Lab Group Manager – Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Systems

General Motors•Warren, MI

16d

About The Position

As the leader of the Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Systems group within Energy and Propulsion Systems Research, you will manage a team of researchers and oversee the planning and execution of advanced research in power electronics and energy conversion for future GM propulsion and vehicle systems. Your immediate focus will be to lead innovation across several core technical domains, including: High- and low-voltage component, subsystem, and architecture topologies for electrified transportation that improve cost, efficiency, performance, and customer-facing features. Traction inverter and power converter architectures. Wide-bandgap power semiconductor applications and power module innovation. High-density, high-efficiency power conversion for electrified propulsion systems. Packaging, thermal management, reliability, and manufacturability of power electronics. Emerging energy conversion technologies that create strategic options for GM. In this role, you will help define, develop, and mature advanced technologies from early research through system-relevant demonstrations. You will also build a strong external partnership network across suppliers, universities, startups, government labs, and advanced technology organizations to leverage investments and amplify GM’s internal efforts.

Requirements

Master’s degree or multiple advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, plus 10+ years of relevant work experience.
Track record of research or technology implementation.
Experience as a technical leader and individual contributor.
Strong, charismatic leader with excellent people skills.
Research and development project planning, management, and budget responsibility.
Ability to execute multiple projects spanning different technical areas in parallel.
Ability to communicate complex concepts and situations clearly and at the appropriate level for various audiences.
Demonstrated ability to break through barriers to execute plans.
Multidisciplinary engineering skill set.
Deep technical grounding in power electronics, energy conversion, and electrified propulsion technologies.

Nice To Haves

PhD or multiple advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
5+ years of people and team leadership experience.
Experience in automotive power electronics, electrified propulsion systems, or closely related transportation electrification technologies.
Experience leading research teams from concept creation through hardware or system demonstration.
Strong business acumen.
Demonstrated performance in roles requiring both high creativity and strong engineering technical excellence.
Strong evidence of career performance excellence in positions of increasing responsibility, challenge, and leadership.
Experience building effective external collaborations with universities, suppliers, startups, and government-sponsored programs.

Responsibilities

Lead corporate technology needs and chart overall strategy through active collaboration with stakeholders across the GM enterprise.
Provide technology leadership in power electronics and energy conversion systems and develop strategic roadmaps in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Develop and execute an R&D project portfolio that provides actionable options to address GM needs.
Optimize internal and external capability to execute the project portfolio, including leveraged funding and collaborations with academia, government labs, suppliers, startups, and other external partners.
Drive innovation and documentation of research developments through records of invention, internal reports, and external publications.
Develop a global network with key universities, government labs, industrial labs, and strategic partners to access world-class technology.
Lead cross-functional discussions, leadership reviews, and communication of results and progress across the organization.
Manage activities of researchers, including setting objectives, managing results, evaluating individual performance, coaching, and mentoring, and career planning for positive engagement.
Recruit talent and grow and diversify the team’s skills and proficiency base.
Engage the team to accomplish projects with high quality, high impact, and fast delivery.
Celebrate wins and seek recognition internally and externally for accomplishments of team members.
Support and encourage corporate initiatives of diversity, employee enthusiasm, and culture change.
Consistently demonstrate critical thinking and strong collaboration.
Be a champion for safety in the workplace.