General Motors

Design Release Engineer - Frames / Structures - GM Defense

General Motors • $90K — $120K *
Milford, MI 48381Hybrid
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
  • 5+ years of experience in product engineering within automotive, defense, or aerospace
  • Experience as a Design Release Engineer with major subsystem responsibility
  • Proven track record in leading complex product development
  • Familiarity with CAD/CAE, PLM software, and formal change processes
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to mentor and guide other engineers

Responsibilities

  • Act as the single accountable engineering owner for a major subsystem throughout its lifecycle
  • Translate customer and regulatory requirements into clear engineering specifications
  • Maintain subsystem requirements and documentation including DFMEAs and BOMs
  • Lead technical decision-making and design integration
  • Ensure manufacturability and compatibility of designs
  • Oversee formal part releases and manage configuration control
  • Develop and execute technical risk mitigation strategies

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with regular on-site collaboration
  • Opportunities for professional development and mentoring
  • Engagement in high-impact defense programs
  • Potential for international travel to supplier and customer sites
  • Work within a highly innovative and collaborative team environment
Full Job Description

Job Description

The Role

GM Defense is seeking a Design Release Engineer to serve as the single accountable engineering owners for major subsystems on current and future defense programs.

This role is specifically for a Frame/Structure DRE within GM Defense.

  • In this role, you will own requirements, design, release, validation, issue resolution, and lifecycle change management for your assigned subsystem. You will drive technical direction across the program and ensure GM Defense solutions meet performance, safety, quality, cost, schedule, and compliance targets.

What You’ll Do

Technical Ownership

  • Serve as the single accountable engineering owner for a major subsystem from concept through production and sustainment

  • Translate customer, regulatory, and military standards into clear technical requirements and design targets

  • Own and maintain subsystem requirements, DFMEAs, DVPRs, BOMs, and CAD/CAE data

  • Lead architecture definition, trade studies, and technical decision-making across the subsystem

Design & Release

  • Lead the design, selection, and integration of components using GM production content, Commercial off the Shelf (COTS), and bespoke defense solutions

  • Ensure designs are packaged, manufacturable, serviceable, and compatible with armor, mission equipment, and adjacent vehicle systems

  • Execute formal part release and configuration control in GMD systems, including SOR, ICD, BOM, drawings, and specifications

  • Drive engineering changes and configuration decisions across variants.

Program Execution

  • Develop and maintain engineering timing, deliverables, technical risks, and mitigation plans for the subsystem

  • Provide clear status, risk, and trade-off recommendations to program leadership and customer-facing teams

  • Support RFI/RFP responses

  • Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers supporting the subsystem

Compliance & Configuration

  • Ensure subsystem design and release comply with relevant military standards, regulations, and customer requirements

  • Maintain robust configuration management across program phases, variants, and change events

  • Support export control, security, and customer-specific program compliance requirements as applicable

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

  • 5+ years of relevant product engineering experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, aerospace, or a closely related industry

  • Demonstrated experience as a Design Release Engineer, technical lead, or equivalent, with end-to-end responsibility for a major subsystem

  • Proven ability to lead work through concept, design, validation, launch, and field support on complex engineered products

  • Experience working in CAD/CAE and PLM environments, including formal change management and part release processes

  • Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and issue resolution skills in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment

  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interface effectively with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams

  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction, manage subsystem risk, and mentor other engineers

  • Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

  • Experience with vehicle frames / structures

  • Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline

  • Direct experience with military or government vehicle programs, standards, or acquisition processes

  • Familiarity with GM engineering processes, systems, and tools, including bills of material, release systems, and global vehicle development processes

  • Prior work in low- to medium-volume, highly configured products and/or rapid prototyping environments

  • Experience supporting build events, fielding, or sustainment for defense or commercial fleets

Work Location & Travel

  • Primary work location: GM Global Technical Center (Warren, MI) with time spent at Milford, MI as needed.

  • Regular on-site presence expected to support labs, builds, and cross-functional collaboration

  • Ability and willingness to travel domestically, and occasionally internationally, to test sites, supplier locations, and customer facilities as required

#GMD

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 <25% for this role. This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate. This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis and successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Report review. The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

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.

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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.

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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.

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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
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$6.4 billion
Founded
1908
5 Year Trend
-3.2%
Revenue
$122.4 billion
NASDAQ
GM
* Ladders Estimates

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