Mechanical Hardware Engineer – CAD, Prototyping & Reliability Testing

Job Description

• About the Team
• Compute & Connectivity Hardware (CCH) is part of GM’s Software & Services organization and owns the hardware foundation for GM’s software-defined vehicles. The team develops and integrates the compute, connectivity, networking, and electronic platforms that support vehicle intelligence, infotainment, ADAS, mechatronic controls, connected services, and over-the-air experiences.

CCH work spans architecture, requirements, hardware design, embedded systems, cybersecurity, functional safety, integration, validation, launch, and field performance. Our engineers collaborate across software, systems, controls, vehicle engineering, suppliers, and manufacturing to solve complex technical problems and deliver reliable, production-ready hardware across GM’s vehicle portfolio.

General Motors is at the forefront of the transformation of automotive with the electrification of our portfolio and the development of leading-edge central compute and autonomous capabilities. Our Central Compute Hardware (CCH) Mechanical Design team is a dynamic, innovative group focused on developing enclosures, mechanical assemblies, and test solutions for next-generation electronics used across future ICE and EV vehicles manufactured by GM.

The team develops mechanical, structural, thermal, and test solutions for compute-related electronics using fundamental engineering principles, Siemens NX CAD, basic analysis, hands-on prototyping, and laboratory testing. We collaborate with program teams, electrical design, vehicle packaging, manufacturing, suppliers, and specialized analysis and test organizations to mature designs and resolve issues quickly.

We are seeking a Mechanical Hardware Engineer at Level 6 to provide practical mechanical design, prototyping, and reliability-test support to program teams developing GM’s Software Defined Vehicle electronics. The primary focus of this role is executing NX CAD development, including simple structural FEA analysis, and spending regular hands-on time in GM prototyping facilities and test laboratories. The engineer will independently address moderate-scope design and test problems under general supervision, coordinate across functional teams, and turn physical build and test results into actionable design improvements.

Responsibilities

• •Create and maintain parametric 3D parts, assemblies, layouts, and supporting drawings in Siemens NX for electronics housings, brackets, fixtures, interfaces, and related mechanical components.
• •Develop CAD content for program teams, including packaging studies, mounting features, brackets, covers, seals, PCBA interfaces, test hardware, and prototype parts.
• •Perform basic mechanical design checks, including fit, clearance, interference, stack-ups, stiffness considerations, and first-order structural assessments.
• •Prepare and run simple structural FEA analyses, such as static load, stiffness, mounting-load, and basic modal or vibration screening evaluations; define reasonable assumptions, document inputs, interpret results, and engage analysis specialists when problems exceed the role’s scope.
• •Apply mechanical fundamentals, materials knowledge, tolerance analysis, and GD&T to support robust and manufacturable designs.
• •Support physical prototype builds using machined, formed, molded, and additive-manufactured parts; review build quality and incorporate build learnings into CAD and drawings.
• •Design, detail, procure or fabricate, and modify test fixtures, brackets, adapters, load introduction hardware, instrumentation mounts, and other test apparatus.
• •Spend regular hands-on time in GM prototyping facilities and test laboratories to assemble hardware, set up equipment, troubleshoot test issues, and support safe and repeatable test execution.
• •Support thermal and vibration reliability testing, including test setup, sample preparation, instrumentation, pre- and post-test inspections, test execution, data collection, and documentation of results.
• •Characterize vibration behavior through testing using appropriate sensors and data-acquisition methods; help identify resonances, response amplification, unexpected modes, mounting issues, or other mechanical risks and communicate findings to program teams.
• •Work with test and analysis experts to define practical test objectives, profiles, instrumentation plans, acceptance criteria, and follow-up actions for mechanical and environmental reliability testing.
• •Analyze and summarize test results, connect physical behavior to CAD and basic analysis predictions, and recommend design or test-process improvements.
• •Contribute to DFM/DFx reviews and incorporate feedback into CAD, drawings, fixtures, and prototype build plans to improve manufacturability, quality, cost, and testability.
• •Maintain assigned product data in Teamcenter, including structures, BOM content, revisions, releases, and change documentation, with guidance from senior engineers as needed.
• •Present CAD updates, prototype status, test results, risks, and recommended actions at design, build, and cross-functional reviews.
• •Document issues, test conditions, observations, results, and lessons learned so that decisions are traceable and design changes can be implemented efficiently.
• •Follow and help improve CCH mechanical design, prototyping, laboratory safety, testing, NX modeling, and Teamcenter practices.

Qualifications – Required

• •Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• •Typically 3–7 years of mechanical design, prototyping, test, or product-development experience in automotive, electronics, aerospace, industrial equipment, or a similar environment.
• •Hands-on experience with Siemens NX for parametric 3D part and assembly modeling, design revisions, and drawing creation.
• •Experience using Teamcenter or a comparable product data-management and change-control system.
• •Demonstrated ability to design mechanical components and assemblies, interpret drawings, apply GD&T, and perform basic tolerance and fit assessments.
• •Working knowledge of structural mechanics, materials, loads, stiffness, vibration fundamentals, and basic heat-transfer concepts.
• •Experience with simple structural FEA or similar engineering analysis, including preparing models, defining loads and constraints, reviewing results, and identifying when additional expert analysis is required.
• •Hands-on experience building prototypes, designing or modifying fixtures, or setting up mechanical test hardware.
• •Experience supporting laboratory testing, preferably including thermal, vibration, shock, environmental, or mechanical reliability testing.
• •Ability to safely use common shop and laboratory equipment and to work directly with hardware, fixtures, sensors, instrumentation, and test equipment.
• •Strong problem-solving, documentation, communication, and collaboration skills.
• •Ability to manage multiple program-support requests, prioritize work, communicate status, and deliver to program timing with limited day-to-day direction.

Qualifications – Preferred

• •Prior experience with electronics packaging, ECU housings, central compute hardware, power electronics, computers, or similar electro-mechanical products.
• •Experience with vibration testing, modal testing, shaker systems, accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, thermal chambers, or related data-acquisition equipment.
• •Familiarity with automotive environmental and reliability test methods, including GMW3172 or comparable industry standards.
• •Experience designing fixtures and test apparatus for repeatability, access, load transfer, instrumentation, and safe operation.
• •Experience with additive manufacturing, machining, sheet-metal fabrication, or other rapid-prototyping methods.
• •Exposure to thermal management, EMI/shielding, sealing, IP protection, vehicle interfaces, or connector interfaces.
• •Familiarity with DFMEA/PFMEA, structured problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and design-of-ex