Technical Specialist - Thermal System Innovation

About the role

The Thermal System Innovation Technical Specialist is recognized as a subject matter expert in thermal system innovation, strategy development, and future roadmap creation. This role is responsible for defining, maturing, and driving the thermal innovation roadmap across key cross-functional partners including Design Studio, Software and Services, Research and Development, advanced engineering, and other strategic groups.

Responsibilities

• Technical Owner and Subject Matter Expert for thermal innovation roadmap development across future vehicle architectures, customer-facing thermal features, and enabling engineering capabilities.
• Develop and drive the thermal innovation roadmap in alignment with subsystem needs, vehicle strategies, customer experience priorities, and long-range technology direction.
• Build strong working relationships with Design Studio, Software and Services, Research and Development, advanced engineering teams, systems teams, and other critical partners to ensure thermal opportunities are identified early and translated into actionable development paths.
• Lead innovation projects that support the thermal roadmap, including future concepts, new methods, and cross-functional technical workstreams needed to strengthen GM leadership in thermal systems.
• Identify where artificial intelligence, automation, and digital workflows can create meaningful value in thermal engineering, then partner with technical experts, analysts, software teams, and tool developers to define, develop, and apply those capabilities more effectively.
• Translate future customer needs, competitive trends, technical gaps, and emerging technologies into prioritized thermal strategies, technology themes, and implementation plans.
• Support and/or lead cross-functional teams as necessary to ensure innovation concepts are coordinated with vehicle integration, software strategy, system requirements, and execution realities.
• Provide technical direction for trade studies, virtual analysis, concept evaluation, and other structured assessments to support data-driven decisions.
• Drive development of innovation themes from early concept through strategic recommendation, including technical framing, success criteria, risks, dependencies, timing, and implementation paths.
• Help define and mature tools, methods, workflows, and documentation needed to support thermal roadmap execution and improve team effectiveness.
• Develop clear technical narratives, roadmaps, presentations, and review materials for engineering and leadership forums.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Fluids Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in automotive thermal systems engineering, advanced engineering, systems strategy, innovation planning, or related technical roles.
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple functions to build alignment on technical direction, roadmap priorities, innovation themes, or strategy rollout.
• Strong technical foundation in automotive thermal systems, with knowledge in several of the following areas: HVAC and cabin comfort, coolant and refrigerant loops, propulsion thermal management, energy management, thermal controls and software-enabled thermal features, vehicle-level thermal integration, system requirements decomposition and tradeoff analysis.
• Proven ability to identify emerging opportunities and translate them into actionable technical strategies, roadmaps, and development paths.
• Experience leading or influencing cross-functional technical work without direct authority.
• Strong analytical ability and engineering judgment to evaluate new concepts, resolve complex technical issues, and navigate competing priorities.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, including the ability to engage Design Studio, software teams, research teams, engineering teams, and leadership.
• High level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across indirect teams and diverse organizations.
• Demonstrated innovation, ownership, accountability, and urgency in driving outcomes.
• Experience using artificial intelligence or related digital tools to improve productivity, engineering analysis, benchmarking, workflow efficiency, or decision quality.
• Strong competitor benchmarking experience, including identifying technical differentiators and translating findings into roadmap actions.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled engineering tools, data analytics workflows, automation, and digital product development methods.
• Understanding of DFSS methodologies; Black Belt or Red X knowledge preferred.
• Experience supporting advanced technology initiatives, special projects, or early concept maturation activities.