General Motors

Principal AV Behavior Safety Engineering Lead

General Motors • $250K — $384K *
Mountain View, CA 94040In-Person
Transportation
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
  • 8+ years of experience in machine learning, engineering, data science, or relevant field
  • 8+ years in autonomous vehicle or robotics development
  • Experience on production-intent AV programs
  • Technical safety leadership in defining strategies and performing risk assessments
  • Deep understanding of AV behavior development and data analysis
  • Excellent communication with ability to influence without authority

Responsibilities

  • Lead the strategy for safety in automated driving systems
  • Define adherence to safety standards for autonomous system development
  • Own behavior safety case with key claims and validation criteria
  • Collaborate with multiple teams to establish AV behavior validation methodology
  • Set strategies for operational design domains (ODDs) and validation
  • Assist in developing safety performance indicators for AV behaviors
  • Run assurance processes to verify safety targets for launch readiness

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellbeing programs including medical, dental, and vision
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts
  • Retirement savings plan options
  • Life insurance and accident benefits
  • Paid vacation and holiday time
  • Tuition assistance programs
  • Employee assistance program and vehicle discounts
  • Company vehicle evaluation program available after completion of requirements
Full Job Description
Job Description

As Principal AV Behavior Safety Engineering Lead, you will lead the strategy and support execution for how GM defines, measures, and validates the safety of SAE Level 3 - 4 Automated Driving Systems powered by machine-learned models. You will report into the AV Safety Strategy and Assurance organization and directly influence launch decisions for GM's next generation of automated driving products.

The Role

The AV Safety Strategy and Assurance team is seeking a hands-on Principal engineer with extensive experience in the end-to-end development lifecycle of autonomous vehicle behaviors, from ADS Architecture, ODD and behavior definition through simulation, closed-course, and public-road validation.

If you're excited to lead in autonomous driving safety, we'd love to hear from you!

You will:

Lead Technically

  • Reference and interpret standards such as ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO 5083, and AVSC best practices to define GM's strategy for safe autonomous system development, validation and deployment


  • Own safety strategy for next generation ADS architectures


  • Own the behavior-focused portion of the ADS Safety Case, including key claims, sufficiency criteria, and recommended evidence for AV behavior safety performance.


  • Collaborate with Software Validation, Embodied AI, Simulation, and Safety Metrics teams to define the end-to-end AV behavior validation methodology for AI-driven systems.


  • Set the strategy for how we systematically break down ODDs and how performance is validated per behavior and in aggregate.


  • Collaborate on evaluation metrics, human benchmarks, and safety launch targets for AV behaviors and overall system performance. This includes supporting development of safety performance indicators (SPIs) for AV behaviors.


  • Assess AV performance across safety and reliability dimensions using simulation, closed-course, and public-road data and provide clear, prioritized feedback to engineering teams


  • Define and run an assurance process to verify the sufficiency criteria and safety targets to support launch readiness


Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field


  • 8+ years of experience in machine learning, engineering, data science, or a related field


  • 8+ years in autonomous vehicle or robotics development or related field


  • Demonstrated experience working on production-intent AV programs


  • Track record providing technical safety leadership in AV development (e.g., defining safety strategies, risk assessments, validation methodologies, safety case contributions).


  • Deep understanding of AV behavior development: defining ODDs, behaviors, and evaluation criteria; analyzing simulation, closed-course, and public-road test data; and generating prioritized, actionable recommendations for developers.


  • Experience applying AV safety standards and best practices, such as ISO 5083, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), and AVSC practices


  • Excellent communication and storytelling skills, including the ability to explain complex technical tradeoffs to executives and non-technical stakeholders.


  • Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams (Software, AI/ML, Systems Engineering, Product, Program Management, Operations) without direct authority.


  • Strong problem-solving mindset, comfort with ambiguity, and a proactive attitude toward learning and continuous improvement.


What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred qualifications)

  • Masters Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or related field


  • Programming & Frameworks: Python, R, Java, PySpark, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, LangChain, SQL


  • Machine Learning & AI: Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, RAG, Deep learning, Reinforcement Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), SVM, XGBoost, Random Forest, Decision Trees, Clustering


  • Cloud & Big Data Platforms: (Preferred Microsoft Azure (Data Lake, Machine Learning, Databricks)), Nice to Have (AWS (S3, SageMaker, Bedrock) or Google Cloud Platform (BigQuery, Dataflow, AI Platform) )


  • Deployment & MLOps: MLflow, Model Monitoring & Versioning, Docker & Kubernetes, GitHub, Jira


  • Data Analysis & Visualization: Tableau, PowerBI, Pandas, NumPy


Why This Role Is Unique

  • Impact at Scale: Your work will directly influence how GM brings safe automated driving systems to millions of customers.


  • End-to-End Ownership: You will own the strategy, framework, and evidence assessment for AV behavior safety.


  • Cross-Functional Reach: You will collaborate across AI, software, validation, simulation, metrics operations and vehicle program teams, shaping the direction of GM's automated driving roadmap.


Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position, as well as geography of the selected candidate.
• The salary range for this role is $250,600 and $384,600. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
Benefits:
• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

Company vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, though which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

#LI-KE2

This role is categorized as remote. This means the selected candidate may be based anywhere in the country of work and is not expected to report to a GM worksite unless directed 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.

Transform Your Career

General Motors is not just a company; it's a community where you can grow your skills alongside the best in the industry. Our leadership is committed to providing every employee—from interns to senior professionals—with opportunities for career advancement, leadership development, and diversity training.

Innovate and Lead

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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Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, General Motors offers positions that leverage your unique skills. Our hiring process is designed to identify and nurture talent, focusing on aligning your capabilities with the right opportunities for growth within the company.

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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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