Barra started working for General Motors at the age of 18 as a co-op student in 1980 and subsequently held a variety of engineering and administrative positions, including managing the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant.
Pre General Motors začala pracovať v roku 1980 v 18 rokoch ako spolupracujúca študentka a neskôr zastávala rôzne inžinierske a administratívne pozície vrátane vedenia továrne Detroit / Hamtramck Assembly.