Senior Manager- Thermal Performance Integration Center

About the Role

General Motors is seeking a dynamic, technically grounded Senior Manager to lead the Thermal Performance Integration Center. As the leader of this center, you will be the architect and champion of GM’s vehicle thermal strategy — balancing system performance, energy efficiency, and cost across four critical pillars: thermal system architecture, interior (HVAC/cabin comfort), propulsion cooling, and underhood/front end airflow (FEAF). This role sits at the intersection of product development, systems engineering, and enterprise strategy, with broad cross-functional reach into program teams, Software & Services, Virtual Development, and global partners.

This is an opportunity to lead a team that is shaping the future of thermal performance at General Motors — and to leave a lasting mark on winning vehicles for millions of GM customers.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy and lead the Thermal Performance Integration Center — define the long-term vision, roadmap, and execution plans that deliver integrated thermal solutions across the vehicle portfolio, balancing performance, efficiency, and profitability.
• Serve as the enterprise voice of the customer for thermal performance, ensuring requirements are defined, owned, and defended against business trade-offs across ICE, BEV, and PHEV programs.
• Drive on-time, quality delivery of all thermal performance across the Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP), including AVD through VTC.
• Lead and develop a team of engineering group managers and senior engineers — building talent, setting clear expectations, holding the team accountable, and creating a culture of technical excellence and inclusion.
• Develop organizational capability, succession, and bench strength by coaching leaders, strengthening technical depth, and fostering an inclusive, high-accountability culture.
• Partner cross-functionally with VDDV (Virtual Development), bevHEAT Systems, PTC, HVAC, Software & Services, Design Studio, and program teams to ensure early integration and robust thermal performance.
• Champion the Road to Virtual — identify and implement virtual capability improvements that eliminate waste, increase development speed, and reduce physical testing burden for the Thermal Performance team.
• Represent thermal performance in executive forums, including the Thermal Directors Council, program reviews, and leadership-sponsored escalations — providing clear strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement in customer-facing thermal quality — using Compass, JD Power, and OnStar data to identify trends, root causes, and corrective action plans.
• Identify profitability improvement opportunities that maintain customer-facing thermal performance while reducing cost, in partnership with program teams and GPP/GVHE partners.
• Develop and own KSIs and KPIs that directly contribute to GPEC and GM functional results, reporting progress regularly and managing escalation paths appropriately.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience in thermal systems, HVAC, propulsion integration, vehicle systems, validation, or related automotive engineering domains.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering managers or senior technical teams, in a complex engineering environment, with a track record of building high-performing organizations.
• Deep knowledge of the GM Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP) or equivalent OEM vehicle development lifecycle, from Advanced Vehicle Development through launch.
• Proven ability to develop and execute technical strategies with enterprise-level impact, balancing customer requirements, program timing, cost, and quality.
• Experience working cross-functionally with design, program management, virtual development, and software/controls organizations.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align diverse perspectives and present recommendations to executive leadership with clarity and confidence.
• Demonstrated ability to champion change, lead through ambiguity, and drive large-scale initiatives across a matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in ICE, BEV, PHEV, and hybrid thermal system development and integration.
• Familiarity with thermal virtual development tools (0D/1D/3D simulation, VDDV, COSIM) and a demonstrated commitment to expanding virtual capability.
• Knowledge of key thermal performance metrics, customer feedback tools (Compass, JD Power), and correlation methodologies.
• Experience managing engineering budgets, headcount planning, and resource allocation across multiple programs.
• Experience leading global or multi-region initiatives, formal cross-functional networks, and large-scale organizational change.
• Passion for developing talent, coaching leaders, and creating an inclusive workplace where every team member can perform at their best.

Why This Role

• High visibility — Direct interface with GPEC leadership, Thermal Directors Council, and performance integration leadership.
• Strategic impact — You will shape how GM delivers thermal performance across its next generation of ICE, PHEV, and BEV programs.
• Leading-edge technology — Work at the forefront of EV thermal innovation, virtual development, and AI-enabled engineering tools.
• Team legacy — Build and develop a center-of-excellence team that becomes a permanent competitive advantage for GM.

Schedule

This role is categorized as hybrid. The selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week (or other frequency dictated by their manager).

Benefits

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being — at work and at home — so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.