Technical Specialist - Battery Algorithm Calibration

Job Description

Work Arrangement:

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Milford, Michigan three times per week, at minimum.

The Role:

GM’s Vehicle Mechatronic Embedded Controls – Battery Systems Calibration group currently has an opening for a Technical Specialist – Battery State Estimation (BSE) Calibration. The position is located at the Milford Proving Grounds in a facility dedicated to Hybrid, Electric, and Autonomous Vehicle development.

The Technical Specialist – Battery State Estimation Calibration is responsible for leading a team of Calibration Engineers to produce high‑quality, on‑time deliverables for all Electrification vehicle programs using common methods, processes, and procedures. The selected candidate will also have a unique opportunity to influence and develop future Electrification architectures, with a focus on world‑class battery state estimation performance.

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

What You'll Do:

Technical Leadership – Battery State Estimation

• Serve as the technical leader for calibration direction of Battery State Estimation algorithms (SOC, SOH, power/energy limits, derating, protection thresholds, etc.) across all Electrification vehicle programs.

• Lead calibration strategy development for BSE and support associated controls development, ensuring alignment with system‑level energy, performance, durability, and safety objectives.

• Develop common, scalable approaches to BSE calibration and institutionalize them in Calibration Standard Work, including CEGs, DUCs, and Cal Planner content.

• Improve the efficiency and quality of BSE calibration by systematically driving vehicle‑based tasks into lab and/or math/virtual environments, maintaining strong correlation between virtual environments, test benches, and vehicle results.

Calibration Governance, Planning, and Standard Work

• Lead the Calibration Technical Review Board (TRB) for Battery State Estimation, including establishing and maintaining a dedicated Jira project space for the TRB.

• Define and continuously improve the calibration process for BSE and mentor new calibrators in its application. 

• Own and maintain BSE‑related standard work, including planning content and task flow from initial calibration through production using Cal Planner, Master Cal and Cal Check databases.

• Support Planning Studies and Workload Estimation.

Execution, Tools, and Methodology

• Create and maintain Calibration Execution Guides (CEGs) and Driver Use Cases (DUCs) specific to BSE behaviors, including variants for joint venture partners as needed.

• Create and maintain specific tools and work products to support the BSE calibration team (typing sheets, DMI files, CDI files, test scripts, instrumentation lists, and analysis utilities).

• Lead development of new methodologies to manage and model battery physics in the vehicle (e.g., cold‑temperature behavior, lithium plating risk, fast‑charge behavior, aging effects) and embed them in calibration standard work.

People Leadership and Mentoring

• Mentor Calibration Engineers, providing technical training and fostering strong communication and knowledge sharing within the BSE calibration community.

• Set up regular meetings with BSE calibrators and partner teams to review Cal Planner status, Master Cal metrics, issues, and lessons learned.

• Act as point‑of‑contact subject‑matter expert (SME) for Battery State Estimation calibration, representing the function in internal and external forums.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Issue Resolution

• Collaborate with controls, software, hardware, safety, and program teams to define requirements and assess the impact of changes on BSE calibration.

• Lead or support resolution of BSE‑related issues across development, validation, manufacturing, service, and field environments.

• Represent BSE calibration in program reviews, planning activities, and issue‑resolution forums, ensuring calibration readiness for launches.

Compliance, Lessons Learned, and Safety

• Ensure BSE calibrations comply with applicable regulations and GM internal policies for energy management, diagnostics, and safety.

• Capture and integrate lessons learned from development and field experience into BSE controls and calibration standard work.

• Support advanced and next‑generation programs by front‑loading calibration risk retirement and validating new BSE architectures and methods.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related technical field.

• 5+ years in battery management systems, energy management, or propulsion calibration, with a strong focus on Battery State Estimation or closely related battery algorithms.

• Demonstrated expertise in calibration of complex embedded control systems, including data acquisition, analysis, and optimization across a variety of operating conditions.

• Proven track record of technical leadership, mentoring, and ownership of a major functional area (preferably BSE or battery algorithms) across multiple vehicle programs.

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to use data‑driven methods (DOE, statistical analysis, modeling) to develop and validate BSE calibrations.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams and effectively represent the function in technical and program forums.

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

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline with a focus in electrochemistry, battery modeling, or controls.

• 8+ years in battery management systems, energy management, or propulsion calibration, with a strong focus on Battery State Estimation or closely related battery algorithms.

• Experience with GM calibration processes and toolchains or similar: Cal Check, Cal Planner, CEGs/DUCs, Master Cal, Jira/Issues List, CR/PRT workflows, and standard work development.

• Deep technical expertise in battery cell and pack behavior, including aging, thermal effects, lithium‑plating risk, and fast‑charge behavior and their impact on BSE.

• Hands‑on experience with virtual and lab‑based calibration environments, including Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL), Model‑in‑the‑Loop (MIL), and associated toolchains.

• Experience leading global or joint‑venture calibration efforts, adapting standard work, CEGs/DUCs, and tools across different markets and partners.

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}. 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.

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