Staff Product Quality Engineer– Brake Controls

GM•Milford, MI

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Role: We are seeking an experienced Staff Product Quality Engineer– Brake Controls to join the Chassis Controls organization. This role is focused on root-causing complex brake controls issues, leading PRTS investigations, and bringing the right cross-functional stakeholders together to drive timely, permanent solutions for our customers. The Staff Product Quality Engineer will own the end-to-end technical investigation portfolio for brake controls, spanning plant, field, and development issues. In addition, this role will help establish and mature the brake controls product quality team, including defining how the team operates, standard work, and engagement models with partner organizations, and leading the scrum team that executes this work. The successful candidate will bring structure and clarity to ambiguous situations, shaping new processes and ways of working that enable the team to respond quickly and effectively to emerging quality issues. This includes defining investigation strategies, designing test and data collection plans, and ensuring that lessons learned are driven upstream into requirements, architectures, validation, and supplier expectations. The ideal candidate has a strong system-level understanding of brake controls in the broader vehicle context, a track record of advanced root cause analysis on multi-factor issues, and demonstrated ability to lead others through structured investigations. Clear communication, disciplined use of GM tools and processes, and the ability to prioritize across competing quality demands are essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent technical degree.
7+ years of experience in brake controls, safety-critical vehicle controllers, or closely related vehicle controls domains (quality, investigations, integration, or validation).
Demonstrated system-level understanding of brake controls within the larger vehicle system, including controller interactions, communications, and architectures.
Proven advanced root cause analysis capability for multi-factor issues (software, hardware, calibration, manufacturing, usage, and environment).
Strong experience designing and executing test and data collection plans for complex issues.
Proficiency with VSpy, MERS, and in-vehicle/network data analysis; working knowledge of ARXML/UBSW, diagnostics, and requirements traceability.
Experience leading cross-functional investigations and driving issues to closure through PRTS or similar systems.
Ability to critically review requirements and propose changes that prevent repeat issues.
People Skills: Strong communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex technical issues into clear, concise updates for leadership and cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated ownership mindset, urgency, and follow-through on quality and safety issues.
Valid driver’s license and willingness to support in-vehicle testing as needed (plant, proving ground, or field).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
Deep experience with brake controls product quality, including field and warranty investigations.
Experience working directly with suppliers on quality issues, investigations, and corrective actions.
Demonstrated success in defining or improving troubleshooting processes, methods, and checklists, and scaling them across a team.
Experience mentoring and leading 6/7 level engineers through complex investigations.
Familiarity with GM development, calibration, quality, and launch processes, including PRTS, DNG, and standard gates.
Experience interacting with senior leaders and presenting concise issue status, risks, and recommendations.
Exposure to controls/algorithm behavior and how it interacts with vehicle-level performance and customer experience.

Responsibilities

Champion the safety of GM’s employees and customers in every investigation and decision.
Lead end-to-end PRTS investigations for brake controls issues (plant, field, and development), from initial triage through verified closure.
Define investigation strategies, including test plans and data collection approaches that isolate multi-factor issues (software, hardware, calibration, manufacturing, and usage).
Use and coach others on GM toolsets (VSpy, MERS, ARXML/UBSW, SDV toolchains, and the Farm, including diagnostics) to efficiently gather and interpret data.
Facilitate and lead cross-functional issue forums, ensuring the right stakeholders (VMEC, PHM, QRD, SDV, plants, suppliers, and program teams) are engaged at the right time.
Drive clear problem statements, root cause hypotheses, and permanent corrective actions, and ensure validation of fixes prior to release.
Maintain transparent issue status, timing, and risk via PRTS and related systems, enabling fast, fact-based decisions.
Define, refine, and own troubleshooting methods for brake controls (flows, templates, checklists) and train others in their use.
Lead and structure the brake controls product quality scrum team, including defining ceremonies, roles, backlogs, and interfaces with SDV, program, and supplier teams.
Create clarity and structure in ambiguous situations, translating loosely defined problems into concrete investigation plans, priorities, and actions.
Identify patterns across issues and feed lessons learned into: DNG requirements and architectures Supplier expectations and SOWs Validation plans, plant tests, and diagnostics strategies
Provide technical leadership and coaching to 6/7 level engineers, setting expectations for investigation quality and reviewing their work.
Make strategic prioritization calls on which issues require deep dives, which can be delegated, and which can be closed quickly, balancing plant, field, and program needs.
Represent brake controls product quality in key forums (e.g., PRTS reviews, launch readiness, Pre-CPIT/CPIT, PDTs) with clear, concise updates and recommendations.
Ensure all investigations and corrective actions comply with safety, regulatory, and GM quality standards.