By Abbi Gabli, intern, GM News
When Jonathan Williams joined General Motors as an intern in 2006, he didn’t know what to expect.
“I assumed I’d be running errands and sending faxes,” says Williams, now Executive Director of Software & Services Program Management at GM. “But that’s not at all what the role was.”
His first summer as an intern, Williams worked at the company’s Romulus, Michigan propulsion plant, where he worked on the crankshaft machining line as a manufacturing engineer. He led large machine installations and gained hands-on experience far beyond what he’d imagined.
That was the first in a series of four summer internships for Williams at GM – which set the stage for a full-time gig in 2010, following his graduation from the University of Michigan with a degree in mechanical engineering.
The internship experience
Williams was aware of the opportunities at GM early in his academic career – his high school actually offered a summer internship program with the company. But it wasn’t until he was a freshman at Michigan that he applied for a position with the company.
“I went to their booth at the career fair and applied,” he recalls, landing his first internship that summer.
Over the course of his undergraduate years, Williams completed three internships at the Romulus plant. One summer, he took on the role of line supervisor, managing two UAW teams responsible for full V8 engine assembly.
“It was a really awesome experience to learn to lead with humility and focus on making the team successful,” he says.
That early leadership role helped shape how he’s approached his career.
Williams returned to GM for a graduate-level internship while pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering. This time, he worked at Milford Proving Ground, the company’s test facility in southeastern Michigan. There, he worked on an extended-range electric vehicle and came away with three patents on its thermal system design, a testament to both the responsibility he was given and the impact he made.
“Having an internship in Milford really exposed me to everything that GM was working on,” Williams said. “It helped show me the size and breadth of the company.”
His internships gave him more than experience - they gave him critical soft skills in working with a broad group of people.
CAPTION: Williams early in his career posing with a 2014 Chevrolet Impala
Career planning
Although he grew up in southeastern Michigan, Williams didn’t come from an auto industry family. Most of his family worked in healthcare. But studying engineering opened a new door, and his time at GM helped shape his interest in the field.
Even after interviewing with other companies, Williams kept choosing GM internships, each offering more responsibility and new challenges.
“I’ve never been bored here,” he says. “I’ve always stayed at GM because I believe in the vision and the mission, but also because I’ve always been given opportunities for something new and challenging.”
After completing his master's degree, Williams accepted a full-time role at Milford in 2010, continuing his work on thermal systems. From there, he held roles ranging from electrical issues resolution team co-chair to design release engineer for instrument clusters, among others.
His work expanded into innovation, where he led GM’s e-bike program and managed various startup-style initiatives, including energy storage and defense projects. Later, as director of advanced infotainment, he oversaw display strategy and warranty performance.
Throughout his journey, Williams has stayed engaged by working across GM’s diverse portfolio. The hardest part of transitioning from intern to employee, he says, was shifting from 12-week projects to multiyear programs; but the complexity continues to motivate him.
CAPTION: Williams spent time leading GM’s e-bike program, where the company experimented with electric bicycles.
From intern to impact
In his current role as executive director of software and services program management, Williams is at the center of a huge part of GM’s future. His team supports just about everything software-related, from mobile apps and vehicle software to backend enterprise systems. No two days look the same, and he’s constantly switching gears between long-term planning and helping teams execute on tight timelines.
Because his team touches so many areas of the business, Williams sees success not in personal milestones, but in setting others up to thrive.
“It’s important to ensure my team is not only set up to succeed, focused on scoping and defining the right programs, but also working with their partners to deliver on time with quality,” he says.
It’s a big job, but one that Williams believes is a good right fit. The variety, pace, and complexity are all part of what keeps Williams engaged. He’s especially excited about the impact his team is having on GM’s shift toward software-defined vehicles and smarter, more connected technology.
“It’s a good fit for me and I expect to be part of this team for a long time,” he says.
His advice for current and future interns?
Be thoughtful about how your work connects to the bigger picture.
“Think about how the impact you as an intern have links back to GM’s greater strategy,” he says. “It’s really important to understand the impact you’re making.”
