Sr. Design Manager

General Motors LLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Design Manager to lead design and engineering activities for construction projects across GM sites. You will convert inputs into a documented, executable scope and coordinate SMEs, architects and engineers from planning through occupancy.

Responsibilities include preconstruction path leadership, design governance, regulatory coordination and ensuring constructible, bid-ready solutions aligned with GM standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in architecture, engineering or construction supporting major commercial, industrial or comparable capital projects.
• Experience coordinating facilities design and construction activities and leading multi-discipline projects from early planning through construction handoff.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, design calculations and building codes; AHJ coordination.
• Knowledge of design management, construction delivery, estimating, scheduling, procurement and project controls.
• Experience organizing internal SMEs, AE consultants, design-builders and stakeholders; resolving technical conflicts.
• Experience directing design reviews, QA/QC, and readiness for permitting, bidding and IFC release.
• Working knowledge of BIM/VDC coordination and document-control practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preconstruction technical path from strategic intent to approved construction documents.
• Organize internal SMEs and project partners to develop requirements, RFPs, design criteria and engagement plans.
• Establish design basis, scope narrative, log of decisions, and interfaces for cost, schedule and procurement.
• Lead design governance, stage-gate reviews, and prepare materials for senior leadership.
• Coordinate regulatory compliance, permitting and AHJ coordination.
• Coordinate AE firms, design-builders through schedules, submittals and reviews for scope alignment and constructability.
• Lead design phase, manage changing priorities, and improve design-management tools and team capability.
• Ensure readiness for permitting, bidding and IFC release with adequate design documentation.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory coordination

Design governance

BIM/VDC coordination

Analytical thinking

Excellent communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or related field

Tools

Google Docs

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Microsoft Project

Job description

The Role

The Design Manager leads design and engineering activities for construction projects across General Motors manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites. As a preconstruction leader, this role converts incomplete or conflicting business, process, site and operational inputs into an approved, documented and executable technical scope. The Design Manager coordinates internal subject‑matter experts, architecture and engineering partners, design-builders and support functions from strategic planning and concept validation through coordinated design development, procurement, construction execution and occupancy. This role delivers safe, high-quality, constructible and bidding-ready solutions aligned with approved scope, schedule, cost, GM standards and stakeholder needs.

What You’ll Do

Lead the preconstruction technical path from strategic intent and early planning through an approved, fully coordinated construction document package and formal handoff to construction.

Organize internal subject‑matter experts and project partners to develop Statements of Requirements, Requests for Proposals, design criteria, execution plans, scopes of service and project‑specific engagement plans.

Establish and maintain the design basis, scope narrative, interface matrix, design deliverable matrix, assumptions and decision log as traceable controls for cost, schedule, procurement and design decisions.

Lead design governance and stage‑gate reviews; prepare decision‑ready materials for senior leadership and steering committees; and track actions, decisions, approvals, risks, issues and interfaces to closure.

Direct code, regulatory, permitting and Authority Having Jurisdiction coordination, including applicable site, zoning, environmental, fire, utility, stormwater and other jurisdictional requirements.

Coordinate AE firms, design consultants and design-builders through design schedules, BIM/VDC expectations, submittals, package releases, QA/QC and integrated reviews for scope alignment, code compliance, constructability, operations, safety, sustainability, commissioning and bidding/IFC readiness.

Lead the design phase for assigned projects, manage changing priorities and concurrent work, communicate impacts and recommendations, and improve design‑management tools, standards, lessons learned and team capability.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or a related field.

4+ years of experience in architecture, engineering or construction supporting major commercial, industrial or comparable capital projects.

Experience coordinating facilities design and construction activities and technically leading complex, multi‑discipline projects from early planning and front‑end scope development through coordinated construction documents and construction handoff.

Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, design calculations, construction documents and applicable building codes, and leading code analysis, regulatory strategy, permit planning and AHJ coordination.

Knowledge of design management, construction delivery, estimating, scheduling, procurement and project controls principles as applied to capital projects.

Experience organizing and influencing internal SMEs, AE consultants, design‑builders, contractors, operations representatives and other stakeholders; resolving technical conflict and building commitment without relying solely on positional authority.

Experience directing design reviews, interdisciplinary coordination, QA/QC, constructability and bidding‑readiness reviews, including readiness for permitting, bidding and IFC release.

Working knowledge of BIM/VDC coordination, common data environments, design‑review workflows and document‑control practices for complex technical deliverables.

Strong analytical, organizational, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations and exercise sound judgment with incomplete information.

Strong computer skills, particularly in Google Docs, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Microsoft Project and design‑review or cost‑estimating software.

Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality and compliance with GM policies and procedures, plus willingness and ability to travel within North America; passport required.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

Experience with automotive or industrial building projects, including original equipment manufacturer, Tier 1 or similar environments.

Working knowledge of GM organizational structure, construction processes and governance for capital planning, design and execution.

Basic knowledge of automotive manufacturing and assembly processes, including assembly, stamping, powertrain, casting and paint operations.

Experience with front‑end planning and budgeting processes for capital projects and with design‑build or design‑bid‑build delivery strategies.

Master's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management or business, such as an MBA.

Experience initiating and organizing multi‑discipline project teams spanning engineering, finance, purchasing, safety, contractors and external partners.

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 on a regular basis (25‑50%) for this role.

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