Program Validation and Safety Manager (GPSSC)

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.
The Role
The Program Validation and Safety Assurance team delivers safe, compliant, and validated vehicles by proactively identifying and mitigating risk while continuously advancing processes, tools, and cross-functional collaboration.
As PVSM , you will provide strategic and execution leadership for Program Validation Safety Engineers, ensuring disciplined, risk-based validation across multiple vehicle programs. You are accountable for aligning and integrating Program Validation, Functional Safety, DVUL and Global Vehicle Build Exception (GVBE) into a unified validation and safety assurance strategy-driving early risk identification, robust verification planning, and closure of safety-critical deliverables. This role requires strong cross-functional leadership to influence engineering, program, and leadership stakeholders, ensuring program readiness for PVCL while advancing GM's vision of Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion.
What You'll Do

• Lead & Develop Talent
  Lead and coach Program Validation Safety Engineers; build leadership capability, strengthen technical depth, and foster a high-performance, inclusive culture
• Deliver Program Execution
  Ensure robust, risk-based validation strategies and execution across multiple programs; drive PVCL readiness with clear risk identification, trade-off decisions, and mitigation ownership
  Integrate Program Validation, DVUL, and Functional Safety deliverables into cohesive execution plans aligned to GVDP milestones
• Lead Functional Safety & DVUL Integration
  Lead integration of Functional Safety, DVUL, and validation requirements into program execution
  Ensure completeness and closure of safety deliverables (e.g. verifying program VeSCoM is ready to move through DVUL, VDC/PVCL, salable/CTF and STC safety readiness) while meeting regulatory and internal performance standards
  Drive cross-functional alignment to resolve safety risks and ensure audit-ready program readiness
• Drive Standards & Continuous Improvement
  Establish and improve validation standard work, tools, and reporting; drive consistency and scalability across programs
  Lead efforts to automate program status reporting and enhance data-driven decision-making
• Enable Cross-Functional Alignment
  Manage the team of PVSE's to deliver GVBE (physical and virtual) by partnering with Chief Engineers, Program Engineering, Safety, and Quality to align validation and safety strategies, influence decisions, and resolve complex cross-functional conflicts impacting program risk and timing.
• Communicate & Influence
  Provide clear, data-driven insights on program status, risks, and trade-offs; influence leadership decision-making and support governance forums with actionable recommendations

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field
• 8+ years of experience in product development, validation, systems engineering, or safety-critical development
• 3+ years of people leadership experience, including leading technical teams or leaders
• Strong knowledge of GVDP, validation planning, and risk-based execution frameworks
• Working knowledge of Functional Safety (ISO 26262), DVUL processes, and safety-critical system development
• Proven ability to lead through others, manage multiple programs, and prioritize in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Strong cross-functional leadership, communication, and stakeholder influence skills

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience leading multiple program teams or technical leaders across complex vehicle programs
• Deep understanding of vehicle/system-level validation, integration, and safety assurance
• Experience integrating validation, DVUL, and functional safety in production programs
• Demonstrated success driving process standardization, tool adoption, and organizational capability improvements
• Strong program/project management capability (PMP, Agile, or equivalent)
• Experience in safety-critical systems, regulatory compliance, or global vehicle programs

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.
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}.
The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
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.
Total Rewards | Benefits Overview
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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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