Staff Robotics AI Engineer - Robotic Foundation Models

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

We are seeking a Staff Robotics AI Engineer - Robotic Foundation Models to lead the design, development, and deployment of robotic foundation models—multi-modal, scalable AI systems that enable generalizable perception, planning, and manipulation across diverse robotic platforms. This is a staff technical leadership role at GM’s Manufacturing Technology Development (MTD) team, where you will drive innovation at the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence, shaping the future of automation in manufacturing.

You will be responsible for architecting and implementing advanced AI/ML systems, mentoring scientists and engineers, and guiding strategic initiatives that push the boundaries of robotic autonomy. You will work closely with the production teams from the Autonomous Robotics Center to deliver cutting edge robotics technology. Your work will directly influence GM’s next-generation intelligent robotic systems and contribute to the broader research community and the future manufacturing lines.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development and deployment of robotic foundation models, including vision-language-action (VLA) systems, reinforcement learning agents, and sim2real adaptation pipelines
• Architect scalable model training and inference systems, ensuring robustness, efficiency, and real-world applicability
• Drive hands-on experimentation and refinement, validating models in simulation and on physical embodiments across diverse tasks
• Mentor and guide cross-functional teams, fostering technical excellence and knowledge sharing across ARC
• Shape technical strategy, identifying emerging trends and translating them into actionable R&D initiatives
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate models into production-grade robotic systems
• Publish and patent breakthrough research, contributing to GM’s intellectual property and academic presence

Your Skills Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 7+ years of hands-on experience in ML model development, deployment, and refinement, especially in robotics or autonomous systems
• Deep expertise in foundation models, LLMs, ViTs, and multi-modal architectures
• Strong proficiency in Python/C++ and ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow
• Experience with 3D vision, graphics pipelines, and robotic data modalities
• Proven track record of technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration
• PhD or MSc in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or related field

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with robotics frameworks (ROS/ROS2, MoveIt, Nav2)
• Background in industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, or ADAS
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern software development practices such as Bash, Github, Bazel, Docker
• Publications in top-tier venues (e.g., NeurIPS, CVPR, ICRA, RSS)

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This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time 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 Total Rewards resources