Lead Design Release Engineer – GM Defense

GM • Warren, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

General Motors Defense has multiple positions open! Please apply to be considered for a role in: Chassis, Body, Interior, Electrical, Software, Powertrain/RESS. GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles and mobility solutions to defense, government, and security customers by leveraging the best of General Motors’ commercial technologies. We rapidly adapt proven architectures, components, and processes from GM’s global portfolio to meet demanding military and government requirements for performance, survivability, reliability, and total lifecycle cost. GM Defense is seeking Lead Design Release Engineers to serve as the single accountable engineering owners for major subsystems on current and future defense programs. Open roles support the following domains: Chassis (frame, suspension, steering, brakes, wheels/tires, driveline) Body / Exterior / Structures (BIW, closures, armor integration, exteriors, glazing, underbody) Interior (seating, restraints, IP/console, trim, HVAC interfaces, human factors) Electrical (low-voltage distribution, harnesses, controllers, sensors/actuators, power management) Software / Controls (embedded software, vehicle features, diagnostics, cybersecurity, integration of COTS and defense-specific software) Powertrain / RESS (engine integration, transmission/driveline interfaces, cooling, fuel systems, propulsion packaging, high-voltage battery systems, battery controls, charging interfaces, energy management). 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 Lead 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).
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.
• The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

Nice To Haves

• 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
• Experience in one or more of the following: Chassis: vehicle dynamics, durability, off-road mobility, heavy payloads
• Body: crashworthiness, armor integration, blast/ballistic considerations, advanced materials
• Interior: human factors, safety systems, occupant packaging, ruggedized interiors
• Electrical: high-demand power distribution, EMC/EMI, ruggedized harness design
• Software: embedded controls, AUTOSAR or similar architectures, diagnostics, cybersecurity
• 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.
• Define and lead validation plans across bench, vehicle, and field test environments
• Drive issue identification, root cause analysis, containment, and corrective actions using structured problem-solving methods
• Support safety, durability, EMC, environmental, and survivability test activities, including readiness reviews and issue resolution
• Lead coordination with systems engineering, vehicle integration, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management
• Interface directly with suppliers and technical partners, setting expectations and reviewing designs, analyses, and validation evidence
• Support build events at GM and partner sites, resolving integration, launch, and field issues in real time
• 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
• Chassis Lead DRE: Own frame, tie down and sling load points , suspension, steering, braking, wheels/tires, and driveline interfaces for on- and off-road mission profiles
• Balance ride/handling, payload, towing, mobility, and survivability requirements, including up-armored configurations
• Integrate commercial chassis content with defense-specific payloads, armor, and mobility upgrades
• Lead vehicle dynamics, braking, durability, NVH, and rollover-related technical decisions and validation support
• Body / Exterior Lead DRE: Own body-in-white, closures, exteriors, glazing, underbody systems, and armor integration interfaces
• Develop structural solutions that support crew protection, blast/ballistic objectives, and mission payloads while managing mass and manufacturability
• Ensure robust sealing, corrosion protection, environmental performance, and maintainability
• Lead packaging and integration of antennas, external sensors, racks, and mission equipment on body structures
• Interior Lead DRE: Own seating systems, restraints, interior trim, IP/console, stowage, and crew interface elements
• Ensure interior designs meet ergonomics, human factors, safety, and mission-effectiveness targets, including operation with PPE
• Integrate HVAC, communications, displays, controls, and power/data interfaces into the interior environment
• Lead trade-offs across comfort, durability, cleanability, and rapid reconfiguration for mission flexibility
• Electrical Lead DRE: Own power distribution, harnesses, junction boxes, controllers, lighting, sensors/actuators, and key subsystem interfaces
• Design architectures that support high electrical loads, mission systems, exportable power, robustness, and redundancy
• Ensure compliance with EMC/EMI, environmental, safety, and cybersecurity requirements in partnership with specialists
• Coordinate closely with software and controls to ensure robust electrical and data interfaces
• Software / Controls Lead DRE: Own embedded software requirements, integration, and validation for assigned vehicle features or mission-related functions
• Integrate GM production software, COTS components, and defense-specific applications to ensure reliable vehicle-level behavior
• Lead software validation strategies, including HIL/SIL, vehicle test, diagnostics, and update approaches where applicable
• Collaborate on cybersecurity, functional safety, diagnostics, and data management approaches aligned to program needs and standards
• Powertrain / RESS Lead DRE: Own propulsion system integration, including engine, transmission, driveline interfaces, cooling, fuel systems, mounts, and associated subsystem packaging as applicable to the platform
• Own Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) design release and integration, including battery pack, mounting, thermal interfaces, electrical/mechanical interfaces, serviceability, and protection strategies
• Balance performance, range, mobility, survivability, thermal performance, packaging, mass, and reliability requirements across mission profiles
• Integrate GM production content, COTS components, and defense-specific propulsion or energy storage solutions to support vehicle and mission needs
• Lead validation and issue resolution for propulsion and RESS-related requirements, including durability, thermal performance, environmental robustness, safety, diagnostics, and vehicle-level integration

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: Senior