Electrical Design Release Engineer - GM Defense

General Motors LLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

GM Defense is seeking an Electrical Design Release Engineer to own the design, development, testing, release, and continuous improvement of electrical systems and vehicle functions. You will translate requirements into robust, manufacturable solutions and work across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to ensure successful launches.

The role requires leading hands-on support for prototype through field release, with periodic travel and hybrid work expectations.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering or similar discipline required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in electrical systems, vehicle electrical engineering, design release, controls, or harnesses.
• Ability to independently own technical work through design, validation, release, and issue resolution.
• Strong understanding of electrical fundamentals: circuit analysis, power distribution, grounding, EMI/EMC, interfaces.
• Experience interpreting requirements, schematics, wiring diagrams, BOMs, test results, and supplier docs.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical systems from requirements through design, validation, release, and launch.
• Define interfaces among electrical, mechanical, propulsion, and software systems.
• Perform tradeoffs on performance, reliability, cost, mass, schedule, manufacturability, serviceability.
• Lead design reviews, decisions, and documentation including BOMs and release packages.
• Coordinate with suppliers for requirements, design reviews, validation, timing, and corrective actions.
• Support prototype and production builds with electrical integration and root-cause analysis.

Skills

Electrical systems

Wiring harnesses

Circuit analysis

Problem solving

Cross functional collaboration

Communication

Decision making

Education

BS in Engineering

MS in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Capital Logic #GMD

Job description

Job Description About GM Defense GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles, power and propulsion, and autonomy and connectivity solutions to global defense, security, and government markets. GMDefense combines GeneralMotors’ proven engineering and manufacturing capabilities with the mission focus and execution speed required by defense customers.

The Role GMDefense is seeking an Electrical Design Release Engineer to independently own the design, development, testing, release, and continuous improvement of assigned electrical systems, components, and vehicle functions. This role is accountable for converting customer and program requirements into robust, manufacturable, serviceable, and validated solutions. The Electrical DRE will work cross‑functionally across engineering, program, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and customers to align priorities and deliver results. Success requires comfort operating in ambiguity, adapting to evolving requirements, making sound decisions with incomplete information, and driving issues to closure across the full product lifecycle—from concept and design through build, validation, launch, and field support.

What You'll Do

Independently lead assigned electrical systems and components from requirements definition through design, validation, release, launch, and continuous improvement. Translate customer, vehicle, regulatory, and program requirements into clear engineering requirements and acceptance criteria. Own electrical architecture, power distribution, wiring and harness interfaces, controls, networked modules, sensors, actuators, and related hardware/software interfaces as assigned. Define and manage interfaces among electrical, mechanical, propulsion, autonomy, communications, software, and vehicle‑control systems. Make engineering tradeoffs involving performance, reliability, cost, mass, schedule, manufacturability, and serviceability; clearly communicate recommendations and risks. Lead design reviews, technical decisions, interface control activities, and engineering documentation, including specifications, bills of material, design data, and release packages. Direct supplier technical execution, including requirements, design reviews, validation, timing, issue resolution, and corrective action. Lead hands‑on support for prototype, pre‑production, and production builds, including electrical integration, troubleshooting, containment, and root‑cause analysis. Own engineering changes, deviations, decision notices, and configuration‑control activities through implementation. Drive launch readiness by managing deliverables, open issues, build support, and change implementation to closure. Communicate technical status, decisions, risks, and recovery plans to engineering leadership, program teams, suppliers, and customers. Reading Electrical schematics / wiring diagrams and prints as required, working on / with Net Lists and Mech drawings to design Harnesses and routing Awareness of automotive quality systems such as PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, etc.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• BS in Engineering or similar discipline
• 5+ years of relevant experience in electrical systems, vehicle electrical engineering, design release, controls, harnesses, power distribution, embedded systems, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own technical work from requirements through design, validation, release, build, and issue resolution.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, including circuit analysis, power distribution, grounding, signal integrity, electromagnetic compatibility, electrical protection, and system interfaces.
• Experience interpreting requirements, schematics, wiring diagrams, interface definitions, bills of material, test results, and supplier technical documentation.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, decision‑making, communication, collaboration, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, make timely decisions with limited direction, and elevate risks appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to solve design/manufacturing issues quickly as part of a cross‑functional team.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and vehicle launch experience.
• Ability to work periodically at the Milford Proving Grounds, travel as required and legally operate a motor vehicle.
• Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• MS in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering
• DFSS Black Belt Certification
• Proficiency in Capital Logic #GMD
• GM does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship for this role. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any other work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1‑B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J‑1, etc).

Candidate is expected to work periodically at the Milford Proving Grounds, travel as required and legally operate a motor vehicle. The role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week (or other frequency dictated by their manager). The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate. The position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review. The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

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