Senior Full Stack Developer, Product Management - Experience Prototyping

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Full Stack Developer, Product Management - Experience Prototyping

Company: General Motors

Location: Warren, Michigan, United States / Mountain View, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Management / Software Engineering Operations

Date Posted: May 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on rapid prototyping and innovation within Product Management, specifically for next-generation software experiences across mobile, infotainment, and embedded platforms.

• It requires a strong full-stack development background with an emphasis on quickly building functional prototypes to gather insights and validate product concepts.

• The position involves acting as a technical consultant to Product, Design, and Engineering teams, bridging technical innovation with product context.

• This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of three days per week at either the Mountain View, CA, or Warren, MI Technical/Innovation Centers.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Full Stack Developer," the description emphasizes prototyping and product management collaboration, suggesting a role that bridges deep technical expertise with strategic product development. This is not a traditional production engineering role but a forward-looking innovation position. The "operations" aspect comes from the need to streamline the product validation process through rapid prototyping and providing actionable data for product roadmaps.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deploy functional prototype solutions that serve as experiments to gather insights and data, enabling informed decision-making across the organization.

• Develop prototype solutions across mobile, infotainment, and embedded platforms, focusing on user experience and strategic alignment.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Designers to ensure prototypes align with user needs and strategic goals.

• Act as a technical consultant and domain partner to teams across GM, providing guidance on future product experiences and leveraging knowledge of vehicle systems.

• Continuously expand knowledge in emerging technologies, development frameworks, GM's vehicle development cycles, in-vehicle and cloud-based architecture, and GM's business model.

• Embrace a "breadth-over-depth" approach, working across a variety of topics and technologies for rapid prototyping, rather than long-term implementation.

• Provide best practice recommendations for software development across a wide range of technologies and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a unique blend of hands-on development and strategic consultation. The emphasis on "rapid prototyping" and "breadth-over-depth" indicates that the success of this role is measured by the speed and insightfulness of prototypes, not by the longevity or scalability of the code deployed to production. This requires a strategic approach to problem-solving and a keen understanding of how to quickly demonstrate value.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience as a Full Stack Developer, with a focus on mobile app development, backend development, and multi-system integration.

Required Skills:

• Mobile App Development: Proficient in developing Android applications for multiple form factors using Jetpack components and Compose UI.

• Backend Development: Skilled in backend technologies including Node.js, Java (Spring Boot), and Python (Flask), with expertise in API design, data modeling, and service orchestration.

• Multi-System Integration: Demonstrated success in integrating various systems across mobile platforms, cloud services, IoT, and other environments.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated experience effectively collaborating with product and design teams within agile work environments.

• Prototyping: Proven ability to rapidly build functional prototypes to gather insights and data.

• Technical Consulting: Ability to act as a technical consultant, providing guidance on future product experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• 8+ years of experience in Full Stack Development.

• In-Vehicle App Development: Skilled in AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and automotive software/hardware architecture, including in-vehicle systems, connectivity, and embedded platforms.

• Prior experience working with or within General Motors (GM), or strong familiarity with GM’s technology stack, development cycles, and product ecosystem.

• Demonstrated ability to bridge technical and business domains.

• Experience with embedded systems and digital circuits (e.g., using C++, Arduino, or Raspberry Pi to prototype hardware solutions).

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in large enterprise or automotive settings.

• Understanding of machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred qualifications strongly suggest that candidates with direct automotive industry experience, particularly with GM, will have a significant advantage. The mention of embedded systems and hardware prototyping indicates a hands-on approach that goes beyond software development, requiring an understanding of the physical product.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase projects demonstrating rapid prototyping capabilities across different platforms (mobile, web, embedded).

• Include examples of building functional prototypes to validate user experience assumptions and gather early feedback.

• Highlight projects that involved integrating multiple systems or platforms to create a cohesive user experience.

• Provide evidence of collaboration with product managers or designers on prototype development and validation.

Process Documentation:

• While this is a prototyping role, any documentation of the process used for rapid development and experimentation will be valuable.

• Examples include:

  • Workflow for quickly setting up development environments for new technologies.

  • Methodologies for user testing or data collection with prototypes.

  • Strategies for documenting prototype findings and recommendations to product teams.

  • Process for translating product requirements into functional prototype features.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on prototyping, a traditional portfolio of deployed applications might be less relevant than a collection of case studies or demonstrations of rapid development cycles. The emphasis should be on the process of ideation, building, testing, and iterating on prototypes, showcasing agility and problem-solving skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $153,200 - $234,100 USD per year.

• Note on Location: The provided salary range is a good faith estimate, potentially representative of the California Bay Area market. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as location (e.g., Warren, MI may differ), candidate experience, skills, and specific job responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Bonus Potential: Eligibility for incentive pay based on company, job level, and individual performance.

