Engineering Group Manager – AVD Structures

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors is seeking an Engineering Group Manager to lead AVD Structures, coordinating structural development across early vehicle programs, including BEV and truck architectures.

This hybrid role demands a technically strong, people‑focused leader who can coach engineers, manage cross‑functional teams with CAE, manufacturing, and design, and drive data-based decision making. You will shape robust, scalable structural solutions and ensure alignment with program priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or other relevant degree.
• 8 years experience in automotive body structures, vehicle structures, chassis structures, or closely related systems.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams, setting technical direction, or leading complex cross‑functional vehicle development work especially in projects with significant ambiguity.
• Deep understanding of structural load paths, crash performance, stiffness, mass optimization, manufacturability, and the use of optimization tools such as MDIO and topology methods to improve structural outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical tradeoffs across cost, performance, timing, and complexity.
• Experience working across advanced development and production‑facing program environments.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior leadership and align technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and elevate engineering talent.

Responsibilities

• Lead the AVD Structures team responsible for developing advanced structural concepts and strategies for future GM vehicles, including early‑phase program studies and architecture development.
• Lead the team in evaluating and advancing structural efficiency, load path development, crashworthiness, stiffness, mass, cost, and manufacturability tradeoffs across vehicle architectures.
• Partner closely with structures architects to translate structural strategies for new vehicle programs into executable work plans and promote system‑level structural efficiency.
• Guide structural development across key advanced programs and studies, including lower and upper body structures, chassis structures, battery integration, castings, and alternative materials.
• Drive resource planning for new program and study development while aligning early engagement, priorities, and team capacity to program needs.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with CAE, manufacturing engineering, design, safety, and supplier partners to ensure integrated and executable solutions.
• Use data‑based trade studies, benchmarking, target setting, business case development, and optimization methods to support engineering decisions and program readiness.
• Lead issue resolution related to structural performance, including test failure resolution and support for structural deliverables within the advanced development phase.
• Develop and coach technical leaders, AVD leads, DREs, and engineers while strengthening communication, prioritization, and strategic thinking across the organization.
• Represent AVD Structures in leadership reviews, providing clear recommendations, risk framing, and alignment on execution priorities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication skills

Structural engineering knowledge

MDIO

Topology optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MDIO

Topology optimization

Job description

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 the future of transportation on a global scale.

Company Vehicle:

Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

The Role

General Motors is seeking an Engineering Group Manager to lead AVD Structures, a critical role at the center of advanced vehicle structural development. This leader will manage and coordinate structural development in the early phases of vehicle development, ensuring body structure concepts are aligned, supported, and executed effectively across future vehicle programs. The role spans structural efficiency, load path development, crash and stiffness performance, mass optimization, manufacturability, and system integration across new architectures, including BEV and truck applications. This leader will work closely with structures architects, up‑front program teams, advanced CAE teams, manufacturing engineering, suppliers, and program leadership to shape robust, scalable, and executable structural solutions. The position is well suited for a technically strong and people‑focused leader who can lead execution across the team, develop high‑performing engineers, and align complex cross‑functional teams around clear priorities and outcomes.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Lead the AVD Structures team responsible for developing advanced structural concepts and strategies for future GM vehicles, including early‑phase program studies and architecture development.
• Lead the team in evaluating and advancing structural efficiency, load path development, crashworthiness, stiffness, mass, cost, and manufacturability tradeoffs across vehicle architectures.
• Partner closely with structures architects to help translate structural strategies for new vehicle programs into executable work plans and promote system‑level structural efficiency.
• Guide structural development across key advanced programs and studies, including lower and upper body structures, chassis structures, battery integration, castings, and alternative materials.
• Drive resource planning for new program and study development while aligning early engagement, priorities, and team capacity to program needs.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with CAE, manufacturing engineering, design, safety, and supplier partners to ensure integrated and executable solutions.
• Use data‑based trade studies, benchmarking, target setting, business case development, and optimization methods such as multi-disciplinary optimization and topology studies to support engineering decisions and program readiness.
• Lead issue resolution related to structural performance, including test failure resolution and support for structural deliverables within the advanced development phase.
• Develop and coach technical leaders, AVD leads, DREs, and engineers while strengthening communication, prioritization, and strategic thinking across the organization.
• Represent AVD Structures in leadership reviews, providing clear recommendations, risk framing, and alignment on execution priorities.
• Ensure lessons learned, benchmarking insights, and new technical knowledge are carried forward into future programs and designs.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or other relevant degree
• 8 years experience in automotive body structures, vehicle structures, chassis structures, or closely related systems.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams, setting technical direction, or leading complex cross‑functional vehicle development work especially in projects with significant ambiguity.
• Deep understanding of structural load paths, crash performance, stiffness, mass optimization, manufacturability, and the use of optimization tools such as MDIO and topology methods to improve structural outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical tradeoffs across cost, performance, timing, and complexity.
• Experience working across advanced development and production‑facing program environments.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior leadership and align technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and elevate engineering talent.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with BIW, underbody, upper body, closures, chassis structures, battery integration, or mixed‑material structural systems.

#LI-KM2

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}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits. This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.

About GM

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