Chassis Design Engineer - Aerospace/Lunar - GM Defense

GM Defense At GM Defense, we are bridging the gap between world-class automotive manufacturing and the future of deep-space exploration. We are leveraging General Motors' massive electrification, autonomous driving, and vehicle dynamics technologies to build the next generation of lunar mobility systems. This is a rare opportunity to apply high-volume production efficiency to mission-critical space hardware, taking structural design off the page and onto the moon.

We are seeking Chassis/Structures Engineers to spearhead the structural architecture, optimization, and mechanical design of our upcoming lunar transport platforms. In this role, you will take advanced automotive chassis and EV architecture concepts and radically redesign them to withstand the violent vibrations of rocket launches, structural loads of lunar transit, and the harsh one-sixth gravity environment of the Moon.

A Lunar Vehicle Design Engineer designs space rovers and mobility systems for the Moon, focusing on mechanical structures, thermal endurance, and harsh terrain adaptation. Mission: Build rugged, high-reliability rovers or human-rated transport systems, Lunar Terrain Vehicle, to operate in extreme lunar environments. Core Focus: Optimize chassis integrity, wheel-soil interaction, and payload deployment under one-sixth Earth gravity and intense thermal swings. Mechanical Design: Own end-to-end development of rover structures, attachment points, and deployment systems using 3D CAD tools. Environmental Adaptation: Account for extreme lunar dust, deep craters, and severe temperature drops during the lunar night. Cross-Functional Integration: Interface directly with thermal, power, GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), and software teams. Testing & Verification: Define and execute rigorous validation tests for actuators, mobility geartrains, and structural load limits based on industry developed validation criteria. Architecture Adaption: Scale automotive suspension, steering, and EV drivetrain concepts to function in one-sixth Earth gravity and vacuum conditions. Terrestrial to Lunar Design: Bridge high-volume production quality standards with lightweight, high-performance aerospace materials. Dust & Thermal Protection: Seal critical mechanical actuators and geartrains against highly abrasive lunar regolith and extreme thermal cycling. Automotive Tech Transfer: Apply advanced vehicle dynamics simulations and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing methodologies to space hardware development. Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications) Bachelor’s degree in Engineering 5+ years of relevant product engineering experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, aerospace, or a closely related industry Demonstrated experience as a Design Release Engineer, technical lead, or equivalent, with end-to-end responsibility for a major subsystem Proven ability to lead work through concept, design, validation, launch, and field support on complex engineered products Experience working in CAD/CAE and PLM environments, including formal change management and part release processes Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and issue resolution skills in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interface effectively with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction, manage subsystem risk, and mentor other engineers Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee). What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications) Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline, Aerospace Engineering in particular Direct experience with military or government vehicle programs, standards, or acquisition processes Familiarity with GM engineering processes, systems, and tools, including bills of material, release systems, and global vehicle development