Body Structures and Closures Vehicle Systems Engineer

Job Description

Body Structures and Closures Vehicle Systems Engineer 

Shape how our customers experience the vehicle – every time they open a door, close a hatch, or step inside. 

Role Overview 

As the Body Structures and Closures Vehicle Systems Engineer (VSE), you are the chief integrator for Body Structures and Closures Systems – spanning Body in White, Body Sealing Solutions, Closures sheet metal, Chassis Structure, Door Seals, and frunk black plastics. 

You own design intent and technical execution, ensuring every subsystem decision rolls up into compelling vehicle-level performance, quality, timing, and cost. This is a highly visible, high-impact role where you connect the dots between engineering rigor, customer experience, and business outcomes. 

You are the voice of the Body Structure and Closures SMT, partnering closely with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Studio, Compartment Integration, Program Teams, and Performance & Validation to deliver a robust, on-time, and cost-competitive product. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, disciplined program stewardship, and the ability to influence across a complex, matrixed organization. 

Why This Role Matters 

In this role, you will: 

• Directly shape how customers experience the structure, feel, and function of our vehicles. 

• Sit at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, design, and business, with a clear line of sight to program and enterprise outcomes. 

• Have the opportunity to set the technical direction, build alignment, and help define the next generation of GM vehicles. 

If you are energized by complex systems, visible impact, and leading through influence, this role gives you a platform to make a meaningful difference for our customers, our teams, and our future products. 

What You’ll Do 

System Integration & Program Leadership 

• Own Body Structure and Closures SMT coordination across systems, subsystems, and vehicle interfaces. 

• Define and drive technical imperatives that align to program targets, milestones, and customer promises. 

Technical Decision-Making & Problem Solving 

• Lead structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, and trade-off decisions that protect vehicle performance. 

• Define must-be-true conditions, set contingencies, and make timely, data-driven decisions to protect program metrics. 

Vehicle-Level Technical Acumen 

• Identify and resolve issues at both component and vehicle levels. 

• Balance customer experience, manufacturability, cost, and enterprise constraints through clear, grounded technical communication. 

Executive & Cross-Functional Communication 

• Deliver concise, executive-ready updates (written, verbal, and visual). 

• Prioritize and tailor information for leaders, DREs, EGMs, and functional partners to enable fast, confident decisions. 

• Clearly scope and frame work so teams can execute efficiently and with alignment. 

Influence, Negotiation & Alignment 

• Align stakeholders with competing objectives and remove enterprise-level roadblocks. 

• Secure durable agreements with BOM leaders, TEDs, suppliers, and Program Teams that keep the program on track. 

Planning, Prioritization & Risk Management 

• Develop and manage 30/60/90-day and long-range plans that are realistic and transparent. 

• Appropriately push back on scope, delegate effectively, and identify and mitigate risks early. 

Cost, Budget & Imperative Management 

• Lead Body Structures and Closures SMT delivery to cost, quality, and timing targets along the VDP/GVDP glidepath. 

• Synthesize detailed technical inputs into credible forecasts and clear aggregate status. 

Engineering Execution & Supplier Readiness 

• Drive design deliverables, benchmarking, cost management, HVI, interface requirements, and financial/quality imperatives. 

• Co-lead supplier selection, tooling kick-off, and PPAP readiness to ensure launch success. 

Change, Validation & Launch Leadership 

• Anticipate risk and lead engineering changes and validation activities with discipline and speed. 

• Support DREs and IRTs through development and vehicle launch, ensuring issues are resolved before they reach the customer. 

Engineering with Simplicity (EwS) & Innovation 

• Champion Engineering with Simplicity (EwS) through simplification, standardization, and smart reuse. 

• Develop and communicate a pipeline of Body Structures and Closures SMT improvement ideas that raise the bar across programs. 

Technology & Competitive Awareness 

• Monitor emerging technologies and competitive products. 

• Translate insights into pragmatic design and execution strategies that keep GM products competitive and differentiated. 

What You Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related Engineering discipline (Master’s preferred). 

• 5+ years of experience as a Design Release Engineer within Body Structures and/or Closures (e.g., sheet metal stampings and assemblies, chassis structures, door seals, functional black plastics). 

• Lead DRE experience in Body Structures and Closures Systems strongly preferred. 

• Manufacturing experience or a demonstrated strong BIW manufacturing knowledge base preferred. 

• IRT experience preferred. 

• Deep technical knowledge of sheet metal components and vehicle-level integration. 

• Proven executive-level communication skills – clear, concise, and action-oriented. 
   

• Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and align cross-functional stakeholders. 

• Strong track record of structured problem solving, risk management, and decisive execution. 

• Experience managing program scope, timelines, budgets, and VDP/GVDP milestones. 

• Results-driven mindset with demonstrated impact on EwS or other enterprise imperatives. 

• Familiarity with GM Vehicle Program processes, tools, and deliverables. 

• Consistent demonstration of GM Behaviors, including integrity, collaboration, resilience, accountability, and continuous learning. 

Additional Job Details:

Lateral opportunity only

Sponsorship Eligibility:

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).

Remote Type:

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}.

Travel Requirements (If applicable):

The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.

Relocation Eligibility:

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

Work Related Driving Requirements (If applicable):

This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis. A company vehicle will only be provided for this role by passing the Motor Vehicle Report review.

Export Controls (If Applicable):

Management Level:

7

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