Engineering Technical Lead EMC/ESD - GM Defense

General Motors • Warren, MI

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

General Motors is seeking a Technical Lead for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) engineering. The role provides technical leadership for vehicle electrical and electronic systems to support robust performance, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction throughout the product development lifecycle. The technical lead works with electrical, systems, controls, software, packaging, validation, manufacturing, and supplier teams to identify risks, guide verification, resolve complex issues, and establish consistent engineering practices.

The position leads EMC/ESD activities from concept through production launch, defines vehicle-level strategies and requirements, and provides technical direction for component-, subsystem-, and vehicle-level evaluations. It also involves analyzing test and field data, guiding design techniques and corrective actions, collaborating with suppliers and laboratories, mentoring engineers, and communicating technical decisions and risks across the organization.

The role is hybrid, with the selected candidate expected to report to a specific location at least three times a week or at another frequency set by their manager. Travel is less than 25%. Relocation benefits may be available to candidates who qualify under company policy. The role is subject to export-control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person. The candidate must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle regularly and pass a Motor Vehicle Report review. Following a successful review, the employee may be eligible for GM’s company vehicle evaluation program, which requires participants to purchase or lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless an exception applies. GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10 or more years of experience in automotive EMC, ESD, electrical systems, electronics validation, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience with vehicle- or system-level EMC/ESD development and issue resolution.
• Strong understanding of electromagnetic compatibility fundamentals, signal integrity, grounding, shielding, filtering, harnesses, and system interactions.
• Experience interpreting test results, identifying root causes, and driving corrective actions to closure.
• Ability to lead technical reviews and make sound engineering decisions using data, standards, and risk-based judgment.
• Strong written, verbal, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Must be a U.S. Person: U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee.
• Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.
• Must not require GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience with automotive EMC/ESD standards, regulatory requirements, and customer or regional compliance expectations.
• Experience with electric vehicles, high-voltage systems, advanced driver assistance systems, connected vehicles, or zonal/electrical architecture.
• Familiarity with EMC simulation, modeling, instrumentation, data analysis, or automated test methods.
• Experience working directly with suppliers, test laboratories, and global engineering teams.
• Professional engineering license, industry certification, or recognized technical leadership in EMC/ESD.

Responsibilities

• Lead EMC and ESD technical activities for automotive electrical and electronic systems from concept through production launch.
• Define and maintain vehicle-level EMC and ESD strategies, requirements, test plans, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive risk assessments, design reviews, test readiness reviews, and issue-resolution activities.
• Analyze test data and field or development issues to determine root cause and recommend corrective actions.
• Guide teams in applying shielding, grounding, filtering, cable and harness design, enclosure design, layout, and system integration techniques.
• Provide technical direction for immunity, emissions, transient, and ESD evaluations at component, subsystem, and vehicle levels.
• Partner with test laboratories and engineering teams to ensure repeatable, traceable, and technically sound measurements.
• Collaborate with suppliers to review EMC/ESD designs, test evidence, deviations, and corrective-action plans.
• Establish reusable methods, tools, lessons learned, and design guidelines to improve first-time-right performance.
• Mentor engineers and influence technical decisions across the organization without relying solely on formal authority.
• Communicate technical risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify risks early and convert complex technical problems into clear, executable actions.
• Build alignment across disciplines and influence decisions at multiple levels.
• Share knowledge, standardize best practices, and develop others.
• Demonstrate ownership, curiosity, accountability, and commitment to safe, reliable, high-quality products.

Benefits

• Relocation benefits may be available to candidates who qualify under company policy.
• Eligible participation in a company vehicle evaluation program, subject to successful Motor Vehicle Report review and program conditions.
• GM provides employee well-being and rewards resources; specific benefits are described in its Total Rewards resources.

What This Job Offers

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