Staff Product Manager, UI Experience Platform
π Job Overview
Job Title: Staff Product Manager, UI Experience Platform
Company: General Motors
Location: Warren, Michigan, United States & Milford, Michigan, United States
Job Type: Full time
Category: Product Management (Automotive Software/UI)
Date Posted: 2026-07-27
Experience Level: 7+ years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)
π Role Summary
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Spearhead the experience strategy and overall roadmap for the gmUI1 Experience Platform, a critical in-vehicle UI system impacting millions of customers across diverse vehicle programs and display configurations.
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Serve as the primary Product Owner (DRI) for the gmUI1 platform and its ongoing iterations (UI1.x), ensuring alignment on priorities for launches, continuous improvements, and software updates.
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Drive cross-product prioritization and manage the UI1 cross-product backlog, transforming scattered feature ideas into a cohesive roadmap while navigating resource constraints and engineering trade-offs.
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Ensure that all prioritized solutions for gmUI1 are not only customer-loved but also strategically viable, aligning with GM's business objectives, technical capabilities, and regulatory requirements.
π Enhancement Note: While the title is "Staff Product Manager," the responsibilities and required experience (7+ years) suggest a senior-level role with significant strategic influence and ownership. The focus on a core platform (gmUI1) and cross-product coordination indicates a high degree of responsibility within GM's product organization. This is not a typical product manager role focused on a single feature but rather a platform-level strategic ownership position.
π Primary Responsibilities
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Collate and shepherd individual product visions and strategies into a cohesive, overarching experience roadmap for the gmUI1 Experience Platform, ensuring alignment with GM's broader customer, business, and technology objectives across all display configurations and vehicle programs.
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Act as the central point of accountability (Product DRI) for gmUI1 and its subsequent iterations (UI1.x), orchestrating portfolio, program, and cross-pillar priorities for successful launches, continuous improvement initiatives, and critical updates/upgrades.
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Facilitate and lead cross-product prioritization efforts within the product organization, managing the UI1 cross-product backlog (waterline and 100% scope) by translating disparate features into a coherent roadmap and negotiating trade-offs with Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and engineering teams based on resource limitations.
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Ensure the solutions prioritized and delivered on the gmUI1 platform are demonstrably valuable to customers and viable from a business, technical, and regulatory standpoint.
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Partner closely with the System UI Product Manager to facilitate framework and experience working sessions, integrating the hero use cases of other product teams into the gmUI1 system framework and contributing to Product Requirements Documents (PRDs).
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Develop and manage a collective scorecard to track gmUI's performance against stated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), collaborating with product, vehicle, design, and engineering teams to define appropriate measures and reporting frequency.
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Serve as the primary facilitator for gmUI1 demonstrations and reviews, translating feedback from Customer Experience Research (CXR), quality assessments, and usability studies into actionable, targeted iterations for continuous improvement.
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Lead the product efforts for summative research to understand customer engagement with gmUI1, working with marketing and user research teams to build and manage a high-level research roadmap, ensuring insights directly inform future prioritization decisions.
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Function as the single-threaded owner for gmUI1, proactively aligning stakeholders across design, engineering, architecture, privacy, legal, safety, marketing, and brand teams to ensure seamless product development and execution.
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Travel up to 10% to support collaboration, reviews, and project milestones.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep focus on platform-level product management within a complex automotive software environment. Key themes include strategic roadmap development, cross-functional alignment, backlog management, and performance measurement. The emphasis on "single threaded owner" and "center of gravity" underscores the significant leadership and coordination expected in this role.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education:
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While specific degree requirements are not listed, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Design, Business, or a related field is strongly implied for a Staff Product Manager role in the automotive tech sector. A Master's degree or MBA could be advantageous. Experience:
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A minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience working on technology-powered products, such as automotive systems, consumer applications, software platforms, or enterprise software, in a Product Management capacity or a closely related discipline (e.g., Product Design, Engineering, Data Science, UX Research).
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Mandatory and demonstrated experience in planning and executing vehicle software products or features end-to-end, from the initial discovery phase through launch and subsequent iterations. This includes a strong understanding of the automotive software development lifecycle. Required Skills:
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Product Strategy & Roadmap: Demonstrated expertise in developing and communicating product visions and strategies, translating them into actionable roadmaps, and managing them across multiple product iterations and vehicle programs.
