Entry-Level Researcher — Computational Materials Science Continuum Scales and Materials Discovery

Job Description

The Role:

As a valued Researcher in the Mechanics Materials and Process Research Lab at General Motors Research and Development you will advance computational materials science at continuum length scales to accelerate the discovery design and deployment of materials for next-generation vehicle and manufacturing applications. You will propose new research directions establish technical research plans and lead collaborative studies that connect material composition microstructure processing performance and engineering requirements.

You will develop and apply continuum-scale models simulation workflows and data-driven methods to generate new insights into materials behavior across relevant spatial and temporal scales. Your work will guide experimental research enable efficient materials down-selection and help translate computational discoveries into practical materials and manufacturing solutions. You will document and communicate results through high-quality technical reports external publications presentations software or workflow documentation and records of invention.

The Team:

This position supports the development of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for future GM products and processes. The researcher will work at the intersection of continuum-scale simulation materials discovery experimental validation and application-focused engineering.

What Youll Do:

• Plan and execute collaborative research in computational materials science with emphasis on continuum-scale materials behavior and materials discovery.

• Develop physics-based models for compositionprocessstructureproperty relationships including constitutive behavior phase evolution transport damage fracture fatigue thermal response and multiphysics phenomena as appropriate.

• Build and apply continuum and mesoscale simulation methods such as finite-element phase-field crystal-plasticity computational fluid dynamics reactiondiffusion cellular automata or related approaches.

• Integrate thermodynamics kinetics mechanics processing science and materials data into predictive computational workflows.

• Use simulation high-throughput computation optimization and data-driven methods to screen candidate materials compositions processing conditions and architectures.

• Partner closely with experimental researchers to define informative experiments interpret results quantify uncertainty and accelerate materials down-selection.

• Establish model verification validation calibration uncertainty quantification and sensitivity-analysis practices appropriate for research and engineering use.

• Connect computational materials insights to manufacturing processes and vehicle-relevant performance requirements.

• Drive internal and external collaborations with GM engineering teams universities national laboratories software developers and research partners.

• Maintain awareness of the state of the art in continuum mechanics computational materials science materials informatics scientific machine learning and related disciplines.

• Prepare timely high-quality technical reports presentations publications software documentation and invention disclosures.

• Generate intellectual property to protect new inventions computational methods and research results.

• Assist and mentor other employees in accomplishing project and research goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering Computational Science Applied Mathematics Physics Chemistry or a closely related field.

• Must be graduating between August 2026 - June 2027

• Able to work fulltime 40 hours per week
• Strong foundation in materials thermodynamics kinetics mechanics transport numerical methods and structureproperty relationships.

• Experience developing or applying continuum-scale models to materials manufacturing processes or engineering systems.

• Experience with one or more of the following: finite-element analysis phase-field modeling crystal plasticity constitutive modeling damage and fracture multiphysics simulation reactiondiffusion or process simulation.

• Experience connecting material chemistry microstructure processing history and performance through computational models.

• Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis using tools such as Python C/C Fortran MATLAB Julia or similar languages.

• Experience with numerical algorithms high-performance computing version-controlled software and reproducible computational workflows.

• Ability to formulate research questions translate physical assumptions into models and communicate model limitations clearly.

• Experience working in multidisciplinary research teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to work effectively with GM internal and external collaborators.

Preferred Qualifications):

• Ph.D. strongly preferred.

• Experience with one or more of the following:

• Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) and materials processstructureproperty modeling.

• Materials discovery high-throughput screening combinatorial design optimization Bayesian methods or active learning.

• Phase-field crystal-plasticity mesoscale finite-element multiphysics or reduced-order modeling.

• Computational thermodynamics CALPHAD kinetics phase transformation precipitation solidification or microstructure evolution.

• Scientific machine learning surrogate modeling uncertainty quantification sensitivity analysis or inverse problems.

• Digital twins processstructureperformance linkages or integration of simulation with manufacturing data.

• Parallel computing GPU acceleration cloud or cluster computing and scalable simulation workflows.

• Scientific software development open-source contributions workflow automation or user-defined solver development.

• Experience coupling continuum-scale predictions with experimental validation and characterization data.

• Demonstrated publication record and/or intellectual property generation.

• Experience transitioning computational materials insights into applied engineering or manufacturing solutions.

• Experience communicating technical results to both specialist research audiences and product-development or manufacturing teams.

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g. H1-B OPT STEM OPT CPT TN J-1 etc).

The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen U.S. permanent resident asylee or refugee).

Work Arrangement:

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Warren MI three times per week at minimum or other frequency dictated by the business.

To help facilitate administration of relocation benefits if you are selected please apply using the permanent address you would move from.

About GM

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Why Join Us

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Benefits Overview

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

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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.

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