Staff Researcher Vehicle Compute Platforms & SoCMCU Semiconductor Systems

Job Description

Staff Researcher - Vehicle Compute Platforms & SoC/MCU Semiconductor Systems

Location: GM Global Technical Center Warren MI (Software Defined Vehicle Research Lab)
Organization: GM R&D Electrical and Software Architecture Group

Why this role matters

At GM a Staff Researcher is a senior-level researcher role recognized for leading high-impact research shaping strategy and representing GM in their field. Join us if you are a passionate researcher with senior-level expertise in semiconductor platforms embedded compute and electrical/software architectures for future Software-Defined Vehicles.

GM R&Ds Electrical and Software Architecture group invents evaluates optimizes and matures next-generation in-vehicle architectures compute platforms and communication systems that enable GMs vision of the Software Defined Vehicle. We focus on how SoCs MCUs memory networks and low-level software come together into robust safe and cost-effective automotive platforms spanning deeply embedded ECUs as well as high-performance compute platforms for infotainment and automated driving.

What you will do

You will be the groups subject-matter expert for semiconductors and compute platforms with a focus on SoCs MCUs memory subsystems and associated board-level and platform software technologies for automotive ECUs infotainment systems and centralized/automated driving compute platforms. As a Staff Researcher you are expected to define propose and develop research projects in alignment with GM R&Ds strategy and priorities and to clearly define communicate and demonstrate the value your work creates for GM and our customers.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead semiconductor-focused research projects that influence GMs electrical and software architecture roadmaps (central compute zonal ECUs domain controllers edge nodes infotainment and automated driving compute platforms).
• Design and implement proof-of-concept prototypes on our R&D lab benches using evaluation platforms and representative in-vehicle architecture benches to validate concepts before transfer to product teams.
• Represent GM in domestic and international standards bodies and technical meetings (e.g. IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.1) including approximately 1015% travel and quickly developing deep expertise in Ethernetbased invehicle protocols and IEEE 802 specifications to effectively navigate and influence complex standardization efforts.
• Evaluate and benchmark SoCs/MCUs and memory technologies (CPU cores accelerators interconnects DDR/LPDDR flash NVM cache hierarchies) for latency throughput power cost and safety/security trade-offs.
• Explore and prototype new compute and communication concepts using FPGAs evaluation boards and custom circuitry to de-risk new architectures and features (e.g. real-time safety-critical functions mixedcriticality workloads).
• Contribute to ECU and board-level design concepts working with internal teams and suppliers on power clocks reset high-speed interfaces (PCIe Ethernet DDR) and bring-up strategies.
• Drive low-level software concepts around boot flows board support packages (BSPs) bare-metal or RTOS-based implementations device drivers and hardware abstraction needed for SDV architectures.
• Collaborate closely with GM engineering purchasing and suppliers to align semiconductor choices with GMs long-term architecture safety cybersecurity and cost objectives.
• Seek out and aggressively pursue technology insertion opportunities at GM working with product engineering and program teams to move successful research outcomes into production programs pilots or platform roadmaps.
• Publish and protect IP through internal reports patents and external publications where appropriate and represent GM R&D at key technical conferences and workshops.
• Mentor researchers and early-career engineers helping grow GMs internal expertise in semiconductor and compute-platform topics.

As part of this role you may represent General Motors in standardization bodies such as IEEE 802.3 and 802.1 to drive enhancements into Ethernet based standards/hardware. This may require 10 to 15% of domestic and international travel the ability to quickly acquire an in-depth understanding of Ethernet based in-vehicle based protocols and of the IEEE 802 specifications and a strong ability to navigate and influence standardization efforts!

What you need (Basic Qualifications)

• M.S. in Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering or related field; Ph.D. preferred.
• 8 years of relevant industrial or research experience (or 5 with a Ph.D.) in semiconductors SoC/MCU architecture or embedded compute platforms.
• Deep understanding of modern SoCs/MCUs including:
  • CPU cores (e.g. Arm RISCV) memory hierarchies interconnects and on-chip peripherals.
  • High-speed interfaces (e.g. PCIe Ethernet SerDes DDR/LPDDR GDDR NVMe).
• Knowledge of automotive communication protocols (e.g. Ethernet Time Sensitive Networking Standards CAN LIN PCIe-based architectures SOME/IP) and in-vehicle networks.
• Hands-on experience in the use of oscilloscopes logic analyzers and JTAG for board bring-up and debug.
• Experience with ECU or embedded system design and low-level software such as:
  • Board support packages bootloaders bare-metal or RTOS-based implementations hardware drivers.
  • Integration of low-level software with hardware in lab or bench environments.
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute research projects from concept and modeling through proof-of-concept implementation and technology transfer to product teams.
• Strong communication and influence skills including:
  • Presenting complex technical content at multiple levels of detail (lab leadership cross-functional partners standards bodies).
  • Building alignment across internal stakeholders and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for or closely with a semiconductor company or Tier1 supplier especially on automotivegrade SoCs/MCUs memory subsystems or safety-critical controllers.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA or digital hardware development (Verilog/VHDL synthesis timing closure lab validation)
• Direct contributions to standards bodies (e.g. IEEE 802.x OPEN Alliance AUTOSAR) or similar consortia including proposal authorship editing or leading technical subgroups.
• Experience with security and safety architectures at the hardware/platform level (e.g. secure boot key storage redundancy fault containment).
• Prior experience leading cross-company or cross-organizational initiatives navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and influencing roadmaps without direct authority.

If you are excited by the idea of bridging semiconductor technology ECU/board design low-level software and industry standards to define the next generation of automotive compute platforms we encourage you to apply.

About GM

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Benefits Overview

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