Staff Researcher - Vehicle Compute Platforms & SoC/MCU Semiconductor Systems

Description

Staff Researcher - Vehicle Compute Platforms & SoC/MCU Semiconductor Systems
 

Location: GM Global Technical Center – Warren, MI (Software Defined Vehicle Research Lab)
Organization: GM R&D – Electrical and Software Architecture Group

Why this role matters

At GM, a Staff Researcher is a senior-level researcher role, recognized for leading high-impact research, shaping strategy, and representing GM in their field. Join us if you are a passionate researcher with senior-level expertise in semiconductor platforms, embedded compute, and electrical/software architectures for future Software-Defined Vehicles.

GM R&D’s Electrical and Software Architecture group invents, evaluates, optimizes, and matures next-generation in-vehicle architectures, compute platforms, and communication systems that enable GM’s vision of the Software Defined Vehicle. We focus on how SoCs, MCUs, memory, networks, and low-level software come together into robust, safe, and cost-effective automotive platforms, spanning deeply embedded ECUs as well as high-performance compute platforms for infotainment and automated driving.

What you will do

You will be the group’s subject-matter expert for semiconductors and compute platforms , with a focus on SoCs, MCUs, memory subsystems, and associated board-level and platform software technologies for automotive ECUs, infotainment systems, and centralized/automated driving compute platforms. As a Staff Researcher, you are expected to define, propose, and develop research projects in alignment with GM R&D’s strategy and priorities, and to clearly define, communicate and demonstrate the value your work creates for GM and our customers.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead semiconductor-focused research projects that influence GM’s electrical and software architecture roadmaps (central compute, zonal ECUs, domain controllers, edge nodes, infotainment, and automated driving compute platforms).
• Design and implement proof-of-concept prototypes on our R&D lab benches , using evaluation platforms and representative in-vehicle architecture benches to validate concepts before transfer to product teams.
• Represent GM in domestic and international standards bodies and technical meetings (e.g., IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.1), including approximately 10–15% travel and quickly developing deep expertise in Ethernet‑based in‑vehicle protocols and IEEE 802 specifications to effectively navigate and influence complex standardization efforts.
• Evaluate and benchmark SoCs/MCUs and memory technologies (CPU cores, accelerators, interconnects, DDR/LPDDR, flash, NVM, cache hierarchies) for latency, throughput, power, cost, and safety/security trade-offs.
• Explore and prototype new compute and communication concepts using FPGAs, evaluation boards, and custom circuitry to de-risk new architectures and features (e.g., real-time safety-critical functions, mixed‑criticality workloads).
• Contribute to ECU and board-level design concepts , working with internal teams and suppliers on power, clocks, reset, high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, DDR), and bring-up strategies.
• Drive low-level software concepts around boot flows, board support packages (BSPs), bare-metal or RTOS-based implementations, device drivers, and hardware abstraction needed for SDV architectures.
• Collaborate closely with GM engineering, purchasing, and suppliers to align semiconductor choices with GM’s long-term architecture, safety, cybersecurity, and cost objectives.
• Seek out and aggressively pursue technology insertion opportunities at GM , working with product engineering and program teams to move successful research outcomes into production programs, pilots, or platform roadmaps.
• Publish and protect IP through internal reports, patents, and external publications where appropriate, and represent GM R&D at key technical conferences and workshops.
• Mentor researchers and early-career engineers , helping grow GM’s internal expertise in semiconductor and compute-platform topics.

As part of this role you may represent General Motors in standardization bodies, such as IEEE 802.3 and 802.1 to drive enhancements into Ethernet based standards/hardware. This may require 10 to 15% of domestic and international travel, the ability to quickly acquire an in-depth understanding of Ethernet based in-vehicle based protocols and of the IEEE 802 specifications and a strong ability to navigate and influence standardization efforts!

What you need (Basic Qualifications)

• M.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field; Ph.D. preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant industrial or research experience (or 5+ with a Ph.D.) in semiconductors, SoC/MCU architecture, or embedded compute platforms.
• Deep understanding of modern SoCs/MCUs, including:
  • CPU cores (e.g., Arm, RISC‑V), memory hierarchies, interconnects, and on-chip peripherals.
  • High-speed interfaces (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, DDR/LPDDR, GDDR, NVMe).
• Knowledge of automotive communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, Time Sensitive Networking Standards, CAN, LIN, PCIe-based architectures, SOME/IP) and in-vehicle networks.
• Hands-on experience in the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG for board bring-up and debug.
• Experience with ECU or embedded system design and low-level software, such as:
  • Board support packages, bootloaders, bare-metal or RTOS-based implementations, hardware drivers.
  • Integration of low-level software with hardware in lab or bench environments.
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute research projects, from concept and modeling through proof-of-concept implementation and technology transfer to product teams.
• Strong communication and influence skills, including:
  • Presenting complex technical content at multiple levels of detail (lab leadership, cross-functional partners, standards bodies).
  • Building alignment across internal stakeholders and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for or closely with a semiconductor company or Tier‑1 supplier, especially on automotive‑grade SoCs/MCUs, memory subsystems, or safety-critical controllers.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA or digital hardware development (Verilog/VHDL, synthesis, timing closure, lab validation)
• Direct contributions to standards bodies (e.g., IEEE 802.x, OPEN Alliance, AUTOSAR) or similar consortia, including proposal authorship, editing, or leading technical subgroups.
• Experience with security and safety architectures at the hardware/platform level (e.g., secure boot, key storage, redundancy, fault containment).
• Prior experience leading cross-company or cross-organizational initiatives, navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, and influencing roadmaps without direct authority.

If you are excited by the idea of bridging semiconductor technology, ECU/board design, low-level software, and industry standards to define the next generation of automotive compute platforms, we encourage you to apply.

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