Lead Development & Validation Engineer

General Motors • Warren, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Development & Validation Engineer – Electrical Systems is the senior technical lead for high-voltage and low-voltage propulsion electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization. This role sets direction for electrical Design Validation (DV)/ Production Validation (PV) strategy, owns critical test/analysis plans, and ensures that outcomes are tightly linked to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and program risk burn-down. The engineer leads cross-functional alignment with Global Virtual Engineering (GVE), safety, program, and supplier teams while mentoring other engineers and driving method and capability growth. Rough guideline: ~50% technical leadership/strategy and cross-functional coordination; ~50% high-impact technical work and oversight (rather than day-to-day execution on every test).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in propulsion, battery/RESS, or vehicle electrical systems development and validation, with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Strong track record planning and leading complex electrical test programs and investigations in safety-critical environments.
• Deep working knowledge of DFMEA or equivalent risk tools, with proven experience using them to drive test/analysis priorities and design decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data into clear technical recommendations for senior stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with high-voltage automotive systems, isolation and fault-current management, functional safety standards, and diagnostics.
• Prior ownership of DFMEAs and/or feature-level responsibility for critical electrical functions.
• Familiarity with GVDP/GPDP and propulsion program governance (scorecards, PRTS, gate deliverables).
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and influencing without formal people-management authority.

Responsibilities

• Define the development and validation strategy for RESS electrical systems across multiple programs.
• Develop testing strategies to support virtualization activities.
• Translate program requirements, safety standards, and DFMEA outputs into integrated electrical test and analysis plans, ensuring coverage across architectures and phases.
• Make risk-based trade-offs on scope, timing, and methods, escalating issues and recommendations to leadership with clear options and impacts.
• Provide technical direction to other engineers and lab personnel executing electrical tests and analyses; review and sign off on critical test plans and reports.
• Serve as the senior electrical DFMEA owner for key domains: ensure failure modes, effects, causes, and controls are complete, current, and technically sound.
• Define and maintain the electrical detection strategy (test and analysis) for high-risk DFMEA items; ensure each has a credible and executable prevention/detection path.
• Lead regular DFMEA reviews with GVE, safety, and program teams to reprioritize tests/analyses as designs evolve, issues emerge, and new data arrives (e.g., field, warranty, read-across).
• Oversee planning and execution of complex electrical tests (e.g., HV/LV functional safety, isolation/fault management, abuse/fault injections, support TRP evaluations).
• Step in directly on the most complex or high-risk investigations, providing hands-on guidance in test design, instrumentation, data review, and root-cause analysis.
• Integrate results from lab testing, simulation, and vehicle-level evaluations into cohesive technical narratives and recommendations for design and program leadership.
• Represent electrical systems in cross-functional forums, design reviews, and workgroups, clearly articulating risks, mitigations, and readiness.
• Partner closely with GVE virtual teams so electrical DV/PV and modeling are aligned (assumptions, correlation targets, and capability gaps).
• Collaborate with safety, systems, software/controls, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure electrical system robustness from concept through launch.
• Mentor and coach engineers and lab staff on electrical system design, test methods, DFMEA usage, and sound engineering judgement.
• Lead continuous improvement of electrical test methods, fixtures, instrumentation, automation, and standard work; champion adoption across teams.
• Help shape capability roadmaps (tools, labs, training) for electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization.

Benefits

• Opportunity to serve as the senior technical lead for high-impact propulsion electrical systems within RESS Development & Validation, shaping DV/PV strategy and capability roadmaps
• Direct influence on the safety, robustness, and launch readiness of GM’s electric propulsion programs
• High visibility and cross-functional collaboration with GVE, safety, systems, software/controls, manufacturing, and supplier teams
• Meaningful scope to mentor engineers and drive continuous improvement in electrical methods, tools, and labs

What This Job Offers

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