Design Release Engineer - External Microphone Systems, Super Cruise

Description

Job Description

General Motors is seeking a technically strong and highly motivated Design Release Engineer (DRE) to lead the development and launch of external microphone hardware and associated components for next-generation Super Cruise functionality. This role will own the definition, development, validation, and production release of vehicle-mounted microphone systems that support advanced vehicle awareness, roadway and environmental sensing, and future driver-assistance capabilities.

The successful candidate will bring strong ownership, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to lead complex hardware development across cross-functional organizations and global suppliers. The DRE will work at the intersection of acoustics, electrical and mechanical hardware, vehicle integration, signal interfaces, environmental durability, and system-level performance. This role requires an engineer who can work independently, resolve technical issues with urgency, and translate system objectives into robust, production-ready component designs.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the DRE owner for external microphone hardware and associated components, including microphone elements, acoustic ports and membranes, housings, brackets, seals, electrical interfaces, connectors, and vehicle attachment features.

Own component and subsystem requirements, acting as the primary point of contact for requirements clarification, technical trade-offs, traceability, and change management.

Translate next-generation Super Cruise and vehicle sensing objectives into measurable microphone performance requirements, including acoustic sensitivity, frequency response, signal-to-noise performance, directivity, environmental robustness, and system interface requirements.

Lead design, development, analysis, validation, and release activities from concept through production launch.

Develop and release technical specifications, Statements of Requirements (SORs), component requirements, interface specifications, and subsystem documentation as required.

Drive microphone placement, packaging, acoustic path, sealing, thermal, electromagnetic compatibility, wiring, and serviceability decisions in collaboration with vehicle and system engineering teams.

Coordinate Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Service (DFS), and Design for Reliability activities with suppliers and manufacturing plants.

Lead and participate in formal design reviews, peer reviews, quality reviews, acoustic performance reviews, and technical issue-resolution activities.

Work closely with supplier resident engineers, Acoustics, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software, Controls, Validation, NVH, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, Safety, Quality, and Program teams.

Support development and validation testing, including acoustic characterization, wind and road-noise evaluation, environmental durability, water and dust ingress, temperature and humidity, vibration, shock, EMC, reliability, and vehicle-level performance testing.

Support Design Verification (DV), Production Validation (PV), root-cause analysis, corrective-action development, and countermeasure implementation.

Drive integration of microphone hardware with vehicle electrical architecture, wiring, signal-processing software, data interfaces, and Super Cruise system functions.

Support prototype, vehicle, pilot, and production builds, including hardware bring-up, issue triage, test execution, and launch readiness activities.

Own supplier technical deliverables, timing, quality, and issue closure for assigned microphone components and subsystems.

Drive continuous improvement in cost, acoustic performance, quality, manufacturability, reliability, and production robustness.

Ensure compliance with GM engineering standards, quality systems, functional safety expectations, cybersecurity and software interface requirements as applicable, and all relevant regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Acoustics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Minimum of 5 years of engineering or technical experience.

Minimum of 2 years of Design Release Engineer or equivalent component ownership experience.

Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals, including mechanical and electrical principles, acoustics, materials, environmental durability, and vehicle integration.

Experience taking hardware from requirements definition through design, validation, release, and production launch.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional, global product-development teams.

Strong technical communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and supplier-management skills.

Desired Skills and Experience

Experience developing, integrating, or releasing automotive microphone systems, acoustic sensors, audio hardware, or other environmental sensing components.

Understanding of microphone technologies, acoustic system design, signal-to-noise performance, frequency response, wind and road-noise effects, acoustic packaging, and signal interfaces.

Experience with external vehicle sensing, advanced driver assistance systems, automated driving, Super Cruise, or related vehicle-awareness functions.

Experience with environmental, EMC, vibration, shock, ingress-protection, reliability, and vehicle-level validation of electronic hardware.

Working knowledge of Teamcenter, IBM DOORS, or equivalent requirements and product-development tools.

Experience with DFMEA, PFMEA, fault-tree analysis, and structured problem-solving methods; formal training is preferred.

Experience defining and managing electrical interfaces, connectors, wiring architectures, communication interfaces, and hardware/software boundaries.

Experience with supplier development, technical reviews, sourcing activities, commercial discussions, or global supplier management.

Knowledge of GM product-development systems, quality processes, and launch methodologies.

Exposure to DFSS, Design for Reliability, Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.

Experience developing or releasing safety-critical, mission-critical, or high-reliability automotive systems or components.

Prior experience outside the automotive industry in acoustics, consumer electronics, aerospace, industrial sensing, communications, or related fields is a plus.

Key Behaviors

Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability for component performance, timing, quality, and launch readiness.

Applies structured problem solving, engineering fundamentals, and data-driven decision making.

Connects component-level decisions to vehicle-level Super Cruise functionality and customer experience.

Communicates clearly and effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, suppliers, and leadership.

Builds alignment across disciplines while constructively challenging assumptions and driving timely decisions.

Demonstrates commitment to GM safety, quality, integrity, inclusion, and continuous improvement behaviors.

Works effectively in an environment that requires initiative, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple technical priorities.

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.

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws. 

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

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