Staff Lidar Technical Specialist

General Motors•Warren, MI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

General Motors is seeking a LiDAR Technical Specialist to join its ADAS Hardware team, which benchmarks, develops, and integrates LiDAR sensors on production vehicles. The work spans the development lifecycle, from early concepts and requirements through production, and involves cross-functional collaboration across GM. Successful sensor integration calls for multidisciplinary understanding of hardware and software concepts. The specialist leads technical development of LiDAR sensing systems from concept, benchmarking, and sourcing through production launch. The role defines performance targets, requirements, evaluation criteria, and validation plans based on vehicle, perception, and operational design domain (ODD) needs; creates the LiDAR Technology Roadmap; and serves as GM’s primary engineering technical resource for LiDAR development. The specialist works with suppliers and Purchasing, supports vehicle FMEA activities, and drives benchmarking and technical supplier down-selection. The role also leads supplier technical engagement, guides sensor architecture and tradeoffs, evaluates supplier, bench, track, and vehicle test data, identifies performance gaps and root causes, and drives corrective action. It works with vehicle program, systems, perception, validation, integration, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure sensors meet downstream functional and program needs. The specialist assesses the technical credibility of supplier evidence and establishes plans, milestones, risks, and mitigations to support nomination and launch, while communicating status and tradeoffs to leadership and cross-functional partners. This role is categorized as hybrid. The successful candidate is expected to report to the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, at least three times per week. The position may be eligible for relocation benefits. The role does not provide immigration-related sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Math, Computer Science, or Chemistry.
At least 5 years of development experience with LiDAR, other optical sensors, or similar systems.
Working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, or C++ experience.
High level of oral and written communication skills.
Understanding of engineering theory and principles of operation of computer/electrical mechanisms.
Demonstrated technical and professional skills in a job-related area.
Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and communication methods to work effectively with business partners toward mutual goals.
High analytical ability to address unusual and complex problems.
Strong interpersonal skills to work independently and effectively with others.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD degree in Engineering.
Automotive safety-critical electronics experience.

Responsibilities

Lead technical development of LiDAR sensing systems from early concept, benchmarking, and sourcing through production launch.
Define sensor performance targets, requirements, evaluation criteria, and validation plans based on vehicle, perception, and ODD needs.
Create the LiDAR Technology Roadmap to help the organization understand and incorporate future technologies into next-generation products.
Serve as GM’s primary engineering technical resource for LiDAR development.
Engage with component suppliers and work with Purchasing to support sourcing activities.
Support vehicle Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) activities.
Drive sensor benchmarking and technical down-selection across potential suppliers and technologies.
Lead supplier technical engagement, including requirements reviews, data reviews, architecture discussions, issue resolution, and design maturity assessments.
Guide architecture and tradeoff decisions involving sensing performance, environmental robustness, packaging, manufacturability, and cost.
Review supplier, bench, track, and vehicle test data; identify performance gaps; determine root causes; and drive corrective actions.
Work cross-functionally with vehicle program, systems, perception, validation, vehicle integration, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure the sensor meets downstream functional and program needs.
Assess the technical credibility of supplier evidence by reviewing test conditions, assumptions, filtering, sample quality, boundary cases, repeatability, and alignment with sensor physics and system requirements.
Establish technical plans, milestones, risks, and mitigation strategies to keep sensor programs on track toward nomination and launch.
Communicate technical status, open issues, and tradeoffs clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional partners.

Benefits

Medical benefits.
Dental benefits.
Vision benefits.
Health Savings Account.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Retirement savings plan.
Sickness and accident benefits.
Life insurance.
Paid vacation and holidays.
Tuition assistance programs.
Employee assistance program.
GM vehicle discounts.
Potential eligibility for relocation benefits.
Company vehicle evaluation program, subject to successful motor vehicle report review and program requirements.