Ford Motor Company is looking for a highly creative/strategic Senior Exterior Designer to join our team in the new Ford World Headquarters Design Studios. Working alongside a talented team responsible for such iconic nameplates as Bronco, Explorer, and Expedition, you will help shape the future of Adventure vehicles both in concept and production form. Successful candidates will live/learn from the experiences of our customers, emulate the passion enthusiasts have for our products, and deliver inventive product solutions that create emotional connections over time.
ResponsibilitiesWhat you'll do...
- Having the ability to think creatively, strategically, and analytically.
- Create compelling and innovative exterior design experiences and visions for Design Projects.
- Coordinate the work of other design personnel to achieve holistic design visions.
- Create future brand focused design visions.
- Span digital and physical (software and hardware) thinking.
- Problems solve around topics of connectivity, mobility and consumer segments.
You'll have...
- A portfolio to share that focuses on Automotive Exterior Design.
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, or equivalent; can include graduates earning their degree in the same calendar term
- 3+ years of Automotive or Transportation Design experience; including experience with final design product execution, and Internships with transportation design companies
- Ability to interpret customer needs and global trends into compelling design.
- Ability to work independently and provide strong technical aesthetic judgment to lead team members.
- Awareness of global automotive and consumer electronics to ensure Ford competes with the ability to lead.
- Demonstrated creative exterior design perceptions and capability. A design portfolio (pdf) must be provided upon application.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Suppliers and other partners to progress the design development.
- Must have exceptional design intuition, strong problem-solving skills and a superior ability to visually communicate through sketches, and renderings.
- Ability to translate 2D to 3D and think three-dimensionally with a strong emphasis on proportions and a refined sense of form also required.
- Familiarizes self and maintains interest with design trends within and across design professions and global cultures (automotive, fashion, architectural, etc.)
- Outstanding teamwork, leadership, visual, written, and verbal communication skills
Even better, you may have...
- Global design experience.
- Good understanding of exterior manufacturing process and materials.
- Passionate about automotive and mobility industry, global trends, innovation and customer needs
- Experience of working in or with creative cultures
- Experience of working in large, corporate environments
- Experience of managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects
- Experience of presenting to executive audiences
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $96,720-166,200.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
#LI-SC3
Skills Required
- Automotive exterior design portfolio (PDF)
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, or equivalent
- 3+ years Automotive or Transportation Design experience including final product execution or relevant internships
- Ability to interpret customer needs and global trends into compelling design
- Strong technical aesthetic judgment and ability to lead team members
- Exceptional sketching, rendering, and visual communication skills
- Ability to translate 2D to 3D with strong sense of proportions and form
- Collaboration experience with Engineering, Suppliers, and partners through design development
- Awareness of global automotive and consumer electronics trends
- Outstanding teamwork, leadership, written and verbal communication skills
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States (no visa sponsorship)
- Willingness/ability to work hybrid and be onsite multiple days per week
- Global design experience
- Understanding of exterior manufacturing processes and materials
- Experience working in large corporate or creative cultures and managing stakeholders
- Experience presenting to executive audiences
Ford Motor Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ford Motor Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Ford Motor Company.
-
Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage start on day one with options that include zero-premium plans, free mental health support, and wellness resources. For represented hourly employees, health plans are described as low-cost with strong coverage value.
-
Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and additional company contributions is available from day one, alongside life and disability coverage. Pension eligibility in certain situations and financial-planning support reinforce long‑term security.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave, fertility, surrogacy, and adoption benefits, plus a ramp‑up program for returning parents, reflect a family‑focused package. Flexible Family Care days and generous time‑off options help address short‑term caregiving and personal needs.
Ford Motor Company Insights
What We Do
Ford is a global company with shared ideals and a deep sense of family. From our earliest days as a pioneer of modern transportation, we have sought to make the world a better place – one that benefits lives, communities and the planet. We are here to provide the means for every person to move and pursue their dreams, serving as a bridge between personal freedom and the future of mobility. In that pursuit, our 186,000 employees around the world help to set the pace of innovation every day.
