(Creative Senior Lead) Exterior Designer

Job Description

This role is categorized as on-site. Successful candidates are expected to work full time from the GM China Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai China.

GM China Design Studio is both a production design studio and an advanced design studio. We shape meaningful vehicle experiences for GM brands serving customers in China and global markets connecting near-term production programs with forward-looking exploration.

We are committed to creating an exceptional design environment where creativity beauty craftsmanship and storytelling can thrive. Our designers work across disciplines and cultures to translate customer understanding brand identity emerging technologies and new forms of mobility into compelling exterior design proposals.

This evergreen requisition is established for talent pipelining purposes. GM China Design Studio is building a long-term pipeline of exceptional Exterior Designers across multiple levels including Creative Designer Senior Exterior Designer and Lead Exterior Designer in support of current and anticipated business needs.

We welcome applications from outstanding designers around the world who are interested in contributing to exciting production programs and advanced design work in our China studio. Depending on business needs and the candidates experience future opportunities may involve different levels of responsibility program scope and creative leadership.

When submitting your application please include:

• An updated resume or CV.
• An updated portfolio that clearly demonstrates your design thinking creative process visual communication and relevant exterior design capabilities.
• Please ensure that your portfolio does not contain undisclosed confidential proprietary or otherwise sensitive information projects or materials belonging to current or previous employers or clients.

After your application is submitted our recruiting and design teams will review your materials. If there is alignment with a current or future opportunity a recruiter will contact you to discuss potential next steps. Because this is an evergreen requisition the timing of contact may vary according to business needs and the fit between your experience and upcoming opportunities.

If you do not meet every element listed below but are interested in exploring an opportunity with GM China Design Studio we still encourage you to apply. We value distinctive creative perspectives strong design potential and the ability to contribute to a collaborative studio environment.

The Role -

Exterior Designers in GM China Design Studio help define the visual identity proportion stance and emotional character of future vehicles and mobility products for China and global markets. Depending on level and experience you may contribute to or lead exterior themes and component design from early advanced exploration through production execution creating proposals that are distinctive customer-relevant brand-expressive and technically achievable.

You will collaborate with designers and partners across exterior design sculpting engineering fabrication modeling product planning customer research and global design studios. The scope of your contribution may range from developing sketches and digital or physical design proposals to directing programs presenting to senior leadership and mentoring other designers.

Your responsibilities may include the following depending on your level experience and assigned program:

• Develop exterior design concepts component ideas sketches renderings and visual narratives under the guidance of more experienced designers.
• Explore alternative design themes proportions surfaces details and graphic treatments that respond to brand direction customer needs technology opportunities and program objectives.
• Communicate exterior design intent through traditional sketching digital 2D visualization digital 3D tools scale models physical mock-ups and other appropriate design media.
• Support the development of exterior proposals from early ideation toward digital models scale models clay full-size representations or other design deliverables.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional discussions; incorporate feedback into refined design solutions while continuing to develop a clear and distinctive point of view.
• Build understanding of design feasibility proportions surface development aerodynamics lighting manufacturing processes craftsmanship and quality expectations.

• Independently develop and advance exterior themes and component proposals for assigned advanced or production programs from initial sketches through refined digital scale or full-size design representations.
• Translate brand strategy customer understanding competitive references future mobility trends and technology opportunities into distinctive exterior concepts and cohesive vehicle design proposals.
• Create and communicate high-quality sketches renderings digital 3D models physical mock-ups and presentations that clearly explain design intent proportion stance surface language details and overall vehicle character.
• Collaborate closely with the design team sculpting organization engineering fabrication modeling and other cross-functional partners to develop designs that balance creative ambition with technical and manufacturing realities.
• Provide design insight and recommendations respond constructively to general direction and make clear design decisions within a deadline-driven environment.
• Present design ideas and proposals in studio reviews and leadership forums explaining the thinking behind the work and incorporating feedback into stronger solutions.
• Contribute to advanced and exploratory projects by taking a broad view of customer needs future transportation emerging technologies and new forms of mobility.
• Share knowledge and provide informal guidance to less experienced designers when appropriate contributing to a positive and collaborative studio culture.

