ART Lead - Virtualization and SIL Integration

General Motors • Markham, ON

16d • Hybrid

About The Position

General Motors is undergoing a major transformation in how we engineer and validate software-defined vehicles (SDV), investing heavily in virtual test environments and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) capabilities to support our vision of ZERO Crashes, ZERO Emissions, and ZERO Congestion. As the Agile Release Train (ART) Lead – Virtualization and SIL Integration, you will lead the SIL ART responsible for delivering virtual test environments, co-simulation assets, and supporting services used to develop, verify, and validate embedded controllers and calibrations across domains such as propulsion, battery management, chassis/brakes, and body controls. You will act as a servant leader and coach for the ART, ensuring flow of value, strong cross-team coordination, and disciplined execution of SAFe/Agile practices, with a particular focus on Jira hygiene, metrics, and cross-scrum alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.
• Experience (typically 5+ years) in software or systems development in complex, multi-team environments; 3+ years as an RTE/ART Lead, Scrum Master, Delivery Lead, or similar agile leadership role.
• Strong practical experience with Agile and/or SAFe frameworks, including: Leading PI planning and ART-level ceremonies. Facilitating Scrum of Scrums and cross-team synchronization.
• Hands-on experience with Jira (or comparable tooling) for: Features/epics, stories, and defect management. Workflow configuration, dashboards, and reporting.
• Familiarity with virtualization, simulation, or embedded systems development, such as: Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), plant models, or virtual ECUs.
• Understanding of how virtual test environments support development, verification, and validation of embedded controllers and calibrations.
• Demonstrated servant leadership, coaching, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across disciplines and locations.

Nice To Haves

• SAFe certifications (e.g., SAFe RTE, SA, SPC, SASM) or equivalent agile leadership credentials.
• Experience leading ARTs or programs in: Automotive, aerospace, or other safety-/mission-critical domains. Software-defined vehicle (SDV), embedded controls, or model-based development environments.
• Experience with one or more of: Co-simulation environments (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, FMU/FMI-based models). Virtual test environments, virtualization infrastructure, or CI/CD for simulation pipelines.
• Data and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, SQL, or similar) for building agile and flow metrics dashboards.
• Python or Scripting experience for Data acquisition and analysis.
• Proven track record in: Establishing or maturing Jira hygiene and standards across multiple teams. Using metrics to drive continuous improvement in predictability, quality, and flow. Managing complex dependencies across ARTs, suppliers, and partner organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Virtualization and SIL Integration ART, aligning teams to program vision, roadmap, and value streams.
• Facilitate Program Increment (PI) planning, including preparation, execution, and follow-up on objectives, risks, and dependencies.
• Ensure consistent iteration cadence and ceremonies across scrums (planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives).
• Monitor and drive predictable delivery against ART commitments, using flow and quality metrics to enable continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of relentless improvement, transparency, and collaboration across all teams in the train.
• Facilitate and continuously improve the Scrum of Scrums for SIL teams, ensuring effective synchronization across multiple scrums.
• Surface and drive resolution of cross-team impediments, risks, and dependencies (technical, tooling, and organizational).
• Partner with Product Management, System Architects, and Engineering leaders to align priorities, sequencing, and scope across the ART.
• Own SILART Jira hygiene standards and practices: Ensure consistent use of Features, Needs, and Defects across teams.
• Maintain clear status, ownership, acceptance criteria, and traceability.
• Support consistent use of Jira structures (epics, features, stories, sub-tasks) aligned to SAFe.
• Establish and monitor dashboards and metrics (throughput, cycle time, aging WIP, defect trends) to support data-driven decision-making.
• Coach Scrum Masters, POs, and teams on best practices in Jira usage and workflow design to support flow.
• Coordinate iteration planning and reviews across scrums to ensure alignment to ART objectives and milestones.
• Partner with Product Manager(s), Scrum Managerss, and System Architects to: Refine and prioritize the ART backlog, aligning to SDV and Virtualization roadmap.
• Ensure stories and enablers are well-defined, sized, and ready prior to iteration planning.
• Connect technical enablers (e.g., new co-simulation models, vECU integration, CI/CD and virtualization infrastructure) to clear value outcomes.
• Ensure backlog transparency to stakeholders and leadership.
• Run a regular ART Sync / Front Door forum that: Serves as the intake mechanism for new work, requests, and change in priorities.
• Triages and routes requests to the right backlog (Feature, Need, Defect) and team.
• Identifies and manages dependencies with other ARTs and programs (e.g., SDV platform, plant model providers, calibration teams).
• Maintain clear visibility of upcoming work, capacity constraints, and key milestones for stakeholders.
• Provide regular status updates to leadership and stakeholders on ART health, risks, and delivery against objectives.
• Collaborate with global partners and internal customers leveraging virtual test environments, ensuring customer-centric prioritization.
• Champion Virtualization and SIL Integration as a key enabler for efficient software development, verification, and validation.

Benefits

• Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and supplemental benefits for pregnancy, parental and adoption leave
• Healthcare, dental, and vision benefits
• Life insurance plans to cover you and your family
• Company and matching contributions to a Defined Contribution Pension plan to help you save for retirement
• GM Vehicle Purchase Plan for you, your family and friends.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level