Staff Systems Engineer – AV Sensing Design

General Motors LLC; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 189,000 - 291,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation benefits

Hybrid work model

GM benefits package

Job summary

General Motors LLC seeks a Staff Systems Engineer to lead sensor system design for autonomous driving programs. You'll define multi-modality sensor suites, trade studies, and performance specs across camera, radar, lidar, and more, collaborating with AI/ML, simulation, data collection, and vehicle teams.

You'll drive technical alignment, document decisions, and shape production-ready architectures while operating in a hybrid environment at GM.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science.
• 10+ years of sensor-related experience with leadership in cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience developing multi-modality sensing systems (camera, radar, lidar).
• Depth in signal processing, link analysis, or ML for at least one sensing modality.
• Strong communication and ability to operate in ambiguous spaces.

Responsibilities

• Lead system level trade studies for multi-modality sensor designs.
• Develop performance specs for sensors based on physics and signal processing.
• Assess sensor performance vs product needs and drive improvements.
• Collaborate with simulation, vehicle integration, perception, and validation teams.
• Document technical decisions, trade-offs, and deliverables.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Master’s or PhD degree (preferred)

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

General Motors is developing hands-off and eyes-off autonomous driving systems intended for broad deployment across consumer vehicles. As part of this effort, GM is investing in sensors and architectures that can be integrated, validated, and operated reliably at scale across diverse vehicle programs and operating environments.

We are seeking a staff systems engineer to join the AV team to provide technical leadership in defining how autonomous sensing systems are architected and integrated across GM’s autonomy programs. This role focuses on sensor suite design at the intersection of sensors, Perception, Behaviors, and vehicle integration, ensuring that sensing solutions are technically sound, aligned with product intent, and executable in production.

In this position, you will apply your specific areas of expertise to develop solutions to novel challenges as you lead system-level trade studies, perform detailed analysis on individual sensors, and define multi-modality sensor suites spanning camera, radar, lidar, and more. You will work closely with AI/ML, simulation, data collection, platform software, and vehicle integration teams to address real engineering challenges. This role is for engineers who thrive in navigating ambiguous problem spaces and bring clarity to cross-functional teams with data-driven solutions.

What You’ll Do

You will get the opportunity to contribute to one or more of the following:

• Lead system level trade studies for the design of multi-modality sensor systems supported by detailed modeling of performance and AV behavioral impacts
• Develop detailed performance specifications for sensors supported by a strong understanding of sensor physics and signal processing
• Assess performance against product needs to assess risk, quantify impact, and drive continuous improvement
• Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders such as simulation, vehicle integration, perception, localization, and validation teams to manage complex interdependencies
• Clearly document technical decisions, trade-offs, and deliverables.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline

• 10+ years of experience with B.S. with significant sensor related experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience executing cross-functional initiatives across system architecture, data collection, analysis, integration, or other related activity
• Experience developing multi-modality sensing systems (camera, radar, lidar, or similar), their definition, usage, and integration
• Technical depth in signal processing, link analysis, or ML across at least one relevant sensing modality
• Understand the challenges of self-driving and how those map to sensor needs
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous problem spaces and drive technical alignment across teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate detailed technical information
• Working knowledge of Matlab, Python, or other languages to support data analysis and analysis tooling development

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

Experience in one or more of the following areas is a plus:

• Master’s or PhD degree in engineering or a related technical discipline
• Experience developing systems for occupantless self-driving autonomous vehicles or advanced remote sensing platforms
• Significant experience with automotive autonomy focused SPAD lidars and/or imaging radar data and failure modes
• Experience developing and leading system/component validation strategy, including use case definition, test protocol development, vehicle testing, HIL/SIL, simulation, and/or large-scale data analysis
• Experience analyzing extrinsic calibration, pointing accuracy tolerance stacks, and similar concepts
• Autonomous vehicle behavior modeling and assessment
• Experience with sensor simulation model development

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 salary range for this role is 189,300 to 290,700. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this 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

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.

Location and Hybrid

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}. Relocation benefits are available for candidates who qualify under company policy.

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