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In-Vehicle UI/UX: Proven experience and a deep understanding of in-vehicle user interfaces, user experience design principles, and the unique challenges of automotive software platforms like gmUI1.
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Product Discovery & Delivery: Strong grasp of modern product discovery and delivery techniques, including hypothesis-driven development, experimentation, and dual-track discovery/delivery methodologies.
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Complex Problem Solving: Ability to dissect complex, ambiguous problems with numerous constraints and formulate clear, data-informed solutions.
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Metrics & Analytics: Proficiency in defining product success metrics, analyzing performance outcomes, and iteratively adjusting product direction based on data and customer feedback.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with engineering, design, program management, and various other cross-functional stakeholders.
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Leadership & Conflict Resolution: Comfort and demonstrated ability in leading cross-functional initiatives, managing intricate dependencies, and effectively resolving conflicts across diverse teams.
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Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to craft concise, impactful narratives for executive leadership and technical teams.
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Business Acumen: Demonstrated capacity to rapidly learn diverse functional areas (e.g., engineering, design, finance, marketing, operations) and integrate business constraints into product decision-making.
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Customer Centricity: Deep curiosity about customer behavior and experience, with a habitual reliance on data and user research to inform product prioritization.
Preferred Skills:
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Experience with connected vehicles, complex hardware-software systems (e.g., IoT, consumer electronics), or other advanced automotive technologies.
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Prior work on core platforms, infrastructure, or frameworks that serve as foundational elements for multiple product teams.
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Familiarity with General Motors' specific Software & Services Product Management practices, including standard PRD templates and established portfolio/roadmap processes.
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Proficiency with planning and collaboration software tools such as Confluence and Figma.
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Experience navigating vehicle software flash coordination, fleet preparation, and MPG driving access protocols.
π Enhancement Note: The mandatory "in-vehicle experience" is a critical filter. The "preferred" skills, particularly those related to GM's internal processes and tools like Confluence and Figma, suggest that candidates with prior experience within GM or similar large automotive organizations will have a distinct advantage.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Platform Strategy & Roadmap Examples: Showcase instances where you've defined, communicated, and executed a strategic roadmap for a complex software platform, ideally one with multiple consumer-facing applications or configurations.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration Case Studies: Provide examples of how you've successfully managed dependencies and aligned priorities across diverse teams (engineering, design, marketing, legal, etc.) to bring a product to market. Highlight your role in facilitating consensus and resolving conflicts.
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Product Discovery & Iteration Documentation: Include documentation or descriptions of how you've applied modern product discovery techniques (e.g., user research, A/B testing, hypothesis validation) to inform product decisions and drive iterative improvements.
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Metrics & KPI Dashboards: Present examples of how you've defined, tracked, and reported on key product performance indicators (KPIs) and used data to influence product strategy and demonstrate value.
Process Documentation:
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Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your ability to map out, analyze, and optimize complex product development workflows, particularly those involving cross-functional dependencies and agile methodologies.
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Prioritization Frameworks in Practice: Illustrate how you've implemented and utilized prioritization frameworks to manage backlogs, balance competing demands, and make data-informed trade-offs, especially in resource-constrained environments.
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System Integration & Framework Management: Provide examples of your involvement in defining or integrating features within a larger system framework, ensuring consistency and shared functionality across different product components.
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Performance Measurement & Reporting: Showcase your approach to establishing metrics, collecting data, and reporting on product performance to stakeholders at various levels, from engineering teams to executive leadership.
π Enhancement Note: For a role focused on a UI platform like gmUI1, a portfolio should emphasize strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to manage complex, multi-faceted product roadmaps. Demonstrating a structured approach to product discovery, prioritization, and performance measurement will be crucial.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
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For a Staff Product Manager role in the Warren/Milford, Michigan area with 7+ years of experience and specialized in-vehicle UI platform expertise, the estimated annual salary range is $160,000 - $220,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior product management roles in the automotive technology sector within high-cost-of-living areas of Michigan, considering the specialized nature of the role and the strategic platform ownership. Benefits:
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Company Vehicle Evaluation Program: Eligibility to participate in a program where a GM vehicle is assigned for evaluation, subject to a motor vehicle report review and program participation requirements (e.g., periodic vehicle lease/purchase).
