Job Description

About the Job 

Join General Motors Research & Development as a Summer Research Intern supporting the Vehicle Defense Research group within the Safety, Engineering and Defense Research Lab. In this role, you will contribute to applied research, modeling and simulation, and technology development related to defense and military systems. 

You will work with experienced researchers and engineers to evaluate current and emerging technologies, apply evidence-based analysis, and help translate research concepts into vehicle, system, and software applications for federal and defense customers. 

This internship is designed for a graduate student who is interested in defense research, vehicle systems, modeling and simulation, autonomous systems, human-machine interaction, advanced powertrain and electrification, or related engineering disciplines. 

The Role 

As a Summer Research Intern, you will support research planning and execution across defense-focused modeling and simulation activities. You will collaborate with GM researchers, engineers, and external partners to conduct technical analyses, develop models or simulations, document results, and communicate findings. 

You may contribute to projects involving: 

• Vehicle performance and mobility 

• Force-on-force and mission-level simulation 

• Autonomous systems 

• Human-machine interaction and user experience 

• Crew-compartment and Soldier-system simulation 

• Advanced powertrain, electrification, and power systems 

• Vehicle safety, testing, experimentation, and assessment 

The specific project assignment will depend on business needs, your academic background, and your technical interests. 

What You’ll Do:    

• Support research projects by defining objectives, conducting technical analysis, and documenting methods and results. 

• Develop, update, or apply models and simulations for defense and automotive applications. 

• Assist with data analysis, experimentation, testing, and evaluation of vehicle or system performance. 

• Collaborate with research scientists, engineers, program managers, and other technical stakeholders. 

• Research emerging defense, mobility, autonomy, simulation, and vehicle technologies. 

• Prepare technical presentations, research summaries, reports, and other project documentation. 

• Participate in technical reviews and communicate progress, findings, risks, and recommendations. 

• Identify opportunities to apply research outcomes to future GM products, systems, and defense programs. 

• Support university, government, national laboratory, and industry research partnerships as appropriate. 

• Follow applicable requirements for export controls, intellectual property, and controlled unclassified information. 

• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and technically rigorous research environment. 

More About Who You Are 

• Curious, analytical, and motivated to solve challenging problems at the intersection of engineering, technology, and national security. 
• Comfortable learning new technical domains and working across multiple disciplines. 
• Strong interest or passion for defense related products.  
• Able to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences. 
• Interested in applied research and in transitioning research findings into practical vehicle, system, or software capabilities. 
• Able to work independently while seeking guidance and collaborating effectively with a research team. 
• Committed to responsible handling of sensitive, proprietary, and potentially classified information. 

Required Qualifications:     

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Pursuit of an advanced degree (Masters or PhD) degree in engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, or a related technical field

• Must be a current student

• Able to work fulltime, 40 hours per week during the summer months 
• Demonstrated academic, research, project, or internship experience in at least one relevant area, such as modeling and simulation, vehicle systems, autonomous systems, robotics, controls, human-machine interaction, power systems, electrification, systems engineering, or defense technology. 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical writing skills. 

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with scientists, engineers, and program stakeholders. 

• Ability to work in a hybrid environment and meet project milestones during the summer internship. 

Preferred Qualifications:    

• Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, or a related technical field. 

• Prior research, coursework, project, or internship experience involving defense systems, military platforms, ground vehicles, simulation, experimentation, testing, or assessment. 

• Experience with one or more of the following: autonomous systems, vehicle dynamics, vehicle performance, force-on-force simulation, crew-compartment simulation, human-machine interaction, user experience, advanced powertrain, electrification, or power systems. 

• Experience with programming, data analysis, numerical methods, or simulation tools. 

• Experience presenting technical work through publications, posters, conference presentations, or project reviews. 

• Familiarity with systems engineering, requirements development, verification and validation, or technology transition. 
• Active U.S. Security Clearance as of the first day of work. 

• Experience with automotive research, testing, or development. 

This position requires eligibility to access classified information at the Secret U.S. Security Clearance level for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. The successful candidate must have eligibility to obtain a security clearance at that level.

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).

Work Arrangement: 

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business]. 

GM will provide a one-time lump sum taxable stipend payment to eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program - to help facilitate administration of relocation benefits, please apply using the permanent address you would move from. 

Start dates for this internship role are May 24th & June 14th of 2027.  

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

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

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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.

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