Welding & Joining Launch Engineer, Armored Vehicles - GM Defense (Automotive Manufacturing)

Location: Hybrid position based at the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, with reporting at least three times per week. Domestic travel to plants, suppliers, and test sites is required at less than 25%. Candidates must be U.S. Persons and already authorized to work in the United States. The role is not eligible for relocation benefits.

Company

hirify.global adapts General Motors automotive technologies for military, government, and security customers, focusing on electrification, autonomy, and integrated vehicle systems.

What you will do

• Launch and validate welding and joining processes for armored vehicle structures during prototype, pilot, and production phases.
• Develop weld verification and qualification strategies, including WPS/PQR documentation, coupon testing, ballistic testing where applicable, and NDE plans.
• Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturing engineering, quality, design, program teams, plants, and defense customers to ensure compliance with technical and military requirements.
• Support equipment integration, start-up, debugging, parameter verification, operator training, and process stabilization on plant floors.
• Develop launch staffing, resource, cost, timing, and risk plans while tracking readiness, open issues, and mitigation actions.
• Improve welding productivity, cost, quality, safety, standards, traceability, and lessons learned across future programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience with complex metals or armor.
• At least five years of manufacturing or welding engineering experience, including body shop, heavy fabrication, or launch activities.
• Strong knowledge of MIG and resistance welding for structural and safety-critical joints, robotic welding systems, weld controllers, robots, and data systems.
• Experience with weld verification, qualification, documentation, weld maps, traceability, build shop support, tooling, fixtures, and equipment troubleshooting.
• Ability to read CAD drawings, welding symbols, mechanical layouts, wiring and hosing diagrams, and armored vehicle product designs.
• Must be a U.S. Person: U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee. GM does not provide immigration sponsorship, including H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, or J-1 support.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of drawn arc welding, projection welding, flow drill screws, self-pierce rivets, and other mechanical joining methods.
• Experience with weld data systems, quality monitoring dashboards, GM Welding & Joining Standards, or structured launch processes.
• Background in defense, armored vehicles, mission-critical applications, military standards, or tightly controlled weld traceability.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven engineering work supporting defense and national security customers.
• Cross-functional collaboration with GM, government organizations, industry partners, suppliers, and plant teams.
• Full employee benefits and total rewards from the start of employment.
• Work schedule and overtime may vary according to launch timing, testing, and program needs.
• Inclusive workplace with equal employment opportunities and accommodation support.

Hiring process

• Role-related assessments and pre-employment screening may be required.