Design Release Engineer - Frames / Structures - GM Defense

General Motors•Milford Charter Township, MI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

GM Defense is seeking a Design Release Engineer to serve as the single accountable engineering owner for major subsystems on current and future defense programs. This role is specifically for a Frame/Structure DRE within GM Defense. In this role, you will own requirements, design, release, validation, issue resolution, and lifecycle change management for your assigned subsystem. You will drive technical direction across the program and ensure GM Defense solutions meet performance, safety, quality, cost, schedule, and compliance targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
5+ years of relevant product engineering experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, aerospace, or a closely related industry
Demonstrated experience as a Design Release Engineer, technical lead, or equivalent, with end-to-end responsibility for a major subsystem
Proven ability to lead work through concept, design, validation, launch, and field support on complex engineered products
Experience working in CAD/CAE and PLM environments, including formal change management and part release processes
Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and issue resolution skills in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interface effectively with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams
Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction, manage subsystem risk, and mentor other engineers
Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

Nice To Haves

Experience with vehicle frames / structures
Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline
Direct experience with military or government vehicle programs, standards, or acquisition processes
Familiarity with GM engineering processes, systems, and tools, including bills of material, release systems, and global vehicle development processes
Prior work in low- to medium-volume, highly configured products and/or rapid prototyping environments
Experience supporting build events, fielding, or sustainment for defense or commercial fleets

Responsibilities

Serve as the single accountable engineering owner for a major subsystem from concept through production and sustainment
Translate customer, regulatory, and military standards into clear technical requirements and design targets
Own and maintain subsystem requirements, DFMEAs, DVPRs, BOMs, and CAD/CAE data
Lead architecture definition, trade studies, and technical decision-making across the subsystem
Lead the design, selection, and integration of components using GM production content, Commercial off the Shelf (COTS), and bespoke defense solutions
Ensure designs are packaged, manufacturable, serviceable, and compatible with armor, mission equipment, and adjacent vehicle systems
Execute formal part release and configuration control in GMD systems, including SOR, ICD, BOM, drawings, and specifications
Drive engineering changes and configuration decisions across variants.
Develop and maintain engineering timing, deliverables, technical risks, and mitigation plans for the subsystem
Provide clear status, risk, and trade-off recommendations to program leadership and customer-facing teams
Support RFI/RFP responses
Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers supporting the subsystem
Ensure subsystem design and release comply with relevant military standards, regulations, and customer requirements
Maintain robust configuration management across program phases, variants, and change events
Support export control, security, and customer-specific program compliance requirements as applicable