Electrical Design Release Engineer - GM Defense

generalmotors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

GM Defense seeks an Electrical Design Release Engineer to own electrical systems from concept to launch, coordinating with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure robust, manufacturable, and validated solutions. The role emphasizes design reviews, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration across the vehicle lifecycle.

The candidate should manage tradeoffs among performance, cost, mass, and schedule while supporting prototype through field operations.

Qualifications

• Own electrical systems design from requirements through release and improvement.
• Translate customer and program requirements into engineering requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Lead design reviews, interface control, and documentation for electrical systems and BOMs.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, quality, and suppliers.
• Familiar with PPAP/DFMEA/PFMEA and automotive quality processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned electrical systems from concept to launch and continuous improvement.
• Define interfaces among electrical, mechanical, propulsion, and software systems.
• Direct supplier technical execution, validation, and issue resolution.
• Provide hands-on support during prototype, pre-production, and production builds.
• Manage engineering changes and configuration control through implementation.

Skills

Electrical systems

Design release

Requirements analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

Travel readiness

U.S. Person status

Education

BS in Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Capital Logic

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. GM Defense combines General Motors’ proven engineering and manufacturing capabilities with the mission focus and execution speed required by defense customers.

The Role

GM Defense 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. 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., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc). This 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. This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.

This 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).

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

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Benefits Overview

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