Chassis Design Engineer - Aerospace/Lunar - GM Defense

Description

GM Defense
At GM Defense, we are bridging the gap between world-class automotive manufacturing and the future of deep-space exploration. We are leveraging General Motors' massive electrification, autonomous driving, and vehicle dynamics technologies to build the next generation of lunar mobility systems. This is a rare opportunity to apply high-volume production efficiency to mission-critical space hardware, taking structural design off the page and onto the moon.

The Role
We are seeking Chassis/Structures Engineers to spearhead the structural architecture, optimization, and mechanical design of our upcoming lunar transport platforms. In this role, you will take advanced automotive chassis and EV architecture concepts and radically redesign them to withstand the violent vibrations of rocket launches, structural loads of lunar transit, and the harsh one-sixth gravity environment of the Moon.

What You'll Do
A Lunar Vehicle Design Engineer designs space rovers and mobility systems for the Moon, focusing on mechanical structures, thermal endurance, and harsh terrain adaptation.

Mission: Build rugged, high-reliability rovers or human-rated transport systems, Lunar Terrain Vehicle, to operate in extreme lunar environments.

Core Focus: Optimize chassis integrity, wheel-soil interaction, and payload deployment under one-sixth Earth gravity and intense thermal swings.

Mechanical Design: Own end-to-end development of rover structures, attachment points, and deployment systems using 3D CAD tools.

Environmental Adaptation: Account for extreme lunar dust, deep craters, and severe temperature drops during the lunar night.

Cross-Functional Integration: Interface directly with thermal, power, GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), and software teams.

Testing & Verification: Define and execute rigorous validation tests for actuators, mobility geartrains, and structural load limits based on industry developed validation criteria.

Architecture Adaption: Scale automotive suspension, steering, and EV drivetrain concepts to function in one-sixth Earth gravity and vacuum conditions.

Terrestrial to Lunar Design: Bridge high-volume production quality standards with lightweight, high-performance aerospace materials.

Dust & Thermal Protection: Seal critical mechanical actuators and geartrains against highly abrasive lunar regolith and extreme thermal cycling.

Automotive Tech Transfer: Apply advanced vehicle dynamics simulations and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing methodologies to space hardware development.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

5+ years of relevant product engineering experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, aerospace, or a closely related industry

Demonstrated experience as a Design Release Engineer, technical lead, or equivalent, with end-to-end responsibility for a major subsystem

Proven ability to lead work through concept, design, validation, launch, and field support on complex engineered products

Experience working in CAD/CAE and PLM environments, including formal change management and part release processes

Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and issue resolution skills in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interface effectively with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams

Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction, manage subsystem risk, and mentor other engineers

Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline, Aerospace Engineering in particular

Direct experience with military or government vehicle programs, standards, or acquisition processes

Familiarity with GM engineering processes, systems, and tools, including bills of material, release systems, and global vehicle development processes

Experience in Chassis: vehicle dynamics, durability, off-road mobility, or heavy payloads

Prior work in ultra-low volume, highly configured products and/or rapid prototyping environments

Work Location & Travel

Primary work location: GM Global Technical Center (Warren, MI) with time spent at other GM Defense-designated engineering sites as needed

Regular on-site presence as needed to support labs, builds, and cross-functional collaboration

Ability and willingness to travel domestically, and occasionally internationally, to test sites, supplier locations, and customer facilities as required

#GMD

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., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

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}.

The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.

This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.

The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee)

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