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Relocation Benefits: Potential eligibility for relocation assistance to support a move to the Michigan area for qualified candidates.
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Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
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Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with potential company match.
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Paid Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
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Life and Disability Insurance: Coverage to protect employees and their families.
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Employee Assistance Program: Resources for personal and professional well-being.
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Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and continuous learning.
Working Hours:
- Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid and involves significant collaboration, there's an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and critical milestones, which may occasionally require working beyond standard hours.
π Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is a general benchmark. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation. The "Company Vehicle Evaluation Program" is a unique perk for automotive industry roles that should be highlighted.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Automotive Manufacturing & Technology. General Motors is a global automotive leader focused on advancing mobility through electric, autonomous, and connected vehicle technologies. The company is undergoing a significant transformation towards an all-electric future and developing sophisticated in-vehicle software and digital experiences.
Company Size: Global enterprise with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale offers opportunities for broad impact and exposure to diverse business units and projects.
Founded: 1908. With over a century of innovation, GM has a deep history and established processes, while also actively pursuing future-forward technologies.
Team Structure:
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The role is within the Software & Services Product Management organization, specifically focused on the in-vehicle user experience platform (gmUI1).
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This team likely operates within a matrixed structure, collaborating closely with HMI Design, Vehicle Engineering, Core Software Development, Architecture, Program Management, Marketing, and Legal/Privacy teams.
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The Staff Product Manager will report into a Director or Senior Manager responsible for in-vehicle software platforms or user experience. Methodology:
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Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using customer data, research insights, and performance metrics to inform product strategy and prioritization.
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Agile & Iterative Development: Application of modern product discovery and delivery techniques, likely including agile methodologies, to facilitate rapid iteration and continuous improvement of the UI platform.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working collaboratively across diverse functional groups to achieve shared product goals, requiring strong communication and influencing skills.
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Customer-Centric Design: A commitment to understanding and addressing customer needs and behaviors to create intuitive and valuable in-vehicle experiences.
Company Website: https://www.gm.com/
π Enhancement Note: GM's current strategic direction towards electrification and advanced software presents an exciting context for this role. Candidates should understand that they will be contributing to a significant technological transformation within a large, established automotive company.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: Staff Product Manager. This level signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic responsibility and autonomy. It's a position that requires deep expertise in product management, particularly within the automotive software domain, and the ability to influence without direct authority. It sits above a standard Product Manager and below a Group Product Manager or Director.
Reporting Structure: The role reports to a senior leader within the Software & Services Product Management organization. The Staff PM will work closely with peers, engineering leads, design leads, and program managers, acting as a central point of alignment for the gmUI1 platform.
Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the customer experience within GM vehicles. By owning the gmUI1 Experience Platform, the Staff PM influences how millions of drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles daily, affecting brand perception, customer satisfaction, and the adoption of new in-vehicle technologies and services. Success directly contributes to GM's strategic goals for connected and software-defined vehicles.
Growth Opportunities:
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Platform Leadership: Potential to grow into managing larger platform portfolios, overseeing multiple product teams, or leading a specific domain within in-vehicle software.
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Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like connected vehicle services, autonomous driving interfaces, or advanced HMI technologies.
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Management Track: Transition into a people management role, leading a team of product managers.
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Strategic Initiatives: Opportunity to lead major strategic initiatives related to GM's software-defined vehicle transformation.
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Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping the future of automotive user experience at a global scale.
π Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title indicates a high level of individual contribution and influence. Growth paths are likely to involve increased scope of responsibility over platforms or teams, or deeper specialization in critical automotive technology areas.
π Work Environment
Office Type: This is a hybrid role, meaning the selected candidate will be expected to work from a GM office location at least 3 days per week. The primary locations are listed as Warren and Milford, Michigan, which house GM's Global Technical Center and Engineering Centers, respectively. These are modern, professional corporate environments.
Office Location(s):
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GM Global Technical Center - Cole Engineering Center Tower, Warren, Michigan: A major hub for GM's research, development, and engineering activities.
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Milford, Michigan: Another significant GM engineering and testing facility.
Workspace Context:
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Collaborative Spaces: The modern office environment likely includes collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially specialized labs or design studios to facilitate interaction between product managers, designers, and engineers.
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Technology Access: Employees will have access to GM's internal IT infrastructure, software development tools, and potentially advanced HMI testing equipment.
