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Entry Level Cmf Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Cmf Designer information

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$31K

$56.7K

$86K

How much do entry level cmf designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level cmf designer in the United States is $56,698.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,500.00 and $65,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level CMF designer?

Entry level CMF (Color, Material, Finish) designers are professionals who are just starting their careers in the field of product design, focusing on the aesthetics and tactile qualities of products. They work with product development teams to select and develop color palettes, materials, and surface finishes that enhance a product’s visual appeal and user experience. Their role involves trend research, material sourcing, creating sample boards, and assisting with prototypes, often under the guidance of senior designers. Entry level CMF designers typically have a background in industrial design, fashion, or a related field, and use their creativity and technical skills to help bring products to life.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level CMF designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Designer, you need a solid background in industrial or product design, with knowledge of color theory, materials, and surface finishes, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, and CAD tools is typically required. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and translate trends into viable design solutions. These competencies ensure that products are both aesthetically pleasing and manufacturable, aligning with brand identity and user needs.

What are some common challenges entry level CMF designers face when starting out, and how can they overcome them?

Entry Level CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Designers often encounter challenges such as understanding manufacturing constraints, aligning their creative ideas with brand identity, and effectively communicating their concepts to cross-functional teams. Navigating these hurdles requires strong collaboration skills, a willingness to learn from senior designers, and attention to detail when specifying materials and finishes. Building a solid foundation in industry-standard software and staying updated on material innovations can also help new CMF designers adapt quickly and contribute meaningfully to projects.

What is the difference between Entry Level Cmf Designer vs Entry Level Graphic Designer?

AspectEntry Level Cmf DesignerEntry Level Graphic Designer
CredentialsTypically a degree in design, materials, or related field; some certifications in CAD or design softwareDegree in graphic design, visual arts, or related field; proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, manufacturing firms, automotive or product companiesAdvertising agencies, media companies, corporate marketing departments
Industry UsageUsed mainly in product development, automotive, and consumer goods industriesCommon in marketing, advertising, and digital media sectors

Entry Level Cmf Designers focus on developing surface and material concepts for products, often working closely with engineering teams. Entry Level Graphic Designers create visual content for branding, advertising, and digital media. While both roles require design skills and software proficiency, Cmf Designers emphasize material and surface aesthetics, whereas Graphic Designers focus on visual communication and branding.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cmf Designer jobs?

The most popular types of Cmf Designer jobs are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Cmf Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,698 per year, or $27.3 per hour.

Full-time

Posted 15 hours ago

Posted today


Gulfstream Aerospace rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 182 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Associate 3D Designer in  GAC Savannah


Unique Skills:

Demonstrated experience using Adobe Substance Designer and Adobe Substance Sampler to create high-fidelity digital twins of real-world materials, including carpets, silks, composites, wood veneers, and other premium Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) samples.


 

Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor's Degree Computer Animation, Visual Effects, Game Design, Computer Science, Industrial Design or related field required or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. 2 years experience with 3D rendering production, visual effects, and multimedia presentation development to include experience color correcting images to accurately represent real-world lighting and materials. Position Purpose: Support the creation of architecturally accurate, photo-real, CG models, finished renderings, animations, and virtual experiences of aircraft interiors, exteriors and sections as directed. Provide an extensive knowledge in 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, and rendering and can work from handwritten instructions, sketches and engineering drawings utilizing advanced visualization software and techniques. The target audiences are internal customers.
Job Description
Principle Duties and Responsibilities: Essential Functions:
  1. Utilize current applications and learn new solutions as necessary. Current applications include, but not limited to: Autodesk Maya, Unity, Unreal, Keyshot, Nuke, Mudbox, MentalRay, Iray, Vray, Substance Designer, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.).
  2. Ensure accuracy of assets for use in printed collateral, websites, mobile applications, etc.
  3. Provide Interior and Exterior Rendering packages in accordance with the Interior Design and Sales objective.
  4. Provide backup support for formal Customer Presentations with Sales, Completions, Delivery, and Interior Designer.
  5. Interface with Marketing, Design, and Engineering for input and to ensure accuracy of renderings.
  6. Support the development of Gulfstream aircraft liveries to meet customer design expectations as well as internal operational requirements.
  7. Provide on-site support for teammates representing Gulfstream Design at key customer-facing events – such as: NBAA, EBACE, new aircraft launch events, etc.
  8. Provide a working knowledge in 3D Software. Collaborate with senior teammates and Business Technology to effectively problem-solve and diagnose software and hardware problems in a timely manner.
  9. Support and continually update 3D configurations of all current and prior production aircraft as well as coordinate archiving drawing files for permanent records.
  10. Provide guidance for interns and entry-level teammates as required.
Additional Functions:
  1. Promote efficient work practices and processes. .
  2. Contribute to an environment in which all team members are respected regardless of their individual differences and are motivated to improve both their individual and team contributions to achieve desired business results. .
Perform other duties as assigned. Other Requirements:
  1. Three-dimensional computer modeling and rendering skills are required.
  2. Completely proficient with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Adobe Photoshop required.
  3. Must have good color perception and can make adjustments to renderings to match actual materials in final, large-format printer output.
  4. Ability to meet project deadlines.
This job requires one to be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Additional Information

Requisition Number: 235497

Category: Operations

Percentage of Travel: Up to 25%

Shift: First

Employment Type: Full-time

Posting End Date: 08/25/2026 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

Gulfstream does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position, unless the applicant is a currently sponsored Gulfstream employee.

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Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically-advanced business jet aircraft


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