations.
Technical Skills & Experience
- Robot kinematics and dynamics: forward/inverse kinematics, advanced kinematic modeling, and novel robot configuration development.
- Robot motion and trajectory planning: time-optimal, collision-free, and constraint-aware path planning.
- Robot control methods: position, velocity, force/torque, impedance, and vision-based control.
- Closed-loop and automatic control: stability, overshoot, path accuracy, and control tuning for industrial systems.
- Multi-robot systems: coordination, collaboration, and synchronization of multiple robots.
- Industrial articulated robots: programming, commissioning, and optimization for processing, assembly, and material handling.
- Industrial mobile robots: navigation, coordination, and integration into manufacturing environments.
- Industrial hardware and system integration: hardware design, system configuration, and deployment.
- Machine learning for robotics: sim-to-real transfer, reinforcement learning, and data-driven control.
Salary: $182,100 – $278,600. GM offers a comprehensive benefits package including health coverage, a 401k with company match, and an employee vehicle discount program.
To apply for this job please visit generalmotors.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com.
