Aerodynamics Engineer/Senior Engineer

General Motors Company; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors Company is seeking an Aerodynamics Engineer or Senior Engineer to support or lead the development of optimized vehicle aerodynamic performance and front-end airflow solutions that enable fuel economy, range, ride and handling, energy efficiency, and lap-time objectives.

This role collaborates cross-functionally with Design Studio, SMT, Program Teams, Engineering, and Manufacturing to develop and integrate cost-effective solutions that balance aerodynamic performance, thermal

Qualifications

• Experience leading aerodynamic enabler development for vehicles.
• Strong knowledge of CFD and wind-tunnel testing.
• Ability to collaborate with Design Studio, SMT, and Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Support or lead aerodynamic enabler development to meet vehicle aerodynamic, energy, vehicle dynamics, and lap-time requirements.
• Support or develop thermal architectural solutions to meet front-end airflow, propulsion cooling, and air-conditioning performance requirements.
• Integrate and balance aerodynamic and front-end airflow performance with brake cooling, thermal performance, wind noise, and vehicle dynamics.
• Perform or lead virtual aerodynamic and front-end airflow simulations using CFD codes and supporting software in Windows, Linux/UNIX, and HPC environments.
• Use engineering tools such as ANSA, STAR-CCM+, POWERFLOW/EXA-POWERFLOW, FLUENT, HYPERWORKS, and other internal codes as appropriate.
• Support or lead aerodynamic and front-end airflow development testing at the GM Kelly Aerodynamics Lab and offsite facilities.
• Collaborate with Design Studio, SMT, Program Teams, Engineering, and Manufacturing to integrate aerodynamic and front-end airflow features throughout vehicle development.
• Participate fully in vehicle development activities and proactively use simulation and test results to guide vehicle design decisions.
• Communicate aerodynamic and front-end airflow results, risks, recommendations, and development plans during standard reviews, peer reviews, program meetings, and gate reviews.
• Support or lead final validation and certification of vehicle aerodynamic performance.
• Support wind-noise, coast-down, track, and other vehicle performance testing as required.
• Benchmark competitive vehicles and apply relevant findings to program development.
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable engineering environment.

Skills

Aerodynamics expertise

CFD analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Project planning

Tools

ANSA

STAR-CCM+

POWERFLOW/EXA-POWERFLOW

FLUENT

HYPERWORKS

Wind tunnel testing

Job description

Job Description

GM is seeking an Aerodynamics Engineer or Senior Engineer to support or lead the development of optimized vehicle aerodynamic performance and front-end airflow solutions that enable fuel economy, range, ride and handling, energy efficiency, and lap-time objectives.

This role collaborates cross-functionally with Design Studio, SMT, Program Teams, Engineering, and Manufacturing to develop and integrate cost-effective solutions that balance aerodynamic performance, thermal requirements, brake cooling, wind noise, vehicle dynamics, and the Studio theme.

Engineers in this role conduct physical and virtual aerodynamic and front-end airflow assessments using full-scale wind tunnel facilities, computational fluid dynamics, and supporting engineering tools. Success requires creative, physics-based problem solving; strong communication and interpersonal skills; advanced planning and organization; attention to detail; and personal accountability.

The position may be filled at either an Engineer or Senior Engineer. The level for this role will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Support or lead aerodynamic enabler development to meet vehicle aerodynamic, energy, vehicle dynamics, and lap-time requirements.
• Support or develop thermal architectural solutions to meet front-end airflow, propulsion cooling, and air-conditioning performance requirements.
• Integrate and balance aerodynamic and front-end airflow performance with brake cooling, thermal performance, wind noise, and vehicle dynamics.
• Perform or lead virtual aerodynamic and front-end airflow simulations using commercial CFD codes and supporting software in Windows, Linux/UNIX, and HPC environments.
• Use engineering tools such as ANSA, STAR-CCM+, POWERFLOW/EXA-POWERFLOW, FLUENT, HYPERWORKS, and other internal codes as appropriate.
• Support or lead aerodynamic and front-end airflow development testing at the GM Kelly Aerodynamics Lab and offsite facilities.
• Collaborate with Design Studio, SMT, Program Teams, Engineering, and Manufacturing to integrate aerodynamic and front-end airflow features throughout vehicle development.
• Participate fully in vehicle development activities and proactively use simulation and test results to guide vehicle design decisions.
• Communicate aerodynamic and front-end airflow results, risks, recommendations, and development plans during standard reviews, peer reviews, program meetings, and gate reviews.
• Support or lead final validation and certification of vehicle aerodynamic performance.
• Support wind-noise, coast-down, track, and other vehicle performance testing as required.
• Benchmark competitive vehicles and apply relevant findings to program development.
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable engineering environment.

Aerodynamics Engineer

Execute aerodynamic and front-end airflow analyses, simulations, and tests with increasing independence.

Support development of aerodynamic requirements, enablers, and thermal architectural solutions.

Analyze complex technical issues and recommend physics-based solutions.

Coordinate assigned simulation and test activities and ensure results are documented and communicated clearly.

Collaborate effectively with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, SMT, and Program Team partners.

Apply established processes, tools, and methods while identifying opportunities to improve them.

Demonstrate ownership of assigned deliverables through detailed planning, communication, and disciplined execution.

Build technical depth in vehicle aerodynamics, CFD, wind-tunnel testing, front-end airflow, thermal integration, and vehicle development.

Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

Define program aerodynamic performance requirements based on energy strategy, track-performance targets, benchmarking, and program priorities.

Develop program aerodynamic content and strategy to meet vehicle aerodynamic, energy, vehicle dynamics, and lap-time requirements.

Lead development of thermal architectural solutions for front-end airflow, propulsion cooling, and air-conditioning performance.

Lead the integration and balancing of aerodynamic, front-end airflow, brake-cooling, thermal, wind-noise, and vehicle-dynamics requirements.

Organize and lead complex virtual simulations, physical testing, and development activities.

Lead cross-functional collaboration with Design Studio, SMT, Program Teams, Engineering, and Manufacturing.

Take ownership of simulation and test strategies and use results to influence vehicle design and program decisions.

Communicate technical recommendations, risks, and development plans at program meetings, peer reviews, and gate reviews.

Lead final validation and certification of vehicle aerodynamic performance.

Mentor less-experienced team members in aerodynamic development, tools, processes, communication, and behaviors.

Coordinate coast-down testing, competitive benchmarking, and other activities suppo