Computational Mechanics and Computer Aided Design Researcher

General Motors • Warren, MI

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features. Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale. The Role We are seeking a Computational Mechanics and Computer Aided Design Researcher to join our Design for X (DfX) team within Research & Development. In this role, you will help shape the future of engineering design by developing AI powered tools embedded directly into our CAD workflow (Siemens NX), enabling engineers to create designs that are optimized for performance, manufacturability, and quality before production begins. This position sits at the intersection of computational geometry, mechanics, and artificial intelligence, translating advanced research into practical, CAD native engineering capabilities used at scale. Joining R&D will provide you with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies, contribute to innovation, and collaborate with a diverse team of experts. You will play a key role in advancing our capabilities and ensuring that our products are at the forefront of the industry.

Requirements

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Graphics, or a related field. OR MS Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Graphics, or a related field and 2+ years of equivalent experience.
• Strong background in computational mechanics, numerical methods, or simulation-driven design.
• Expertise in computational geometry or computer graphics, such as surface representations, geometry processing, feature detection, or geometric optimization.
• Proficiency in Python and/or C/ C#/C++ for algorithm development and research prototyping.
• Experience applying machine learning to engineering or geometry-centric problems.
• Ability to design rigorous experiments and validate results using appropriate engineering metrics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing CAD or CAE integrations, particularly with Siemens NX or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with DFX, manufacturability analysis, or CAD based checking tools.
• Experience combining physics-based simulation with AI, such as surrogate modeling or physics informed ML.
• Background in manufacturing related mechanics (e.g., forming, joining, structural performance).
• Publication or patent record in computational mechanics, geometry processing, or AI for engineering.
• Experience turning research prototypes into tools used by nonexpert engineers.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational geometry and mechanics algorithms that reason directly on CAD models to support design evaluation and optimization.
• Research and prototype AI assisted generative design workflows that combine data driven methods with physics and geometry aware reasoning.
• Build CAD integrated solutions within Siemens NX to enable pushbutton analysis, design exploration, and manufacturability checks.
• Design and validate methods that balance learning based approaches with deterministic evaluation, ensuring results are explainable and repeatable.
• Collaborate with cross functional partners in R&D, Manufacturing, Product Engineering and IT to transition research concepts into scalable engineering tools.
• Communicate research outcomes through technical reports, demonstrations, and presentations to engineering and leadership audiences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree