Staff System Architect - Engine Controls

Our Mission:
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.

Hybrid:  This means the successful candidate is expected to report to their primary location (Milford, MI) three times (Tues., Wed., Thurs.) per week, at minimum, or other frequency dictated by the business. 

General Motors is looking for a Staff Systems Engineer to join the Engine & Transmission Controls organization. This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for the functional architecture and requirements strategy for key engine controls domains including air delivery, exhaust gas estimation, EGR, diagnostics, and related control features within the Agile Release Train (ART) environment.

This role is ideal for an engineer with deep engine controls expertise, strong systems thinking, and the ability to translate complex physical-system behavior into clear, testable, production-ready requirements. You will work across systems, software, hardware, calibration, validation, Product Team, and integration teams to define architecture that enables strong vehicle performance, emissions compliance, diagnostics, and customer-facing quality.

In this role, you will shape the architecture behind critical engine controls features that directly influence vehicle performance, emissions compliance, and diagnostic robustness. You will work on complex, high-visibility technical challenges with cross-functional experts while building deep expertise in one of GM’s most technically demanding propulsion spaces.

What you'll do

• Own the functional architecture and requirements strategy for engine controls features related to air delivery, exhaust gas estimation, EGR, diagnostics, and adjacent subsystems

• Develop and drive the requirements architecture vision and ART solution context for your domain

• Define ART solutions, support the breakdown of initiatives and capabilities into executable deliverables, and create or support ART features in Jira

• Work with the Product Team and systems engineering partners to translate vehicle, product, customer, and regulatory needs into system and subsystem requirements that are clear, complete, and testable

• Capture customer-facing requirements including emissions, NVH, performance, functionality, diagnostics, and remedial actions

• Define functional behavior, system boundaries, interfaces, APIs, and integration requirements across controls, software, hardware, calibration, validation, advanced work teams, integration teams, and other ARTs

• Define functional controls requirements, including inputs, outputs, transfer behavior, latency, overshoot, oscillation, degraded operation, recovery behavior, and performance expectations

• Develop context diagrams, functional architecture diagrams, interface requirements, and hardware integration requirements

• Define use cases, acceptance criteria, and measurable performance requirements for normal and degraded operating states

• Define diagnostic, degraded-state, remedial action, recovery, signal retention, aging, build variation, noise factor, and environmental requirements

• Support prioritization and rollout of testable functionality with systems engineering and Product Team partners

• Own or support cross-functional FMEA linkage, lead system or subsystem DFMEAs, and participate in design-level DFMEAs

• Support actuator and sensor functional and performance requirements, calibratable aspects of the function, and the hardware development cycle as new technologies are investigated and applied

• Partner closely with the ART , Product Team, subsystem engineers, hardware teams, advanced work teams, integration teams, and scrum teams to ensure strong technical alignment

• Provide technical guidance to Sub-System Lead Engineers and other contributors developing requirements and related systems work products

• Attend key ART and scrum meetings and support agile development processes tied to requirements, architecture, and technical feasibility

• Support resolution of critical functional, regulatory, compliance, and customer satisfaction issues

• Identify and support innovation opportunities within the engine controls domain

• Manage requirements using GM requirements standard tool suites

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering field

• 7+ years of experience in Engine Controls Systems

• 7+ years of experience in Engine Integration

• Expert understanding of the physics related to engine combustion and/or fluid dynamics

• Strong systems engineering background, including experience defining requirements, interfaces, functional behavior, and system architecture for complex control systems

• Strong analytical problem-solving skills, including independent judgment and decision-making in highly ambiguous technical environments

• Ability to prioritize work and operate effectively with limited direction

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, align, and work effectively across a large cross-functional engineering group

• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS , DNG , or similar platforms

• Experience with change management tools such as Jira

• Experience using simulation and plant modeling environments for fault insertion analysis, testing, and requirements development, such as MATLAB/Simulink, GMSIM, dSPACE, ETAS , or similar tools

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Engineering with an emphasis in Controls or Mechatronic Systems

• Experience with OBD regulations , emissions-related requirements, and regional regulatory requirements

• Experience working in an embedded controls or embedded software organization

• Experience defining or supporting diagnostic strategy, degraded operation requirements, and remedial action behavior

• Experience supporting actuator and sensor performance requirements, hardware development, and calibration-related requirements

Why this role

This is a high-impact technical opportunity for an engineer who wants to shape the future of engine controls architecture at scale. You will influence how key propulsion features are defined, integrated, and delivered through strong systems engineering, deep technical expertise, and effective cross-functional partnership.

If you are energized by solving complex controls problems and defining architecture for critical propulsion functions, this role offers the scope and visibility to make a meaningful impact.

#LI-SW1

SPONSORSHIP: 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., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, H4 EAD, J-1, etc.)

This job is not eligible for relocation benefits.  Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate

Why Join Us

At GM, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping the future of connected, electric, and autonomous vehicles . You’ll work on cutting-edge antenna systems alongside some of the brightest minds in automotive and RF technology — with the resources to make an impact at scale. We offer competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and a culture that values innovation, inclusion, and forward thinking . This is a unique opportunity to lead, innovate, and help millions of customers around the world stay connected on the move .

Bonus Potential:  An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance. 

Company Vehicle:  Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

Benefits : GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

Diversity Information

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that workforce diversity creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.   We understand and embrace the variety through which people gain experiences whether through professional, personal, educational, or volunteer opportunities. 

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications and apply for any positions that match your skills and capabilities