layiq

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Technical Specialist - Advanced Seat Structures at General Motors | LAYIQ

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).
Define structural targets and validation strategies for new architectures (e.g., whiplash, rear impact, ABTS load cases, seat-belt/buckle integration).
Support Safety, Performance Integration, and CAE teams in early trade-off studies for advanced concepts.
Manufacturability, Automation & Complexity: Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, GA plants, and JITs to define automation-friendly seat structure concepts, including joint strategies and part family approaches.
Evaluate trade-offs between content, complexity, mass, and investment for advanced structures; develop data-driven business cases.
Promote reuse, corporate common components, and carry-over opportunities across programs and regions to reduce cost and complexity.
Knowledge Management & Mentorship : Own and maintain advanced-structures core knowledge (design guidelines, best practices, DFMEA templates, KCDS, interface control documents).
Lead technical design reviews, peer reviews, and learning sessions for the global seat structures community.
Mentor Design Release Engineers and designers on advanced structure development and ensure smooth transition from advanced work to production execution.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence: Act as the primary interface with AVD, Design/Studio, BIW, Safety, Seat JITs, and regional engineering teams (e.g., China, Korea, South America).
Synthesize complex technical topics (comfort vs. MTM, feature trade-offs, mass/investment impacts, manufacturability limits) into clear, data-driven recommendations.
Represent Seat Structures in cross-functional advanced workstreams and strategy forums related to future interiors, customer experience, and automation.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
7+ years post-graduation engineering experience, with significant time on automotive seat structures or closely related structural systems.
Proven track record developing seat structures from concept through launch, including supplier collaboration and plant support.
Deep understanding of seat-to-vehicle packaging, occupant ergonomics, and structural integration with BIW/floor systems.
Demonstrated proficiency in structural analysis (e.g., FEA, modal/rigid-bed analysis) and ability to translate CAE/test results into design recommendations.
Strong knowledge of global seating safety and regulatory requirements and how they influence architecture decisions.
Evidence of operating independently on complex, ambiguous technical problems and converting them into executable concepts and strategies.
Experience with benchmarking and competitive analysis, with the ability to translate insights into GM-relevant solutions.
Solid business acumen with experience preparing and communicating cost/mass/investment trade studies.
Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to convey complex structural topics to technical and non-technical audiences.
Demonstrated collaboration and influence skills across functions and regions, without direct people leadership.

Technical Specialist - Advanced Seat Structures

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