Entry-Level - Compute Platforms & SoC/MCU Semiconductor Systems Researcher

GM • Warren, MI

27d • Hybrid

About The Position

GM R&D researches and develops next-generation in-vehicle architectures, compute platforms, and communication systems for Software Defined Vehicles. This role focuses on semiconductors and compute platforms, including SoCs, MCUs, memory subsystems, and related board-level and platform software technologies used in automotive ECUs, infotainment systems, and centralized or automated-driving compute platforms. The researcher defines and develops projects aligned with GM R&D priorities and communicates the value of the work to GM and its customers.

The role leads semiconductor research that can inform electrical and software architecture roadmaps; develops and validates proof-of-concept prototypes in R&D labs; evaluates compute and memory technologies; and explores new compute and communication concepts. It also contributes to ECU and board-level design, low-level software concepts, collaboration with engineering, purchasing, and suppliers, and the transfer of successful research into production programs, pilots, or platform roadmaps. The researcher may publish or protect intellectual property and represent GM R&D at technical events.

Requirements

• Pursuing or completing a master's or PhD degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Must be graduating between August 2026 and June 2027.
• Able to work full time, 40 hours per week.
• Relevant research experience in semiconductors, SoC/MCU architecture, or embedded compute platforms.
• Understanding of modern SoCs/MCUs, including CPU cores such as Arm or RISC-V, memory hierarchies, interconnects, and on-chip peripherals.
• Knowledge of high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, DDR/LPDDR, GDDR, and NVMe.
• Knowledge of automotive communication protocols and in-vehicle networks, including Ethernet, Time Sensitive Networking standards, CAN, LIN, PCIe-based architectures, or SOME/IP.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG for board bring-up and debugging.
• Experience with ECU or embedded-system design and low-level software, such as board support packages, bootloaders, bare-metal or RTOS implementations, and hardware drivers.
• Experience integrating low-level software with hardware in lab or bench environments.
• Strong communication skills, including presenting complex technical content at multiple levels of detail.
• Must be a U.S. Person, defined in the posting as a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee, due to export-control restrictions.
• Must not require GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• PhD.

Responsibilities

• Lead semiconductor-focused research projects that influence GM electrical and software architecture roadmaps, including central compute, zonal ECUs, domain controllers, edge nodes, infotainment, and automated-driving platforms.
• Design and implement proof-of-concept prototypes on R&D lab benches and representative in-vehicle architecture benches, validating concepts before transfer to product teams.
• Evaluate and benchmark SoCs, MCUs, and memory technologies for latency, throughput, power, cost, and safety/security trade-offs.
• Explore and prototype compute and communication concepts using FPGAs, evaluation boards, and custom circuitry to de-risk architectures and features, including real-time safety-critical functions and mixed-criticality workloads.
• Contribute to ECU and board-level design concepts, coordinating with internal teams and suppliers on power, clocks, reset, high-speed interfaces, and bring-up strategies.
• Drive low-level software concepts for Software Defined Vehicle architectures, including boot flows, board support packages, bare-metal or RTOS implementations, device drivers, and hardware abstraction.
• Collaborate with GM engineering, purchasing, and suppliers to align semiconductor choices with long-term architecture, safety, cybersecurity, and cost objectives.
• Pursue technology insertion opportunities and work with product engineering and program teams to move successful research into production programs, pilots, or platform roadmaps.
• Publish and protect intellectual property through internal reports, patents, and external publications where appropriate.
• Represent GM R&D at technical conferences and workshops.

Benefits

• GM states that it supports employee well-being at work and at home and provides Total Rewards resources; specific benefits are not detailed in the posting.

What This Job Offers

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