Lead Software Controls Engineer - Transmission

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Milford, Michigan three times per week, at minimum.

At General Motors, we are developing the embedded software and control systems that enable advanced vehicle performance, drivability, and system integration. We are looking for a Lead Software and Controls Engineer to support new transmission controls development for a high-visibility vehicle application.

In this role, you will develop, integrate, and validate software control algorithms that manage all aspects of new transmission operation while ensuring robust interaction with the vehicle and propulsion system. You will work closely with software, systems, calibration, validation, and integration teams to deliver high-quality embedded controls solutions that are technically sound, scalable, and consistent with GM software development standards and protocols.

This is a lead individual contributor role for an engineer who can combine strong software and controls fundamentals with hands-on algorithm development, technical leadership, and disciplined execution. The successful candidate will help shape the software approach for new transmission controls while partnering across the broader vehicle team to deliver robust, production-ready solutions.

• Develop software control algorithms for new transmission functions across the full range of operating conditions.

• Design, implement, and refine embedded software to control transmission behavior, shift execution, coordination, diagnostics, and feature performance.

• Integrate transmission controls software with vehicle-level and propulsion system functions to ensure aligned behavior and robust system performance.

• Translate system and algorithm requirements into software functional requirements, software design content, and implementation plans.

• Perform software design, coding, peer reviews, and change management activities in accordance with GM software development processes, coding standards, and software discipline expectations.

• Create and execute software verification activities, including unit, SIL, HIL, bench, and integration testing as appropriate.

• Troubleshoot software and controls issues, analyze root causes, and drive issues to closure across development and validation activities.

• Collaborate with calibration, systems, validation, integration, and architecture teams to deliver controls solutions that balance performance, quality, maintainability, and integration needs.

• Provide technical leadership in work planning, software design reviews, and problem-solving discussions while helping align the team on sound engineering practices.

• Support technical reviews and clearly communicate software design choices, risks, tradeoffs, and recommended actions to stakeholders.

• Contribute to continuous improvement in software reuse, documentation quality, test coverage, and consistency with GM engineering standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 5+ years experience in embedded software, controls development, or software systems engineering.

• Proven experience developing software control algorithms in C, MATLAB, Simulink or comparable embedded controls toolchains.

• Strong understanding of transmission, propulsion, torque management, or driveline controls development in a hardware-software environment.

• Experience translating requirements into software design, implementation, and verification content.

• Experience integrating embedded controls with broader vehicle systems and cross-functional engineering teams.

• Strong understanding of software quality attributes and disciplined development processes, including change management and peer review expectations.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work, influence decisions, and communicate effectively across multiple stakeholder groups in an Agile development environment.

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a lead individual contributor with a high level of independent judgment and accountability for technical results.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering or computer science discipline.

• 8+ years experience in embedded software, controls development, or software systems engineering.

• Experience with transmission controls, propulsion controls, or other performance-oriented vehicle control domains.

• Experience with GM vehicle controls, calibration, data logging, and development toolchains.

• Familiarity with software architecture, diagnostics, functional safety, cybersecurity, or software-defined vehicle development.

• Experience supporting feature integration across multiple controllers or subsystems.

• Experience mentoring other engineers and helping reinforce strong software engineering discipline and adherence to GM standards.

• Experience with Agile CI/CD workflows, automated testing, or modern embedded software development practices.

At GM, you’ll help deliver the embedded software and controls that define transmission performance, drivability, and system integration in a demanding vehicle application. You’ll work on challenging technical problems, collaborate with highly capable cross-functional teams, and directly influence the quality and behavior of a critical propulsion-related control system.

If you enjoy developing robust control algorithms, solving complex integration problems, and building high-quality embedded software in a disciplined engineering environment, we’d like to hear from you.

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}.

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