Engineering Group Leader - Suspension Systems Engineering, Safety & Validation (GPSSC)

The Role  

This position is a key leadership role within the Global Systems Engineering, Safety, and Validation organization, responsible for leading suspension systems engineering, safety, and validation activities. This leader translates functional and program strategies into execution and builds a high-performing, inclusive team accountable for safe, compliant delivery. 

The role provides technical direction and project management oversight across risk management, change control, performance management, coaching, mentoring, and resource utilization. The candidate should be comfortable with ambiguity and be able to provide direction with incomplete information. A working knowledge of Suspension Systems, Real-time Control Systems, Vehicle Integration/Development, and Systems Engineering is required. 

What You’ll Do  

• Lead suspension systems engineering, safety, and validation activities across multiple vehicle programs and architectures. 

• Provide technical direction, people leadership, and project oversight for execution, resourcing, risk management, and team performance. 

• Drive robust systems engineering practices, including requirements, DFMEAs, safety artifacts, validation plans, and technical reviews. 

• Partner cross-functionally with program, design, software, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to resolve issues and deliver safe, compliant systems. 

• Build a high-performing organization through coaching, accountability, continuous improvement, and clear operating metrics. 

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)  

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 8+ years of relevant experience in automotive systems engineering and system safety, including validation, across multiple vehicle programs or architectures. 

• Proven people leadership and the ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams, develop talent, manage performance, and build inclusive, high-performing organizations. 

• Strong knowledge of GM systems engineering practices, including requirements flow down, DFMEAs, system safety artifacts, validation plans, and technical reviews. 

• Working knowledge of suspension systems, vehicle integration and development, and associated validation methods, tools, and issue-management practices. 

• Demonstrated ability to deliver technical content for program milestones, including safety and regulatory deliverables, while managing trade-offs across timing, content, and resources. 

• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive accountability and influence across program, design, software, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams. 

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)  

• Master’s degree in engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline; advanced study in Business is also valued. 

• Deep experience in Systems Engineering, System Safety, Functional Safety, Validation Methods, and/or Quality or Regulatory disciplines. 

• Direct leadership experience over multi-disciplinary teams delivering Systems Engineering and System Safety content across multiple vehicle programs, architectures, or chassis-related domains. 

• Demonstrated success leading major Systems Engineering and System Safety trade-offs, governing standard work and validation artifacts, and supporting launch and regulatory milestones. 

• Familiarity with KPI dashboards, continuous improvement methods, and lessons-learned processes that strengthen Systems Engineering, System Safety, and validation execution.