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.

The Role

Do you enjoy creating unique and highly technical engineering solutions to address unusual challenges? Are you curious about how a vehicle design develops into reality, where it all begins?

 

The Studio Design Quality Engineer serves as the craftsmanship-quality representative for interior and exterior vehicle integration. This customer-facing surface integration role partners with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Human Factors, and Program teams to transform creative vehicle concepts into technically feasible, production-ready solutions. The ideal candidate combines automotive passion, creative problem-solving, engineering judgment, and the ability to balance customer expectations, design intent, technical feasibility, and manufacturing quality throughout vehicle development. Role is engaged early in the design development process working across component and compartment system integration and extends through production release.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Lead Design Quality craftsmanship initiatives across vehicle programs.
• Lead the Parting Line and Grain Exceptions process for assigned programs through handoff to Appearance Quality. Providing guidance for what’s acceptable for grain and parting line quality.
• Lead competitive benchmarking initiatives; identify craftsmanship trends and apply insights to future vehicle designs.
• Lead strategic craftsmanship continuous-improvement projects, including engineering best practices, design-execution sections, criteria sections, and manufacturing requirements.
• Incorporate the Voice of the Customer into vehicle design decisions.
• Assess program math integration, sections, and surface quality using NX and TC VIS Math.
• Identify and communicate Design Quality issues to stakeholders, including recovery plans.
• Lead or support issue resolution and escalation within the assigned area to drive timely closure.
• Support Studio Design Engineers in cross-functional surface-integration meetings.
• Collaborate with Creative Design, Product Engineering, and Manufacturing teams during studio and engineering surface development.
• Support Engineering Excellence Reviews, math assessments, virtual reviews, surface-integration discussions, and gate reviews.
• Support Vehicle Excellence Program Leadership report-outs by communicating issues and resolution plans.
• Support physical-build craftsmanship reviews during pre-production launch.
• Support regional program development and partner activities as needed.
• Apply DFSS methodologies to manage design-development trade-offs and evaluate alternatives based on cost, mass, timing, design for assembly, dimensional variation, and other program requirements.
• Develop and maintain advanced NX proficiency.
  

Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Design, Engineering Technology, Technology, or another related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in a related area
• Understanding engineering theory and principles of automotive design
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• High level of interpersonal skills and effective to work others or independently
• Aptitude to integrate complex systems and a passion for design
• High level of analytical ability where problems are unusual or difficult
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes
• Ability to sketch and communicate ideas visually
• Demonstrated skills - CAD NX Team Center, TC-Vis, Microsoft/Google applications
• Basic understanding of Engineering Specifications

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Coursework or experience in compartment integration, creative design, engineering design, sheet metal design or manufacturing processes
• DFSS Certification - Black Belt

#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. Relocation benefits are available for candidates who qualify under company policy. This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis. A company vehicle will only be provided for this role by passing the 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

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