Technical Specialist - Structures/durability

Virtual Design, Development & Validation (VDDV) Global Technical Specialist – Structures/Durability

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

The Virtual Design, Development & Validation (VDDV) Global Technical Specialist – Structures/Durability candidate will work on leading edge Vehicle Body design for GM's future vehicle programs. This position makes a significant impact by providing technical leadership and guidance for structural analysis of Vehicle Body dynamics, fatigue & overall performance. The VDDV Technical Specialist will work with Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists to develop and validate designs for new and future products, as well as identify priorities for future analysis growth. Responsible for setting the strategic technical vision for the team, including leading capability growth and facilitating robust design training.

What You'll Do

Strategy, Innovation & Planning

• Create and execute strategic road maps for virtual design, development and validation for body systems.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams, and Hardware Development/Validation Teams to create, maintain and execute analysis capability development plans in support of GM's vision of a predominantly virtual development process.
• Stay abreast of competition and industry trends to identify opportunities that improve speed-to-market and cost efficiency.
• Forecast and plan capability and resource needs, and secure support for required resources to meet program and technology roadmaps.
• Define strategic opportunities to innovate processes and methods that advance virtual development maturity and efficiency.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction to VDDV Engineers working on virtual design, development and validation of Vehicle Body structures and durability to achieve the optimum performance at any customer deliverables.
• Drive VDDV connection to Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists.
• Work with VDDV Engineers, Hardware Release Teams and Technical Specialists to develop optimal design solutions that meet all requirements.
• Responsible for analysis procedure documentation and updates.
• Provide training for new and existing analysis procedures
• Responsible to align analysis procedures with BOD/BOMs and VCRIs
• Seek out state of the art tools and methods and benchmark with Industry.
• Support Code Red/PRTS/SUFs and urgent break/fix product issues or support AUROS/PRTS/SUFs/REDX and urgent break/fix product issues
• Support analysis project technical reviews at every milestone of GVDP
• Communicate complex technical content clearly and persuasively in both technical and leadership forums, using high‑quality data and analysis to enable sound, timely decision making.
• Support and develop new talent, enabling continuous improvement of standard work and the development and deployment of new tools.
• Guide and inspire engineers through mentorship and sharing personal experience and expertise, fostering technical excellence and leadership behaviors.
• Advocate for the adoption of virtual methods for vehicle design, development, and validation across the organization.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• BS in Engineering
• Strong technical understanding of CAE structural analysis tools, including Optistruct, Dyna, ABAQUS and Design Life.
• Deep Understanding of the fatigue theories and Reliability at a system level.
• Expertise in Vehicle Body/Chassis systems design and manufacturing
• Knowledge of DFMEA & PFMEA required to support Vehicle Body designs
• 10 years of experience in engineering design & manufacturing impacts on design.
• Ability to assess analysis results and drive implementation of design recommendations
• Strong capability to provide technical guidance on analysis methods and model debugging.
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Competence with conflict management and complex problem solving
• Ability to develop consensus on best practices and validity of technical solutions
• Strong self-initiative & drive for results.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• MS or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Expertise in optimization tools (OPTISTRUCT, Hyper study, TOSCA, I-Sight) and theory
• Expertise with variation and reliability analysis and tools
• Knowledge and experience with Vehicle engineering process.

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}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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.