Technical Specialist - Structures/Durability

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

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Virtual Design, Development & Validation (VDDV) Global Technical Specialist – Structures/Durability to lead structural analysis for future vehicle programs. You will guide strategy, mentor engineers, and drive innovation in virtual development.

This senior role shapes design methods and ensures durable, high‑performance vehicle bodies using CAE tools. The successful candidate brings a BS in Engineering, 10+ years in engineering design, and deep experience with

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering.
• Strong technical understanding of CAE structural analysis tools, including Optistruct, Dyna, ABAQUS and Design Life.
• Deep Understanding of fatigue theories and Reliability at a system level.
• Expertise in Vehicle Body/Chassis systems design and manufacturing.
• Knowledge of DFMEA & PFMEA required to support Vehicle Body designs.
• 10 years of experience in engineering design & manufacturing impacts on design.
• Ability to assess analysis results and drive implementation of design recommendations.
• Strong capability to provide technical guidance on analysis methods and model debugging.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Competence with conflict management and complex problem solving.
• Ability to develop consensus on best practices and validity of technical solutions.
• Strong self-initiative & drive for results.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute strategic road maps for virtual design, development and validation for body systems.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams, and Hardware Development/Validation Teams to create, maintain and execute analysis capability development plans in support of GM’s vision of a predominantly virtual development process.
• Stay abreast of competition and industry trends to identify opportunities that improve speed-to-market and cost efficiency.
• Forecast and plan capability and resource needs, and secure support for required resources to meet program and technology roadmaps.
• Define strategic opportunities to innovate processes and methods that advance virtual development maturity and efficiency.
• Provide technical direction to VDDV Engineers working on virtual design, development and validation of Vehicle Body structures and durability to achieve the optimum performance at any customer deliverables.
• Drive VDDV connection to Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists to develop optimal design solutions that meet all requirements.
• Responsible for analysis procedure documentation and updates.
• Provide training for new and existing analysis procedures
• Responsible to align analysis procedures with BOD/BOMs and VCRIs
• Seek out state of the art tools and methods and benchmark with Industry.
• Support Code Red/PRTS/SUFs and urgent break/fix product issues or support AUROS/PRTS/SUFs/REDX and urgent break/fix product issues
• Support analysis project technical reviews at every milestone of GVDP
• Communicate complex technical content clearly and persuasively in both technical and leadership forums, using high‑quality data and analysis to enable sound, timely decision making.
• Support and develop new talent, enabling continuous improvement of standard work and the development and deployment of new tools.
• Guide and inspire engineers through mentorship and sharing personal experience and expertise, fostering technical excellence and leadership behaviors.
• Advocate for the adoption of virtual methods for vehicle design, development, and validation across the organization.

Skills

CAE analysis

Optistruct

Dyna

ABAQUS

Fatigue analysis

DFMEA & PFMEA

Vehicle Body design

Engineering leadership

Communication skills

Model debugging

Education

BS in Engineering

MS/PhD in Mechanical/Aerospace

Tools

OPTISTRUCT

HyperStudy

TOSCA

I-Sight

Design Life

Job description

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Every day, our products move millions of peopleas we aim to makedriving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale..

The Role

The Virtual Design, Development & Validation (VDDV) Global Technical Specialist – Structures/Durability candidate will work on leading edge Vehicle Body design for GM’s future vehicle programs. This position makes a significant impact by providing technical leadership and guidance for structural analysis of Vehicle Body dynamics, fatigue & overall performance.

The VDDV Technical Specialist will work with Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists to develop and validate designs for new and future products, as well as identify priorities for future analysis growth. Responsible for setting the strategic technical vision for the team, including leading capability growth and facilitating robust design training.

What You'll Do

Strategy, Innovation & Planning

• Create and execute strategic road maps for virtual design, development and validation for body systems.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams, and Hardware Development/Validation Teams to create, maintain and execute analysis capability development plans in support of GM’s vision of a predominantly virtual development process.
• Stay abreast of competition and industry trends to identify opportunities that improve speed-to-market and cost efficiency.
• Forecast and plan capability and resource needs, and secure support for required resources to meet program and technology roadmaps.
• Define strategic opportunities to innovate processes and methods that advance virtual development maturity and efficiency.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction to VDDV Engineers working on virtual design, development and validation of Vehicle Body structures and durability to achieve the optimum performance at any customer deliverables.
• Drive VDDV connection to Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists to develop optimal design solutions that meet all requirements.
• Responsible for analysis procedure documentation and updates.
• Provide training for new and existing analysis procedures
• Responsible to align analysis procedures with BOD/BOMs and VCRIs
• Seek out state of the art tools and methods and benchmark with Industry.
• Support Code Red/PRTS/SUFs and urgent break/fix product issues or support AUROS/PRTS/SUFs/REDX and urgent break/fix product issues
• Support analysis project technical reviews at every milestone of GVDP
• Communicate complex technical content clearly and persuasively in both technical and leadership forums, using high‑quality data and analysis to enable sound, timely decision making.
• Support and develop new talent, enabling continuous improvement of standard work and the development and deployment of new tools.
• Guide and inspire engineers through mentorship and sharing personal experience and expertise, fostering technical excellence and leadership behaviors.
• Advocate for the adoption of virtual methods for vehicle design, development, and validation across the organization.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• BS in Engineering
• Strong technical understanding of CAE structural analysis tools, including Optistruct, Dyna, ABAQUS and Design Life.
• Deep Understanding of the fatigue theories and Reliability at a system level.
• Expertise in Vehicle Body/Chassis systems design and manufacturing
• Knowledge of DFMEA & PFMEA required to support Vehicle Body designs
• 10 years of experience in engineering design & manufacturing impacts on design.
• Ability to assess analysis results and drive implementation of design recommendations
• Strong capability to provide technical guidance on analysis methods and model debugging.
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Competence with conflict management and complex problem solving
• Ability to develop consensus on best practices and validity of technical solutions
• Strong self-initiative & drive for results.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• MS or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Expertise in optimization tools (OPTISTRUCT, Hyper study, TOSCA, I-Sight) and theory
• Expertise with variation and reliability analysis and tools
• Knowledge and experience with Vehicle engineering process.

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.