Electric Drive SIL Simulation Engineer

General Motors Company; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking an Electric Drive SIL Simulation Engineer to accelerate the development of next-generation propulsion systems using physics-based models and virtual test benches. You will build and apply models to develop, simulate, and verify motor-control algorithms across a wide range of operating conditions—well before hardware is available.

You will collaborate with controls, software, calibration, power electronics, and vehicle teams to diagnose issues, de-risk edge cases, and

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Engineering or related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in electric-machine modeling, motor controls, power electronics, or related areas.
• Strong understanding of AC machine operating principles and three-phase switching topologies.
• Experience developing or using dynamic, physics-based, reduced-order, or control-oriented models of electric drives.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for electric-drive modeling, control simulation, data analysis, or algorithm verification.
• Knowledge of motor-control concepts such as field-oriented control, SVPWM, current regulation, and torque control.
• Ability to analyze results, test hypotheses, and solve complex engineering problems.
• Ability to read embedded C and interfaces; hands-on software development is helpful but not primary.
• Ability to communicate technically and collaborate with multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, enhance, and maintain physics-based dynamic models of electric drives (AC machines, three-phase inverters, etc.).
• Build models at suitable fidelity for control design, SIL co-simulation, and vehicle-level simulation.
• Evaluate control performance, efficiency, losses, and torque response using MATLAB/Simulink.
• Translate test data into model parameters and validation cases; identify mismatches and propose improvements.
• Design and execute simulation test plans, parameter sweeps, and regression tests across varying conditions.
• Integrate validated models and controllers into SIL/co-simulation environments while preserving physics fidelity.
• Support reuse of plant models across SIL, HIL, and vehicle-level CoSIM with cross-functional teams.
• Document model assumptions, sources, limitations, and interfaces for reuse.
• Contribute to continuous improvements in model fidelity, speed, and automation and provide user support.

Skills

Electric-drive modeling

Motor-control algorithms

MATLAB/Simulink

SIL/Co-simulation

Model validation

Control theory

Data analysis

Embedded C familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Engineering

Tools

GMSIM

FMU Studio

SIL instrumentation

Git

Job description

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 thefuture of transportation on a global scale.

As an Electric Drive SIL Simulation Engineer, you will accelerate the development of GM’s next-generation electric propulsion systems by turning high-fidelity, physics-based models of electric machines, inverters, and full electric-drive systems into a virtual engineering playground. You will build and apply these models to develop, simulate, and verify motor-control algorithms and system behavior across a wide range of operating conditions—well before hardware or dyno assets are available.

In this role, you connect motor-controls theory, electric-drive plant modeling, and advanced SIL environments to enable virtual calibration, automated software verification, and vehicle-level analysis. You will collaborate closely with controls, software, calibration, power electronics, and vehicle teams, using digital twins and virtual test benches to diagnose complex issues, de-risk edge cases, and directly shape the performance, efficiency, and robustness of GM’s electric vehicles.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, enhance, and maintain physics-based dynamic models of electric drives, including AC machines, three-phase inverters, DC-link behavior, PWM/voltage synthesis, sensing, electromagnetic behavior, losses, nonidealities, temperature effects, parameter variation, and protection limits.
• Build models at the appropriate fidelity for control design, algorithm development, SIL co-simulation, and vehicle-level simulation. Apply reduced-order, average-value, or switching representations as appropriate to the use case.
• Use MATLAB/Simulink and related modeling tools to evaluate control performance, efficiency, losses, torque response, current quality, robustness, stability, and behavior over the electric-drive operating envelope.
• Translate motor, inverter, dyno, and vehicle test data into model parameters and validation cases. Correlate simulation results to measured behavior, identify sources of mismatch, and recommend model or control improvements.
• Design and execute simulation test plans, parameter sweeps, corner cases, sensitivity studies, and automated regression tests to evaluate model and controller performance across speed, torque, voltage, temperature, and parameter-variation conditions.
• Integrate validated electric-drive models and virtual controllers into SIL/co-simulation environments. Verify interfaces, signal definitions, initialization, execution timing, and model behavior while preserving the intended physics and control fidelity.
• Support reuse of common plant models and simulation assets across SIL, HIL, and vehicle-level CoSIM applications in collaboration with Plant Modeling, HIL, Controls, Software, Calibration, and Systems teams.
• Document model assumptions, equations, parameter sources, limitations, interfaces, validation evidence, and recommended application boundaries so that models can be used effectively by controls and calibration engineers.
• Contribute to continuous improvements in model fidelity, simulation speed, automation, usability, and virtual-development capability. Provide targeted technical support to simulation users as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachleors degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in electric-machine modeling, motor controls, power electronics, electric-drive simulation, or a combination of these areas.
• Strong understanding of AC electric-machine operating principles and three-phase switching power-converter topologies.
• Experience developing or using dynamic, physics-based, reduced-order, or control-oriented models of electric drives.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink for electric-drive modeling, control simulation, data analysis, or algorithm verification.
• Understanding of motor-control concepts such as field-oriented control, space-vector or sinusoidal PWM, current regulation, coordinate transformations, torque control, maximum-torque-per-ampere, and flux weakening.
• Ability to analyze simulation results, formulate and test hypotheses, and solve complex technical problems using sound engineering methods.
• Ability to read and understand embedded C algorithms and software/model interfaces; hands-on embedded software development is helpful but not the primary focus of this role.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively and collaborate with controls, software, calibration, motor, inverter, test, systems, and tools teams.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and deliver technically sound results with appropriate documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Experience modeling permanent-magnet synchronous machines, induction machines, or other AC machine technologies, including nonidealities, saturation, losses, thermal effects, or parameter identification.
• Experience simulating and verifying motor-control algorithms across a broad operating envelope, including high-speed operation, voltage limitation, current limitation, field weakening, and transient events.
• Experience correlating electric-drive models to dynamometer, laboratory, HIL, vehicle, or production data.
• Experience with automated simulation, parameter sweeps, regression testing, or data analysis using MATLAB scripts, Python, or similar tools.
• Experience with SIL, HIL, vehicle-level co-simulation, Functional Mock-up Interface/FMU concepts, or related model exchange and co-simulation standards.
• Familiarity with GM electric-drive simulation tools and workflows, such as GMSIM, SIL instrumentation, FMU Studio, or related environments.
• Hands-on experience in a high-voltage laboratory, dynamometer, inverter, motor, or electric-drive development environment.
• Familiarity with software configuration management and development workflows such as Git, continuous integration, and Agile product development.

Key Technical Focus

Primary Emphasis

• Physics-based electric-drive modeling
• Motor-control algorithm simulation and verification
• Model correlation, parameterization, and validation
• Electric machine, inverter, and system behavior

Secondary Emphasis

• SIL/co-simulation integration and model deployment
• Model interfaces, execution timing, and regression automation
• Targeted user support and technical documentation
• Cross-functional collaboration with tools and software teams