Staff Technical Specialist- GNSS Connectivity

General Motors; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Job summary

General Motors in Sunnyvale, CA seeks a Staff Technical Specialist- GNSS Hardware to lead GNSS definition, design, and validation across current and future connectivity platforms.

You will collaborate with product, RF, hardware design, suppliers, and validation teams to deliver automotive-grade GNSS solutions with a focus on performance, robustness, and system integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronics, Computer Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years GNSS/RF hardware design, integration, or validation.
• Deep knowledge of GNSS systems and standards (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, SBAS, QZSS).
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end GNSS hardware and system requirements for connectivity modules.
• Translate product and vehicle-level requirements into testable GNSS specifications.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Systems, RF, hardware design and validation teams.
• Lead GNSS architecture reviews and validation strategy.
• Define and execute GNSS test plans and analyze results.

Skills

GNSS hardware design

RF hardware design

System integration

Validation

Schematic design

PCB layout review

RF test equipment

GNSS standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Network analyzers

GNSS simulators/recorders

Power meters

Job description

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 Technical Specialist- GNSS Hardware 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