Design Release Engineer - Exterior Hardware

Exterior Hardware Engineer

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.

The Role

The candidate's primary responsibility is to design, engineer and release Closures Hardware Systems across multiple GM vehicle programs. Closure Hardware Systems include; Door Hardware Modules, Latches, Inside/Outside Handles, Release Cables and Rods, Window Regulators, manual/power Closure Actuators, Latches, Switches and Lock-sets for Front (Hood/e-Trunk), Rear (Lift/Tail/Swing/End Gates) and Side Closures (FR/RR Doors). As an Exterior Hardware engineer, the candidate will utilize leadership skills, creativity, initiative, and independent judgment to lead product development teams and collaborate with cross functional teams to deliver integrated and balanced solutions with ultimate focus on the end-user experience of vehicle Closures.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

• Collaborates with cross-functional partners to achieve a robust solution with balanced imperatives

  • Supporting System Architects and System Lead Engineers to guide Integrated Suppliers, Software and Services partners, Program Teams and Manufacturing partners to develop integrated solutions that balance innovation, content and imperatives within manufacturing constraints, engineering requirements and best practices.

  • Negotiates with cross-functional partners to balance solutions.

  • Collaborates extensively with Closures Structure Engineers, Software and Services Engineers, Suppliers, General Assembly and VDDV/CAE Engineers to balance component requirements, SSTS requirements, along with packaging and dimensional requirements

  • Ensuring criteria development enables quality on time execution.

  • Ensuring software Controls and Electrical requirements are developed, communicated and delivered and fully represent the voice of the customer for a best-in-class Closures user experience

  • Develops studies/alternatives, and supports Program direction based upon cost, mass, timing, DFMEA, quality, and other program imperatives

  • Communicates information to and from internal and external customer organizations

• Technical capability in Closure Hardware systems/component development

  • Understands System Technical Specifications to enable adaptation to new vehicles

  • Technical knowledge of Closures and system integration with working knowledge of Closure components (Latches, I/O-side Handles, Counterbalance, Power Actuators, Handles, Sensors etc.)

  • Knowledge of competitive benchmarks and trends in subsystem space

  • Engaged with Technical Specialist team and active participant in technical knowledge sharing forums (SSLTs)

  • Understands and implements system best practices and can quickly and effectively share learning's and knowledge read-across with other programs/platforms.

  • Familiar with manufacturing process for Closures across Stamping, Body, Paint and General Assembly

• Leads the Product Development Team enabling the hardware system to meet all deliverables on time while managing imperative and providing integrated solutions across multiple programs

  • Manage all design release workstreams for their vehicle hardware components. The role will include responsibility for the entire collection of Exterior HW for that vehicle program.

  • Running effective HW system PDTs

  • Execute Quality Chain elements with rigor and excellence

  • Co-Lead System Design Reviews, Peer reviews, DRBTR reviews, ensure 100 percent design fidelity and best practice compliance– with focus on HW/SW integration issues, specifically in the software Controls domain.

  • Completion of the key deliverables through the VDP utilizing PDT and component timing plans, including math releases, SOR's, Sourcing, Tool Kick Offs, Validation/Verification, ICDm/e, CRV's, MRD's for build events, and PPAP.

  • Working knowledge of GM systems and processes (ECR, PRTS, eMerge, PPAP, TWO's etc.)

  • Leads in the development, execution and approval of Verification plans for subsystems

  • Supports the PDT, SQ and Purchasing team to enable on-time sourcing of qualified Suppliers

  • Uses Robust Engineering tools (DFSS, OPEX, etc) to optimize product design

• Enables high-quality on-time vehicle launch

  • Determines the root cause of system performance issues.

  • Understands Controls logic and intended customer-facing Closure system behavior

  • Works with cross-functional partners (Controls, SW engineers, Test Engineers etc.) to develop Closure system performance validation plans

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Math, Physics, or Computer Science

• 2+ years of experience as DRE or equivalent or comparable new product development

• Execution of vehicle development cycles for systems and subsystems (concept through production launch)

• Familiar with engineering operations, specification and release processes, and best practices

• Strong interpersonal skills enabling ability to work effectively with cross-functional and cross-cultural teams

• Extensive level of analytical ability where problems are complex or difficult.

• Demonstrated ability of 'dealing with ambiguity' to enable timely decision making.

• Excellent program management skills

• Excellent physics based and methodical problem-solving skills

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• 3+ years of experience as DRE or equivalent or comparable new product development

• Execution of vehicle development cycles for systems and subsystems (concept through production launch)

• Master of Science or other Advanced Degree

• DFSS Green or Black Belt Certification and Red X Journeyman

• Knowledge and use of VSpy diagnostic applications

• MATLAB and Simulink modelling capability