Lead creative designer - exteriors

GM • Warren, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

You’ll be part of GM’s Exterior Design organization, a highly collaborative studio that partners closely with advanced and production design teams, digital and clay sculpting, engineering, and fabrication. The team works together to translate bold ideas into feasible, beautifully executed vehicles while maintaining a strong connection to brand identity and customer needs. Designers regularly engage with leadership, cross‑functional partners, and fellow creatives in a supportive environment that values innovation, craftsmanship, and pushing the boundaries of mobility design. In this role, you will: Create bold, fresh, future‑focused exterior design concepts through traditional sketching and digital workflows (2D and 3D). Develop award‑winning ideas grounded in a deep understanding of customer needs, brand identity, and emerging mobility trends. Partner frequently with sculpting, engineering, and fabrication to refine and execute designs that meet performance, feasibility, and aesthetic goals. Apply strong design taste, intuition, craftsmanship, and accuracy backed by an impressive portfolio across production and/or advanced projects. Present concepts regularly to design leadership, demonstrating design courage and a willingness to challenge convention. Mentor and support less experienced designers to help elevate their craft and design execution. Operate effectively under general guidance and deliver high‑quality work within a deadline‑driven environment.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in exterior automotive design (production, advanced, or both).
• Strong sketching, ideation, and visual storytelling abilities.
• Proven ability to deliver high‑quality design solutions from concept through refinement.
• Experience working collaboratively with sculpting, engineering, and cross‑functional teams.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort sharing ideas with leadership.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong exterior design craftsmanship, creativity, and process.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with common design tools such as: Photoshop (2D visualization) Blender or other 3D modeling tools Vizcom or AI‑assisted concept tools Alias or similar automotive surfacing/visualization tools
• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design , Fine Arts , Automotive Design , or related field.
• Experience mentoring junior designers.

Responsibilities

• Create bold, fresh, future‑focused exterior design concepts through traditional sketching and digital workflows (2D and 3D).
• Develop award‑winning ideas grounded in a deep understanding of customer needs, brand identity, and emerging mobility trends.
• Partner frequently with sculpting, engineering, and fabrication to refine and execute designs that meet performance, feasibility, and aesthetic goals.
• Apply strong design taste, intuition, craftsmanship, and accuracy backed by an impressive portfolio across production and/or advanced projects.
• Present concepts regularly to design leadership, demonstrating design courage and a willingness to challenge convention.
• Mentor and support less experienced designers to help elevate their craft and design execution.
• Operate effectively under general guidance and deliver high‑quality work within a deadline‑driven environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level