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Automotive Exterior Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

You will work closely with exterior design, digital modeling, Color & Material, and engineering ... Deep automotive knowledge: understanding of vehicle architectures, wheel/tire fitment, brake ...

Automotive Styling Designer (CAS & Class A Surfacing) Location: Nappanee, Indiana, USA Experience ... Develop advanced exterior and/or interior theme proposals * Communicate design intent through ...

... exterior designs while ensuring robust supplier industrialization and adherence to quality ... You Bring: * 5+ years of high-volume automotive manufacturing experience supporting Exterior Trim ...

Process Engineer - Sr

Paris, IL · On-site

$78K - $117K/yr

As the market share leader in exterior automotive lighting, NAL provides advanced lighting ... Advises and educates product launch teams on material and process capability for product designs.

Showing results 41-60

Automotive Exterior Designer information

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$50.5K

$73.4K

$91.5K

How much do automotive exterior designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive exterior designer in the United States is $73,374.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,000.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to become an automotive exterior designer?

To become an automotive exterior designer, typically a bachelor's degree in industrial design, transportation design, or a related field is required. Developing strong skills in sketching, 3D modeling, and familiarity with design software like Alias or Rhino is essential, along with building a portfolio to showcase your work. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions in automotive design firms can also help advance your career.

What does an automotive exterior designer do?

An Automotive Exterior Designer is responsible for creating the visual appearance and style of a vehicle's exterior. They develop sketches, digital models, and physical prototypes to shape the car's body, ensuring it is both aesthetically pleasing and aerodynamically efficient. These designers collaborate closely with engineers, manufacturers, and other design teams to balance creativity with functionality, safety, and manufacturing constraints. Their work influences how a vehicle is perceived in the market and plays a key role in a brand's identity.

Is automotive exterior design a good career?

Automotive exterior design is a specialized field that involves creating the visual appearance of vehicles, requiring skills in design software and knowledge of automotive trends. It can be a rewarding career for those passionate about vehicle aesthetics and innovation, with opportunities in automotive manufacturers and design studios. Job prospects depend on industry demand and individual skill level, often requiring a degree in industrial design or automotive engineering.

What is the difference between Automotive Exterior Designer vs Automotive Interior Designer?

AspectAutomotive Exterior DesignerAutomotive Interior Designer
CredentialsDegree in Transportation Design, Automotive Design, or related fieldsDegree in Interior Design, Transportation Design, or related fields
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, automotive manufacturers, or suppliersDesign studios, automotive manufacturers, or suppliers
Industry UsageFocuses on exterior aesthetics, aerodynamics, and stylingFocuses on interior comfort, ergonomics, and aesthetics
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared due to design specialization within automotive industry

Automotive Exterior Designers and Automotive Interior Designers both work within the automotive industry, focusing on different aspects of vehicle design. Exterior designers concentrate on the vehicle's outer appearance, aerodynamics, and styling, while interior designers focus on the comfort, ergonomics, and aesthetics of the vehicle's interior. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but their areas of expertise differ significantly.

What are some common challenges automotive exterior designers face when balancing creativity with engineering constraints?

Automotive Exterior Designers often grapple with the challenge of merging their creative vision with engineering, safety, and manufacturing requirements. While designers strive to create visually striking and innovative car exteriors, they must also ensure their designs meet aerodynamic, structural, and regulatory standards. Close collaboration with engineers, product managers, and manufacturing teams is essential to refine concepts without compromising feasibility or the brand's identity. This balancing act requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of both design trends and technical limitations.

Are automotive exterior designers in demand?

Automotive exterior designers are in demand as automakers focus on innovative and aerodynamic vehicle designs. The role requires strong skills in CAD software and an understanding of current industry trends, with employment opportunities often linked to automotive manufacturing and design firms.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an automotive exterior designer?

To thrive as an Automotive Exterior Designer, you need strong skills in industrial design, sketching, 3D modeling, and a relevant degree in transportation or automotive design. Expertise in digital design tools such as Autodesk Alias, Adobe Creative Suite, and proficiency in clay modeling or CAD systems is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, collaboration, and effective communication are essential soft skills for excelling in this role. These skills ensure innovative, functional, and aesthetically pleasing vehicle designs that meet both client expectations and engineering requirements.
More about Automotive Exterior Designer jobs

What cities are hiring for Automotive Exterior Designer jobs?

Cities with the most Automotive Exterior Designer job openings:

What states have the most Automotive Exterior Designer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Automotive Exterior Designer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Automotive Exterior Designer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Automotive Exterior Designer jobs are:

Infographic showing various Automotive Exterior Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,374 per year, or $35.3 per hour.

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Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an entry-level Wheel Designer to join the Wheel Design team at General Motors. This role focuses on the creation of innovative wheel designs that reinforce GM's brand character (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC/Hummer) and support the proportion, stance, and performance of our vehicles. You will work closely with exterior design, digital modeling, Color & Material, and engineering partners to take ideas from early sketches through digital models and production-feasible solutions.

Key Responsibilities

  • Generate high-quality wheel concept sketches that explore proportion, spoke architecture, surfacing, and detailing.
  • Develop refined digital renderings using Adobe Photoshop to communicate design intent, color/finish, and material breakup.
  • Integrate AI-assisted tools (e.g., generative image/model workflows) into your process for rapid ideation, variation studies, and visualization while maintaining a clear, original design point of view.
  • Collaborate with exterior designers, digital modelers, and colors & materials teams to align wheel designs with overall vehicle vision.
  • Prepare clear presentations of design work for design reviews, including sketches, digital renders, and 3D views.
  • Support the transition from concept to production by refining designs in response to engineering, aerodynamics, brake-cooling, and manufacturing feedback.

Required Skills & Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (or in final year of study) in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, Automotive Design, or a closely related field, or equivalent portfolio-based experience.
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating:
    • Advanced hand sketching and quick ideation skills.
    • Photoreal digital rendering (Photoshop, VRED, or equivalent).
    • Solid 3D surfacing capability (e.g., Alias, Blender, or similar).
    • Use of AI tools (image generation, variation, or assistive workflows) as part of an integrated design process.
  • Strong communication skills and comfort presenting work to crossfunctional teams and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience designing wheels for production or advanced concept vehicles.
  • Previous work in a global OEM or advanced studio environment.
  • Deep automotive knowledge: understanding of vehicle architectures, wheel/tire fitment, brake package constraints, and brand/segment trends.
  • Proven ability to take designs from early concept through to productionviable solutions.

Personal Attributes

  • Genuine passion for automotive design and emerging mobility trends.
  • Highly creative with a strong sense of proportion, stance, and detail.
  • Collaborative, open to feedback, and able to iterate quickly.
  • Proactive, selfdriven, and comfortable operating in a fastpaced studio environment.

Portfolio Submission

Please submit:

  • Resume highlighting education and relevant experience.
  • Digital portfolio (PDF or online link) featuring:
    • Freehand sketches and ideation pages
    • Photoshop renderings of wheels or related components
    • Blender or other 3D work (screenshots or turntables)
    • Any examples of AI-assisted design workflows, clearly labeled.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.


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About General Motors

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General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908