Senior Materials Engineer - Fluids and Lubricants

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.
The Role
A Senior Materials Engineer - Global Energy, Fluids & Lubricants (GEFL) is responsible for the technical development, validation, approval, and issue resolution of fuels, lubricants, and functional fluids that support GM products, propulsion systems, and manufacturing operations.
This individual contributor role provides technical leadership across one or more GEFL areas, including fuels, engine and driveline lubricants, EV/EDU fluids, coolants, hydraulic fluids, washer fluids, greases, and other specialty fluids. The role works cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Validation, Service, Purchasing, suppliers, and regulatory partners to define requirements, deliver robust material and fluid solutions, and support product excellence across global programs.
This role is expected to operate as a recognized technical specialist with broad influence across programs, standards, and strategic technical decisions. The successful candidate will provide expert guidance within their area of responsibility and help shape GM direction in fuels, lubricants, and fluids technologies.
What You'll Do

• Lead development and application of fuels, lubricants, and fluids for GM vehicles, propulsion systems, and manufacturing processes
• Define material and fluid performance requirements, specifications, validation approaches, and approval criteria
• Lead factory fill, service fill, and specialty fluid activities across global vehicle and propulsion programs
• Provide technical leadership for design reviews, issue resolution, root cause investigations, and warranty prevention activities related to fuels, lubricants, and fluids
• Evaluate supplier technologies, formulations, and change requests to ensure performance, quality, cost, timing, and compliance objectives are achieved
• Partner with Engineering, Validation, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Legal, and Service teams to implement robust fluid and lubricant solutions
• Drive technical problem solving for field, plant, test, and program issues involving fuels, lubricants, and fluids
• Develop and maintain technical standards, test methods, best practices, and lessons learned
• Monitor industry, regulatory, and technology trends related to energy, fuels, lubricants, additives, and functional fluids
• Represent GM in technical discussions with suppliers, industry groups, standards bodies, and external partners
• Influence external industry direction through participation in standards bodies, technical forums, and key supplier engagement

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in science or engineering
• 5+ years' experience in fuels, lubricants, fluids, tribology, chemical systems, materials engineering, powertrain, electrification, or a related technical area
• Demonstrated technical problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively across functions
• Experience with test methods, validation processes, technical specifications, and data-driven decision making
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced product development environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical work with cross-functional visibility and business impact

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced degree in science or engineering
• 7+ years' experience with engine oils, transmission fluids, axle fluids, coolants, EV/EDU fluids, greases, washer fluids, fuels, or additive technologies
• Experience with tribology, formulation, chemical compatibility, contamination control, durability, or failure analysis
• Knowledge of automotive standards, specifications, regulatory requirements, test development, and supplier approval processes
• Experience leading cross-functional technical initiatives or serving as the primary technical focal point on complex issues
• Experience engaging with external technical forums, standards organizations, or industry groups

Role expectations

• Recognized technical expert in a major GEFL area or across multiple fluid technologies
• Leads complex technical work with significant cross-functional visibility and business impact
• Sets direction for standards, validation strategies, or supplier technical decisions within their area of responsibility
• Frequently serves as the primary technical contact for high-impact issues and emerging technologies
• Influences technical direction both within GM and externally through industry engagement

Additional information
This position is an individual contributor role within Materials Engineering and does not include direct people leadership responsibility. Success in this role requires strong technical depth, sound engineering judgment, collaboration across functions, and the ability to translate complex fuels, lubricants, and fluids topics into clear technical recommendations and business decisions.
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.
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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