Design Release Engineer - Frames / Structures - GM Defense

Job Description

About GM Defense

GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles and mobility solutions to defense, government, and security customers by leveraging the best of General Motors' commercial technologies. We rapidly adapt proven architectures, components, and processes from GM's global portfolio to meet demanding military and government requirements for performance, survivability, reliability, and total lifecycle cost.

The Role

GM Defense is seeking a Design Release Engineer to serve as the single accountable engineering owners for major subsystems on current and future defense programs.

This role is specifically for a Frame/Structure DRE within GM Defense.

• In this role, you will own requirements, design, release, validation, issue resolution, and lifecycle change management for your assigned subsystem. You will drive technical direction across the program and ensure GM Defense solutions meet performance, safety, quality, cost, schedule, and compliance targets.

What You'll Do

Technical Ownership

• Serve as the single accountable engineering owner for a major subsystem from concept through production and sustainment

• Translate customer, regulatory, and military standards into clear technical requirements and design targets

• Own and maintain subsystem requirements, DFMEAs, DVPRs, BOMs, and CAD/CAE data

• Lead architecture definition, trade studies, and technical decision-making across the subsystem

Design & Release

• Lead the design, selection, and integration of components using GM production content, Commercial off the Shelf (COTS), and bespoke defense solutions

• Ensure designs are packaged, manufacturable, serviceable, and compatible with armor, mission equipment, and adjacent vehicle systems

• Execute formal part release and configuration control in GMD systems, including SOR, ICD, BOM, drawings, and specifications

• Drive engineering changes and configuration decisions across variants.

Program Execution

• Develop and maintain engineering timing, deliverables, technical risks, and mitigation plans for the subsystem

• Provide clear status, risk, and trade-off recommendations to program leadership and customer-facing teams

• Support RFI/RFP responses

• Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers supporting the subsystem

Compliance & Configuration

• Ensure subsystem design and release comply with relevant military standards, regulations, and customer requirements

• Maintain robust configuration management across program phases, variants, and change events

• Support export control, security, and customer-specific program compliance requirements as applicable

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)

• Experience with vehicle frames / structures

• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline

• 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

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

• Experience supporting build events, fielding, or sustainment for defense or commercial fleets

Work Location & Travel

• Primary work location: GM Global Technical Center (Warren, MI) with time spent at Milford, MI as needed.

• Regular on-site presence expected 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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