“Stepping up” highlights former interns who’ve taken on full-time roles, offering a glimpse into how careers can evolve over time at GM.
When Jonathan Williams joined General Motors as an intern in 2006, he didn’t know what to expect.
“I assumed I’d be running errands and sending faxes,” says Williams, now Executive Director of Software & Services Program Management at GM. “But that’s not at all what the role was.”
His first summer as an intern, Williams worked at the company’s Romulus, Michigan propulsion plant, where he worked on the crankshaft machining line as a manufacturing engineer. He led large machine installations and gained hands-on experience far beyond what he’d imagined.
That was the first in a series of four summer internships for Williams at GM – which set the stage for a full-time gig in 2010, following his graduation from the University of Michigan with a degree in mechanical engineering.
The internship experience
Williams was aware of the opportunities at GM early in his academic career – his high school actually offered a summer internship program with the company. But it wasn’t until he was a freshman at Michigan that he applied for a position with the company.
“I went to their booth at the career fair and applied,” he recalls, landing his first internship that summer.
Over the course of his undergraduate years, Williams completed three internships at the Romulus plant. One summer, he took on the role of line supervisor, managing two UAW teams responsible for full V8 engine assembly.
“It was a really awesome experience to learn to lead with humility and focus on making the team successful,” he says.
That early leadership role helped shape how he’s approached his career.
Williams returned to GM for a graduate-level internship while pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering. This time, he worked at Milford Proving Ground, the company’s test facility in southeastern Michigan. There, he worked on an extended-range electric vehicle and came away with three patents on its thermal system design, a testament to both the responsibility he was given and the impact he made.
“Having an internship in Milford really exposed me to everything that GM was working on,” Williams said. “It helped show me the size and breadth of the company.”
His internships gave him more than experience - they gave him critical soft skills in working with a broad group of people.
Career planning
Although he grew up in southeastern Michigan, Williams didn’t come from an auto industry family. Most of his family worked in healthcare. But studying engineering opened a new door, and his time at GM helped shape his interest in the field.
Even after interviewing with other companies, Williams kept choosing GM internships, each offering more responsibility and new challenges.
“I’ve never been bored here,” he says. “I’ve always stayed at GM because I believe in the vision and the mission, but also because I’ve always been given opportunities for something new and challenging.”
After completing his master's degree, Williams accepted a full-time role at Milford in 2010, continuing his work on thermal systems. From there, he held roles ranging from electrical issues resolution team co-chair to design release engineer for instrument clusters, among others.
His work expanded into innovation, where he led GM’s e-bike program and managed various startup-style initiatives, including energy storage and defense projects. Later, as director of advanced infotainment, he oversaw display strategy and warranty performance.
Throughout his journey, Williams has stayed engaged by working across GM’s diverse portfolio. The hardest part of transitioning from intern to employee, he says, was shifting from 12-week projects to multiyear programs; but the complexity continues to motivate him.
From intern to impact
In his current role as executive director of software and services program management, Williams is at the center of a huge part of GM’s future. His team supports just about everything software-related, from mobile apps and vehicle software to backend enterprise systems. No two days look the same, and he’s constantly switching gears between long-term planning and helping teams execute on tight timelines.
Because his team touches so many areas of the business, Williams sees success not in personal milestones, but in setting others up to thrive.
“It’s important to ensure my team is not only set up to succeed, focused on scoping and defining the right programs, but also working with their partners to deliver on time with quality,” he says.
It’s a big job, but one that Williams believes is a good right fit. The variety, pace, and complexity are all part of what keeps Williams engaged. He’s especially excited about the impact his team is having on GM’s shift toward software-defined vehicles and smarter, more connected technology.
“It’s a good fit for me and I expect to be part of this team for a long time,” he says.
His advice for current and future interns?
Be thoughtful about how your work connects to the bigger picture.
“Think about how the impact you as an intern have links back to GM’s greater strategy,” he says. “It’s really important to understand the impact you’re making.”
“Stepping up” highlights former interns who’ve taken on full-time roles, offering a glimpse into how careers can evolve over time at GM.