Colour, Materials and Finishes Designer

About Us

Lead. Grow. Transform.

Ford Motor Company is constantly evolving and innovating. As part of the International Markets Group we are committed to delivering smarter more connected vehicles for our Global customers. Looking ahead Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup growing digital services and a strong dealer network we are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.

As Australias largest automotive OEM employer we proudly have around 1500 talented engineers designers and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially Australia is a key global development hub for Ford and our local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger Ranger Raptor and Everest models sold in around 180 markets worldwide.

Why Ford

For a century weve been a driving force across Australia building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Leading the way the Ranger continues its reign as Australias No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australias No. 1 Sports Car.

These remarkable achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup giving us so much to be excited about! But we believe we do more than just build award-winning vehicleswe build careers.

• Discounted lease car options.
• Multiple Employee Resource Groups Ford Pride Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities.
• Flexible Work Arrangements.
• Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training.
• Paid parental leave from day 1.
• Comprehensive Employee Assist Program.
• Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks.
• Paid volunteer days.

About the Role

As a Colour and Materials Designer you will play a pivotal role in driving the development of innovative Colour Material and Finish (CMF) solutions for both our advanced and production projects. You will be responsible for translating visionary concepts into tangible production-ready designs directly shaping the aesthetic and tactile future of our products and enhancing the overall brand experience.

This position reports directly to the CMF Design Manager and is based at the Design Studio in Broadmeadows operating on a hybrid schedule with four days in the office.

• Lead Visionary CMF Design: Create and drive compelling innovative Colour Material and Finish (CMF) design experiences and visions across various advanced and production projects. This includes developing sensory-rich palettes and material strategies that define the character and premium feel of our vehicles.

• Champion Human-Centered CMF: Explore and apply Human-Centered Design principles to CMF with a strong emphasis on the holistic vehicle experience. Ensure that material choices colors and finishes enhance user comfort interaction emotional connection and overall perception of quality both inside and out.

• Coordinate Holistic Design Integration: Coordinate and collaborate with other design disciplines (e.g. exterior interior UX/UI) to ensure that CMF strategies are seamlessly integrated contributing to a cohesive and holistic design vision for the entire vehicle.

• Develop Future Brand CMF Identity: Generate forward-thinking brand-focused CMF design visions that anticipate future trends and translate our brand identity into tangible material and color expressions for upcoming product generations.

• Strategic CMF Problem Solving: Lead problem-solving initiatives related to CMF in areas such as connectivity (e.g. integrating new material technologies for sensors or displays) future mobility solutions (e.g. sustainable or lightweight materials) and diverse consumer segments (e.g. tailored CMF options for specific demographics or regional preferences).

• Education and Experience: Bachelors degree in a relevant design field or equivalent experience coupled with a minimum of 3 - 5 years of global Automotive or Transportation Colour & Materials Design experience including expertise in final design product execution.
• Design Acumen: Exceptional design intuition strong problem-solving skills and a superior ability to visually communicate through compelling imagery and renderings.
• CMF Expertise: A strong perception of color and a good understanding of color processes enabling the interpretation of customer needs and global trends into compelling CMF designs.
• Independence and Judgment: Proven ability to work independently while providing strong technical aesthetic judgment.
• Technical Skills: Experience in developing artistic presentations and proficiency in 2D/3D digital design media (e.g. Photoshop VRED PowerPoint).
• Collaboration & Communication: Outstanding teamwork leadership visual written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Manufacturing and Mastering: A good understanding of exterior/interior manufacturing processes materials and the mastering process.
• Industry Passion and Trends: Passion for the automotive and mobility industry global trends innovation and customer needs alongside a keen interest in design trends across various professions and global cultures.
• Corporate and Collaborative Experience: Experience working within creative cultures and large corporate environments managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects and presenting to executive audiences.
• Cross-functional Partnership: A demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering and other partners to progress design development.

A design portfolio (pdf) must be provided upon application to be considered.

Equal Opportunity

Ford Australia is inclusive employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

If you require any support or adjustments to the recruitment process please contact our Talent and Inclusion Lead Sarah at.

Applicants must be legally authorised to work in Australia. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

---Applications will close on Sunday 11 January 2026 however please do not delay your application as interviews will commence before this date---

Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.

*Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Limited ACN(Ford) is collecting your personal information in order to consider you for a role at Ford.Ford may also collect personal information about you from third parties such as referees and recruitment agencies for this purpose.Ford may disclose your personal information to its related companies and third party service providers for purposes such as screening and background checks aptitude testing and health and safety and human resources management activities.Fords privacy policy (available at) states how you can seek to access or correct any personal information Ford holds about you how to complain about a privacy breach by Ford and how Ford will deal with a privacy complaint. You can contact Ford at 13 FORD (13 36 73) or via the contact details set out in Fords privacy policy.