Senior Drive Unit & Transmission Architect

Socket.dev; Michigan; On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

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 technical leadership across cross-functional teams and hands-on responsibility for BA-phase deliverables.

The role focuses on new product development for drive units and transmissions, bridging architecture definition with downstream execution.

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

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

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. This individual contributor role requires technical leadership across cross-functional teams and hands-on responsibility for BA-phase deliverables.

The role focuses on new product development for drive units and transmissions, bridging architecture definition with downstream execution.