Lead Development Engineer for Battery Electric Vehicles

Trista Schieffer Lead Development Engineer for Battery Electric Vehicles While gasoline-powered cars remain the top sellers, electric vehicles are becoming mainstream. At GM, the Chevrolet Volt, Spark EV, Cadillac ELR and the forthcoming battery-power car based on the Chevy Bolt concept are part of GM’s commitment to manufacture 500,000 vehicles a year globally with some form of electrification in 2017. In addition to extended-range electric and pure EV, technologies include start-stop, eAssist and hybrid.

Trista Schieffer is responsible for making sure everything works together to meet the customer expectations of an electric vehicle.

“I love problem solving,” said Schieffer. “I collaborate with people to deliver efficient solutions to solve ride, handling, noise, vibration, comfort, storage, heating, cooling, safety, energy efficiency – all aspects of a vehicle. Together we make sure the parts and systems are integrated so the vehicle performs in the manner our customers anticipate. As vehicles rely less and less on traditional fuel systems – or, in certain cases, not at all – we face new challenges.” Michelle Christensen Senior designer, General Motors Michelle Christensen blew away car company recruiters with her innovative sketches as a student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She was scooped up by Acura in 2005, where she became its first female exterior car designer and won a major in-house design challenge. Now at GM — which recently poached her from Acura — she's upending the male-dominated car design industry. "Growing up, my interests ranged from sketching prom dresses for friends to wanting to work in a pit crew for a racing team. In junior high I learned about exterior car design; it was the perfect melding of my interests in design, cars, and working with my hands."

"In 2006, when Acura challenged company designers to create a car that filled a hole in the market, my sketch for the exterior won — and became the blueprint for the ZDX which went on the road last year."