• Comprehensive Health and Well-being Programs: GM offers benefits designed to support employee well-being at work and at home.

• Retirement Savings Plans: Details to be provided, likely including 401(k) with company match.

• Paid Time Off: Includes vacation, holidays, and sick leave.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid work arrangement requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, indicating a structured yet flexible schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is substantial, reflecting a senior-level role with specialized skills in a high-demand area like automotive software innovation. The mention of "bonus potential" is standard for such roles, tied to performance metrics. The note about compensation potentially varying by location is crucial for candidates applying from different regions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing / Technology / Software Development

Company Size: Large Enterprise (General Motors is a global corporation with over 100,000 employees).

Founded: 1908 (General Motors has a long history, now undergoing significant transformation towards software-defined vehicles).

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Software & Services Product Management" organization, specifically the "Product Management - Experience Prototyping" team.

• This team likely comprises product managers, designers, and senior developers focused on innovation and early-stage product validation.

• Collaboration is expected with broader Product, Design, and Engineering teams across GM.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Prototypes are built to gather data and insights, informing product roadmaps and requirements.

• User-Centered Design: Focus on understanding and meeting user needs through intuitive and compelling software experiences.

• Rapid Iteration & Experimentation: Embracing a "breadth-over-depth" approach to quickly test concepts and pivot based on findings.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Tight integration with product, design, and engineering disciplines.

Company Website: https://www.gm.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: GM is in a significant transformation phase, moving from a traditional automotive manufacturer to a technology company focused on software-defined vehicles. This role is at the forefront of that transformation, working on innovative software experiences that will define future mobility. The culture likely balances established corporate processes with a startup-like drive for innovation within specific teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (Senior Full Stack Developer).

Reporting Structure:

• The role likely reports to a Product Management Lead or an Engineering Manager overseeing prototyping initiatives within the Software & Services organization.

Operations Impact:

• The impact of this role is on shaping the future of GM's software-defined vehicles by providing early validation of customer and business value through prototypes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of automotive software, embedded systems, or emerging technologies.

• Product Strategy Influence: Grow into a key advisor role for product roadmaps and feature development based on prototyping insights.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop skills in influencing and leading technical direction across diverse teams without direct reporting lines.

• Innovation Leadership: Potentially move into roles focused on R&D, advanced technology exploration, or leading innovation labs.

• Domain Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in vehicle software, user experience, and the intersection of hardware and software in automotive.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role is less about traditional management and more about becoming a highly influential technical expert and innovation driver within the company's software transformation. The ability to connect technical feasibility with product vision is paramount.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid - requires a minimum of three days per week at a Technical/Innovation Center (Mountain View, CA or Warren, MI).

Office Location(s):

• GM Global Technical Center, Warren, MI

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic, team-oriented workspace designed for collaboration, likely featuring open areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated prototyping labs.

• Technology & Tools: Access to cutting-edge development tools, software, and potentially hardware for prototyping.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with product managers, designers, and fellow engineers, fostering a culture of shared learning and problem-solving.

• Innovation Focus: The environment is geared towards experimentation, rapid development, and pushing technological boundaries.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).

• Hybrid model mandates in-office presence on specific days, offering a blend of remote flexibility and in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement suggests a balance between the flexibility of remote work and the benefits of in-person collaboration, crucial for rapid prototyping and brainstorming sessions. The specific locations (Silicon Valley area and a major GM R&D center) indicate access to talent and innovation ecosystems.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, role understanding, and salary expectations.

• Technical Interview(s): Likely involves in-depth discussions about full-stack development experience, mobile (Android/Compose), backend (Node.js, Java, Python), API design, and system integration. Expect coding challenges or system design questions related to prototyping.

• Prototyping/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present examples of past prototyping work, demonstrating their ability to quickly build functional solutions and iterate based on feedback. This is a critical stage.

• Product/Design Collaboration Interview: Assessment of ability to work with product managers and designers, understand user needs, and translate requirements into technical solutions. May involve a hypothetical product scenario or design challenge.

• Behavioral/Fit Interview: Evaluation of soft skills, problem-solving approach, ability to navigate ambiguity, and cultural fit with GM's innovation teams.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Prototyping: Showcase projects where you rapidly built functional prototypes to test hypotheses or gather user feedback. Detail the problem, your approach, the technologies used, and the outcomes/learnings.

• Demonstrate Breadth: Include examples across different platforms (mobile, backend, integration) and technologies. Highlight your ability to quickly adapt to new tools and frameworks.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, include projects where you worked closely with product or design teams. Explain your role in translating their vision into a tangible prototype.

• Quantify Impact (where possible): Even for prototypes, try to quantify the value derived, e.g., "reduced validation time by X%", "identified key usability issue that led to Y design change."

