Technical Specialist - Advanced Seat Structures - General Motors (GM)

Job 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 Technical Specialist – Advanced Seat Structures is the senior individual contributor and domain expert for future seat structure architectures, mechanisms, and enabling technologies. You will lead clean-sheet and advanced concept work (new architectures, mechanisms, composite/lightweight structures) and convert ambiguous customer and vehicle requirements into executable, reusable seat structure strategies. This role operates primarily in advanced vehicle development, partnering closely with Advanced Vehicle Development (AVD), seat just-in-time (JIT) suppliers, Safety, Body-in-White (BIW), Design, Manufacturing, and global regions to define the advanced seat structures roadmap and prepare downstream program teams for successful execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Advanced Architecture & Concept Development:

• Lead development of advanced front and rear seat structure architectures from clean sheet through hand-off to execution teams.
• Translate vehicle-level targets into robust seat structure layouts and mechanism concepts.
• Use CAE, packaging, and kinematic studies to evaluate structural load paths, stiffness, modal behavior, and occupant comfort.
• Capture and standardize advanced architecture enablers (interfaces, mechanisms, joints, materials) for reuse across multiple programs and regions.

Innovation, Benchmarking & Technology Roadmap:

• Lead global competitive benchmarking of seat structures, mechanisms, and materials to identify industry trends and best-in-class solutions.
• Partner with JIT suppliers and GM R&D to scout, evaluate, and prototype new structure and mechanism technologies that support future customer experiences.
• Maintain and update the Advanced Seat Structures roadmap, linking technology opportunities to brand strategies, regulatory changes, and manufacturing constraints.

Safety, Regulatory & Structural Performance:

• Ensure advanced concepts are structurally viable and capable of meeting global safety and regulatory requirements (e.g., FMVSS, ECE, IIHS).