Engineering Group Manager - Seat Structures

Description

This role is categorized as hybrid. The selected candidate will be expected to work on-site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week, or as otherwise determined by the hiring leader.

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale..

About the Role:

The Engineering Group Manager – Rear Seat Structures is responsible for leading the engineering strategy, execution, and people development for GM’s rear seat structures portfolio. This leader will guide a team responsible for delivering robust, safe, high-quality rear seat structure solutions across vehicle programs while balancing technical excellence, timing, cost, mass, and manufacturability.

This role requires a strong combination of technical depth, organizational leadership, and cross-functional influence. The successful candidate will lead through complexity, build an engaged and capable team, and partner closely across Seating, Safety, Validation, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, and supplier organizations to deliver world-class products.

What you'll do

Lead the Seat Structures team in the development and execution of seat structure solutions across multiple vehicle programs.

Set direction for technical priorities, team capacity, talent deployment, and program support needs across the rear seat structures portfolio.

Oversee engineering execution from concept through production launch, including requirements definition, design reviews, issue resolution, validation planning, and release readiness.

Drive alignment across technical, business, and program imperatives, including safety, performance, quality, timing, cost, mass, and manufacturability.

Partner with Design Release Engineers, Technical Specialists, Vehicle Systems Engineering, Validation, Program Execution, Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality to deliver integrated solutions.

Ensure robust engineering processes are followed, including design standards, DFMEA discipline, DVP&R/test planning, change management, and problem solving.

Lead resolution of critical technical and program issues, escalating appropriately and driving timely closure.

Support build events, plant readiness, launch execution, and post-launch issue management as needed to ensure product and customer success.

Develop and coach talent, build team capability, and create a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Shape the future organization by assessing skills, capability gaps, and succession needs while building a healthy pipeline of technical and leadership talent.

Key responsibilities

Technical and program leadership

Provide leadership for rear seat structure engineering strategy and execution across current and future vehicle programs.

Guide the team in developing solutions that meet structural, safety, durability, packaging, and customer requirements.

Review and approve major engineering decisions, tradeoffs, and recommendations.

Ensure the team is delivering high-quality work products with strong technical rigor and sound judgment.

Drive consistency in engineering methods, best practices, and lessons learned across programs.

Cross-functional integration

Work closely with adjacent seating leaders, including front seat structures, technical leadership, and broader seating organizations, to ensure aligned execution.

Partner with supplier and internal stakeholders to resolve issues, manage risks, and maintain program momentum.

Collaborate with manufacturing and quality teams to support launch readiness and continuous improvement.

Build strong working relationships across the Seating organization and with enterprise partners.

People leadership

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team.

Establish clear priorities, expectations, and development plans for direct reports.

Foster an inclusive, engaged team environment that values accountability, technical excellence, and collaboration.

Support organizational design, workforce planning, and succession planning for the team.

Required qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering field.

Significant progressive experience in automotive product engineering, with strong depth in seating, structures, mechanisms, or closely related vehicle hardware systems.

Demonstrated people leadership experience, including leading technical teams and developing talent.

Strong understanding of product development from concept through launch.

Experience leading cross-functional problem solving in a complex engineering environment.

Strong communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills.

Demonstrated ability to balance technical, program, and business considerations in decision-making.

Proven ability to operate with urgency, structure, and sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred qualifications

Deep experience in seat structures, rear seat systems, or interior hardware.

Experience with structural performance, crashworthiness, durability, validation, and related regulatory or customer requirements.

Experience working closely with suppliers and global cross-functional teams.

Strong working knowledge of GM product development processes, engineering release practices, and launch execution.

Advanced degree in engineering or business.

Demonstrated success leading through organizational change and building strong team culture.

Leadership profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

Technical credibility in vehicle hardware or seat structures

Strong people leadership and coaching capability

A collaborative, enterprise mindset

Clear, confident decision-making

Strong program discipline and execution focus

The ability to simplify complexity and align teams around priorities

A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on talent, product, and process excellence

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., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

#LI-JN1

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}.

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.

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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.

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