Staff Systems Engineer – Sensor Systems Engineering & Architecture

General Motors is developing hands-off and eyes-off autonomous driving systems intended for broad deployment across consumer vehicles. A foundational requirement for safe, scalable autonomy is that sensing systems perform reliably across the full range of real-world weather conditions. 

We are seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to join the Sensor Systems Engineering & Architecture team to provide technical leadership in defining how autonomous sensing systems are characterized, specified, and validated under weather and contamination conditions. This role focuses on system-level decisions at the intersection of sensors, perception software, vehicle platforms, and real-world operating environments — ensuring that sensing solutions are technically sound, weather-resilient, and executable in production. 

In this position, you will lead system-level trade studies, define performance requirements for sensors under adverse weather and contamination scenarios, and develop the technical frameworks used to assess sensor cleaning solutions. You will work closely with perception, validation, platform software, and vehicle integration teams to drive forward a rigorous and scalable approach to weather and cleaning performance assessment. This role is intended for engineers who are comfortable operating in ambiguity, applying first-principles analysis, and providing steady technical direction as systems mature from early development into deployed solutions. 

What You’ll Do 

You will get the opportunity to contribute to one or more of the following. 

• Lead system-level trades, requirements decomposition, and integration requirements for autonomous sensor systems across radar, cameras, and lidar with associated cleaning systems 

• Lead the technical assessment, characterization, and performance benchmarking of sensor systems — including active and passive cleaning mechanisms — across vehicle programs 

• Translate autonomy and product performance intent into system architectures, functional decompositions, and requirements 

• Work closely with software platform teams, vehicle integration, hardware teams, perception, and validation teams to manage complex interdependencies and drive forward progress 

• Ensure system designs meet safety, regulatory, quality, and performance requirements relevant to autonomous vehicle operation in diverse environmental conditions 

• Drive continuous improvement in sensing system robustness 

• Clearly document technical decisions, trade-offs, and deliverables. 

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications) 

• Bachelor's degree in Systems, Electrical, Software, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field 

• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, system integration, or hardware-intensive product development 

• Experience working with sensing systems (camera, radar, lidar, or similar) and a technical understanding of the effects of weather and contamination on performance 

• Experience leading cross-domain technical initiatives for the evaluation and validation of sensor performance 

• Expertise in requirements decomposition and development 

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous problem spaces and drive technical alignment across teams 

• Experience with Matlab, Python, or other tools to support data analysis and analysis tooling development 

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications) 

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering or a related technical discipline 

• Direct experience characterizing or modeling sensor performance degradation in adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, fog, aerosol, or equivalent) for high-fidelity sensors 

• Familiarity with weather simulation methodologies, physics-based sensor modeling, or environmental test chamber evaluation 

• Experience with sensor cleaning systems, including nozzle, air, wiper, or other advanced methods 

• Experience working on L4 (or equivalent) autonomous vehicle programs or advanced remote sensing platforms 

• Experience with requirements management tools such as JAMA or DNG 

• Knowledge of safety-critical system development or functional safety concepts 

• Experience with system/component validation including vehicle testing, HIL/SIL, simulation, and large-scale data analysis 

Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.   

• The salary range for this role is $135,420 to $215,000. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.  
• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance. 
• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.  

Benefits:  

• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.  

Relocation: This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.  

Remote/Hybrid: This role is based hybrid from Sunnyvale,CA. You are expected to report to that location three times a week, at minimum.