Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer

Job Description

• GM Level: 6A

• Proposed job-family alignment: Test and Validation Engineering

• Primary work location: GM Milford Proving Ground Milford Michigan

• Travel: Approximately 10% as needed for training team alignment vehicle support or other GM testing activities

• Career track: Individual contributor

General Motors is developing advanced driving-assistance and autonomous-vehicle capabilities that require safe repeatable and scalable validation. The Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer will plan execute and report autonomous-vehicle testing at GMs Milford Proving Ground in partnership with AV Test Engineering Vehicle Integration software and systems engineering AV Operations Fleet Reliability Engineering and other cross-functional teams.

This role will translate engineering objectives and approved test requests into clear executable test plans and procedures. The engineer will conduct closed-course regression feature behavior calibration system-validation and structured data-collection testing; evaluate vehicle and autonomy-system behavior; troubleshoot software and hardware issues; and deliver complete actionable evidence to engineering customers.

The role combines test planning hands-on vehicle and test execution technical triage data analysis and process improvement. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-changing environment taking ownership of ambiguous problems collaborating across software and hardware domains and maintaining a high bar for safety test quality and technical rigor.

• Translate product software systems and program objectives into practical test plans test cases procedures schedules and resource requirements.

• Plan and execute repeatable software regression feature and behavior validation structured scenario calibration-support fault-response and targeted data-collection tests.

• Conduct closed-course vehicle testing at Milford Proving Ground including vehicle preparation test setup scenario execution observation intervention or takeover when required and post-run closeout.

• Coordinate test requests priorities vehicle assignments track reservations operating windows personnel equipment and readiness reviews with AV Test Engineering and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Follow approved test procedures and acceptance criteria while using sound engineering judgment when test conditions vehicle state system behavior or data quality differs from expectations.

• Make timely recommendations to proceed modify repeat block or stop testing based on safety vehicle condition system behavior track conditions weather data quality or test intent.

• Support test execution across development and release milestones including build checkout regression campaigns feature validation system integration and structured validation activities.

• Support approved vehicle testing on public roads or other test environments when required by the program applicable procedures and GM driver-training and safety requirements.

• Monitor vehicle and autonomy-system health before during and after testing identifying conditions that could affect safety data quality or test availability.

• Triage issues involving the AV software stack vehicle compute sensors localization calibration connectivity data recording host-vehicle systems vehicle networks power and test infrastructure.

• Use system status logs drive data diagnostic tools measurements operator observations and repeatable experiments to isolate likely causes and determine the appropriate next action.

• Reproduce issues when safe and practical capture accurate timelines and evidence and create actionable issue reports for software systems Vehicle Integration Fleet Reliability Engineering Troubleforce Service Operations or other support teams.

• Distinguish between issues that can be safely contained or corrected during test execution and issues requiring vehicle removal from service engineering review formal change control or additional safety assessment.

• Partner with developers and systems engineers to clarify expected behavior reproduce failures evaluate fixes and verify corrective actions through targeted retesting.

• Support controlled fault-injection and non-nominal testing when requested ensuring that test intent expected system response safety controls and data-labeling requirements are understood before execution.

• Execute test procedures consistently and capture complete run information including vehicle software calibration map track scenario operator weather and timing details.

• Evaluate AV behavior and system response against defined test objectives and acceptance criteria distinguishing objective evidence from anecdotal observations.

• Report pass fail blocked incomplete and inconclusive outcomes with enough context for engineering teams to act without repeating avoidable setup work.

• Ensure drive links logs data media notes screenshots issue references and other required evidence are transferred or uploaded through approved workflows.

• Review test data for completeness corruption missing signals unexpected configuration changes or other conditions that could limit its usefulness.

• Publish concise test summaries technical findings and status updates to the appropriate engineering and operations forums.

• Maintain traceability for test requests procedures results issues and retests in tools such as Jira Confluence Xray Slack and approved data or fleet-management systems.

• Provide timely feedback to remote software systems simulation safety and program teams so that test results support release decisions feature refinement and issue prioritization.

• Prepare assigned test vehicles and equipment for daily execution including configuration checks software and calibration state physical condition instrumentation data-recording readiness and required test assets.

• Perform or coordinate pre-drive readiness checks post-drive inspections sensor and camera cleanliness checks data-media handling charging or fueling coordination and other activities required to maintain test availability.

• Support approved software or branch deployments calibration updates route or map selection logging configuration test tools and other test-preparation activities.

• Maintain accurate records of vehicle status mileage or test hours configuration test history open issues and return-to-service decisions.

• Identify vehicle downtime risks early and coordinate containment recovery maintenance parts facility resources and technical assistance with the appropriate partner teams.

• Help maintain reliable test infrastructure track resources measurement equipment data workflows and other assets needed for repeatable execution.

• Contribute to readiness reviews and daily operating rhythms that align vehicle and facility availability with testing demand.

• Work closely with AV Test Engineering leads Vehicle Integration software engineering systems engineering AV Operations Fleet Reliability Engineering Service Operations Safety Mapping Simulation and program teams.

• Clarify test objectives assumptions expected system behavior inputs outputs dependencies and acceptance criteria before execution.

