General Motors

Body Structures System Architect

General Motors$120K — $150K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or relevant degree.
  • 8 years of relevant engineering experience in advanced vehicle development or related fields.
  • Proven leadership and subject-matter expertise in vehicle body structures and advanced vehicle engineering.
  • Ability to solve complex engineering problems using analytical skills and business judgment.
  • Experience leading projects with significant visibility and measurable impact on vehicle design.
  • Expert knowledge of body structure engineering and compliance with safety standards.
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with various engineering functions.

Responsibilities

  • Provide global technical leadership for body structures design in advanced vehicle development programs.
  • Define and drive structural strategies to enhance performance and brand alignment.
  • Champion advanced technologies and innovations in body structures and systems.
  • Lead technology development in collaboration with research teams and suppliers.
  • Balance performance, cost, and manufacturing complexity in strategic decisions.
  • Act as a global technical authority guiding design reviews and enterprise standards.
  • Establish global best practices and methodologies for quality execution.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangement with a requirement to report in-person at least three times weekly.
  • Opportunities for travel to support global development and collaboration.
  • Access to advanced technology projects and innovation partnerships.
Full Job Description
The Role

This role provides global leadership for the technical strategy, requirements, and overall architecture of General Motors' body structure systems during the Advanced Vehicle Development phase of the Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP). Responsibilities include setting and executing design and engineering direction for advanced body-in-white systems, including potential integration of the RESS structure. The role maintains accountability for critical design and construction decisions and provides enterprise-level technical leadership to ensure consistent global execution. Support to the Body Structures and Closures SMT is provided as needed following Advanced BIW development.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities)
  • Provide global technical leadership for body structures design across all AVD programs, shaping next-generation vehicle architectures.
  • Define and drive structural strategies that deliver performance, enable brand-aligned styling, and address systemic and legacy challenges.
  • Champion advanced technologies and innovation across body and RESS structures, influencing best practices, manufacturing requirements, and solution deployment.
  • Lead advanced technology development in partnership with ATW, GM Research, suppliers, and industry collaborators.
  • Balance performance, cost, mass, investment, and manufacturing complexity in strategic and day-to-day decisions.
  • Serve as a global technical authority, leveraging competitive benchmarking to guide design reviews, enterprise standards, and cross-functional alignment.
  • Establish and evolve global best practices, technical specifications, and CAE methodologies to ensure consistent, high-quality execution worldwide.


Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
  • Bachelor degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or other relevant degree
  • 8 years of relevant engineering experience in advanced vehicle development or other relevant field experience
  • Proven leadership and recognized subject-matter expert in vehicle body structures and advanced vehicle engineering.
  • Independently solves complex, non-routine engineering problems using strong analytical skills and sound business judgment.
  • Leads technically complex projects or workstreams with significant visibility and measurable impact.
  • Expert-level knowledge of body structure engineering at the complete vehicle level, including compliance with Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and internal requirements.
  • Deep experience with production and manufacturing processes, including metal forming, joining, body shop processing, and tooling development.
  • Strong cross-functional collaborator with CAE, Safety, Formability, Manufacturing, Design, Chassis, Packaging, and Architecture teams to deliver practical engineering solutions.
  • Proven ability to manage interfaces between body structures and adjacent systems (battery systems/enclosures, chassis, fuel, restraints, electrical, interior and exterior trim).
  • Thorough understanding of the Advanced Vehicle Development Process, surface/theme development, and vehicle architecture integration.
  • Effective communicator with the ability to influence across technical, program, and functional teams.
  • Acts as a technical mentor and resource, supporting capability development and best practices.
  • Proficient with engineering and standard office software tools.


What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Master's degree preferred
  • DFSS Black Belt Certification


#LI-KM2
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).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}.The selected candidate will be required to travel

About General Motors

General Motors Company engages in the manufacture and sale of cars and trucks in the United States, China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. It offers sedans, crossovers, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, coupes, sports/convertibles and hybrid vehicles, hatchbacks/wagons, and vans, as well as mini cars in India. The company also provides parts and accessories, such as iPod and MP3 compatibility, mobility accessories, performance parts, AC parts and services, and merchandise. In addition, it offers vehicle safety, security, and information services. The company provides used vehicles. It offers its products through dealers and distributors. General Motors Company was formerly known as NGMCO, Inc. and changed its name to General Motors Company in July 2009. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. It operates manufacturing facilities in India, the United States, and Canada. General Motors Company operates as a subsidiary of the United States Department of The Treasury. General Motors led global vehicle sales for 77 consecutive years from 1931 through 2007, longer than any other automaker, and is currently among the world's largest automakers by vehicle unit sales. General Motors acts in most countries outside the USA via wholly-owned subsidiaries but operates in China through 10 joint ventures. GM's OnStar subsidiary provides vehicle safety, security, and information services. In 2009, General Motors shed several brands, closing Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer, and emerged from a government-backed Chapter 11 reorganization. In 2010, GM made an initial public offering IPOs to date and returned to profitability later that year.

General Motors Careers

Join the dynamic team at General Motors, a global leader in automotive innovation and technology. At General Motors, we offer unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career forward while contributing to a legacy of engineering excellence.

Work You’ll Do

Embark on a career with General Motors to drive the future of mobility. Our team is dedicated to redefining the automotive landscape through innovation and leadership in electric vehicles and sustainable solutions. By joining us, you will be part of a culture that values diversity, teamwork, and continuous professional growth.

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At General Motors, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From research and development to manufacturing, our teams work collaboratively to lead the industry with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. We encourage our employees to think big and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Join Our Global Team

As part of our global workforce, you will collaborate with talented individuals who are passionate about shaping the future of transportation. General Motors offers a variety of career paths in engineering, design, IT, marketing, and more. With over 155,000 employees worldwide, our network provides expansive opportunities for networking and professional development.

Internship Programs and Employment Benefits

Start your career journey with a General Motors internship, where you can apply your academic knowledge to real-world projects. Our internships provide a robust foundation in the automotive industry, with mentorship from experienced leaders. Full-time employees enjoy a wealth of benefits, including comprehensive health care, retirement plans, and performance bonuses, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded.

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Learn more about General Motors
Size
157,000 employees
Market Cap
$46.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$6.4 billion
Founded
1908
5 Year Trend
-3.2%
Revenue
$122.4 billion
NASDAQ

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