Principal Designer

Faurecia•Auburn Hills, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Principal Designer, you will be a strategic contributor in all internal projects. Your main tasks will include fully representing Forvia Design with all its aspects and disciplines in front of internal and external customers, as well as feeding the Design community with information gathered from relevant global trends. You will lead a project team of Forvian Designers or external resources, involving regular communication and reporting to your hierarchical manager and the local environment. You will contribute to the Design process with both hands-on and hands-off skills. The position involves specialized activities carried out independently with little or no direct supervision, including significant autonomy in decision-making with minimal guidance necessary. You will build and actively entertain customer relationships and leverage your customer and eco-system network to actively support the acquisition of new business in early phases as well as during the RFQ process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in design
Over 10 years’ experience in Automotive or Product Design
Strong communication skills: verbal, written and visual
Understanding of user centered design process (UX/UI design process, design thinking, etc.)
Knowledge and experience of Product and Service Concept Design creation skill (use case-based creativity, product architecture knowledge, visualization skills)
Design experience in automotive field (min 5 years) and relevant network
Solid skills with creativity and visualization tools (e.g. Gravity, Alias, Maya, Substance, Blender, Photoshop, Illustrator, Vizcom and other AI tools etc.)
Solid understanding of technical product characteristics for all relevant BGs (displays, interactions systems, seat comfort and kinematics, instrument panels, consoles, door panels etc.)
Solid understanding of market dynamics in relevant fields
Global mindset, Proactive and drive, Entrepreneurship
Ability to develop strong operational relationship (internal & external)
Fluent in English
Have strong communication skills, verbal, written and visual exchanges.
Negotiation skills & customer orientation
Communication and interpersonal skills
Network animation and influencing skills
Ability to anticipate risks
Accountability and transparency
Ability to make quick and tough decision
International mindset
Entrepreneurship mindset

Nice To Haves

International experience
Network established with OEMs preferred
Capability to balance personal and professional life
Willingness to travel frequently

Responsibilities

Manage resources on a project basis
Ensure the documentation of trends and customer interests; active contribution to Design Intelligence Book
Able to organize and animate workshops
Formulate Design specs as per OEM or FORVIA requirements
Clarify and analyze customer requirement specifications
Understand and recognize functional specifications of automotive products
Take action to solve the problems and issues proactively
Provide expertise and leadership for product definition, design development and execution
Demonstrate understanding and support to regional objectives and strategies
Leadership in product/process critiques
Interact with other global FORVIA Design Studios
Interact with other internal departments, local and on group level
Stay aware of product and societal trends, actual and future
Responsible for project design contributors at local & global Design Studio levels
Provide leadership and development proposals for the studios
Support internal divisions success to secure new business, co-developments and innovation strategy via design work, studio network and brand development via creative thinking
Support management initiatives outside direct tasks/responsibilities