R&D Design Engineer Jobs
R&D Design Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and consumer electronics, from entry-level to principal and principal research fellow, with specializations in mechanical design, systems engineering, and product development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
The Role
The Global Design and R&D IT team supports the design and research and development of GM production and concept vehicles, from early innovation through production design. We are seeking a highly motivated Sr. Software Engineer to develop data-intensive and AI-enabled applications supporting Global Design and Research & Development teams.
This role will work with complex data requirements and deliver reliable, scalable solutions using SQL, Databricks, Java, Python, and other modern technologies. You will design and build software and data solutions with a strong focus on data quality, performance, security, and operational reliability.
You will also advise, coach, and mentor software engineers while helping shape how engineering teams access and use data and AI. You will contribute to patterns and best practices for SQL, Databricks, AI/ML integrations, and ongoing modernization and cloud initiatives.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain data-driven and AI-enabled applications and services that support Product Development engineering teams.
- Write high-quality, performant SQL, including queries, functions, and stored procedures, for complex data transformations and modeling across enterprise data platforms such as SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL.
- Build and optimize data pipelines and workflows in Databricks and related tools to support batch and near-real-time data processing.
- Develop backend services and APIs in Java and/or Python that integrate data, business rules, and user workflows into robust, reusable components.
- Develop and operate enterprise-grade applications and services using appropriate combinations of Java, Python, Quarkus, PostgreSQL, Docker, Kubernetes, Angular, React, and approved enterprise technology standards.
- Partner with data science and AI teams to bring AI/ML and large-language-model (LLM) solutions into production, including data preparation, feature pipelines, inference integrations, evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
- Proactively identify and remediate issues related to code quality, architecture and design patterns, performance, security, and data correctness using code analysis, testing, profiling, and observability practices.
- Lead or contribute to solution design, including architecture, patterns, and technology choices aligned with GM standards and the Statement of Technical Direction.
- Apply and champion software engineering best practices, including code reviews, automated testing, branching strategies, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and secure coding practices.
- Collaborate with product owners, data engineers, architects, and business stakeholders to refine requirements, define acceptance criteria, and deliver incremental value in an Agile/Scrum environment.
- Troubleshoot and resolve production issues across the data, application, and infrastructure stack by driving root-cause analysis, stable fixes, and clear documentation.
- Navigate enterprise processes, dependencies, and governance requirements to remove roadblocks and keep delivery on track.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to software engineers and team members, helping grow skills in SQL, Databricks, cloud, and AI-related technologies.
- Document software and data solutions so that technical documentation meets GM standards and can be leveraged across business functions as applicable. Participate in production support and operational readiness, including incident response, service-level objective planning, release readiness, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of experience delivering enterprise software , data, or platform solutions using Java, Python , or comparable modern programming languages.
- Experience designing and operating production applications using APIs, relational databases, cloud services, and containerized environments.
- Experience building or supporting data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, or data-intensive applications using Databricks , Spark , or comparable distributed data platforms.
- Experience integrating AI/ML services, LLM APIs, or model-driven capabilities into production applications, including data preparation, API or model integration, evaluation, monitoring, security, and responsible-use considerations.
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes and at least one major cloud platform, such as Azure, AWS, or GCP .
- Experience with Quarkus or a comparable modern Java application framework.
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum development methodologies, including backlog refinement, sprint planning, and incremental delivery.
- Hands-on experience with modern DevOps practices such as Git/GitHub, code reviews, automated builds, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines .
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to break down complex technical and data challenges into clear, actionable steps and deliver high-quality solutions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Demonstrated ownership, accountability for quality, and focus on delivering measurable value to internal customers.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Master's degree in Data Science, Data Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
- Extensive experience delivering enterprise-grade or globally scalable software applications , including data-intensive or analytics-focused solutions.
- Deep hands-on experience with Databricks , including Delta tables , notebooks, jobs , and workflows , and/or Spark for data engineering, analytics , or AI workloads .
- Proven experience migrating applications and complex data workloads to Azure or other cloud platforms, including managed data, messaging, and API services.
- Experience supporting AI/ML initiatives , including feature engineering, model integration, AI/LLM service integration, monitoring, and MLOps concepts .
