Design Release Engineer – External Microphone Systems, Super Cruise

Job Description

Job Description

General Motors is seeking a technically strong and highly motivated Design Release Engineer (DRE) to lead the development and launch of external microphone hardware and associated components for next-generation Super Cruise functionality. This role will own the definition development validation and production release of vehicle-mounted microphone systems that support advanced vehicle awareness roadway and environmental sensing and future driver-assistance capabilities.

The successful candidate will bring strong ownership sound engineering judgment and the ability to lead complex hardware development across cross-functional organizations and global suppliers. The DRE will work at the intersection of acoustics electrical and mechanical hardware vehicle integration signal interfaces environmental durability and system-level performance. This role requires an engineer who can work independently resolve technical issues with urgency and translate system objectives into robust production-ready component designs.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the DRE owner for external microphone hardware and associated components including microphone elements acoustic ports and membranes housings brackets seals electrical interfaces connectors and vehicle attachment features.
• Own component and subsystem requirements acting as the primary point of contact for requirements clarification technical trade-offs traceability and change management.
• Translate next-generation Super Cruise and vehicle sensing objectives into measurable microphone performance requirements including acoustic sensitivity frequency response signal-to-noise performance directivity environmental robustness and system interface requirements.
• Lead design development analysis validation and release activities from concept through production launch.
• Develop and release technical specifications Statements of Requirements (SORs) component requirements interface specifications and subsystem documentation as required.
• Drive microphone placement packaging acoustic path sealing thermal electromagnetic compatibility wiring and serviceability decisions in collaboration with vehicle and system engineering teams.
• Coordinate Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Design for Assembly (DFA) Design for Service (DFS) and Design for Reliability activities with suppliers and manufacturing plants.
• Lead and participate in formal design reviews peer reviews quality reviews acoustic performance reviews and technical issue-resolution activities.
• Work closely with supplier resident engineers Acoustics Systems Engineering Electrical Engineering Software Controls Validation NVH Manufacturing Engineering Purchasing Safety Quality and Program teams.
• Support development and validation testing including acoustic characterization wind and road-noise evaluation environmental durability water and dust ingress temperature and humidity vibration shock EMC reliability and vehicle-level performance testing.
• Support Design Verification (DV) Production Validation (PV) root-cause analysis corrective-action development and countermeasure implementation.
• Drive integration of microphone hardware with vehicle electrical architecture wiring signal-processing software data interfaces and Super Cruise system functions.
• Support prototype vehicle pilot and production builds including hardware bring-up issue triage test execution and launch readiness activities.
• Own supplier technical deliverables timing quality and issue closure for assigned microphone components and subsystems.
• Drive continuous improvement in cost acoustic performance quality manufacturability reliability and production robustness.
• Ensure compliance with GM engineering standards quality systems functional safety expectations cybersecurity and software interface requirements as applicable and all relevant regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Physics Acoustics Computer Science Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of engineering or technical experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of Design Release Engineer or equivalent component ownership experience.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals including mechanical and electrical principles acoustics materials environmental durability and vehicle integration.
• Experience taking hardware from requirements definition through design validation release and production launch.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional global product-development teams.
• Strong technical communication problem-solving decision-making and supplier-management skills.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience developing integrating or releasing automotive microphone systems acoustic sensors audio hardware or other environmental sensing components.
• Understanding of microphone technologies acoustic system design signal-to-noise performance frequency response wind and road-noise effects acoustic packaging and signal interfaces.
• Experience with external vehicle sensing advanced driver assistance systems automated driving Super Cruise or related vehicle-awareness functions.
• Experience with environmental EMC vibration shock ingress-protection reliability and vehicle-level validation of electronic hardware.
• Working knowledge of Teamcenter IBM DOORS or equivalent requirements and product-development tools.
• Experience with DFMEA PFMEA fault-tree analysis and structured problem-solving methods; formal training is preferred.
• Experience defining and managing electrical interfaces connectors wiring architectures communication interfaces and hardware/software boundaries.
• Experience with supplier development technical reviews sourcing activities commercial discussions or global supplier management.
• Knowledge of GM product-development systems quality processes and launch methodologies.
• Exposure to DFSS Design for Reliability Lean Six Sigma or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Experience developing or releasing safety-critical mission-critical or high-reliability automotive systems or components.
• Prior experience outside the automotive industry in acoustics consumer electronics aerospace industrial sensing communications or related fields is a plus.

Key Behaviors

• Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability for component performance timing quality and launch readiness.
• Applies structured problem solving engineering fundamentals and data-driven decision making.
• Connects component-level decisions to vehicle-level Super Cruise functionality and customer experience.
• Communicates clearly and effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders suppliers and leadership.
• Builds alignment across disciplines while constructively challenging assumptions and driving timely decisions.
• Demonstrates commitment to GM safety quality integrity inclusion and continuous improvement behaviors.
• Works effectively in an environment that requires initiative adaptability and the ability to manage multiple technical priorities.

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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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