Magnetic Materials Researcher

About the Role

As a Researcher in the Mechanics, Materials and Process Research Lab at General Motors Research and Development, you will innovate in magnetic materials for next-generation vehicle and manufacturing applications. You will propose new research directions, establish technical research plans, and lead collaborative studies spanning magnetic materials discovery, computational modeling, processing, characterization, and validation. You will generate new insights into the relationships among composition, crystal structure, microstructure, magnetic behavior, thermal stability, manufacturability, and system performance. Your work will guide experimental efforts, accelerate materials down-selection, and help translate research results into practical solutions for motors, sensors, actuators, power systems, and other GM applications. You will document and communicate results through high-quality technical reports, external publications, presentations, and records of invention.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and execute collaborative research in magnetic materials, generating new knowledge and enabling innovative materials solutions.
• Apply physics-based modeling, simulation, and data-driven approaches to magnetic-materials discovery, design, and performance prediction.
• Investigate structure–property relationships involving magnetization, coercivity, remanence, permeability, loss, temperature dependence, phase stability, and degradation.
• Partner closely with experimental researchers to guide synthesis and processing, interpret characterization data, and accelerate materials down-selection.
• Evaluate magnetic materials and material systems for applications including electric machines, sensors, actuators, power electronics, and manufacturing processes.
• Connect computational predictions with experimental validation using appropriate magnetic, structural, thermal, electrical, and mechanical measurements.
• Drive internal and external collaborations with GM engineering teams, universities, national laboratories, suppliers, and research partners.
• Maintain awareness of the state of the art in magnetic materials, computational materials science, materials characterization, and related disciplines.
• Prepare timely, high-quality technical reports, presentations, publications, and invention disclosures to communicate research outcomes.
• Generate intellectual property to protect new inventions and research results.
• Assist and mentor other employees in accomplishing project and research goals.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Must be graduating between August 2026 - June 2027.
• Able to work fulltime, 40 hours per week during the summer months.
• Strong foundation in materials thermodynamics, kinetics, crystallography, phase transformations, magnetism, and structure–property relationships.
• Experience with magnetic materials such as permanent magnets, soft magnetic alloys, ferrites, magnetic composites, magnetocaloric materials, or related functional materials.
• Experience with computational modeling and simulation of materials, including electronic-structure, atomistic, mesoscale, micromagnetic, phase-field, finite-element, or continuum methods.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis using tools such as Python, C/C++, MATLAB, or similar languages.
• Experience analyzing materials data and connecting composition, processing, microstructure, and magnetic performance.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary research teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. strongly preferred.
• Experience with DFT/electronic structure, atomistic or micromagnetic modeling, ICME, machine learning, materials informatics, magnetic-property measurement, materials synthesis and processing, or microstructural characterization.
• Experience coupling computational predictions with experimental validation.
• Demonstrated publication record and/or intellectual property generation.
• Experience transitioning computational or experimental insights into applied engineering or manufacturing solutions.
• Knowledge of design-for-manufacturing, supply-chain considerations, critical-materials strategy, or sustainability in magnetic-materials systems.

Work Arrangement

• Hybrid: Expected to report to Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum.

Additional Information

• This role is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).
• GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role.