General Motors

Thermal Lead Development Engineer - GM Defense

General Motors • $110K — $130K *
Milford, MI 48381Hybrid
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/MS in Engineering
  • 5+ years of experience in thermal system design release, development, or validation
  • Strong knowledge of thermal requirements, standards, and vehicle specifications
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively
  • Experience working independently and collaboratively in ambiguous situations
  • Working knowledge of DFMEA, PFMEA, and CFD analysis
  • Familiarity with program timing and vehicle development processes
  • Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee)

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical direction to engineers
  • Own and develop thermal system requirements
  • Manage development and validation planning
  • Partner with analysis teams on prioritizing work
  • Lead thermal integration meetings
  • Review engineering design documents and advocate for best practices
  • Conduct peer reviews at key program milestones
  • Coordinate cross-program integration issues
  • Lead resolution of customer-facing concerns
  • Mentor team members for professional development

Benefits

  • Eligible for relocation benefits
  • Hybrid work environment with at least 3 in-office days
  • Less than 25% travel requirement
  • Opportunity for professional development and mentoring
Full Job Description

Job Description

The Thermal LDE provides technical leadership for thermal system integration, with deep knowledge of thermal integration at the vehicle level and proficiency in applicable requirements and standards. This role leads a cross-functional team including hardware performance and design release engineers, comfort and propulsion/powertrain cooling calibrators, and thermal analysis engineers, serving as the Thermal single-point contact to the program team and other integration areas — working closely with vehicle systems engineers, technical leads, and program management.

The LDE relentlessly drives consistent thermal system and vehicle integration for a given program or architecture, holding themselves and others accountable for high-quality, timely delivery without compromising integrity, safety, or quality.

What You'll Do

  • Provide technical direction and assurance to performance engineers and design release engineers
  • Own and develop vehicle-level thermal system requirements in collaboration with vehicle performance owners and technical stakeholders
  • Manage the development and validation plan, including prioritization of physical properties (benches/vehicles), climatic wind tunnel time, and trip coordination
  • Partner with virtual analysis teams to prioritize computational work and special requests
  • Lead thermal program integration meetings; engage in program forums across vehicle performance, development, and validation workstreams
  • Review engineering design documents; advocate for design best practices and participate in component technical reviews
  • Lead thermal system peer reviews at key program milestones; ensure team readiness and delivery excellence
  • Coordinate read-across and cross-program integration issues
  • Lead issue resolution for customer-facing concerns related to comfort, quality, and warranty; balance ongoing system and feature continuous improvement work alongside active program milestone delivery
  • Mentor team members and support their professional development

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • BS/MS in Engineering
  • 5+ years of experience in thermal system design release, development, or validation (any combination)
  • Strong knowledge of applicable thermal requirements, standards, and vehicle-level specifications
  • Demonstrated ability to simplify complex technical concepts and communicate effectively across all levels — from peers to senior leadership
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively; comfortable navigating ambiguity to enable timely decisions
  • Working knowledge of DFMEA, PFMEA, and CFD analysis
  • Strong knowledge of program timing and vehicle development process deliverables
  • Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

What Can Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred)

  • MS in Mechanical Engineering
  • 8+ years of experience in thermal systems
  • Demonstrated engineering leadership experience (e.g., team lead or subject matter expert)
  • Experience supporting both battery electric and conventional powertrain architectures
  • Familiarity with virtual vehicle analysis tools or HVAC calibration processes
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret customer satisfaction data and translate to development priorities
  • Six Sigma certification or equivalent structured problem-solving experience
  • Defense engineering experience

#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 may be eligible for relocation benefits. 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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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
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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