Global Paint & Materials Engineering Manager (Automotive)

Location: Warren, Michigan, United States; hybrid, with attendance at the specific location at least 3 times a week. Travel required up to 25%; relocation benefits are available under company policy.

Company

hirify.global develops and manufactures vehicles, with a focus on zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.

What you will do

• Lead the global engineering team responsible for paint, coatings, and sealing materials used across GM manufacturing operations.
• Define materials strategies supporting vehicle quality, design intent, manufacturing performance, sustainability, and cost competitiveness.
• Establish material specifications, engineering standards, approval processes, and process control strategies.
• Evaluate, validate, approve, and implement new materials, technologies, and supplier solutions.
• Partner with Design, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and suppliers on vehicle programs and manufacturing initiatives.
• Lead vehicle launches, production changes, annual color programs, quality investigations, root cause resolution, global standardization, talent planning, coaching, succession planning, and workforce strategy.

Requirements

• Experience with automotive paint shop operations, coatings, sealing systems, or related material technologies.
• Experience leading technical teams in manufacturing, materials engineering, coatings, paint systems, or related engineering environments.
• Demonstrated success developing engineering talent through performance management, organizational planning, and workforce development.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving engineering, manufacturing, operations, suppliers, and business stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and influencing skills across all organizational levels.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations in a production environment.
• 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.
• Must not require GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future, including H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, or other immigration support.

Nice to have

• 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.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in a global engineering organization focused on innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Partner across technical, manufacturing, purchasing, operations, design, and supplier organizations.
• Hybrid work arrangement with regular reporting to the Warren location.
• Relocation benefits are available for qualifying candidates under company policy.
• Employee benefits and total rewards support well-being at work and at home.

Hiring process

• Applicants may be required to complete role-related assessments and pre-employment screening where applicable.