Lead Development & Validation Engineer

Description
The Lead Development & Validation Engineer - Electrical Systems is the senior technical lead for high-voltage and low-voltage propulsion electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization.
This role sets direction for electrical Design Validation (DV)/ Production Validation (PV) strategy, owns critical test/analysis plans, and ensures that outcomes are tightly linked to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and program risk burn-down. The engineer leads cross-functional alignment with Global Virtual Engineering (GVE), safety, program, and supplier teams while mentoring other engineers and driving method and capability growth.
Rough guideline: ~50% technical leadership/strategy and cross-functional coordination; ~50% high-impact technical work and oversight (rather than day-to-day execution on every test).
Key Responsibilities
Electrical System Strategy, Planning & Technical Direction

• Define the development and validation strategy for RESS electrical systems across multiple programs.
• Develop testing strategies to support virtualization activities.
• Translate program requirements, safety standards, and DFMEA outputs into integrated electrical test and analysis plans, ensuring coverage across architectures and phases.
• Make risk-based trade-offs on scope, timing, and methods, escalating issues and recommendations to leadership with clear options and impacts.
• Provide technical direction to other engineers and lab personnel executing electrical tests and analyses; review and sign off on critical test plans and reports.

DFMEA Ownership & Risk-Based Prioritization for Electrical Systems

• Serve as the senior electrical DFMEA owner for key domains: ensure failure modes, effects, causes, and controls are complete, current, and technically sound.
• Define and maintain the electrical detection strategy (test and analysis) for high-risk DFMEA items; ensure each has a credible and executable prevention/detection path.
• Lead regular DFMEA reviews with GVE, safety, and program teams to reprioritize tests/analyses as designs evolve, issues emerge, and new data arrives (e.g., field, warranty, read-across).

Technical Execution Oversight & Problem Solving

• Oversee planning and execution of complex electrical tests (e.g., HV/LV functional safety, isolation/fault management, abuse/fault injections, support TRP evaluations).
• Step in directly on the most complex or high-risk investigations, providing hands-on guidance in test design, instrumentation, data review, and root-cause analysis.
• Integrate results from lab testing, simulation, and vehicle-level evaluations into cohesive technical narratives and recommendations for design and program leadership.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Represent electrical systems in cross-functional forums, design reviews, and workgroups, clearly articulating risks, mitigations, and readiness.
• Partner closely with GVE virtual teams so electrical DV/PV and modeling are aligned (assumptions, correlation targets, and capability gaps).
• Collaborate with safety, systems, software/controls, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure electrical system robustness from concept through launch.

People Leadership, Mentoring & Method Development

• Mentor and coach engineers and lab staff on electrical system design, test methods, DFMEA usage, and sound engineering judgement.
• Lead continuous improvement of electrical test methods, fixtures, instrumentation, automation, and standard work; champion adoption across teams.
• Help shape capability roadmaps (tools, labs, training) for electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in propulsion, battery/RESS, or vehicle electrical systems development and validation, with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Strong track record planning and leading complex electrical test programs and investigations in safety-critical environments.
• Deep working knowledge of DFMEA or equivalent risk tools, with proven experience using them to drive test/analysis priorities and design decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data into clear technical recommendations for senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-voltage automotive systems, isolation and fault-current management, functional safety standards, and diagnostics.
• Prior ownership of DFMEAs and/or feature-level responsibility for critical electrical functions.
• Familiarity with GVDP/GPDP and propulsion program governance (scorecards, PRTS, gate deliverables).
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and influencing without formal people-management authority.

Why work for this team

• Opportunity to serve as the senior technical lead for high-impact propulsion electrical systems within RESS Development & Validation, shaping DV/PV strategy and capability roadmaps
• Direct influence on the safety, robustness, and launch readiness of GM's electric propulsion programs
• High visibility and cross-functional collaboration with GVE, safety, systems, software/controls, manufacturing, and supplier teams
• Meaningful scope to mentor engineers and drive continuous improvement in electrical methods, tools, and labs

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 onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.
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.
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