- Knowledge of relational and dimensional data modeling, data quality practices, metadata management, and data governance in an enterprise environment.
- Experience working with product lifecycle management ( PLM ), digital engineering, visualization, CAD/CAM, simulation, or design technology platforms.
- Experience with observability and reliability practices, including logging, metrics, tracing, dashboards, alerting, and SRE concepts for data and application services.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction, establish reusable patterns and standards, and mentor less experienced engineers.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high engineering standards.
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
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources .
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
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 .
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Job Description
The Role
The Global Design and R&D IT team supports the design and research and development of GM production and concept vehicles, from early innovation through production design. We are seeking a highly motivated Sr. Software Engineer to develop data-intensive and AI-enabled applications supporting Global Design and Research & Development teams.
This role will work with complex data requirements and deliver reliable, scalable solutions using SQL, Databricks, Java, Python, and other modern technologies. You will design and build software and data solutions with a strong focus on data quality, performance, security, and operational reliability.
You will also advise, coach, and mentor software engineers while helping shape how engineering teams access and use data and AI. You will contribute to patterns and best practices for SQL, Databricks, AI/ML integrations, and ongoing modernization and cloud initiatives.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain data-driven and AI-enabled applications and services that support Product Development engineering teams.
- Write high-quality, performant SQL, including queries, functions, and stored procedures, for complex data transformations and modeling across enterprise data platforms such as SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL.
- Build and optimize data pipelines and workflows in Databricks and related tools to support batch and near-real-time data processing.
- Develop backend services and APIs in Java and/or Python that integrate data, business rules, and user workflows into robust, reusable components.
- Develop and operate enterprise-grade applications and services using appropriate combinations of Java, Python, Quarkus, PostgreSQL, Docker, Kubernetes, Angular, React, and approved enterprise technology standards.
- Partner with data science and AI teams to bring AI/ML and large-language-model (LLM) solutions into production, including data preparation, feature pipelines, inference integrations, evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
- Proactively identify and remediate issues related to code quality, architecture and design patterns, performance, security, and data correctness using code analysis, testing, profiling, and observability practices.
- Lead or contribute to solution design, including architecture, patterns, and technology choices aligned with GM standards and the Statement of Technical Direction.
- Apply and champion software engineering best practices, including code reviews, automated testing, branching strategies, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and secure coding practices.
- Collaborate with product owners, data engineers, architects, and business stakeholders to refine requirements, define acceptance criteria, and deliver incremental value in an Agile/Scrum environment.
- Troubleshoot and resolve production issues across the data, application, and infrastructure stack by driving root-cause analysis, stable fixes, and clear documentation.
- Navigate enterprise processes, dependencies, and governance requirements to remove roadblocks and keep delivery on track.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to software engineers and team members, helping grow skills in SQL, Databricks, cloud, and AI-related technologies.
- Document software and data solutions so that technical documentation meets GM standards and can be leveraged across business functions as applicable. Participate in production support and operational readiness, including incident response, service-level objective planning, release readiness, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of experience delivering enterprise software , data, or platform solutions using Java, Python , or comparable modern programming languages.
- Experience designing and operating production applications using APIs, relational databases, cloud services, and containerized environments.
- Experience building or supporting data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, or data-intensive applications using Databricks , Spark , or comparable distributed data platforms.
- Experience integrating AI/ML services, LLM APIs, or model-driven capabilities into production applications, including data preparation, API or model integration, evaluation, monitoring, security, and responsible-use considerations.
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes and at least one major cloud platform, such as Azure, AWS, or GCP .
- Experience with Quarkus or a comparable modern Java application framework.
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum development methodologies, including backlog refinement, sprint planning, and incremental delivery.
- Hands-on experience with modern DevOps practices such as Git/GitHub, code reviews, automated builds, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines .
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to break down complex technical and data challenges into clear, actionable steps and deliver high-quality solutions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Demonstrated ownership, accountability for quality, and focus on delivering measurable value to internal customers.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Master's degree in Data Science, Data Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
- Extensive experience delivering enterprise-grade or globally scalable software applications , including data-intensive or analytics-focused solutions.
- Deep hands-on experience with Databricks , including Delta tables , notebooks, jobs , and workflows , and/or Spark for data engineering, analytics , or AI workloads .
