ART Lead - Virtualization and SIL Integration

Description

Vacancy Status:

This posting is not for an existing vacancy within the organization and is open to new applications.

AI Disclosure:

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

Work Arrangement:

This opening is hybrid, the successful candidate is expected to report to the office - Markham Elevation Centre (MEC) three times per week, at minimum.

About The Role :

General Motors is undergoing a major transformation in how we engineer and validate software-defined vehicles (SDV), investing heavily in virtual test environments and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) capabilities to support our vision of ZERO Crashes, ZERO Emissions, and ZERO Congestion.

As the Agile Release Train (ART) Lead - Virtualization and SIL Integration, you will lead the SIL ART responsible for delivering virtual test environments, co-simulation assets, and supporting services used to develop, verify, and validate embedded controllers and calibrations across domains such as propulsion, battery management, chassis/brakes, and body controls.

You will act as a servant leader and coach for the ART, ensuring flow of value, strong cross-team coordination, and disciplined execution of SAFe/Agile practices, with a particular focus on Jira hygiene, metrics, and cross-scrum alignment.

Key Responsibilities

ART Leadership & Execution

• Lead the Virtualization and SIL Integration ART, aligning teams to program vision, roadmap, and value streams.

• Facilitate Program Increment (PI) planning, including preparation, execution, and follow-up on objectives, risks, and dependencies.

• Ensure consistent iteration cadence and ceremonies across scrums (planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives).

• Monitor and drive predictable delivery against ART commitments, using flow and quality metrics to enable continuous improvement.

• Foster a culture of relentless improvement, transparency, and collaboration across all teams in the train.

• Facilitate and continuously improve the Scrum of Scrums for SIL teams, ensuring effective synchronization across multiple scrums.

• Surface and drive resolution of cross-team impediments, risks, and dependencies (technical, tooling, and organizational).

• Partner with Product Management, System Architects, and Engineering leaders to align priorities, sequencing, and scope across the ART.

• Own SILART Jira hygiene standards and practices:

• Ensure consistent use of Features, Needs, and Defects across teams.

• Maintain clear status, ownership, acceptance criteria, and traceability.

• Support consistent use of Jira structures (epics, features, stories, sub-tasks) aligned to SAFe.

• Establish and monitor dashboards and metrics (throughput, cycle time, aging WIP, defect trends) to support data-driven decision-making.

• Coach Scrum Masters, POs, and teams on best practices in Jira usage and workflow design to support flow.

• Coordinate iteration planning and reviews across scrums to ensure alignment to ART objectives and milestones.

• Partner with Product Manager(s), Scrum Managerss, and System Architects to:

• Refine and prioritize the ART backlog, aligning to SDV and Virtualization roadmap.

• Ensure stories and enablers are well-defined, sized, and ready prior to iteration planning.

• Connect technical enablers (e.g., new co-simulation models, vECU integration, CI/CD and virtualization infrastructure) to clear value outcomes.

• Ensure backlog transparency to stakeholders and leadership.

• Run a regular ART Sync / Front Door forum that:

• Serves as the intake mechanism for new work, requests, and change in priorities.

• Triages and routes requests to the right backlog (Feature, Need, Defect) and team.

• Identifies and manages dependencies with other ARTs and programs (e.g., SDV platform, plant model providers, calibration teams).

• Maintain clear visibility of upcoming work, capacity constraints, and key milestones for stakeholders.

• Provide regular status updates to leadership and stakeholders on ART health, risks, and delivery against objectives.

• Collaborate with global partners and internal customers leveraging virtual test environments, ensuring customer-centric prioritization.

• Champion Virtualization and SIL Integration as a key enabler for efficient software development, verification, and validation.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.

• Experience (typically 5+ years) in software or systems development in complex, multi-team environments;

• 3+ years as an RTE/ART Lead, Scrum Master, Delivery Lead, or similar agile leadership role.

• Strong practical experience with Agile and/or SAFe frameworks, including:

• Leading PI planning and ART-level ceremonies.

• Facilitating Scrum of Scrums and cross-team synchronization.

• Hands-on experience with Jira (or comparable tooling) for:

• Features/epics, stories, and defect management.

• Workflow configuration, dashboards, and reporting.

• Familiarity with virtualization, simulation, or embedded systems development, such as:

• Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), plant models, or virtual ECUs.

• Understanding of how virtual test environments support development, verification, and validation of embedded controllers and calibrations.

• Demonstrated servant leadership, coaching, and facilitation skills.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across disciplines and locations.

• SAFe certifications (e.g., SAFe RTE, SA, SPC, SASM) or equivalent agile leadership credentials.

• Experience leading ARTs or programs in:

• Automotive, aerospace, or other safety-/mission-critical domains.

• Software-defined vehicle (SDV), embedded controls, or model-based development environments.

• Experience with one or more of:

• Co-simulation environments (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, FMU/FMI-based models).

• Virtual test environments, virtualization infrastructure, or CI/CD for simulation pipelines.

• Data and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, SQL, or similar) for building agile and flow metrics dashboards.

• Python or Scripting experience for Data acquisition and analysis.

• Proven track record in:

• Establishing or maturing Jira hygiene and standards across multiple teams.

• Using metrics to drive continuous improvement in predictability, quality, and flow.

• Managing complex dependencies across ARTs, suppliers, and partner organizations.

• Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and supplemental benefits for pregnancy, parental and adoption leave;
• Healthcare, dental, and vision benefits;
• 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.