How Ben Rubin Built a Cross-Functional Engineering Career at General Motors
When a vehicle at General Motors’ Israel site needed to run a computer it had not yet been designed to support, Senior Embedded Systems Integration Engineer Ben Rubin made it work.
Because the technology was still in development, every system in the vehicle had to be adapted one by one. Rubin ultimately adapted the vehicles’ systems to the new computer, creating the first vehicle in the world to run that configuration.
How did he overcome the challenge? By drawing on the breadth of experience he had gained at GM.
What Does an Integration Engineer Do at General Motors?
An integration engineer works at the interface between vehicle systems and software. They develop camera features, test software in real vehicles and work with developers to determine whether features function properly and what needs to change when they don’t.
In his current role, Rubin works on camera systems that support vehicle features such as parking, towing and helping drivers see what’s around the vehicle. But before his current position, Rubin was given ample opportunities at GM that gave him the unique ability to make the retrofit work. First, he tested software as a student, driving prototypes and running simulations, and then he worked on autonomous vehicle platforms.
Rubin’s experience testing connected him with GM’s research and development, acoustic and radar teams, where he gained a more holistic understanding of the development process.
“When you spend that much time on the vehicle itself, you develop a feel for where a fault is actually coming from: hardware, software or the vehicle,” Rubin said.
Following his time with autonomous vehicle development, Rubin stepped into his current role as an integration engineer, where he helps develop camera features and is often the first person to see engineers’ work manifest as automotive innovation.
“Because I do the integration on the vehicle, I’m the one who sees the software our developers write actually running in a real car,” Rubin said. “I help them understand whether a feature works and, if it doesn’t, what needs to change.”
Rubin’s career journey shows how experience across different technical disciplines can shape a fruitful engineering career at GM. Read on to learn more about Rubin’s experience at GM, including the projects he’s worked on and his advice for tech professionals who are interested in building a career there.
What Does an Integration Engineer Do at General Motors?
According to Rubin, his current role “sits right on the interface between the vehicle’s systems and the software.”
The cameras he develops are key to essential vehicle features, such as parking, towing and helping drivers see what’s around the vehicle. This is the part of the job he is happiest about, and to excel in his role, he draws on his systems knowledge, which allows him to know how — and where — a vehicle feature should be improved.
How Does Cross-Functional Experience Support Engineering Career Growth at General Motors?
Rubin’s accomplishments at GM — including the time he enabled a vehicle to run a computer it wasn’t technically designed for yet — were made possible by his exposure to different areas of product development across the company. This includes the time he spent behind the wheel while testing vehicles.
“As a test driver, I learned how to work directly with the vehicle’s systems: flashing software versions, sending and reading Controller Area Network bus messages and using tools I still rely on today,” Rubin said.
Cross-functional collaboration has helped Rubin tackle countless projects during his time at GM. For instance, when an infotainment computer was failing to communicate with the rest of a vehicle, he found a solution by connecting to the vehicle’s internal systems, aligning the computer with the other modules, and clearing it.
“Solving it required deep knowledge of the vehicle architecture and tools most engineers in the camera group hadn’t worked with,” Rubin said.
What Advice Does Ben Rubin Have for Building an Engineering Career at General Motors?
Building an engineering career at GM isn’t for everyone, Rubin said.
“It takes real curiosity and the ability to teach yourself about vehicle systems that often have nothing to do with what you’re working on right now,” Rubin said.
For those who are interested in building a multifaceted career at the company, Rubin shared this advice: “Build genuine depth in all three areas: software, hardware and the vehicle systems themselves.”
Rubin believes that those who decide to forge an engineering career at GM will find ample opportunities to stretch their knowledge — and make an impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an integration engineer do at General Motors?
Integration engineers at General Motors work at the intersection of vehicle systems and software to develop, test and improve vehicle features. Their responsibilities include testing software in real vehicles, troubleshooting technical issues and collaborating with developers to ensure features function properly.
What kind of technology do engineers build at General Motors?
Engineers at General Motors develop technology for vehicle systems, including camera features that support parking, towing and helping drivers see their surroundings. They also work on autonomous vehicle platforms, software integration and adapting vehicle systems to support new technology.
How do engineers grow their careers at General Motors?
Engineers at General Motors can grow their careers by gaining hands-on experience across software, hardware and vehicle systems while collaborating with different technical teams. Opportunities to work on diverse projects, tackle complex challenges and develop cross-functional expertise help engineers expand their skills and make an impact on automotive innovation.
