What You Will Do
In this role, you will operate with a high degree of independence and strategic judgment, driving the execution of functional strategy and shaping program direction. You will coordinate and steward critical initiatives while advising leadership with expert, data-driven insight.
As a deeply experienced technical leader, you will apply comprehensive domain knowledge to influence the design, development, and deployment of advanced technical products and systems. You will navigate and resolve highly complex technical challenges, lead forward-looking research, and champion enhancements that elevate product robustness, quality, and efficiency.
You will leverage a broad command of industry concepts, methodologies, and best practices to set direction, anticipate risks, and deliver results. Drawing on extensive experience, you will define priorities, manage multiple workstreams, and guide or direct the work of others. This position demands creativity, strategic foresight, and significant autonomy.
The Role
The Low Voltage Connector DRE serves as the strategic technical leader for the release, validation, and lifecycle management of low-voltage connection systems across GM programs. You will drive product definition, leading the collection, negotiation, and refinement of requirements while serving as the single point of accountability between GM and supplier partners.
You will bring a systems-level perspective to solving complex product challenges, integrating quantitative and qualitative analysis to guide decisions, mitigate risk, and influence program outcomes. The role blends strategic program leadership with deep technical ownership, ensuring alignment to GM’s objectives for safety, quality, warranty performance, cost efficiency, and technical excellence.
As part of the Power Signal Distribution Systems organization, you will shape the roadmap for connection systems that support GM’s electrical architectures, enabling next-generation vehicle technologies and advancing enterprise-wide product strategies.
Responsibilities:
- Own/Release/Validate the low voltage connector hardware for development & production
- Address all connector related safety concerns promptly
- Support cost savings initiatives
- Facilitate requirements, validation, and design reviews with suppliers (DFMEA, DRBFM, Peer Reviews, VCRI)
- Expected to optimize a comprehensive and detailed plan to develop and validate the assigned component to meet its technical requirements.
- Keep supplier(s) on track to meet key milestones (design freeze, gate reviews for prototype levels, validation start and complete dates)
- Ensures hardware is available and validated appropriately for key vehicle build events: (IVER, APPV, PPV, etc.)
- Reviews and approves component program specific DV & PV ADVP&R
- Define validation requirements for SSTS/CTS Section 4 including VCRI.
- Update validation status in Janus as required
- Document test failures in PRTS
- Ensures DV and PV are completed on time to the validation milestones
- Ensures all test documentation is completed by Validation Documentation Complete milestone and completes validation action plan or 3660 in support of launch.
- Connector warranty analysis, issue resolution, parts restriction and report updates as required
- Supplier and Vehicle Assembly plant visits as required
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent connector experience
- Minimum 5+ years of automotive experience
- Must be capable of providing component specific direction to new engineers and supplier resident engineers
- Appropriate interpersonal styles and communication methods to work effectively with business partners to meet mutual goals
- Ability to travel as needed (up to 2% max; mostly local plants / suppliers)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Engineering
- Understanding of engineering theory and principles of operation of mechanical/electrical mechanisms
- High level of analytical ability where problems are unusual and difficult
- High level of oral and written communication skills
- High level of interpersonal skills to work independently and effectively with others
- Demonstrated proficiency comprehending connector requirements
- Minimum 5+ years of DRE experience
- DFSS Green Belt Certified
- Experience in the GM product release and specification process
- Familiarity with PSDS component physical and virtual test methods.
- Previous subsystem and/or component testing experience in automotive.
- DFSS Blackbelt Certified systems
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