Interior Validation Engineer - GM Defense

General Motors • Warren, MI

1d • 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. GM Defense is seeking an Interior Validation Engineer to lead validation activities for interior systems and components supporting defense, government, and specialty vehicle programs. The role will translate customer, system, regulatory, and engineering requirements into robust validation plans; coordinate test execution; analyze results; and drive issue resolution through program launch. The engineer will work closely with design release, systems engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, program management, and other validation teams to ensure interior products meet performance, durability, safety, appearance, and customer requirements. Interior validation scope may include seats, seat belts, airbag and steering-wheel systems, instrument panels, floor consoles, door trim, overhead systems, hard trim, and related components.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of engineering experience in vehicle interiors, product validation, testing, design release, quality, or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing engineering validation plans and test procedures.
• Experience with vehicle or component-level testing, data collection, troubleshooting, and technical reporting.
• Understanding of interior systems, component interfaces, vehicle architecture, and product development processes.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate failures, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective actions to closure.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and make sound technical decisions in an ambiguous environment.
• Ability to support hands-on testing, vehicle builds, laboratory activities, and occasional travel.
• Ability to work effectively with suppliers, manufacturing teams, engineering organizations, and program leadership.
• Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience validating interior commodities such as seats, restraints, airbag systems, instrument panels, floor consoles, door trim, overhead systems, hard trim, or seat belts.
• Experience with automotive validation standards, GM test procedures, regulatory requirements, or customer-specific requirements.
• Familiarity with advanced development, validation, and evidence-management processes.
• Experience with data acquisition, instrumentation, test automation, statistical analysis, or post-processing tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering analysis tools.
• Experience with supplier development, design release, manufacturing launch, or production quality.
• Familiarity with DFMEA, PFMEA, 7 Diamonds, Red X, problem-solving, or equivalent quality methodologies.
• Experience supporting defense, government, specialty vehicle, low-volume, or highly customized vehicle programs.
• Experience presenting technical findings and recommendations to senior engineering or program leadership.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and improving team standard work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain interior validation strategies, plans, schedules, test procedures, and acceptance criteria.
• Translate engineering requirements, statements of requirements, customer expectations, and applicable standards into traceable validation activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute validation testing in laboratories, vehicles, proving grounds, supplier facilities, and manufacturing environments.
• Lead test readiness reviews, including parts, build levels, instrumentation, fixtures, test equipment, procedures, and safety requirements.
• Monitor test execution, troubleshoot test setup or product issues, and ensure testing is completed with accurate and repeatable results.
• Analyze test data, identify trends and failure modes, and communicate technical conclusions, risks, and recommendations.
• Lead issue identification, prioritization, root-cause analysis, containment, corrective action, and validation of proposed solutions.
• Partner with design release engineers and suppliers to confirm that interior components meet technical requirements and are ready for production.
• Maintain validation status, timing, open issues, traceability, test reports, and supporting evidence through program milestones.
• Support vehicle builds, launch events, customer evaluations, warranty investigations, and lessons-learned activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve validation methods, standard work, checklists, test efficiency, data quality, and reuse of proven test approaches.
• Prepare and present technical updates to engineering, program, manufacturing, quality, supplier, and leadership audiences.
• Promote safe work practices and ensure validation activities comply with applicable GM, customer, regulatory, and program requirements.
• Serve as the validation point of contact for assigned interior commodities and program deliverables.
• Lead cross-functional teams through complex validation concerns, balancing technical risk, timing, cost, and customer impact.
• Influence design, manufacturing, quality, supplier, and program decisions through data-driven recommendations.
• Coordinate investigations involving design release, systems engineering, materials, manufacturing, quality, vehicle integration, suppliers, and test operations.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to less-experienced engineers and validation team members.
• Escalate program risks with clear status, impact, recovery plans, and recommended decisions.
• Build alignment across organizations with different priorities while maintaining accountability for validation readiness and evidence closure.

Benefits

• From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

What This Job Offers

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