Drive Unit & Transmission Architect – New Products

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a New Products Architect to lead the definition, integration, and execution of future drive unit and transmission architectures within the New Products Group.

This individual contributor role requires deep technical leadership, the ability to convert broad program needs into executable technical plans, and cross-functional coordination across design, validation, software, and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in drive units, transmissions, or related powertrain hardware.
• Experience in system architecture, subsystem integration, or cross-functional technical leadership.
• Strong ability to balance mechanical and electromechanical systems across performance, cost, quality, and timing.

Responsibilities

• Define and engineer drive unit and transmission architectures meeting vehicle-level requirements.
• Lead technical definition of drive unit concepts during BA and early development phases.
• Own engineering deliverables during BA, including requirements, architecture tradeoffs, and readiness for gate reviews.
• Provide technical leadership to a Balance Architecture core team with cross-functional alignment.
• Translate program objectives into structured workstreams, design paths, and integration plans.
• Serve as central technical integrator across production, design, validation, software, and manufacturing teams.
• Drive tradeoff decisions across gears, power transfer, and thermal management.
• Support future propulsion architecture strategies and transition to execution groups.
• Lead technical reviews and provide data-based recommendations in ambiguous or tight timelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers and partners to mature concepts and resolve gaps.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and ensure successful transfer to production.

Skills

Drive units

Transmissions

Hybrid propulsion systems

System architecture

Cross-functional leadership

Independent contributor

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

General Motors is seeking a New Products Architect to lead the definition, integration, and execution of future drive unit and transmission architectures within the New Products Group.

This individual contributor role requires deep technical leadership, the ability to convert broad program needs into executable technical plans, and cross-functional coordination across design, validation, software, and manufacturing teams.