Design Release Engineer - Instrument Panel, Floor Console, and Deco Trim

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors in Warren, MI seeks an engineer to design and validate instrument panels and consoles across global programs. You will balance performance, cost, weight and timing while leading cross‑functional teams, mentoring engineers, and applying DFMEA/FEA methods.

This hybrid role requires on-site work at least three days per week at the Warren Tech Center and offers the chance to influence manufacturing processes and next‑generation interior components.

Qualifications

• Accredited university Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.
• Comfort with ambiguity and forward-thinking environment.
• Capacity to lead complex projects, provide accurate time estimates.
• DFSS Greenbelt certification within 1 year of hire.
• DFSS Blackbelt certification within 2 years of hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform engineering design evaluations and concept development across global vehicle programs.
• Utilize DFMEA, ICDs, PFMEA and collaborate with CAE groups.
• Assess manufacturability through processes like injection molding and welding.
• Package components and manage CAD development with GM designers and suppliers.
• Work cross-functionally to support configuration work and cost optimization.
• Lead PDT communications and resolve open issues with stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive lessons learned into launches.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Ambiguity tolerance

Time estimation

DFSS Greenbelt familiarity

DFSS Blackbelt familiarity

Mentoring others

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

GD&T

DFMEA

SOR

Change Orders

CAE analysis

FEA

Job description

Job Description

This role is categorized as hybrid. The selected candidate will be expected to work on-site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week, or as otherwise determined by the hiring leader.

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

About the Role

Electrifying the future will include development instrument panels and consoles that contain a wide array of next generation displays and electronics. You will balance a list of vehicle and occupant performance requirements while engineering the highly styled instrument panel and console. These are the major systems that a customer sees and touches daily.

Design, development, analysis, implementation, and validation of the complex instrument panel and console subsystems will be your day to day duties.

• Perform engineering design evaluations and concept development across global vehicle programs
• Utilize engineering tools (DFMEA, ICDs, PFMEA) and leverage CAE groups including Safety Performance to successfully develop the best system solution
• Assessment of design to manufacturing processes (e.g. injection molding, vibration welding, vacuum forming, foam-in-place, wrapping)
• Package components, manage CAD development through supplier or GM designers and collaborate with other systems within the vehicle (Thermal, Electrical, Body, Chassis, Restraints, etc.). Ensure best practices are incorporated in the CAD and seek support when best practice not met. Schedule and lead Peer Reviews
• Work cross-functionally to support initial vehicle configuration work, realize cost optimization, deliver customer-driven requirements, and implement product and process improvements
• Balance business imperatives, including but not limited to cost, mass, complexity, timing, and content
• Communicate information to and from internal and external customer organizations (e.g. Creative Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, suppliers) and lead the product development team (PDT). Track and resolve open issues with support.
• Review, support and apply benchmarking for design direction competitiveness. Stay abreast of relevant new technology and competitive products
• Lead the development of Statement of Requirements (SOR) Creation and lead in the development of statements of work, key partner for DFMEA/DRBFM/FEA
• Mentor less-experienced engineers
• Support launch activities and ensure lessons learned are captured with the larger team to ensure/propose best practices are updated and issues are not repeated in future launches.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from an accredited university
• Comfortable leading multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams and coaching other DREs
• Ability to deal optimally with ambiguity and forward-thinking environment
• Capacity to lead complex projects, provide accurate time estimates, and allocate resources efficiently
• Within 1 year upon hire: Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Greenbelt certification
• Within 2 years upon hire: Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Blackbelt certification

Preferred Skills

• 10+ years prior automotive engineering experience developing and executing technical solutions to support new vehicle programs
• 10+ years experience with injection molding, skin forming, wrapping and similar interior component construction processes
• 10+ years experience applying the results of CAE analysis to optimize performance
• 10+ years experience/knowledge of manufacturing techniques and/or material sciences of interior components
• 10+ years experience with engineering tools (ie. GD&T, DFMEA, SOR, Change Orders, etc.)
• Able to navigate and execute in Math Data Viewing and Analysis/Engineering Change Release
• Demonstrated leadership in packaging of components within vehicles systems, ability to make tradeoffs when needed, and negotiate with cross-functional partners and suppliers

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (e.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we’re looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment.