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

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking engineers to design and validate next‑gen instrument panels and consoles at the Warren Tech Center. You will balance performance requirements with manufacturability while leading cross‑functional teams and mentoring junior engineers.

You will use DFMEA, PFMEA, CAD and CAE tools to deliver robust solutions and support program milestones across global vehicle programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an accredited university.
• Lead multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams; coach other DREs.
• Ability to lead complex projects with accurate time estimates.
• Within 1 year: Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Greenbelt; Within 2 years: DFSS Blackbelt.

Responsibilities

• Design, development, analysis, implementation, and validation of instrument panel subsystems.
• Lead engineering design evaluations and concept development across global vehicle programs.
• Utilize and leverage CAE tools including Safety Performance to develop the best system solution.
• Assess design to manufacturing processes (injection molding, forming, etc.).
• Package components and manage CAD development with suppliers and GM designers.
• Lead peer reviews and cross-functional collaboration to optimize cost and timing.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and capture lessons learned for future launches.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teams

Ambiguity management

Project leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD development

CAe tools

DFMEA

DRBFM/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. At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features. Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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

Immigration Policy

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.)

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