Principal AV Behavior Safety Engineering Lead

Job Description

The Safety Assurance for Effective Autonomous Driving Software (SAFE‑ADS) department is part of GM’s Global Product Safety, System, and Certification (GPSSC) organization. Our mission is to help GM deliver trusted automated‑driving products. As the central authority for automated driving system (ADS) safety, SAFE‑ADS brings together experts from across the company to develop andmaintaina comprehensive safety case including safety performance indicators for GM’s automated‑driving technologies.

GM’s vision is zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion—and autonomous vehicle safety is essential to achieving that vision.

As PrincipalAV Behavior Safety EngineeringLead, you will lead the strategy and support execution for how GM defines, measures, andvalidatesthe safety ofSAE Level 3 – 4 Automated Driving Systems powered by machine‑learned models. You will reportintothe AV Safety Strategy and Assuranceorganization and directly influence launch decisions for GM’s next generation of automated driving products.

If you are passionate about safety, have deep experience in autonomous vehicle developmentand validation, and are a proven technical leader in AI/ML‑driven systems, this role is an opportunity to shape how millions of people experience safe automated driving.

The Role

The AV Safety Strategy and Assuranceteam is seeking a hands‑onPrincipal engineerwith extensive experience in theend‑to‑enddevelopment lifecycle of autonomous vehicle behaviors, fromADS Architecture,ODD and behaviordefinitionthrough simulation, closed‑course, and public‑road validation.

Ifyou’reexcited to leadinautonomous driving safety,we’dlove to hear from you!

You will:

Lead Technically

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Reference and interpret standards such as ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO 5083, and AVSC best practices to define GM’s strategy for safe autonomous system development,validationanddeployment

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Own safety strategy for next generation ADS architectures

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Own the behavior‑focusedportionof the ADS Safety Case, including key claims, sufficiency criteria, and recommended evidence for AV behaviorsafety performance.

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Collaborate with Software Validation, Embodied AI, Simulation, and Safety Metrics teams to define the end‑to‑end AV behavior validationmethodologyfor AI‑driven systems.

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Set the strategy forhow we systematically break down ODDs and howperformance isvalidatedper behavior and in aggregate.

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Collaborate onevaluationmetrics, human benchmarks, and safety launch targets for AV behaviors and overall system performance. This includes supporting development of safety performance indicators (SPIs) for AV behaviors.

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Assess AV performance across safety and reliability dimensions using simulation, closed‑course, and public‑road data and provide clear, prioritized feedback to engineering teams

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Define and run an assurance process to verify the sufficiency criteria and safety targets to support launch readiness

Your Skills & Abilities(RequiredQualifications)

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Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field

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8+ years of experience inmachine learning,engineering, data science, or a related field

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8+ years in autonomous vehicle or robotics development or related field

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Demonstrated experience working on production‑intent AV programs

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Track recordproviding technical safety leadership in AV development (e.g., defining safety strategies, risk assessments,validation methodologies,safety case contributions).

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Deep understanding of AV behavior development: defining ODDs, behaviors, and evaluation criteria; analyzing simulation, closed‑course, and public‑road test data; and generating prioritized, actionable recommendations for developers.

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Experience applying AV safety standards and best practices, such as ISO 5083, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), and AVSC practices

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Excellent communication and storytelling skills, including the ability to explain complex technical tradeoffs to execut