Lead Industrial Designer

Samsung Research America•San Francisco, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Samsung Design Innovation Center is seeking a highly experienced Lead Industrial Designer to envision and shape the next generation of consumer products across Samsung's expanding device portfolio, with a particular focus on emerging product categories including wearable devices and future hardware experiences. This role goes beyond traditional Industrial Design. We are looking for an exceptional designer who embraces Artificial Intelligence as a fundamental part of the creative process and demonstrates how AI can amplify creativity, accelerate exploration, and redefine the way products are conceived, visualized, and communicated. You will define what AI-native Industrial Design looks like within Samsung, establishing new creative workflows that enhance design quality, accelerate concept generation, and influence how future products are imagined across the organization. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams at SDIC and Industrial Design teams in Korea, you will demonstrate how AI can become a true creative partner throughout the entire design process—from opportunity discovery and ideation through concept development, storytelling, visualization, and iterative refinement. The ideal candidate combines exceptional industrial design fundamentals with deep curiosity for emerging AI-native design methodologies. They are capable of independently leading projects from early opportunity identification through concept development, storytelling, visualization, and prototype creation while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams throughout Samsung's global organization. Rather than simply using AI to generate images, this individual pioneers new design methodologies that integrate AI throughout the creative process—expanding creative possibilities, accelerating iteration, and elevating design quality. Through both their work and their approach, they will inspire broader adoption of AI-native Industrial Design practices across Samsung's global design organization. We are interested in passionate and self-motivated individuals who are comfortable in a highly fluid environment. You will bring exceptional design talent, curiosity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for redefining the future of Industrial Design through AI. We will provide the creative freedom, multidisidisciplinary environment, and resources to help you shape not only the next generation of Samsung products, but also the future practice of Industrial Design itself.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred in Industrial Design, Product Design, Transportation Design, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
10+ years of professional Industrial Design experience with an outstanding portfolio demonstrating exceptional product quality
Strong portfolio showcasing AI-assisted concept development and storytelling; candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how AI is integrated into their workflow
Demonstrated ability to rapidly explore broad design spaces using AI while applying exceptional design judgment
Outstanding sketching, 3D visualization, physical mockup development, and meticulous attention to product craftsmanship and detail
Proven ability to independently lead complex design projects from highly ambiguous opportunities through to finished product concepts
Clear, concise communication and storytelling skills with a track record of collaborating across global, multidisciplinary teams
Action-oriented, highly self-motivated, and comfortable working in a fast-paced innovation environment

Nice To Haves

Experience bringing consumer products to market through manufacturing is preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

Drive future consumer hardware concepts from early opportunity identification through sketching, CAD modeling, and physical mock-up development.
Apply exceptional aesthetic sensibility and human-centered principles to convert user research and market opportunities into desirable, feasible physical experiences.
Deeply integrate generative AI tools (e.g., Vizcom, Stable Diffusion) into your design process to accelerate ideation, CMF (Color, Material, Finish) exploration, and high-fidelity rendering.
Act as a thought leader to define and share AI-native design methodologies, inspiring broader adoption across Samsung's global design organization.
Maintain a growth mindset and continuous curiosity, actively evaluating and integrating new AI design tools into the studio’s ecosystem.
Independently navigate ambiguous spaces and establish clear product directions with minimal guidance.
Produce high-fidelity renders, animations, and visual storytelling materials to confidently present and defend future product visions to executive stakeholders.
Collaborate seamlessly across multidisciplinary teams in San Francisco (UX, Research, Strategy, Engineering) and maintain strong working relationships with partner design studios in Korea.
Travel internationally and domestically as needed to align and co-create with global stakeholders.