Junior Motorsports Test Cell Automation Engineer

Job Description

At GM Motorsports, we are driven by a clear purpose: to accelerate our teams’ ability to win on the racetrack and in the marketplace. Our vision is to be the benchmark of global motorsports excellence, inspiring enduring passion for our brands and products through world-class performance, innovation, and teamwork. We are looking for people who share our mindset and core values — ownership in organizational success, a commitment to add value to our team, and the courage to reject mediocrity in pursuit of exceptional results.

The Role

GM Motorsports is seeking an early-career engineer to support race test cell automation for racing and performance vehicles, engines, and powertrain systems at the Charlotte Technical Center. The role will work with experienced test, instrumentation, calibration, controls, and software engineers to configure, script, validate, troubleshoot, and document test cell automation and data acquisition systems.

Applying foundational engineering knowledge, you will follow established processes, organize assigned work, make day-to-day decisions within defined guidelines, and seek guidance when issues exceed the role’s experience or authority. The role will contribute to safe, reliable, repeatable testing while developing expertise in dynamometer testing, test automation, instrumentation, and racing powertrain development.

What You’ll Do

Support Test Cell Automation

• Support configuration, checkout, and calibration of test cell automation systems using PUMA, Indicom, ISAC, Testbed, or comparable platforms.

• Develop and modify test scripts and test sequences using established templates, procedures, and engineering direction.

• Assist with test cell integration, input/output validation, software parameter updates, and troubleshooting of automation issues.

• Maintain configuration records, test documentation, software parameters, and change history for assigned test cell systems.

Support Test Data and Analysis

• Perform data-quality checks on acquired test data, identify anomalies, document findings, and support corrective actions.

• Support sensor and instrumentation implementation, calibration, signal validation, and data-channel verification in partnership with the customers and Data Acquisition team.

• Assist with AVL combustion-system data acquisition and coordinate data integration activities with indicating and test engineers.

• Prepare test reports, plots, and basic data-analysis templates using Concerto, Indicom, or similar analysis tools.

Support Testing and Issue Resolution

• Support dynamometer and full-vehicle test activities for Motorsports applications under the direction of experienced engineers.

• Collaborate with test, powertrain, vehicle, controls, instrumentation, calibration, and software teams to complete assigned work and resolve routine issues.

• Apply established procedures to troubleshoot routine issues and escalate abnormal conditions, risks, or unresolved technical concerns.

• Build working knowledge of Motorsports test principles, dynamometer operation, racing powertrain systems, and GM engineering processes.

Support Safe, Reliable Operations

• Follow established procedures for test cell controls, alarms, safety interlocks, emergency systems, and data integrity.

• Communicate risks, abnormal conditions, or concerns promptly and candidly.

• Support a work environment focused on safety, quality, teamwork, continuous learning, and reliable test execution.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls/Automation Engineering, or a related field; equivalent technical education or experience may be considered.

• Entry-level professional experience or relevant internship, co-op, academic-project, or laboratory experience in controls, automation, test engineering, data acquisition, instrumentation, software, or Motorsports.

• Foundational understanding of engineering problem-solving, sensors, instrumentation, data acquisition, control systems, and software or test automation.

• Ability to apply established procedures, organize assigned work, troubleshoot routine issues, and make sound day-to-day decisions within defined guidelines.

• Ability to communicate technical information clearly and professionally in written, verbal, and team settings.

• Demonstrated commitment to safe work practices, data integrity, quality, confidentiality, and GM policies.

What Will Give you a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Solid software-development and scripting background using a combination of Python, MATLAB/Simulink, C#, VBScript, C, or comparable programming and model-based development tools.

• Exposure to modeling and simulation environments such as Simulink, Modelica, or Dymola, and to real-time hardware systems such as dSPACE, Concurrent, or Testbed.CONNECT.

• Experience with electromechanical system integration, including actuators, electrical circuits, basic wiring, instrumentation, and interpretation of electrical and system schematics.

• Basic experience with communication and networking protocols or interfaces, including UDP, TCP/IP, CAN bus, and EtherCAT.

• Familiarity with PUMA, Indicom, ISAC, Concerto, EMCON, AVL systems, or comparable test-cell automation and data-analysis tools.

• Interest in automotive applications, with foundational knowledge of vehicle systems, powertrains, engines, or related automotive technologies.

• Interest in system-level automation and controls, including the interaction of software, hardware, instrumentation, and test-cell equipment.

• Exposure to dynamometer testing, engine or powertrain testing, vehicle testing, combustion analysis, or Motorsports engineering.

• Familiarity with test sequencing, software configuration management, version-controlled documentation, or automated data-quality checks.

• Understanding of test-cell safety systems, building controls, alarms, environmental systems, and emergency procedures.

• Eagerness to learn, grow, and adapt when addressing unexpected issues, unfamiliar systems, and new engineering problems.

• Academic, internship, co-op, project, or competition experience involving racing vehicles, engines, powertrains, robotics, controls, or experimental testing.

#LI-LP2

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 onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.

Relocation benefits are available for candidates who qualify under company policy.

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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