Lead Vehicle Systems Engineer - Body Structures and Closures

Job Description

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.

Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

The Role  

As the Body Structures and Closures Lead Vehicle Systems Engineer (VSE), you are the chief integrator for Body Structures and Closures Systems – spanning Body in White, Body Sealing Solutions, Closures sheet metal, Chassis Structure, Door Seals, and frunk black plastics. 

You own design intent and technical execution, ensuring every subsystem decision rolls up into compelling vehicle-level performance, quality, timing, and cost. This is a highly visible, high-impact role where you connect the dots between engineering rigor, customer experience, and business outcomes. 

You are the voice of the Body Structure and Closures SMT, partnering closely with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Studio, Compartment Integration, Program Teams, and Performance & Validation to deliver a robust, on-time, and cost-competitive product. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, disciplined program stewardship, and the ability to influence across a complex, matrixed organization. 

In addition to core VSE responsibilities, this Lead role serves as the strategic leader for the platform, shaping the vision and direction of emerging vehicle programs from their earliest concept stages. It defines the initial scope for new programs, develops and deploys standard VSE processes, and actively coaches and uplifts other VSEs, building a strong, consistent culture of program support across the full Body Structures and Closures portfolio.

Why This Role Matters 

In this role, you will: 

• Directly shape how customers experience the structure, feel, and function of our vehicles. 

• Sit at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, design, and business, with a clear line of sight to program and enterprise outcomes. 

• Have the opportunity to set the technical direction, build alignment, and help define the next generation of GM vehicles. 

If you are energized by complex systems, visible impact, and leading through influence, this role gives you a platform to make a meaningful difference for our customers, our teams, and our future products. 

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

Platform Integration & Process Leadership

• Understands cross-program impacts of decisions and develops comprehensive plans. Develops look-across of issues and communicates to VSE teams in their architecture and to the broader VSE org/SMT as appropriate.

• Knowledgeable of program status for responsible architectures. Identifies and manages cross-program opportunities to optimize budget and other imperatives. Ensures consistency in communication with program teams.

• Supports other VSEs in achieving deliverables. Leads or coaches cross-program implementation of EWS ideas and other key deliverables.

• Understands tools used by VSEs and drives consistency where appropriate.

• Understands critical or complex issues across architecture and leads VSEs to ensure robust solutions

• Identifies gaps in technical understanding of VSEs and coaches to support navigating issues.

• Regularly reviews TED and key leadership presentations and coaches VSEs for success.

• Pulls together VSE teams for architecture-level roll-outs. Understands methods used by VSEs in communicating and coaches/leads to drive consistent messaging to teams.

• Maintains strong pulse on top issues across responsible architectures. Supports VSEs in navigating critical or complex issues through coaching or taking leadership as required.

• Regularly interfaces with all VSEs on responsible architectures. Drives optimization in work and supports VSEs as needed.

System Integration & Program Leadership 

• Own Body Structure and Closures SMT coordination across systems, subsystems, and vehicle interfaces. 

• Define and drive technical imperatives that align to program targets, milestones, and customer promises. 

Technical Decision-Making & Problem Solving 

• Lead structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, and trade-off decisions that protect vehicle performance. 

• Define must-be-true conditions, set contingencies, and make timely, data-driven decisions to protect program metrics. 

Vehicle-Level Technical Acumen 

• Identify and resolve issues at both component and vehicle levels. 

• Balance customer experience, manufacturability, cost, and enterprise constraints through clear, grounded technical communication. 

Executive & Cross-Functional Communication 

• Deliver concise, executive-ready updates (written, verbal, and visual). 

• Prioritize and tailor information for leaders, DREs, EGMs, and functional partners to enable fast, confident decisions. 

• Clearly scope and frame work so teams can execute efficiently and with alignment. 

Influence, Negotiation & Alignment 

• Align stakeholders with competing objectives and remove enterprise-level roadblocks. 

• Secure durable agreements with BOM leaders, TEDs, suppliers, and Program Teams that keep the program on track. 

Planning, Prioritization & Risk Management 

• Develop and manage 30/60/90-day and long-range plans that are realistic and transparent. 

• Appropriately push back on scope, delegate effectively, and identify and mitigate risks early. 

Cost, Budget & Imperative Management 

• Lead Body Structures and Closures SMT delivery to cost, quality, and timing targets along the VDP/GVDP glidepath. 

• Synthesize detailed technical inputs into credible forecasts and clear aggregate status. 

Engineering Execution & Supplier Readiness 

• Drive design deliverables, benchmarking, cost management, HVI, interface requirements, and financial/quality imperatives. 

• Co-lead supplier selection, tooling kick-off, and PPAP readiness to ensure launch success. 

Change, Validation & Launch Leadership 

• Anticipate risk and lead engineering changes and validation activities with discipline and speed. 

• Support DREs and IRTs through development and vehicle launch, ensuring issues are resolved before they reach the customer. 

Engineering with Simplicity (EwS) & Innovation 

• Champion Engineering with Simplicity (EwS) through simplification, standardization, and smart reuse. 

• Develop and communicate a pipeline of Body Structures and Closures SMT improvement ideas that raise the bar across programs. 

Technology & Competitive Awareness 

• Monitor emerging technologies and competitive products. 

• Translate insights into pragmatic design and execution strategies that keep GM products competitive and differentiated. 

Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related Engineering discipline.

• 5+ years of experience as a Design Release Engineer within Body Structures and/or Closures (e.g., sheet metal stampings and assemblies, chassis structures, door seals, functional black plastics). 

• Deep technical knowledge of sheet metal components and vehicle-level integration. 

• Proven executive-level communication skills – clear, concise, and action-oriented. 

• Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and align cross-functional stakeholders. 

• Strong track record of structured problem solving, risk management, and decisive execution. 

• Experience managing program scope, timelines, budgets, and VDP/GVDP milestones. 

• Results-driven mindset with demonstrated impact on EwS or other enterprise imperatives. 

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Masters Degree

• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience

• Lead DRE experience in Body Structures and Closures Systems 

• IRT experience 

• Manufacturing experience or a demonstrated strong BIW manufacturing knowledge base

• Familiarity with GM Vehicle Program processes, tools, and deliverables. 

• Consistent demonstration of GM Behaviors, including integrity, collaboration, resilience, accountability, and continuous learning. 

#LI-KM2

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 may be eligible for relocation benefits. This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review.

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.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

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.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.