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Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration for key meetings, brainstorming sessions, and team-building activities, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Work Schedule:
- The standard work week is 40 hours. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility, with employees typically choosing their in-office days in coordination with their manager and team to maximize collaboration opportunities. Core working hours will be established to ensure team availability for critical meetings and cross-functional work.
π Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires candidates to be comfortable working both remotely and in an office environment, with a clear expectation of regular in-person collaboration at GM's Michigan technical centers.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
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Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, focusing on your product management philosophy, approach to complex problems, and specific examples related to in-vehicle UI/UX.
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Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from engineering, design, and program management to evaluate your collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment.
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Product Case Study/Presentation: You may be asked to prepare and present a case study demonstrating your approach to a complex product challenge, roadmap development, or problem-solving scenario relevant to the gmUI1 platform. This is where your portfolio will be critical.
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Leadership Interview: A final interview, possibly with a senior executive, to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with GM's vision.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Focus on Impact: For each project in your portfolio, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution you developed, and most importantly, the measurable business and customer impact. Quantify results whenever possible.
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Showcase Platform Thinking: Highlight any experience with platform-level product management, managing dependencies, or developing roadmaps for shared services or frameworks.
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Demonstrate Cross-Functional Leadership: Use examples that illustrate your ability to influence, align, and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders from engineering, design, marketing, and legal.
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Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by product type or skill area. For case studies, use a clear structure: Problem -> Your Approach -> Solution -> Results.
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Tailor to gmUI1: While general product management skills are essential, try to draw parallels or directly address aspects of in-vehicle UI, platform development, and complex software systems where possible.
Challenge Preparation:
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Product Strategy & Roadmap: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach defining the roadmap for a platform like gmUI1, considering competing priorities, technical constraints, and long-term vision.
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Problem Solving: Anticipate scenarios where you'll need to break down a complex, ambiguous problem related to user experience, technical debt, or cross-team misalignment, and outline your proposed solution steps.
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Prioritization: Prepare to articulate your framework for prioritizing features or initiatives on a platform backlog with limited resources.
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Stakeholder Management: Think about how you would handle disagreements or conflicting requirements from different stakeholders (e.g., engineering vs. design vs. marketing).
π Enhancement Note: The interview process at a company like GM is often thorough. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates platform-level thinking and cross-functional leadership will be a significant asset during the review stages.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Confluence: Expected for documentation, knowledge sharing, and team collaboration on product requirements and specifications.
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Figma: Likely used for UI/UX design mockups, prototyping, and collaborative design reviews.
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Jira/Azure DevOps (or similar): Standard for agile project management, backlog tracking, sprint planning, and bug reporting.
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Internal GM Tools: Specific proprietary tools for vehicle software development, testing, and deployment will be utilized.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Internal Analytics Platforms: GM will have proprietary systems for collecting and analyzing in-vehicle usage data, customer feedback, and system performance metrics.
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Business Intelligence Tools: Potentially Tableau, Power BI, or custom internal dashboards for reporting on KPIs and performance trends.
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User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting surveys, usability testing, and gathering qualitative feedback.
CRM & Automation:
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While not a direct CRM role, understanding CRM principles and how in-vehicle software can integrate with customer data platforms or services might be relevant.
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Workflow Automation: Understanding how automated processes within the development lifecycle or within the vehicle software itself function.
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Integration Tools: Familiarity with APIs and system integration concepts, particularly for how different software components within the vehicle or connected services interact.
π Enhancement Note: Proficiency in common product management and design tools like Confluence and Figma is explicitly mentioned as preferred. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with these and their adaptability to proprietary automotive software development tools.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the customer, ensuring that product decisions prioritize delivering exceptional and valuable user experiences.
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Innovation & Transformation: Embracing change and driving forward-looking initiatives, particularly in areas like electrification, autonomy, and software-defined vehicles.
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Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a spirit of partnership across diverse teams to achieve shared goals, recognizing that complex products are built by collective effort.
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Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for product outcomes, driving initiatives to completion, and delivering on commitments.
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Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing data and insights to inform decisions, measure success, and continuously improve products and processes.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-Functional Partnership: Emphasis on building strong working relationships with engineering, design, program management, marketing, and legal teams.
