Sr. Design Manager

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Design Manager to lead design and engineering activities for construction projects across GM sites. You will coordinate internal SMEs, architecture and engineering partners, design-builders and support functions from strategic planning and concept validation through occupancy, delivering safe, high-quality, constructible and bid-ready solutions.

The role requires strong front-end planning, design governance, and cross-functional leadership, with willingness to travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in architecture, engineering or construction supporting major projects.
• Experience coordinating facilities design and construction activities and leading multi-discipline projects.
• Experience reviewing drawings, specs, codes and AHJ coordination.
• Knowledge of design management, scheduling, procurement and project controls.
• Experience organizing internal SMEs, consultants and stakeholders to build commitment.
• Experience directing design reviews, QA/QC and bidding-readiness activities.
• Working knowledge of BIM/VDC coordination and document-control practices.
• Strong communication and judgment with incomplete information.
• Proficiency with Google Docs, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Project and related tools.
• Travel willingness within North America; passport required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preconstruction technical path from strategy to approved package and handoff.
• Organize internal SMEs and partners to develop requirements, proposals and plans.
• Establish and maintain design basis, scope narrative and traceable controls.
• Lead design governance review cycles and prepare materials for leadership.
• Coordinate regulatory, permitting and AHJ activities.
• Manage AE firms and design-builders through schedules, submittals and reviews.
• Lead design phase, manage priorities, and improve tools and standards.

Skills

Preconstruction leadership

Coordination

Regulatory coordination

Design governance

BIM/VDC coordination

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/architecture/related field

Tools

Google Docs

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Microsoft Project

Design-review software

Cost-estimating software

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.

Job Description

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.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

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Accommodations

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