Principal Systems Architect

Vacancy Status:

Yes - This posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization and is open to new applications. (Backfill)

AI Disclosure:

As part of the application process, Artificial Intelligence will be used in the hiring process for this role.

Hybrid:

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Markham three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business].

About General Motors:

At General Motors, we are building a future with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. Our teams develop the software, systems and technology that make advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving safe, reliable and scalable across vehicle programs.

About The Role:

The Principal Systems Architect, AV Platform Software System Architecture is a technical leader for the system architecture of AV Platform, a critical foundation for GM’s future self-driving vehicles. The architect defines the functional, logical, and physical architecture that lets autonomous-vehicle software launch, operate safely, be serviced, and be manufactured at scale. The architect is accountable for the architecture plan from product and business intent through system specification, sub-system coverage, system change rollout, and milestone readiness. Working with senior leadership, product managers, and program stakeholders, they set short- and long-term direction and keep the platform explainable, maintainable, scalable, and operationally efficient across vehicle platforms and Super Cruise generations. The architect is the senior escalation point for the most complex issues that span multiple teams and systems, including where information is incomplete and stakeholder interests are not aligned, and an indirect technical leader for the systems engineering work that follows from the architecture. They mentor senior and staff engineers, level up teams where coverage or skill is thin, and bring new ideas to the GM engineering community.

What You’ll Do:

Key Responsibilities:

• Define the technical vision and strategy for AV Platform Software across vehicle platforms and product lines, including functional, logical, and physical architecture and an early model-based systems engineering baseline.
• Turn business, product, safety, cybersecurity, regulatory, and vehicle-integration goals into a short- and long-term roadmap with senior leadership, product managers, and program stakeholders. Own milestone scope, the roll-down of that scope into Systems Engineering deliverables and KPIs that show whether those commitments are being met.
• Decompose PRDs and features to systems and sub-systems. Own system-level requirements — boundary, assumptions, constraints, system specification, and system FMEA — with traceability. Drive Sub‑System‑level coverage and quality.
• Resolve the most complex problems that span teams and systems, with independent judgment where information is limited. Track, document, and roll out system changes.
• Set role boundaries and coverage with hardware, perception, autonomy, functional safety, software safety, cybersecurity, validation, manufacturing, service, suppliers, and vehicle-level architecture.
• Drive requirements standards, artifact expectations, V&V strategy, and architecture metrics into use across AV Platform Systems Engineering.
• Surface gaps on incoming P0 topics and AV escapes early, and status architecture risk with recommendations senior leadership can act on.
• Bring new architectural ideas, methods, and lessons to AV Platform into the broader GM engineering community.
• Role‑model GM behaviors and an environment of candid technical debate, learning, and inclusion.

Expected Outcomes and Measures of Success:

Success in this role will be demonstrated through measurable improvement in the quality, timeliness and impact of AV Platform Software systems engineering, including:

• Milestone scope is set ahead of program execution, and KPIs show whether short- and long-term commitments are being met.
• System specifications and system requirements and FMEAs are traceable and are decomposed to solution-level coverage across the platform.
• Requirements standards, V&V strategy, and architecture metrics are defined, x-functionally aligned, and tracked.
• Missing coverage on P0 topics and AV escapes is raised early enough for senior leadership to act.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
• A Master’s degree plus 8 or more years of experience, or 10 or more years of industry experience delivering large-scale solutions and leading technical direction.
• Recognized expert in systems architecture or software systems engineering, with a reputation that extends across the company or industry.
• Experience defining architecture and short- and long-term strategy for a vehicle platform, product line, or equivalent large-scale embedded platform, including system requirements, interfaces, and verification strategy.
• Experience resolving complex issues that span multiple teams and systems, with independent judgment where information was limited or stakeholder interests were not aligned.
• Experience with system decomposition, interface control, traceability, risk management, system change rollout, and validation planning on safety-critical platforms.
• Experience with ISO 26262, SOTIF, Automotive SPICE, or equivalent safety-critical development frameworks.
• Experience mentoring senior and staff-level engineers and participating in hiring, promotion, or role-assessment decisions.
• Experience bringing new ideas, methods, or standards into a broader engineering community.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment and collaborate across locations, disciplines, and regions.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience with AV Platform software and architecture for OS, middleware, state management, cybersecurity, network communications, diagnostic infrastructure, sensing, and/or peripherals.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering and with DNG, Jira, Jira Align, or comparable lifecycle-management tools.
• Experience carrying architecture through production vehicle launches, across vehicle platforms or Super Cruise generations, including manufacturing, service, or fleet operations.
• Experience influencing company-wide standards, representing an organization in external industry forums, or capturing intellectual property such as patents on systems architectures or methods.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $ 186,000 to $ 236,000. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position. 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.

Benefits:

The goal of the General Motors of Canada total rewards program is to support the health and well‑being of you and your family. Our comprehensive compensation plan currently includes the following benefits, in addition to many others:

• Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and supplemental benefits for pregnancy, parental and adoption leave.
• Healthcare, dental and vision benefits including health care spending account and wellness incentive.
• Life insurance plans to cover you and your family.
• Company and matching contributions to a Defined Contribution Pension plan to help you save for retirement.
• GM Vehicle Purchase Plan for you, your family, and friends.

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.

Non‑Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities:

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.

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 View phone number on click.appcast.io. 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.