Body Structure Feasibility Architect

Description
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.
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
General Motors is seeking a senior technical leader to serve as a Body Structure Feasibility Architect. This role is focused on early vehicle feasibility, packaging strategy, and what-if studies, helping shape body structure concepts before programs are locked and ensuring design intent can be translated into viable technical solutions.
As a deeply experienced individual contributor, you will work across design, vehicle architecture, CAE, and manufacturing to evaluate concepts, identify risks early, and guide teams toward robust, manufacturable body structure solutions.
Why Join General Motors
This is an opportunity to influence vehicle direction at the earliest stages, when the biggest technical and architectural decisions are still being shaped. You will play a key role in connecting design ambition with engineering reality and helping GM develop body structure concepts that are feasible, high-performing, and ready to scale into successful programs.
What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

• Lead early-phase body structure feasibility assessments for new vehicle concepts, major architecture changes, and advanced studies.
• Evaluate packaging, proportion, occupant, and structural concept proposals to determine technical viability and key tradeoffs.
• Partner closely with studio, vehicle architecture, CAE, and manufacturing teams to align design intent with feasible body structure solutions.
• Provide expert guidance during concept reviews, integration reviews, and cross-functional workshops to surface risks, alternatives, and recommendations early in the development process.
• Develop and communicate structural feasibility strategies, including assumptions, risks, options, and recommended paths forward for leadership and program teams.
• Influence body structure direction by balancing performance, package efficiency, manufacturability, investment, timing, and program complexity.
• Drive cross-functional issue resolution by coordinating expert input from engineering disciplines and translating that input into actionable design guidance.
• Support creation of coarse study math, feasibility criteria, and targeted assessments needed to mature concepts into credible program recommendations

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, or other relevant degree
• 8 years of relevant engineering experience in automotive body structures, vehicle architecture, feasibility, packaging, or product development
• Deep understanding of body structure design principles, feasibility assessment methods, and cross-functional vehicle integration
• Strong ability to evaluate early concepts with incomplete information and provide clear technical direction
• Experience working across design, CAE, manufacturing, and product engineering teams
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical tradeoffs to both engineering teams and leadership
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence as a senior technical expert without direct people-management responsibility

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced degree in engineering or related discipline
• Experience supporting advanced vehicle development, concept studies, or architecture feasibility work
• Knowledge of body structure manufacturing considerations, including formability, joining, tolerance, and assembly impacts
• Deep experience in topology creation, typical sections, multi-model optimization, and linearizing critical load cases
• Familiarity with translating technical feasibility findings into program recommendations, business framing, and development roadmaps

What Success Looks Like

• Idealized load paths and sections defined for given assumptions
• Feasibility risks are identified early, clearly communicated, and addressed before they become program issues
• Cross-functional teams have a strong technical point of view on body structure direction during concept development
• Study teams make faster, better-informed decisions on structural concepts, package assumptions, and design tradeoffs
• Proposed solutions are technically sound, aligned across functions, and practical to execute in future development phases

#LI-KM2
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.
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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