Design Release Engineer – Exterior Lighting
General Motors
- Location
- Hybrid (GM Global Technical Center - Cole Engineering Center Podium, Michigan)
- Employment
- Full-time
- Level
- Mid Level
About the Role
General Motors is redefining mobility with a vision of Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion. This role leads the design, development, and integration of exterior lighting systems for EV and ICE vehicle platforms, ensuring performance, quality, and regulatory compliance from concept through production launch.
Skills
Perks
- Hybrid Work
Full job details
Job Description
This role is categorized as hybrid, meaning the selected candidate will be expected to work on‑site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week (or other frequency determined by their manager).
This role is not eligible for relocation assistance
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 Exterior Lighting Design Release Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, and release of exterior lighting systems for GM vehicle programs, including EV and ICE platforms. This role supports concept development through production launch by defining performance requirements, leading packaging integration, managing design feasibility, and delivering robust, production-ready lighting solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the design, development, and release of exterior lighting components and systems.
Collaborate with Styling, Electrical, Validation, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, and suppliers to develop and integrate lighting solutions.
Define and execute system performance requirements based on customer needs, benchmarking, regulations, and program objectives.
Develop and manage NX/Teamcenter math data, packaging studies, and vehicle integration activities.
Support design reviews, feature development, lighting animations, and system-level communications.
Lead issue resolution, engineering evaluations, and design tradeoff decisions involving performance, cost, mass, manufacturability, and timing.
Manage supplier engagement, validation activities, and launch readiness.
Create and maintain engineering documentation, including SORs, SOWs, ICDs, DFMEAs, DVP&R, drawings, and BOMs.
Support benchmarking, technology development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
2+ years of engineering experience in exterior lighting, injection-molded plastic components, or related automotive systems.
Proficiency with NX and Teamcenter/Unigraphics.
Experience with vehicle integration, product development, design release, and engineering validation processes.
Knowledge of DFMEA, DVP&R, GD&T, BOM creation, and engineering documentation.
Strong project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive technical decisions independently.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with exterior lighting regulations and global vehicle lighting requirements.
Experience working with global suppliers and supporting programs through production launch.
Knowledge of lighting electronics, optics, animations, and feature development.
Familiarity with MATLAB, Simulink, Abaqus, Python, or related engineering tools.
Advanced engineering degree preferred.
Success Measures:
Deliver robust, compliant, and production-ready exterior lighting designs.
Meet program timing, quality, cost, and performance targets.
Successfully manage supplier activities, validation, and launch support.
Drive issue resolution, technical excellence, and continuous improvement across vehicle programs.
Sponsorship:
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.
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