• Define and drive the creative direction of assigned exterior programs across advanced and production design phases from early exploration through final model development and release.
• Create new and distinctive exterior designs for complete vehicles mobility products and key exterior components demonstrating a strong point of view across proportion stance surface graphics and detail.
• Independently lead the development of design proposals using traditional sketching digital 2D and 3D technology digital modeling physical scale models and full-size clay or other physical representations.
• Establish design strategies that express GM brand DNA while responding to China-specific customer needs market dynamics future transportation and innovation opportunities.
• Lead design alignment with the design team sculpting engineering fabrication modeling product planning customer research and global design studios to deliver solutions that are compelling feasible and program-ready.
• Represent GM China Design in key studio reviews and leadership forums presenting creative ideas and design recommendations clearly to management and senior leadership.
• Provide creative direction review work offer constructive feedback and mentor designers across different experience levels.
• Drive design deliverables and decision-making according to program timing and applicable design processes maintaining alignment on quality craftsmanship feasibility and leadership expectations.
• Demonstrate design courage by challenging assumptions exploring provocative opportunities and raising the creative ambition of the work while remaining responsive to program objectives.

• Follow the design process from initial ideation and sketches through digital development physical modeling design refinement and where applicable final model release.
• Maintain awareness of current and emerging exterior design trends automotive technology materials manufacturing processes customer preferences and developments in future transportation.
• Apply sound design perception taste judgment creativity skill and accuracy to develop clear and compelling design solutions.
• Consider the complete vehicle and customer experience including proportion stance package aerodynamics lighting graphics interaction points craftsmanship and perceived quality.
• Work effectively with design sculpting engineering fabrication modeling and other cross-functional partners to communicate design intent and negotiate design criteria.
• Manage priorities and deliverables in a deadline-driven environment adapting to changing program needs while maintaining design quality.
• Engage constructively in a diverse collaborative and internationally connected studio environment.
• Demonstrate discretion and respect for intellectual property and confidential information throughout the design process.

We welcome designers with different career paths backgrounds and levels of experience. The following qualifications are intended to describe the capabilities that may be relevant to these opportunities rather than serve as a checklist that every applicant must fully satisfy.

• A degree in Transportation Design Automotive Design Industrial Design or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience and a compelling portfolio may also be considered.
• Experience in automotive transportation mobility industrial product or another closely related design field. The depth of experience expected will vary by level from emerging design talent to experienced program and team leaders.
• The ability to develop relevant distinctive and visually compelling exterior design concepts themes proposals and component ideas.
• Strong 2D visual communication skills including sketching rendering storytelling presentation and the ability to communicate design thinking clearly.
• Experience with digital design tools digital 3D modeling 3D visualization CAS physical scale models full-size clay physical mock-ups or other methods used to develop and communicate exterior design concepts. The specific toolset is less important than the quality of the design thinking and the ability to learn and adapt.
• A clear understanding of proportion stance surface development form detail graphics craftsmanship and the relationship between design intent and physical execution.
• The ability to approach projects from both a creative and strategic point of view exploring multiple solutions while making clear design decisions.
• An understanding of how exterior design interacts with sculpting engineering fabrication modeling packaging aerodynamics manufacturing quality safety regulation and customer expectations.
• A genuine interest in contributing to a holistic design process from early concept development through later-stage design refinement and execution.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills including the ability to present ideas respond to feedback and work effectively in a multicultural and cross-functional environment.
• For more experienced opportunities: the ability to independently drive design development lead program direction influence stakeholders present to senior audiences mentor designers and connect creative ambition with business and technical realities.
• For emerging opportunities: demonstrated design potential curiosity willingness to learn and the ability to develop ideas through a thoughtful and visually compelling process.
• Experience with production programs may be beneficial for some opportunities but it is not required for every position in this talent pipeline.

You will have the opportunity to work in a studio that connects advanced design exploration with real production impact. You will collaborate with colleagues across China and the global GM Design network contribute to vehicles and mobility products for diverse customers and help shape the next generation of exterior design through creativity beauty technology and storytelling.

We are interested in meeting exceptional designers at different stages of their careers. Your portfolio perspective and potential may align with an opportunity even if your experience does not map perfectly to every item in this description.

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