Operations Safety Engineering Lead – Autonomous Vehicle Development

General Motors; United States; Remote; USD 157,000 - 242,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive manufacturer is seeking an Operations Safety Engineering Lead to spearhead safety strategy for autonomous vehicle operations. The role requires robust technical leadership to ensure safety across all vehicle operations, including development and post-launch improvements. Ideal candidates will possess deep experience in safety-critical systems and cross-functional collaboration. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition assistance programs

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in safety-critical systems engineering or related roles.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in high-stakes environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in safety assessment and hazard analysis.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end safety leadership for AV operations.
• Drive the development of operational safety frameworks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate safety.

Skills

Safety-critical systems engineering

Operational safety leadership

Excellent communication skills

Cross-functional team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

The Role

At General Motors, we are shaping the future of mobility through cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technology. Safety is at the core of everything we do—and as the Operations Safety Engineering Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that commitment.

This position offers the opportunity to lead safety strategy and execution across the entire lifecycle of AV operations, from development and supervised driving to commercial launch and post-launch continuous improvement. You will provide critical technical and operational leadership, define standards, guide decision-making, and collaborate across engineering, product, and operations teams to uphold the highest standards of safety.

This is a rare chance to influence the future of autonomy at scale, while setting industry-leading benchmarks for operational safety.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Provide end-to-end safety leadershipfor AV operations, covering manual, supervised, and autonomous driving modes.
• Drive the development of operational safety frameworks, processes, and best practices across the AV lifecycle.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including software, hardware, systems engineering, validation, operations, and product management—to integrate safety considerations into every stage of development and deployment.
• Lead risk assessment, incident analysis, and safety decision-making forums to ensure robust and transparent processes.
• Establish metrics, monitoring systems, and reporting mechanisms for operational safety performance pre- and post-launch.
• Drive continuous improvement cycles by leveraging field data, performance metrics, and lessons learned.
• Represent GM in internal and external forums as a trusted voice of safety leadership, setting a vision that aligns technical rigor with operational excellence.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Human Factors, or a related technical field
• 8+ years of experience in safety-critical systems engineering, operations safety, or related technical leadership roles.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in high-stakes environments requiring sound judgment and decisive action.
• Demonstrated expertise in safety assessment, hazard analysis, or safety case development.
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, autonomy technology, and operational processes.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Track record of developing and implementing safety frameworks in complex technical domains.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Engineering, Systems Safety, Human Factors, or related field.
• Experience in autonomous vehicle development, deployment, or operations safety leadership.
• Hands-on experience with safety standards and frameworks (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, SAE J3016, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success in post-launch safety monitoring and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to anticipate emerging safety challenges in complex systems and proactively design solutions.
• A vision for scaling safety practices that balance technical depth with operational agility.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies, industry groups, or safety certification organizations.

At GM, we don’t just build vehicles—we design safer, smarter ways for people to move. If you are driven by the challenge of leading safety strategy at the forefront of autonomy, we want to hear from you.

Compensation

• The expected base compensation for this role is $157,100- $241,500 USD Annually
• Actual base compensation within the identified range will vary based on factors relevant to the position
• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance

Benefits

GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.