Staff Hardware Engineer– GNSS Connectivity

General Motors; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Health benefits

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Staff Hardware Engineer– GNSS to lead the definition, design, and validation of GNSS solutions across vehicle platforms. You will act as the subject matter expert for GNSS hardware and work with product, RF, and validation teams to achieve automotive-grade performance.

You will define requirements, develop test plans, and oversee supplier selections while coordinating with hardware design and validation teams to ensure GNSS performance meets vehicle targets in diverse

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years GNSS/RF hardware design experience.
• Strong knowledge of GNSS systems and standards (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, SBAS).
• Proven experience translating system-level performance requirements into hardware specs.
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment and PCB layout review.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end GNSS hardware and system requirements for connectivity and compute modules.
• Translate product and vehicle-level requirements into engineering specifications for GNSS performance.
• Own GNSS-related sections of hardware requirement documents, design guidelines, and interface specs.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Systems Engineering to reflect use cases and constraints in GNSS hardware requirements.
• Lead design reviews focused on GNSS architecture, hardware design, and validation strategy.
• Evaluate and select GNSS solutions with chipset/modules and RF components; influence supplier roadmaps.
• Develop schematics for GNSS signal chains and review PCB layouts.
• Define end-to-end vehicle-level GNSS performance requirements and KPIs; develop test cases.

Skills

GNSS hardware design

RF theory

Schematic design

PCB layout review

RF test equipment

Vendor collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration

Python/MATLAB

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GNSS simulators/recorders

HFSS/CST/ADS

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Job Description

The Role

In-vehicle connectivity and precise positioning are critical enablers for advanced driver assistance, autonomous driving, and connected vehicle services. We are seeking a Staff Hardware Engineer– GNSS to lead the definition, design, and validation of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) solutions for our current and future generations of connectivity and compute platforms across a broad range of vehicles.

This role will serve as the subject matter expert for GNSS hardware and system performance, working closely with product, systems, RF, hardware design, suppliers, and validation teams to deliver robust, automotive-grade GNSS solutions.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

System & Requirements Ownership

• Define end-to-end GNSS hardware and system requirements for connectivity and compute modules, including RF front-end, baseband, timing, and antenna interfaces.
• Translate product and vehicle-level requirements into clear, testable engineering specifications for GNSS performance (sensitivity, accuracy, availability, robustness, TTFF, jamming/spoofing resilience, etc.).
• Own GNSS-related sections of hardware requirement documents, design guidelines, and interface specifications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Product Management and Systems Engineering to understand use cases, feature roadmaps, and vehicle integration constraints, and reflect them in GNSS hardware requirements.
• Partner with Vehicle Integration and Validation teams to align GNSS performance metrics and test plans with vehicle-level targets.
• Lead and participate in design and technical reviews focused on GNSS architecture, hardware design, and validation strategy.

Supplier & Roadmap Leadership

Work with GNSS chipset/module and RF component suppliers to:

• Evaluate and select GNSS solutions (chipsets, modules, LNAs, filters, antenna components).
• Influence supplier technology roadmaps to align with our long-term product strategy.

Collaborate with Purchasing to

• Evaluate and score technical proposals and RFQs.
• Provide clear technical recommendations balancing performance, cost, risk, and scalability.
• Review and assess supplier test procedures and results for GNSS performance and compliance with internal standards.

Hardware Design & RF Integration

Work closely with Hardware Design and RF Engineering teams to:

• Develop schematics for GNSS signal chains, including RF front‑end, matching networks, filtering, and protection circuitry.
• Review and approve PCB layouts for GNSS sections, focusing on RF best practices, grounding, isolation, controlled impedance, and coexistence with cellular, Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, and UWB.
• Provide guidance on GNSS antenna interface requirements, including active/passive antennas, feed architecture, and placement constraints.
• Support design reviews, root‑cause analysis, and issue resolution related to GNSS performance, EMC/EMI, and interference/coexistence.

Lab & Conducted Testing

Define and execute conducted RF test plans for GNSS, including:

• Sensitivity and dynamic range.
• C/N₀, phase noise, and insertion loss characterization.
• Jamming and interference susceptibility, including coexistence with other in‑vehicle radios.
• Develop test setups, fixtures, and automation for GNSS conducted characterization using spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, GNSS simulators/recorders, and RF switch matrices.
• Analyze test data and provide clear, actionable design feedback to internal teams and suppliers.

Vehicle-Level GNSS Performance & Test Cases

Define end-to-end vehicle-level GNSS performance requirements and KPIs, including:

• Position accuracy, availability, continuity, and integrity across driving scenarios.
• TTFF (cold/warm/hot start) and reacquisition.
• Performance in challenging environments (urban canyon, tunnels, foliage, multipath, RF interference).

Develop vehicle-level GNSS test cases and procedures, including:

• Drive routes, scenario definitions, and logging requirements.
• Test methods using GNSS record/playback, reference receivers, and post‑processing tools.
• Support execution and analysis of vehicle-level tests, working with validation and field test teams to identify root causes and corrective actions for performance issues.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in GNSS and/or RF hardware design, system integration, or validation.
• Strong understanding of GNSS systems and standards, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, and SBAS.
• Proven experience translating system-level performance requirements into detailed hardware, design, and test specifications.
• Hands‑on experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, GNSS simulators/recorders, power meters, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience with schematic design and PCB layout review for RF/GNSS circuits.
• Working knowledge of RF theory (link budgets, noise figure, gain, linearity, filters, matching networks) and its application to GNSS front‑end design.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers and purchasing on technical evaluations, design reviews, and roadmap alignment.

People Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to deep dive complex technical issues and drive them to closure.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, including the ability to present technical topics to both engineering and non‑technical audiences.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s degree in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with automotive GNSS applications, including vehicle‑level integration and validation.
• Familiarity with coexistence between GNSS and other wireless systems (cellular, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, UWB) and corresponding mitigation techniques.
• Knowledge of automotive EMC/EMI and regulatory standards relevant to GNSS and RF systems.
• Experience with RF and EM simulation tools (e.g., HFSS, CST, ADS) and system modeling (e.g., MATLAB).
• Background in GNSS antenna design or integration, including active antenna systems and multi‑band configurations.
• Experience with test automation and data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar tools).

Compensation

The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.

The expected base compensation for this role is: $160,000 - $245,000. Actual base compensation within the identified range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

Benefits

GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

Company Vehicle

Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate.

Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

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}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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

From day one, we’re looking out for your well‑being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

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

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.