Staff Lead Engineer for Interior Lighting

General Motors LLC; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Staff Lead Engineer for Interior Lighting to provide senior technical leadership across vehicle programs. This role interfaces with mechanical, electrical, optics, software, validation, suppliers, and vehicle teams to ensure lighting systems meet customer, quality, timing, and cost requirements.

The position serves as a key technical resource for Interior Lighting DREs, delivering mentorship, resolving complex issues, driving engineering processes, and translating

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in automotive product development, electrical/electronic systems, lighting, interiors, or related product engineering.
• Working knowledge of optics and illumination systems, plastics, light pipes, lenses, and illuminated materials; electronics hardware and PCBAs; manufacturing, tooling and assembly; product validation and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to mentor engineers and provide technical direction without direct authority, aligning engineering, suppliers, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, validation, studio, and programs teams.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills with the ability to switch between detailed technical issues and broader program implications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to convey risks, recommendations, and decisions to teams and leadership.
• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, collaboration, and ability to operate in complex, fast-moving programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Interior Lighting DREs and teams.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of complex Interior Lighting issues across optics, mechanical design, electronics, software, materials, and validation.
• Drive structured problem solving and develop containment, root cause, corrective action, and validation plans.
• Drive lighting quality and launch execution through governance and technical escalation.
• Lead regular reviews, support DREs through root-causes and solutions, and promote lessons learned across programs.
• Support system-level integration of Interior Lighting across instrument panels, dashboards, doors, and software.
• Provide technical direction on packaging, performance, integration requirements, and supplier design responsibility.
• Drive continuous improvement by enhancing engineering processes, timing, BOM/technology strategy, and cost opportunities.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Root-cause analysis

Structured problem solving

DFSS

Program execution

Interior lighting knowledge

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

B.S. Electrical Engineering

B.S. Optical/Computer Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The Staff Lead Engineer for Interior Lighting provides senior technical and execution leadership across vehicle programs, supporting the development and integration of ambient, functional, accent, dynamic, and illuminated interior lighting systems. The role connects mechanical hardware, electrical hardware, optics, software, validation, supplier execution, and vehicle integration to ensure lighting solutions meet customer, quality, timing, cost, and technical requirements. This position serves as a key technical resource for Interior Lighting DREs and cross‑functional teams, providing mentorship, resolving complex engineering issues, driving robust engineering processes, and helping translate Interior Lighting strategy into successful program execution.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Interior Lighting DREs, helping engineers work through complex technical issues, GDVP, releasing, SOR development, recovery plans, ECRs, TALC activities, peer reviews, DFMEA/DRBFM, and program execution.


• Lead cross-functional resolution of complex Interior Lighting issues involving optics, mechanical design, electronics, software, materials, manufacturing, validation, and vehicle integration.


• Drive structured problem solving and support teams in developing containment, root cause, corrective action, and validation plans.


• Drive Interior Lighting quality and launch execution through PRTS governance and technical escalation.


• Lead regular PRTS reviews, support DREs through root‑cause and solution development, participate in follow‑up technical reviews, identify escalation needs, and promote lessons learned/read‑across across programs.


• Support system‑level integration of Interior Lighting across adjacent commodities and vehicle systems, including instrument panel, floor console, doors, decorative trim, electrical architecture, HMI, choreography, and software.


• Provide technical direction on packaging, lighting performance, integration requirements, and supplier design responsibility.


• Drive continuous improvement, technical capability, and business execution by improving engineering processes and timing plans, supporting DFSS activity, capturing lessons learned, contributing to BOM/technology strategy, addressing supplier and resiliency considerations, and identifying opportunities to improve cost, complexity, profitability, and product execution.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.


• 7+ years of engineering experience in automotive product development, electrical/electronic systems, lighting, interiors, or related product engineering.


• Working knowledge of several areas relevant to Interior Lighting, including: Optics and illumination systems Plastics, light pipes, lenses, decorative or illuminated materials Electronic hardware and PCBAs Manufacturing, tooling, and assembly processes Product validation and root-cause analysis


• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and provide technical direction without relying on direct authority, while building alignment among engineering, suppliers, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, validation, studio, and program teams.


• Strong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills with the ability to move between detailed technical issues and broader program or customer implications.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate technical risks, recommendations, and decisions to engineering teams and leadership.


• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, collaboration, and ability to operate effectively in complex, fast‑moving program environments.

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.


• Experience specifically in automotive Interior Lighting, ambient lighting, dynamic lighting, or illuminated interior components.


• Experience working across optical, mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines on an integrated customer‑facing feature.


• Experience with dynamic RGB lighting, vehicle choreography, software‑defined vehicle architecture, LIN‑based devices, electronic lighting modules, or related technologies.


• Experience leading technical reviews, developing engineering best practices, implementing process improvements, and mentoring or developing other engineers.


• DFSS Master Black Belt training/certification is highly desirable.

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.

Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre‑employment screening prior to beginning employment.