New Products Architect - Drive Units and Transmissions

generalmotors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; 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 independent leadership of significant technical work and cross-functional alignment across design, analysis, validation, software, controls, and manufacturing.

The role focuses on BEV/HEV propulsion architectures, owning engineering deliverables during BA and ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 5+ years in drive units, transmissions, or related powertrain hardware.
• Experience in system architecture and cross-functional technical leadership.
• Ability to balance performance, cost, manufacturability and timing across systems.
• Proven independent work with strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and engineer drive unit and transmission architectures to meet vehicle requirements.
• Lead the technical definition of new drive unit concepts during BA and early development.
• Own engineering deliverables during BA, aligning scope, requirements, and readiness for gates.
• Provide technical leadership to a Balance Architecture core team with clear work streams.
• Translate program objectives into structured engineering workstreams and integration plans.
• Serve as central technical integrator across production release, design, analysis, validation, and software.
• Drive trade-off decisions across gears, power transfer, and controls.
• Support future propulsion architecture strategies and handoff to execution teams.
• Lead technical reviews with data-driven recommendations in ambiguous or tight timelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers and external partners to mature concepts and close gaps.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and provide technical resource support.

Skills

Systems thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Architectural definition

Independent contributor

Analytical problem-solving

Communication

Influence without authority

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering

Job description

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 organization. This is a individual contributor role for an engineer who can independently lead significant technical work, exercise sound judgment on complex engineering matters, convert broad program needs into executable technical plans, and drive alignment across a broad cross-functional team.

This role is focused on new product development for drive units and transmissions, with responsibility to define and engineer architectures that meet vehicle-level requirements, provide technical and program leadership in a cross-functional Balance Architecture environment, and own engineering and program deliverables during the BA phase. The role is intended for an experienced systems-minded engineer who can bridge architecture definition, component and subsystem integration, technical decision-making, and handoff into execution teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and engineer drive unit and transmission architectures that meet vehicle-level functional, performance, efficiency, durability, cost, timing, packaging, manufacturing, and quality requirements.
• Lead the technical definition of new drive unit and transmission concepts during BA and early new product development phases.
• Own engineering and program deliverables during BA, including technical scope alignment, requirements definition, architecture tradeoffs, issue resolution, and readiness for gate reviews.
• Lead or provide technical leadership to a Balance Architecture core team, ensuring the standard work is executed with clarity, urgency, and strong cross-functional alignment.
• Translate broad program objectives into structured engineering workstreams, design paths, system requirements, and integration plans.
• Serve as the central technical integrator across production release, design, analysis, validation, software and controls, calibration, manufacturing, purchasing, quality, and program teams.
• Drive system and subsystem tradeoff decisions across gears, power transfer, electric machines, lubrication, thermal management, controls, NVH, and related transmission and drive unit interfaces.
• Support development of future propulsion architecture strategies and transition technical work from new products into downstream execution organizations.
• Lead technical reviews and provide data-based recommendations in situations involving ambiguity, limited precedent, aggressive timing, or competing requirements.
• Work with suppliers and external engineering partners to mature concepts, assess alternatives, resolve technical gaps, and support program timing.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and act as a technical resource for the broader team.
• Help ensure new product architectures are positioned for successful transfer into production execution with clear requirements, sound engineering rationale, and practical implementation paths.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering field
• Strong experience (5+ years) in drive units, transmissions, hybrid propulsion systems, electric propulsion systems, gearing systems, or closely related powertrain hardware
• Demonstrated experience in system architecture, subsystem integration, or complex cross-functional technical leadership
• Strong understanding of how mechanical and electromechanical systems must be balanced across performance, efficiency, cost, quality, manufacturability, and timing
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal guidance on significant technical matters
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to influence direction and drive alignment across functions without direct authority
• Experience leading technical work that spans multiple components, functions, or engineering disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with drive unit and transmission architecture in BEV, HEV, PHEV, or other propulsion applications
• Experience with BA, gate review processes, requirements definition, and early program development work
• Experience with vehicle integration, subsystem interfaces, and architecture trade studies
• Experience with supplier engagement and technical leadership in externally supported development work
• Experience transitioning architecture and concept work into product execution teams
• Working knowledge of GM engineering processes, standards, and new product development expectations

What Success Looks Like

• Establishes clear architecture direction for new drive unit and transmission programs early enough to support strong program execution
• Leads cross-functional teams through complex technical decisions with sound judgment and practical engineering tradeoffs
• Creates alignment across organizations on requirements, interfaces, timing, and technical direction
• Delivers BA-phase engineering work with a high degree of ownership, organization, and technical rigor
• Positions programs for smooth transition from new product architecture into downstream execution
• Serves as a trusted technical leader and mentor within the team

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. A company vehicle will only be provided for this role by passing the 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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