- Proven experience migrating applications and complex data workloads to Azure or other cloud platforms, including managed data, messaging, and API services.
- Experience supporting AI/ML initiatives , including feature engineering, model integration, AI/LLM service integration, monitoring, and MLOps concepts .
- Knowledge of relational and dimensional data modeling, data quality practices, metadata management, and data governance in an enterprise environment.
- Experience working with product lifecycle management ( PLM ), digital engineering, visualization, CAD/CAM, simulation, or design technology platforms.
- Experience with observability and reliability practices, including logging, metrics, tracing, dashboards, alerting, and SRE concepts for data and application services.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction, establish reusable patterns and standards, and mentor less experienced engineers.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high engineering standards.
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
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources .
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
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 .
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
See All 48 R&D Design Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find R&D Design Engineer JobsR&D Design Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Airlines
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Aerospace & Defense
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in R&D design engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering
- Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo
- Experience with design verification, validation, and testing protocols
- Knowledge of GD&T, tolerancing, and design for manufacturability principles
- Familiarity with product lifecycle management tools and engineering change processes
- Experience collaborating in cross-functional teams with manufacturing and quality engineering
Tips for Your R&D Design Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to each design domain
R&D roles split sharply between hardware, software-integrated systems, and materials development. Customize your resume so the CAD tools, simulation software, and design methodologies you list match the specific domain the job posting emphasizes, not just the generic title.
Showcase patent filings and prototype outcomes
Hiring managers for R&D positions weigh invention disclosures, patent applications, and prototype-to-production transitions heavily. List any patents you contributed to, even as a co-inventor, and describe what stage each design reached, from proof of concept through regulatory submission or mass production.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists r&d design engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter postings by design stage not just title
Some R&D design engineer roles focus on early-stage concept work while others are closer to manufacturing handoff. Read job descriptions for phrases like 'concept development', 'design verification', or 'design for manufacturability' so you target positions that actually match where you work best.
Prepare a design walkthrough for your interview
Most R&D design engineer interviews include a technical deep-dive where you walk through a past project. Practice explaining your design decisions, the trade-offs you considered, and what you would change, because interviewers care more about your reasoning process than the final outcome.
Negotiate your offer using total compensation context
R&D roles often include patent bonuses, publication incentives, and prototype-budget authority that do not appear in the base salary figure. Ask specifically about these during negotiations, because they can represent meaningful additional value beyond the number in your offer letter.
R&D Design Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most r&d design engineers?
The most active employers for r&d design engineers right now are Broadcom, Axon, and Stryker, and the most openings are in California, New York, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Aerospace and medical device companies consistently represent a large share of active postings.
How many r&d design engineer jobs are remote?
About 33% of r&d design engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is lower than many engineering disciplines because hands-on prototyping and lab access are core to the role. Software-integrated systems design and simulation-heavy work are the sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become a r&d design engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, biomedical, or a related engineering field, then build hands-on experience through internships, senior capstone projects, or research lab roles. Develop proficiency in at least one major CAD platform and one simulation tool. Many r&d design engineers move into the role from adjacent positions in product engineering, test engineering, or manufacturing engineering by contributing to design work and taking on progressively more independent design responsibilities.
Can you get hired as a r&d design engineer with little experience?
Yes, entry-level r&d design engineer roles exist, particularly at larger companies with structured new-graduate programs in aerospace, medical devices, and consumer electronics. Strengthening your candidacy without full-time experience means completing a substantial capstone or independent project, contributing to an engineering research group, or doing a co-op in a design or product development environment. Demonstrating that you can take a design from concept through a working prototype is more persuasive than coursework alone.
What does the r&d design engineer interview process look like?
The process typically starts with a recruiter screen focused on your background and design experience, followed by a technical phone or video interview covering CAD skills, design principles, and problem-solving. Later rounds usually include a project walkthrough where you present a past design in depth, plus a panel interview with engineers and cross-functional partners. Some employers add a take-home design exercise or a whiteboard session where you work through a design challenge under time constraints.
Where can I find and apply to r&d design engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to r&d design engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 48 R&D Design Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find R&D Design Engineer Jobs