Design Release Engineer - Bumper, Grille, Fascia, and Exterior Trim

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 people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

About the role

The GM Exterior Team offers opportunities across a spectrum of engineering. These product engineering positions involve responsibility for all activities, including definition of requirements, execution of design, validation, and testing. These roles require a release engineer to lead or participate in a multi-functional product development team. In addition, they require collaboration with peers in the creative design, purchasing, manufacturing, and quality functions.

The ideal candidate is one who desires to build their technical depth as an engineer within the automotive enterprise. This candidate possesses outstanding communication, project management skills, and is a hardworking engineer who enjoys seeking challenges and following through with robust solutions. The skills built with these roles will allow you to grow a strong interpersonal network. This is a foundational position which, done efficiently, will open up possibilities within the company.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

Design Release Engineer Bumper, Grille, Fascia, Trim – The BGFT (pronounced “Big Foot”) engineering department’s deliverables are key to winning our GM customers through attractive exterior styling and performance! Candidate’s primary responsibility is designing, engineering, and releasing exterior subsystems (BGFT).

• Support or lead large cross-functional Product Development Team(s) (PDT) for component/subsystems (Members consist of suppliers, designers, studio, cross-functional engineers, validation, manufacturing, supplier quality, dimensional, CAE, purchasing, etc.)
• Responsible for in-house designs, on time with quality, to meet all required program milestones/deliverables
• Design and package both BGFT components and "directed buy" components such as sensors, cameras, harnesses, lamps, etc
• Develop criteria/typical sections using Unigraphics math data and collaborate with the studio for surface development to meet requirements
• Balance subsystem imperatives (cost, timing, mass, warranty, etc.)
• Perform appropriate design studies/alternatives, and present studies and business cases to the program team for efficient decision making
• Support design reviews and technical reviews to ensure 100 percent design fidelity and all best practices are implemented
• Build Interface Control Documents (ICD) requirements for component and subsystem interfaces. Collaborate with peers for interfacing components to support proper vehicle integration
• Support launch efforts for BGFT by working closely with the assembly plant(s) and cross-functional personnel to quickly bring issues to resolution
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, including SORs, SOWs, ICDs, DFMEAs, DVP&R, drawings, and BOMs
• Support benchmarking, technology development, and continuous improvement initiatives

Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering
• 5+ years of experience as a Design Release Engineer or relevant industry experience
• Proficiency with NX or Teamcenter/Unigraphics
• Communicate information to and from internal and external customer organizations
• Experience in execution of vehicle development cycles (concept through production launch)
• Program management skills
• Physics-based problem-solving skills

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Green Belt or Black Belt DFSS certification
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
• Plastic injection molding design knowledge
• Stamping and metal forming design knowledge
• Fixture design and product validation knowledge
• Experience with DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)
• Budget management

This role is categorized as hybrid. The selected candidate will be expected to work on-site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week, or as otherwise determined by the hiring leader. This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (e.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

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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

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