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Transparent Communication: Open and honest communication regarding progress, challenges, and decisions, often facilitated through shared documentation and regular syncs.
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Constructive Feedback: A culture that encourages providing and receiving feedback to drive continuous improvement in both products and team dynamics.
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Agile Mindset: Embracing iterative development and flexibility to adapt to new information and changing requirements.
π Enhancement Note: GM's stated vision of "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion" reflects a forward-thinking and ambitious culture. Candidates should align with these values, demonstrating a proactive, collaborative, and customer-centric approach.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Platform Complexity: Managing a complex, multi-faceted UI platform (gmUI1) that serves numerous vehicle programs and display configurations presents significant technical and strategic challenges.
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Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating the needs and priorities of numerous stakeholder groups (engineering, design, marketing, legal, brand teams) requires strong negotiation and influencing skills.
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Legacy Systems & Innovation: Balancing the need to maintain and iterate on existing platform functionality with the imperative to innovate and integrate new technologies in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape.
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Ambiguity & Rapid Change: Working in a dynamic industry and a large organization often involves dealing with ambiguity and adapting to shifting priorities or market conditions.
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Resource Constraints: Effectively managing product development and roadmap execution within defined engineering and resource limitations.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Deep Automotive Software Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of automotive software architecture, HMI design, connected vehicle technologies, and the intricacies of the automotive development lifecycle.
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Platform Strategy Specialization: Developing advanced skills in managing and scaling complex software platforms that serve a broad user base.
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Cross-Industry Best Practices: Learning how GM integrates best practices from consumer electronics, software development, and automotive engineering.
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Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone leadership skills through managing complex initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders.
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Industry Exposure: Participating in industry events, conferences, and internal forums related to automotive technology and product management.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges are characteristic of product management roles in large, technologically advanced companies, particularly in the automotive sector. The growth opportunities offer a chance to become a highly specialized and influential leader in a transformative industry.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"How would you approach developing the 3-5 year roadmap for the gmUI1 Experience Platform, considering GM's transition to EVs and autonomous driving?"
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"Describe a time you had to make a difficult prioritization decision for a complex platform or product with competing stakeholder demands. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"
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"How do you balance the need for rapid iteration and new feature development with maintaining platform stability and addressing technical debt?"
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"What are the key metrics you would track to measure the success of the gmUI1 platform, and how would you use that data to inform future development?" Company & Culture Questions:
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"What interests you about General Motors and its vision for the future of mobility?"
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"How do you see your role contributing to GM's transformation towards electric and software-defined vehicles?"
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"Describe your ideal collaboration style when working with engineering and design teams. How do you foster a productive partnership?"
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"How do you stay informed about emerging trends in automotive UI/UX and technology?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Select High-Impact Examples: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience with platform strategy, cross-functional leadership, and driving impactful product outcomes.
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Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the solution you drove, and the measurable results achieved. Use a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar framework.
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Highlight Platform Thinking: If possible, select examples where you managed a product that served multiple user segments or integrated with other systems.
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Emphasize Data & Metrics: Be ready to discuss the KPIs you used, how you tracked them, and how data influenced your decisions.
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Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and challenges faced during each project.
π Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, strong execution capabilities, and a deep understanding of product management within a complex, cross-functional environment. Being able to articulate your process and impact with concrete examples will be crucial.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Staff Product Manager position:
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Submit your application: Navigate to the provided Workday job portal link and complete the application process. Ensure your resume and any required attachments are uploaded.
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Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 7+ years of product management experience, specifically emphasizing any in-vehicle software, UI/UX platform, or complex technology product roles. Quantify achievements and use keywords from the job description (e.g., "roadmap development," "cross-functional leadership," "product discovery," "KPI management").
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Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase 2-3 key projects that best align with the responsibilities and qualifications listed. Focus on platform strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable impact. Be ready to walk through these during interviews.
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Research GM's Strategy: Familiarize yourself with GM's current vision, particularly its focus on EVs, autonomous technology, and software-defined vehicles. Understand their competitive landscape and recent product announcements.
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Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common product management, behavioral, and situational questions, especially those related to strategy, problem-solving, and stakeholder management in a large organization.
β οΈ 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.
Application Requirements
Requires 7+ years of experience in technology-powered products with mandatory in-vehicle experience. Must demonstrate proficiency in modern product discovery, delivery techniques, and the ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives.