General Motors

Hardware Engineering Manager, Digital Key (Phone as a Key)

Warren, Michigan, United States of America Full time

Job Description

The Ideal Candidate

Connectivity plays a pivotal role in using and advancing technology to offer unparalleled customer experience and develop revenue generating streams while acting as a cornerstone to offer safety critical, hands-free driving solutions in line with General Motor’s strong safety culture. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Hardware Engineering Manager, Digital Key to join our team, focused on developing best-in-class automotive connectivity systems. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in developing digital key hardware from the ground up and successfully integrating across multiple vehicle platforms.

Role Summary

The Digital Key Hardware Engineering Manager will lead a team of 4–5 hardware engineers responsible for development of specifications and PCB schematic layouts, sourcing of a component manufacturer, board bring up and hardware testing, FMEAs, vehicle packaging and integration, and subsystem hardware performance verification required to deliver GM’s end-to-end Digital Key system. This role will own the hardware lifecycle from concept through launch and post-launch support, ensuring robust, scalable solutions that meet performance, cost, quality, and timing targets across multiple vehicle programs.

The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership, deep hardware design and test experience, and a solid understanding of wireless technologies used for Digital Key (e.g., UWB, BLE, NFC, secure elements, antennas, and in-vehicle modules).

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead a team of 4–5 hardware engineers focused on development of Digital Key hardware components.
  • Drive sourcing of CM (component manufacturer) with Purchasing and internal Commodity Teams to align on cost, timing, and robust supply chain resiliency.
  • Drive specification and schematic development for all Digital Key components (performance, RF, power, security, regulatory, vehicle interfaces, etc).
  • Drive design reviews for PCB layout, FMEA/FMEDA, DFM, vehicle packaging, etc.
  • Drive hardware bring-up and in vehicle system test plan development and execution to ensure component and in-vehicle performance meet specifications.
  • Drive hardware issue resolution to ensure issues are quickly triaged, root-caused, and resolved.
  • Represent hardware team in program reviews, gateway readiness reviews, and leadership updates.
  • Align closely with cross functional teams from Product, Software, Quality, and Vehicle Teams on feature roadmap and development status.
     

Required Skills and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in hardware development for automotive, consumer electronics, or related industries.
  • 2+ years of experience in a technical leadership or people manager role (formal or strong matrix leadership).
  • Proven experience with board-level hardware design and testing for embedded systems, microcontrollers, and wireless technologies (UWB, BLE, NFC)
  • Demonstrated ownership of hardware from concept through launch, including supplier engagement and cross-functional alignment.
  • Strong communication skills with experience presenting technical content and trade-offs to leadership.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edges

  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • Experience in automotive hardware development.

#LI-JK3

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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

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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

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