Mechanical Hardware Engineer – CAD, Prototyping & Reliability Testing

General Motors•Warren, MI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mechanical Hardware Engineer will provide practical mechanical design, prototyping, and reliability-test support to program teams developing GM Software Defined Vehicle electronics. The role is part of GM’s Central Compute Hardware Mechanical Design team, which develops enclosures, mechanical assemblies, and test solutions for next-generation electronics across future ICE and EV vehicles. The primary focus is Siemens NX CAD development, including simple structural FEA, alongside regular hands-on work in GM prototyping facilities and test laboratories. The engineer independently addresses moderate-scope design and test problems under general supervision, coordinates with cross-functional teams, and translates physical build and test results into design improvements. The position is categorized as 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%. The role is not eligible for relocation benefits, and GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Typically 3–7 years of mechanical design, prototyping, test, or product-development experience in automotive, electronics, aerospace, industrial equipment, or a similar environment.
Hands-on experience with Siemens NX for parametric 3D part and assembly modeling, design revisions, and drawing creation.
Experience using Teamcenter or a comparable product data-management and change-control system.
Ability to design mechanical components and assemblies, interpret drawings, apply GD&T, and perform basic tolerance and fit assessments.
Working knowledge of structural mechanics, materials, loads, stiffness, vibration fundamentals, and basic heat-transfer concepts.
Experience with simple structural FEA or similar engineering analysis, including preparing models, defining loads and constraints, reviewing results, and recognizing when expert analysis is needed.
Hands-on experience building prototypes, designing or modifying fixtures, or setting up mechanical test hardware.
Experience supporting laboratory testing, preferably including thermal, vibration, shock, environmental, or mechanical reliability testing.
Ability to safely use common shop and laboratory equipment and work directly with hardware, fixtures, sensors, instrumentation, and test equipment.
Strong problem-solving, documentation, communication, and collaboration skills.
Ability to manage multiple program-support requests, prioritize work, communicate status, and deliver to program timing with limited day-to-day direction.
Must not require GM immigration-related sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with electronics packaging, ECU housings, central compute hardware, power electronics, computers, or similar electro-mechanical products.
Experience with vibration testing, modal testing, shaker systems, accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, thermal chambers, or related data-acquisition equipment.
Familiarity with automotive environmental and reliability test methods, including GMW3172 or comparable industry standards.
Experience designing fixtures and test apparatus for repeatability, access, load transfer, instrumentation, and safe operation.
Experience with additive manufacturing, machining, sheet-metal fabrication, or other rapid-prototyping methods.
Exposure to thermal management, EMI/shielding, sealing, IP protection, vehicle interfaces, or connector interfaces.
Familiarity with DFMEA/PFMEA, structured problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and design-of-experiments principles.
Experience using MATLAB, Python, Excel, or similar tools to process and visualize test data.
Experience working with suppliers, prototype shops, manufacturing teams, or external test laboratories.
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

Responsibilities

Create and maintain parametric 3D parts, assemblies, layouts, and supporting drawings in Siemens NX for electronics housings, brackets, fixtures, interfaces, and related mechanical components.
Develop CAD content for program teams, including packaging studies, mounting features, brackets, covers, seals, PCBA interfaces, test hardware, and prototype parts.
Perform basic mechanical design checks, including fit, clearance, interference, stack-ups, stiffness considerations, and first-order structural assessments.
Prepare and run simple structural FEA analyses, such as static load, stiffness, mounting-load, and basic modal or vibration screening evaluations; document assumptions, inputs, and results, and engage analysis specialists when needed.
Apply mechanical fundamentals, materials knowledge, tolerance analysis, and GD&T to support robust and manufacturable designs.
Support physical prototype builds using machined, formed, molded, and additive-manufactured parts; review build quality and incorporate learnings into CAD and drawings.
Design, detail, procure or fabricate, and modify test fixtures, brackets, adapters, load introduction hardware, instrumentation mounts, and other test apparatus.
Work hands-on in GM prototyping facilities and test laboratories to assemble hardware, set up equipment, troubleshoot test issues, and support safe and repeatable test execution.
Support thermal and vibration reliability testing, including setup, sample preparation, instrumentation, inspections, execution, data collection, and documentation.
Characterize vibration behavior using appropriate sensors and data-acquisition methods; help identify resonances, response amplification, unexpected modes, mounting issues, and other mechanical risks, and communicate findings.
Work with test and analysis experts to define test objectives, profiles, instrumentation plans, acceptance criteria, and follow-up actions for mechanical and environmental reliability testing.
Analyze and summarize test results, relate physical behavior to CAD and basic analysis predictions, and recommend design or test-process improvements.
Contribute to DFM/DFx reviews and incorporate feedback into CAD, drawings, fixtures, and prototype build plans to improve manufacturability, quality, cost, and testability.
Maintain assigned product data in Teamcenter, including structures, BOM content, revisions, releases, and change documentation, with guidance as needed.
Present CAD updates, prototype status, test results, risks, and recommended actions at design, build, and cross-functional reviews.
Document issues, test conditions, observations, results, and lessons learned to support traceable decisions and efficient design changes.
Follow and help improve CCH mechanical design, prototyping, laboratory safety, testing, NX modeling, and Teamcenter practices.