• Coordinate with operations personnel and technicians to ensure vehicles track activities equipment and supporting tasks are prepared and executed safely.

• Provide clear technical direction during test execution when coordinating operators technicians contractors or other support personnel without formal people-management responsibility.

• Communicate blockers risks schedule impacts vehicle constraints and issue status early enough for teams to make informed decisions.

• Participate in technical reviews release-readiness discussions issue reviews retrospectives and other forums that improve test effectiveness and system quality.

• Build trusted working relationships across disciplines by being responsive precise fact-based and accountable for follow-through.

• Identify opportunities to increase usable testing hours improve coverage reduce avoidable setup and reset time and improve the quality and timeliness of test results.

• Develop and maintain clear checklists test templates troubleshooting guides readiness gates standard work and other documentation that improves repeatability.

• Improve test intake prioritization planning execution reporting issue follow-up and data-management workflows.

• Use metrics and evidence such as vehicle availability test hours completed runs blocked runs downtime repeat failures data-upload timeliness issue aging and request cycle time to identify improvement opportunities.

• Support appropriate automation tooling and data-analysis improvements that reduce manual effort and increase test consistency.

• Capture lessons learned from test campaigns and convert them into improved test plans procedures asset requirements and recommendations.

• Help onboard and share knowledge with other engineers technicians operators and cross-functional partners.

• Follow all GM Milford Proving Ground AV Operations AV Test Engineering and applicable safety procedures and work controls.

• Verify that required personnel training vehicle qualifications test equipment track conditions emergency support communications and approved procedures are in place before testing begins.

• Stop work and escalate when vehicle condition system behavior weather track conditions personnel readiness facility conditions or test setup creates unacceptable risk.

• Maintain disciplined adherence to approved operating limits test procedures takeover requirements driver guidance and change-control expectations.

• Support incident near-miss and abnormal-event documentation with accurate facts timelines evidence and follow-up actions.

• Treat safety data integrity and test traceability as non-negotiable requirements for every test activity.

• Bachelors degree in mechanical electrical automotive systems computer robotics aerospace engineering computer science or a related technical discipline.

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in autonomous vehicles automotive engineering robotics aerospace vehicle testing systems integration test engineering or a related technical operations environment.

• Experience planning and executing vehicle robotics or other complex electro-mechanical system tests in a laboratory proving-ground field or comparable operational environment.

• Experience troubleshooting software-enabled hardware systems using diagnostic information logs measurements observations and structured problem-solving methods.

• Ability to read and apply test procedures requirements acceptance criteria operating instructions and safety controls.

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership establish priorities work independently and drive ambiguous technical problems toward resolution.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with software hardware systems operations reliability safety and program teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including concise technical reporting issue escalation and cross-functional coordination.

• Ability to work onsite in a proving-ground environment with exposure to heat cold dust wind sun noise vehicle traffic and changing work conditions.

• Ability to perform hands-on vehicle readiness and troubleshooting activities including inspecting vehicles connecting or handling test equipment and data media and moving through vehicle and track environments as required.

• Ability to work onsite at GM Milford Proving Ground in Milford Michigan and travel approximately 10% as needed.

• Valid drivers license and ability to meet applicable GM driver-training vehicle-qualification site-access and safety requirements for vehicle testing.

• Direct experience testing autonomous vehicles advanced driver-assistance systems mobile robots or other safety-critical autonomous systems.

• Experience with closed-course test execution proving-ground operations scripted scenario testing release regression feature validation calibration support or structured data collection.

• Experience with total-vehicle integration vehicle systems testing or end-to-end validation of software-enabled vehicle features.

• Working knowledge of software-defined vehicle concepts SDV 2.0 architecture vehicle compute electronic control units over-the-air or branch-based software deployment vehicle configuration and software or hardware change management.

• Experience with automotive diagnostics CAN or Ethernet-based vehicle networks sensors localization calibration time synchronization data recording connectivity or AV system-health monitoring.

• Familiarity with AV and vehicle tools such as Xray INCA Vehicle Spy DPS Cursor Git GitHub Buildkite Grafana Notelogger SC3 Debug App Jumpstart Launchpad Starfleet HAT Drives Webviz Netradyne Looker or comparable tools.

• Experience using Linux command-line tools Python SQL spreadsheets or other methods to inspect logs automate repetitive analysis or improve test and fleet reporting.

• Experience with test-management issue-tracking configuration-management or release tools such as Jira Confluence Jenkins Artifactory or comparable platforms.

• Familiarity with software development life-cycle practices integration workflows requirements traceability and release-readiness processes.

• Experience working with AV automotive robotics or other complex systems in a fast-paced development environment.

• Experience supporting or mentoring technicians operators junior engineers contractors or other test-support personnel.

Compensation:The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paidin accordance withapplicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positionslocatedoutside of New York Colorado California or Washington.

• The salary range for this role is $105420 to $140000. 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 incentivepayprogram 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 tuitionassistanceprograms employeeassistanceprogram 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 tuitionassistanceprograms employeeassistanceprogram GM vehicle discounts and more.

Relocation:This job may be eligible forrelocationbenefits.

Hybrid: This role is basedhybrid from Warren MI. You are expected to report to that location three times a week at minimum.

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