Technical Specialist - Closures

Description

This role is categorized as hybrid, meaning the selected candidate will be expected to work on‑site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week (or other frequency determined by their manager).

This role is eligible for relocation assistance

About the role:

The Technical Specialist (TS) for Closures establishes the long‑term technical vision for closure systems and drives the tactical execution of that strategy across global product programs. This role serves as the primary technical authority for their closure subsystem and is accountable for the technical correctness, maturity, and robustness of designs implemented across all regions worldwide.

While the core focus of this role is Front End Sheet Metal (FESM) , the Technical Specialist will also provide strategic direction, technical leadership, and support across additional closure systems as needed.

The TS will set and lead technical strategy, drive Innovation, ensure execution excellence, and be a strong collaborator to achieve those responsibilities.

Technical Strategy & Leadership

Develop and articulate the strategic direction for closure systems, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and future vehicle architectures.

Lead cross‑functional collaboration with Design/Studio, Manufacturing, Release Engineering, Analysis/Validation, Quality, Safety, Purchasing, and global partner teams to drive consensus and adoption of strategy.

Benchmark industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive solutions to ensure our closures remain innovative, competitive, and customer‑focused.

Innovation & Technical Advancements

Champion innovation in a technically mature space, identifying opportunities that elevate customer experience, improve quality, and reduce total system cost.

Guide the development and integration of new technologies, ensuring they meet performance targets, manufacturability needs, and program timing requirements.

Prevent technical stagnation in a mature commodity by continuously driving advancements that keep the organization ahead of industry competitors.

Execution Excellence

Develop and maintain engineering best practices, strategic work plans, technical guidelines, and development templates refined by new learnings and evolving strategic direction.

Lead the technical execution of closure systems across all vehicle development phases, collaborating with engineers globally to ensure flawless implementation.

Ensure engineering rigor, disciplined problem solving, and technical integrity across all assigned programs.

Global Collaboration & Influence

Communicate effectively across all levels of leadership—regional, functional, and executive—to influence decisions and gain organizational alignment.

Provide technical mentorship, guidance, and leadership to engineers and cross‑functional partners worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

Manages overall engineering best practices and department training documents to ensure learning and design consistency within the team.

Lead and support safety investigations and ensures that Lessons Learned are appropriately captured.

Support the commodity achievements in cost, quality, and customer appeal.

Create, update, and maintain Sub-system, performance, and validation requirements

Create, update, and maintain Sub-system DFMEA Templates

Collaborates with the program execution managers, related commodities, purchasing, supplier quality, manufacturing, studio, design, and other cross functional partners.

Works closely with Supplier Quality and Purchasing to leverage strategic suppliers and implement new technologies on GM product programs.

Develop VDDV capability with the supply base to eliminate the need of physical testing.

Create, update, and maintain sourcing strategy with the Purchasing Commodity Manager and Engineering Technical Leader and participate in appropriate ECTs.

Benchmarking and conducting customer usage clinics

Demonstrates leadership behaviors & coaching skills.

Support update/creation of BOM Strategy.

Travel as required to support product issues and resolution.

Required Skills and Experience

Highly developed oral and written communication skills.

10+ years of automotive industry experience

8+ years of Closures experience with at least 5 years specific experience in Front End Sheetmetal.

Expert in Steel and Aluminum closures construction and integration.

Demonstrated knowledge in materials, kinematics, formability and structural design for closures including tooling and processing

Strong understanding of the performance and regulatory requirements for closures.

Experience working with Design Studio, Integrators, Architects, Dimensional and Quality to produce excellent exterior designs and solutions.

Demonstrated global leadership ability through experience working with other regions on a global program or initiatives

Fluent in use of vis-mockup and Team center.

Preferred Skills

Knowledgeable in Composite and Carbon Fiber construction

Proven leadership skills and ability to motivate others.

Cross-functional communication skills of complex issues to enable world class designs, packaging efficiency and vehicle integration, within and across SMTs.

Demonstrated ability of “dealing with ambiguity” to enable timely decision making.

Ability to manage a multitude of assignments with high levels of composure and effective implementation.

Ability to use Unigraphics/NX

Education and Training

B.S.E., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Materials Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business or Management preferred

DFSS Black Belt

Red X experience preferred

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}.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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