Principal Machine Learning Engineer - AI Research

Job Description

Our AI Research team, reporting directly to the Chief AI Officer, is pioneering how cutting-edge machine learning can transform the way vehicles are designed, manufactured, and experienced. We are building the next generation of intelligent systems—integrating multimodal foundation models, generative AI, and robotics into real-world automotive innovation at global scale. 

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer – AI Research, you will serve as a senior technical leader guiding GM’s most ambitious AI initiatives. You will lead the design, prototyping, and deployment of state-of-the-art AI models with direct application to vehicle design, manufacturing operations, robotics, and simulation of physical systems. Beyond technical execution, you will shape GM’s AI research agenda, mentor a world-class team of scientists and engineers, and represent GM in the global AI community. 

What You’ll Do

• You will participate in a unique work environment which combines leading edge AI/ML research with immediate applications to exciting opportunities to make safer, more efficient cars. We have close working connections to world class engineers in the automotive design space to jointly develop novel applications of AI tools in this space. 

• Evaluate, prototype and implement impactful AI solutions to design and manufacturing operations at GM. Potential applications include the use of foundation models to large scale design tasks, using generative AI technologies for defining robotics tasks and the application of generative AI to interface with, and develop new technologies for the design and modeling physical systems.  

• Develop plans and execute projects to integrate AI into GM’s manufacturing, vehicle design, software development, customer support and other products and processes   

• Be on the forefront of AI models and architecture, making informed decisions on technology adoption and investment   

• Assist with hiring and mentoring a team of gifted AI scientists and engineers. 

• Lead the research, design, and prototyping of advanced AI models (foundation models, generative AI, multimodal architectures) applied to automotive and robotics domains. 

• Translate breakthrough AI research into scalable, production-ready systems across design, manufacturing, software, and customer experience. 

• Define GM’s technical strategy for adopting and investing in AI technologies under the Chief AI Officer. 

• Mentor and grow a high-performing team of machine learning researchers and engineers. 

• Collaborate with product, design, and engineering leaders to identify high-impact AI opportunities. 

• Represent GM externally through publications, open-source contributions, patents, and participation in leading AI conferences. 

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)​​ 

• PhD or equivalent in CS/EE 

• 8+ years of experience in AI/ML research and applied development. 

• Deep expertise in modern ML architectures (transformers, generative AI, multimodal systems). 

• Proven track record of leading AI projects from research to production at scale. 

• Strong programming skills in Python and proficiency in one or more systems languages (C++/Go/Java). 

• Experience deploying AI systems on cloud-based GPUs/TPUs (AWS, Azure, GCP). 

• <