• Technical Depth & Agility: Be prepared to discuss the technical choices made in your prototypes and why they were suitable for rapid development, even if not production-ready.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prototyping Challenge: Be ready for a take-home assignment or an in-interview coding exercise focused on building a small, functional prototype illustrating a specific concept.

• System Design for Prototyping: Prepare to discuss how you would architect a system for rapid prototyping, focusing on speed of development, ease of iteration, and data collection.

• Product Scenario: Practice thinking through how to prototype a new user feature for a vehicle's infotainment system or a companion mobile app.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most critical component for this role. Candidates should prepare to present their work with a focus on the process of rapid iteration and the insights gained, rather than just the final product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Mobile Development: Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Kotlin, Java.

• Backend Development: Node.js, Java (Spring Boot), Python (Flask), RESTful API design tools.

• Cloud Platforms: Experience with cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP) for backend deployment and integration is beneficial.

• Version Control: Git, GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket.

• Agile/Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for collecting and analyzing data from prototypes (e.g., basic analytics libraries, logging frameworks).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how prototypes might integrate with future CRM/customer data platforms is a plus.

Prototyping & Embedded Systems (Preferred):

• Tools for embedded development (e.g., Arduino IDE, Raspberry Pi development tools).

• Platforms for simulating or emulating in-vehicle environments.

• Familiarity with AOSP.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack is broad, covering modern mobile and backend development. The emphasis on prototyping means familiarity with tools that facilitate rapid development and iteration is key. Experience with specific automotive software architectures (AOSP, in-vehicle systems) is a significant differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to explore new technologies and create novel user experiences.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships.

• Agility: Adaptability, speed, and a willingness to iterate quickly based on feedback and data.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs through intuitive design.

• Impact: A focus on delivering tangible value and insights that shape the future of GM's products.

• Continuous Learning: A culture that encourages staying abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration between development, product management, and design.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Openness to constructive criticism and a culture of continuous improvement.

• Agile Methodologies: Working in sprints, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of learnings from prototypes and experiments across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely a blend of a large, established corporation with a forward-thinking, agile innovation hub. Candidates should be comfortable working within established structures while also driving change and innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working with nascent product ideas and evolving requirements requires comfort with uncertainty.

• Rapid Iteration Pressure: The need to quickly build and test prototypes can be demanding.

• Bridging Technical and Product Domains: Effectively communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and vice-versa.

• Breadth vs. Depth Trade-off: Balancing the need for broad technical knowledge with the desire for deep expertise in specific areas.

• Integrating with Legacy Systems: Understanding and working with existing automotive architectures while innovating for the future.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Automotive Technology: Work directly with technologies shaping the future of mobility.

• Skill Development in Prototyping: Hone rapid development and experimentation techniques.

• Deep Dive into Product Management: Gain insights into product strategy, roadmap planning, and user research.

• Networking: Build relationships with leaders in product, design, and engineering across a global organization.

• Potential for Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend or present at relevant tech and automotive conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for someone who thrives on solving complex, ambiguous problems and enjoys being at the forefront of technological innovation. The challenges are significant but offer substantial growth potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to quickly build a functional prototype to validate a product idea. What was your process, what technologies did you use, and what were the key learnings?"

• "How would you approach designing a prototype for a new in-vehicle feature that uses real-time data and AI?"

• "Imagine you're tasked with prototyping a new feature for GM's companion mobile app. How would you collaborate with the product manager and designer to ensure success?"

• "Discuss your experience with Android Jetpack Compose and how you'd leverage it for rapid UI development in a prototype."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about General Motors' vision for software-defined vehicles?"

• "How do you stay current with emerging technologies relevant to the automotive industry?"

• "Describe your experience working in an Agile environment. What are your preferred collaboration methods?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by project. For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the technical solution (prototype architecture, technologies), your development process (speed, iteration), and the outcomes/learnings.

• Highlight Prototyping: Emphasize projects where speed and iteration were key. Use visuals or demos where possible.

• Focus on Insights: Explain what you learned from each prototype and how it informed subsequent decisions or product direction.

• Technical Detail: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical aspects of your prototypes when asked, but prioritize clarity and impact for a broader audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to present their work not just as code, but as a story of problem-solving, rapid execution, and valuable learning. The ability to articulate the "why" behind technical choices and the impact of the prototype is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Full Stack Developer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday job portal link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in full-stack development, mobile (Android/Compose), backend technologies (Node.js, Java, Python), API design, multi-system integration, and rapid prototyping. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate examples of past projects that best showcase your prototyping skills, collaboration abilities, and technical breadth. Be ready to present and discuss these in detail.

• Research GM's software initiatives: Understand their vision for software-defined vehicles, their current technology stack, and recent announcements in the software and services space.

• Practice interview questions: Prepare for technical, behavioral, and portfolio-based questions, focusing on your experience with rapid development and cross-functional collaboration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.