Assoc. Surfacing Designer

Horizon Hobby•Ontario, CA

24d•$68,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Horizon Hobby, we inspire dreams and help build memories! Our company is the leader in the global Radio Control industry, celebrating 40 years in 2025! We offer tremendous opportunities for growth and development and a full array of benefits including discounts on our products! We are currently hiring for an Associate Surfacing Designer! This is a full-time, on-site position at our Ontario, CA location. Working hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Typical pay for this position is $68,000-$75,000 a year. The final offer for this position will be based on the unique experience and qualifications of the candidate selected. This position may also be eligible for a bonus not included in the base pay range. Product innovation is the lifeblood of Horizon Hobby. We are seeking an Associate Surfacing Designer to join our team and help design and develop high-performance, scale-model racing bodies. In this role, you will combine motorsports knowledge with expertise in surface design, scaled aerodynamics, styling, and manufacturing to create products that meet the standards of competitive hobby industry. The ideal candidate will contribute to designs that deliver authentic aesthetics, strong performance, and efficient manufacturability at scale, while ensuring compliance with hobby and racing regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in industrial design, Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
Minimum 2 years of experience in motorsports body design, with at least 1 year working with scale RC vehicles, slot cars, toys, or related industries.
Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software such as Autodesk Fusion (Sub-D/T-Spline Modelling), SolidWorks, Rhino, CATIA, Alias, or similar tools.
Understanding of scaled aerodynamics, including familiarity with wind tunnel testing or CFD analysis.
Experience with plastic molding, polycarbonate forming, and lightweight composite materials.
Familiarity with RC racing classes and sanctioning rules (e.g., touring car, off-road buggy, oval, drag racing).
Strong creative and analytical skills with the ability to balance performance, aesthetics, and manufacturability.
Excellent problem-solving ability with strong attention to design accuracy and quality.
Demonstrated interest in RC vehicles, motorsports, or the hobby industry.

Responsibilities

Design and develop production-ready surfaces for scale-model RC racing bodies.
Create detailed 3D surface models that balance scale accuracy, aerodynamics, and manufacturability.
Collaborate with industrial designers, engineers, and product managers throughout the product development process.
Translate design concepts, sketches, and reference data into precise digital surface models.
Ensure surfaces meet tooling, manufacturing, and material requirements for injection molding or vacuum forming processes.
Analyze and refine surface geometry to optimize aerodynamic performance and product aesthetics.
Maintain scale accuracy when translating full-scale vehicle references into RC model designs.
Strong attention to detail, particularly in motorsports design and scale accuracy across different vehicle classes.
Prepare and deliver production-ready CAD data for engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing teams.
Support prototype development and testing, making iterative surface refinements as needed.
Work closely with graphics and branding teams to ensure livery and visual design integrate correctly with body surfaces.
Ensure designs comply with industry and competitive racing regulations where applicable.
Participate in design reviews and cross-functional meetings to support product development milestones.
Maintain organized CAD files, documentation, and version control throughout development cycles.
Stay current on surfacing tools, modeling techniques, and motorsports design trends.