Operations Safety Engineering Lead Autonomous Vehicle Development

General Motors • Wichita, KS

81d • $157,100 - $241,500 • Remote

About The Position

At General Motors, we are shaping the future of mobility through cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technology. Safety is at the core of everything we do—and as the Operations Safety Engineering Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that commitment. This position offers the opportunity to lead safety strategy and execution across the entire lifecycle of AV operations, from development and supervised driving to commercial launch and post-launch continuous improvement. You will provide critical technical and operational leadership, define standards, guide decision-making, and collaborate across engineering, product, and operations teams to uphold the highest standards of safety. This is a rare chance to influence the future of autonomy at scale, while setting industry-leading benchmarks for operational safety.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Human Factors, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in safety-critical systems engineering, operations safety, or related technical leadership roles.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in high-stakes environments requiring sound judgment and decisive action.
• Demonstrated expertise in safety assessment, hazard analysis, or safety case development.
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, autonomy technology, and operational processes.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Track record of developing and implementing safety frameworks in complex technical domains.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Engineering, Systems Safety, Human Factors, or related field.
• Experience in autonomous vehicle development, deployment, or operations safety leadership.
• Hands-on experience with safety standards and frameworks (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, SAE J3016, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success in post-launch safety monitoring and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to anticipate emerging safety challenges in complex systems and proactively design solutions.
• A vision for scaling safety practices that balance technical depth with operational agility.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies, industry groups, or safety certification organizations.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end safety leadership for AV operations, covering manual, supervised, and autonomous driving modes.
• Drive the development of operational safety frameworks, processes, and best practices across the AV lifecycle.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including software, hardware, systems engineering, validation, operations, and product management—to integrate safety considerations into every stage of development and deployment.
• Lead risk assessment, incident analysis, and safety decision-making forums to ensure robust and transparent processes.
• Establish metrics, monitoring systems, and reporting mechanisms for operational safety performance pre- and post-launch.
• Drive continuous improvement cycles by leveraging field data, performance metrics, and lessons learned.
• Represent GM in internal and external forums as a trusted voice of safety leadership, setting a vision that aligns technical rigor with operational excellence.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement savings plan
• Sickness and accident benefits
• Life insurance
• Paid vacation & holidays
• Tuition assistance programs
• Employee assistance program
• GM vehicle discounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree