Seat Complete - Design Release Engineering

General Motors Company; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors seeks a Seat Complete Design Release Engineer at the Warren Tech Center. You will lead the design, development and release of complex seating systems, coordinating with design, purchasing, manufacturing and quality teams to meet program milestones.

This hybrid role requires onsite work at least three days per week, with travel up to 25% and extensive DFSS/DFMEA usage to ensure robust, scalable seating solutions across vehicle programs.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Industrial & Systems, Civil or related engineering field.
• 5+ years developing and executing technical solutions for mechanical components; 10+ preferred.
• Experience releasing seating systems or related vehicle components.
• DFSS Green Belt certification.
• Ability to balance cost, mass, complexity, timing and content.
• Experience with multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development and release of complete seating systems.
• Coordinate cross-functional work with Creative Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing and Quality.
• Apply DFSS, DFMEA, PFMEA, ICDs, CAE to validate designs.
• Manage program milestones and drive issue resolution with stakeholders.
• Develop reuse strategies and optimize seat components across programs.

Skills

Seating systems experience

DFSS Green Belt

Cross-functional teamwork

Travel readiness

Strong communication

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Civil Engineering

Tools

DFMEA

PFMEA

ICDs

CAE

GD&T

Job description

Job Description This role is categorized as hybrid, meaning the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week (or other frequency determined by their manager). This role is not eligible for relocation benefits At General Motors, we are redefining mobility through human-centered design and advanced engineering. Our teams create vehicles and experiences that go beyond transportation—delivering safety, intelligence, and connectivity at scale.

About the Role

The Seating team is seeking an experienced and motivated engineer to support the development of the next generation of complex seating systems. Electrifying the future includes creating seating systems that provide passengers with a tailored experience based on their preferences. Because the vehicle seat is the primary physical connection between the vehicle and its occupants, seating plays a critical role in the overall customer experience. The Seat Complete Design Release Engineer is the primary representative of ITCC Seat Engineering for an assigned vehicle program. This role represents the seating organization to the broader enterprise and supply base, leads assigned rows of seat-system solutions, and drives the development and release of complete seating systems. At this level, you will operate with a high degree of independent judgment and discretion. You will implement functional strategies, coordinate programs, provide technical counsel, and advise management while leading complex, cross-functional work.

What You'll Do

Develop and integrate seating-system solutions that exceed customer expectations. Lead the design, development, analysis, implementation, and validation of complex seat subsystems and complete seat systems. Perform engineering design evaluations and concept development across vehicle programs using a Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) approach. Use engineering tools and processes, including DFMEA, PFMEA, ICDs, GD&T, and CAE collaboration, to develop robust system-design solutions. Complete DFMEAs, including FIT activities, on time and with a high level of quality. Package components, manage CAD development through suppliers and GM designers, and ensure designs integrate effectively with adjacent vehicle systems. Ensure best practices are incorporated into CAD and accelerate gaps when best practices cannot be met. Lead product development team (PDT) activities and coordinate cross‑functional work with Creative Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, suppliers, and other engineering organizations. Support initial vehicle configuration, customer-driven requirements, cost optimization, product improvements, and process improvements. Balance business imperatives, including cost, mass, complexity, timing, content, and performance. Manage program milestones, track open issues, and drive timely resolution with the appropriate stakeholders. Review and apply benchmarking to guide competitive design direction. Engage early with the SVI team to support successful system integration and validation. Understand customer needs, vehicle architecture limitations, and seating‑system requirements. Integrate seat components, occupants, and the complete seating system while anticipating future use cases and avoiding isolated point solutions. Develop reuse strategies across seating systems and reduce unnecessary component variants. Develop solutions that improve comfort, craftsmanship, assembly quality, and seat‑to‑vehicle closeout. Provide features and design solutions that enable consistent quality and efficient assembly. Support virtual validation goals and incorporate lessons learned from physical validation and vehicle builds into continuous improvements. Lead and, when appropriate, direct the work of other engineers and technical contributors.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience developing and executing technical solutions for mechanical components and systems supporting new vehicle programs; 10 or more years preferred.
• Experience developing and releasing seating systems or related vehicle components.
• DFSS Green Belt certification.
• Demonstrated ability to balance cost, mass, complexity, timing, content, and other business priorities.
• Experience working effectively with multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous, fast‑paced, and forward‑thinking environment.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in Engineering.
• DFSS Black Belt certification.
• Experience with structured problem‑solving methods, such as Red X.
• Experience with DFMEA, PFMEA, ICDs, CAE collaboration, and GD&T.
• Experience supporting vehicle launches from design through validation and production.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship: 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., H‑1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J‑1, etc). #LI‑JN1 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.

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