Seat Complete - Design Release Engineering

General Motors Company; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors Company seeks an experienced engineer to develop and integrate seating-system solutions for next-generation vehicles at the Warren Tech Center.

You will lead design, development, analysis, and validation of complex seat subsystems, employ DFSS methodologies, and collaborate with CAD teams, suppliers, and cross-functional groups to ensure integration and quality across programs.

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; 10 or more years preferred.
• Experience developing and releasing seating systems or related vehicle components.
• DFSS Green Belt certification.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle.
• Demonstrated ability to balance cost, mass, complexity, timing, content, and other business priorities.
• Experience working effectively with multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.

Responsibilities

• 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 elevate 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.

Skills

DFSS Green Belt certification

Cross-functional collaboration

Ambiguity management

Leadership of engineers

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related engineering discipline

Master of Science degree in Engineering

Tools

DFMEA

PFMEA

ICDs

GD&T

CAE

Job description

Job Description

About the Role

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

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 elevate 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

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-REL