Materials Engineer – Global Energy, Fluids & Lubricants (GEFL)

Job Description

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human‑centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard — from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features. Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

The Role

A Materials Engineer – Global Energy, Fluids & Lubricants (GEFL) is responsible for the technical development, test method design, validation, approval, and issue resolution of fuels, lubricants, and functional fluids that support GM products, propulsion systems, and manufacturing operations, with a strong emphasis on test development and data analysis.

This individual contributor role supports technical leadership across one or more GEFL areas, including fuels, engine and driveline lubricants, EV/EDU fluids, coolants, hydraulic fluids, washer fluids, greases, and other specialty fluids. The role works cross‑functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Validation, Service, Purchasing, suppliers, and regulatory partners to define requirements, deliver robust material and fluid solutions, and support product excellence across global programs.

This role is expected to operate as a key technical contributor, building depth in assigned GEFL areas and supporting standards, validation approaches, and technical decisions within an established direction.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities):

• Develop and execute laboratory, bench, rig, and vehicle test methods for fuels, lubricants, and functional fluids to support GM vehicles, propulsion systems, and manufacturing processes

• Contribute to defining material and fluid performance requirements, test plans, specifications, validation approaches, and approval criteria

• Analyze test data, summarize results, and provide clear recommendations to project teams and leadership

• Execute factory fill, service fill, and specialty fluid validation activities across global vehicle and propulsion programs under the guidance of senior engineers

• Participate in design reviews, issue resolution, root cause investigations, and warranty prevention activities related to fuels, lubricants, and fluids, with a focus on structured test and data‑driven approaches

• Evaluate supplier technologies, formulations, and change requests using appropriate test methods to help ensure performance, quality, cost, timing, and compliance objectives are achieved

• Partner with Engineering, Validation, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Legal, and Service teams to plan and interpret testing needed to implement robust fluid and lubricant solutions

• Help develop and maintain technical standards, test methods, best practices, and lessons learned for GEFL test programs

• Monitor industry, regulatory, and technology trends related to energy, fuels, lubricants, additives, and functional fluids and share relevant testing and validation implications with the team

• Participate in technical discussions with suppliers, industry groups, standards bodies, and external partners as a GM technical representative, with support from senior GEFL specialists

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering

• 3+ years’ experience in fuels, lubricants, fluids, tribology, chemical systems, materials engineering, powertrain, electrification, or a related technical area

• Demonstrated technical problem‑solving skills and ability to work effectively across functions

• Experience with test methods, validation processes, technical specifications, and data‑driven decision making, including hands‑on execution of tests and basic statistical data analysis

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast‑paced product development environment, while seeking guidance appropriately

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to complex technical work with cross‑functional visibility and business impact

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced degree in science or engineering

• 5+ years’ experience with engine oils, transmission fluids, axle fluids, coolants, EV/EDU fluids, greases, washer fluids, fuels, or additive technologies

• Experience with tribology, formulation, chemical compatibility, contamination control, durability, or failure analysis

• Experience developing and executing dyno or bench validation testing including test method design, instrumentation, and data analysis using tools such as Excel, Python, Minitab, or similar

• Knowledge of automotive standards, specifications, regulatory requirements, test development, and supplier approval processes

• Experience contributing to cross‑functional technical initiatives or acting as a key technical contributor on complex issues

• Exposure to external technical forums, standards organizations, or industry groups

Role Expectations

• Develops strong technical depth in at least one major GEFL area and is recognized as a key technical contributor within the team

• Leads well‑defined technical work packages and supports more complex efforts with cross‑functional visibility and business impact

• Executes established standards, validation strategies, and supplier technical decisions within their area of responsibility, and provides input into improvements

• Serves as a key technical contact for issues in assigned areas, escalating appropriately to senior specialists when needed

• Contributes to technical direction within GM through high‑quality analysis, documentation, and collaboration, with occasional external engagement as appropriate

Additional Information

This position is an individual contributor role within Materials Engineering and does not include direct people leadership responsibility. Success in this role requires strong technical depth, sound engineering judgment, collaboration across functions, and the ability to translate complex fuels, lubricants, and fluids topics into clear technical recommendations and business decisions.

#LI-KE2

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc).

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).

This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

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We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

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