Description
Create exterior, interior, and HMI designs for vehicles using sketching, CAS/CAD, and Class-A surfacing tools. Translate brand strategy and user needs into feasible, manufacturable products by collaborating with engineering and suppliers and directing prototyping and design validation.
- • Monitor design trends, materials, and competitor vehicles; attend shows and critiques.
- • Define appearance quality and craftsmanship standards with manufacturing.
- • Prepare and present design proposals and project status to stakeholders.
- • Develop and improve design processes, guidelines, and workflows.
- • Create, review, and maintain design briefs, style guides, and surface release documentation.
- • Research users and markets to generate new vehicle concepts and features.
- • Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and procurement to ensure design feasibility and cost alignment.
- • Provide creative direction to designers, clay modelers, and visualization teams.
- • Analyze fit-and-finish and perceived-quality issues and drive root-cause fixes.
- • Define HMI and UX requirements for controls, displays, and infotainment.
- • Develop surface, CMF, and trim specifications aligned to cost and timing targets.
- • Develop evaluation methods and VR/AR tools for clinics and design validation.
- • Lead formal design reviews and critiques with cross-functional teams.
- • Refine HMI behaviors, iconography, and interaction flows to match brand experience.
- • Build and iterate physical clay and digital CAS/Class-A models for verification.
- • Refine surfaces and packaging to meet ergonomic, aerodynamic, and regulatory constraints.
- • Design exterior and interior solutions considering aerodynamics, ergonomics, safety, and brand identity.
- • Plan and observe prototype evaluations, clinics, and usability tests; capture insights.
- • Design HMI layouts and information architecture to enhance safety and usability.
- • Create alternatives for lighting, grilles, wheels, storage, and interior components to improve efficiency and usability.
- • Specify sustainable materials and finishes and design for recyclability and end-of-life recovery.
- • Select lightweight materials and textures to support mass and efficiency targets without sacrificing quality.
- • Adapt designs and packaging to the needs of EVs and alternative powertrains.
- • Explore connected-car experiences, intelligent UX, and in-vehicle digital ecosystems.
- • Integrate EV charging UX, aerodynamic features, and eco feedback into the design.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026