Overview
On Site
Hybrid
Full Time
Skills
Marketing Intelligence
MI
Reporting
Evaluation
ICE
IBM Rational DOORS
Interfaces
IT Management
Decision-making
UPS
Risk Assessment
Engineering Design
Design Of Experiments
FEA
ROOT
Manufacturing
Welding
Assembly
Exceed
Regulatory Compliance
Collaboration
Management
Technical Direction
Continuous Improvement
Accountability
Patents
Innovation
GD&T
Siemens
Unigraphics NX
Teamcenter
Product Lifecycle Management
Plant Lifecycle Management
LS-DYNA
NASTRAN
Leadership
Tier 1
Business Administration
MBA
Mechanical Engineering
Six Sigma
Conflict Resolution
Problem Solving
Mentorship
FOCUS
SAP BASIS
Recruiting
Screening
Job Details
Job Description
Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum.
Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through 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."
The Role
We are seeking a highly technical and collaborative Chief Architect for the Mid Vehicle Zone to lead vehicle-level integration of Body-in-White (BIW), Side Closure systems and various Roof systems from concept to launch. This is a critical leadership role that blends deep engineering expertise with cross-functional influence, guiding vehicle architectures across global programs during early advanced development phases.
You'll be the technical authority and decision-maker for bodyside structures and closures, responsible for steering a complex matrix of teams to develop high-quality, compliant, and manufacturable solutions that set the industry benchmark. You will help define the future of vehicle body construction-across both ICE and EV platforms-by balancing structural performance, design intent, customer requirements, manufacturability, and cost.
If you're energized by innovation, thrive in ambiguity, and want to shape what future vehicles feel and function like, this role is for you.
What You'll Do
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
Additional Job Description
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards Resources .
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire .
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at . In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum.
Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through 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."
The Role
We are seeking a highly technical and collaborative Chief Architect for the Mid Vehicle Zone to lead vehicle-level integration of Body-in-White (BIW), Side Closure systems and various Roof systems from concept to launch. This is a critical leadership role that blends deep engineering expertise with cross-functional influence, guiding vehicle architectures across global programs during early advanced development phases.
You'll be the technical authority and decision-maker for bodyside structures and closures, responsible for steering a complex matrix of teams to develop high-quality, compliant, and manufacturable solutions that set the industry benchmark. You will help define the future of vehicle body construction-across both ICE and EV platforms-by balancing structural performance, design intent, customer requirements, manufacturability, and cost.
If you're energized by innovation, thrive in ambiguity, and want to shape what future vehicles feel and function like, this role is for you.
What You'll Do
- Vehicle Architecture & Integration
- Lead the development of the body side and side closure architectures (including doors, pillars, hinges, and apertures) as part of the Mid Vehicle Zone from clean-sheet through production intent.
- Coordinate the integration of multiple subsystems, ensuring vehicle-level harmony across structure, closures, sealing, and glass interfaces.
- Translate functional imperatives and regulatory requirements into engineering solutions that meet structural, NVH, sealing, and aesthetic targets.
- Technical Leadership & Decision Making
- Act as the principal technical authority on BIW and closure design strategies, including material selection, joint strategy, packaging, and manufacturability.
- Evaluate and approve GD&T schemes, tolerance stack-ups, and variation risk assessments using tools like 3DCS and VSA.
- Lead technical reviews, design gates, and peer checkpoints with global teams across engineering, design, CAE, manufacturing, and validation.
- Simulation & Validation Integration
- Collaborate closely with CAE and test groups to interpret performance simulations and physical validation results for crash, durability, thermal, NVH, and sealing.
- Correlate virtual models with test data to drive robust, validated designs.
- Guide teams through DOE studies, FEA interpretation, and failure root cause resolution when physical and digital outcomes diverge.
- Manufacturing Feasibility & Material Innovation
- Define part geometry and construction strategies that account for formability of steel, aluminum, and composites using stamping, casting, and molding processes.
- Ensure manufacturability by partnering with stamping, welding, and assembly teams to resolve tooling challenges and optimize build quality.
- Lead discussions on material coefficients of thermal expansion, galvanic corrosion, and lightweighting approaches across mixed-material joints.
- Regulatory Compliance & Quality
- Ensure architectural solutions meet or exceed FMVSS, IIHS, ECE, and internal performance standards, including pedestrian safety, side impact, and structural crashworthiness.
- Drive design-for-compliance early in the architecture phase to avoid costly late-stage validation issues.
- Collaborate with validation and quality teams to resolve launch and field issues tied to dimensional variation or fit-and-finish.
- Cross-Functional Influence & Mentorship
- Indirectly manage a broad, global team of engineers and specialists, setting technical direction and resolving conflicts across vehicle programs.
- Mentor and develop junior team members, sharing knowledge on BIW fundamentals, best practices in closures engineering, and systemic problem-solving.
- Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability through collaborative leadership and first-principles engineering.
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
Additional Job Description
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Technical Masters in Mechanical Engineering or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Patents or innovation awards in vehicle body systems
- 15+ years of progressive experience in automotive body structures and closure systems
- Proven track record developing clean-sheet BIW architectures and launching multiple vehicle programs
- Expert-level experience with GD&T, dimensional engineering, part integration, and variation analysis
- Strong proficiency in Siemens NX (Unigraphics) and familiarity with Teamcenter PLM
- Experience with formability tools such as AutoForm, PAM-STAMP, or Dynaform
- Familiarity with CAE post-processing tools LS-DYNA, NASTRAN, OptiStruct, HyperView
- Knowledge of weatherstrip sealing, rubber molding integration, and greenhouse trim strategies
- Deep understanding of material behavior and joining techniques for steel, aluminum, and composites
- Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional environments, ideally with both OEM and Tier 1 experience
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Prior experience with EV body structure architecture and battery integration
- Participation in advanced or pillar-less closure concepts
- Design for Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent
- Red-X problem solving certification
- Experience mentoring global engineering teams
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards Resources .
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire .
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at . In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.