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Exterior Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Motors

Creative Designer

Warren, MI · On-site

The Role General Motors is seeking a creative Exterior Designer to join the Advanced Design / Architectural Framing Studio. This role focuses on shaping forward-looking vehicle concepts and exterior ...

General Motors

Creative Designer

Warren, MI · On-site

The Role General Motors is seeking a creative Exterior Designer to join the Advanced Design / Architectural Framing Studio. This role focuses on shaping forward-looking vehicle concepts and exterior ...

General Motors

Creative Designer

Warren, MI

The Role General Motors is seeking a creative Exterior Designer to join the Advanced Design / Architectural Framing Studio. This role focuses on shaping forward-looking vehicle concepts and exterior ...

Embraer

Senior Industrial Designer

Melbourne, FL · On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

Lead the design and development of interior and exterior designs for business jets, serving as a visionary leader in creating innovative and transformative experiences. Integration and Alignment: Act ...

Embraer

Senior Industrial Designer

Melbourne, FL · On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

Lead the design and development of interior and exterior designs for business jets, serving as a visionary leader in creating innovative and transformative experiences. Integration and Alignment: Act ...

Godfrey Marine

Industrial Designer

Elkhart, IN · On-site

$124K/yr

You will help shape the future of Godfrey Pontoons and Hurricane Boats developing both the exterior ... Create compelling and innovative interior and exterior designs using 2D and 3D tools * Ability to ...

Embraer

Senior Industrial Designer

Melbourne, FL · On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

Lead the design and development of interior and exterior designs for business jets, serving as a visionary leader in creating innovative and transformative experiences. Integration and Alignment: Act ...

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Exterior Designer information

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How much do exterior designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for exterior designer in the United States is $65,444.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,500.00 and $85,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an exterior designer do?

An Exterior Designer is responsible for creating the visual appearance and functionality of the outside surfaces of buildings, vehicles, or products. They focus on elements such as shape, color, materials, and overall aesthetics to ensure the exterior is both attractive and practical. Exterior Designers often collaborate with architects, engineers, and clients to bring design concepts to life while considering factors like durability, environment, and brand identity. Their goal is to enhance curb appeal and user experience through thoughtful design choices.

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

To thrive as an Exterior Designer, you need a solid background in architecture or industrial design, strong spatial awareness, and an understanding of materials and construction methods. Proficiency in CAD software, 3D modeling programs like SketchUp or Rhino, and knowledge of sustainability standards are often required. Creativity, effective communication, and attention to detail are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities ensure that designs are both visually appealing and practically feasible, meeting client needs and regulatory requirements.

How does an exterior designer typically collaborate with architects and engineers during a project?

Exterior designers work closely with architects and engineers to ensure that their design concepts are both aesthetically pleasing and structurally feasible. Early in a project, they participate in joint planning sessions to align on vision, materials, and budget constraints. Throughout the process, exterior designers regularly review architectural drawings and engineering specifications, providing input on façade treatments, color schemes, and material selection. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as exterior designers must balance creative ideas with technical requirements to deliver cohesive, buildable solutions.

What is the difference between Exterior Designer vs Landscape Architect?

AspectExterior DesignerLandscape Architect
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in design or architecture, certifications varyRequires a professional license (e.g., landscape architecture license), degree in landscape architecture
Work EnvironmentDesigns building exteriors, often in architectural firms or design studiosDesigns outdoor spaces, working in landscape architecture firms or on-site
Industry UsageCommonly employed in architecture, real estate, and residential/commercial designPrimarily in urban planning, environmental design, and public space projects

While both roles focus on outdoor aesthetics, Exterior Designers mainly concentrate on building exteriors, whereas Landscape Architects design outdoor environments and landscapes. Their skills and certifications differ, but both contribute to enhancing outdoor spaces in architecture and urban planning projects.

How much do exterior designers make a year?

Exterior designers typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior or specialized exterior designers with advanced skills and certifications can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $80,000 annually.

Is exterior designer a good career?

Exterior designers plan and create the outdoor appearance of buildings and landscapes, often requiring skills in design software and knowledge of architecture. The profession offers opportunities in architecture firms, landscape companies, and construction projects, with a typical work schedule that can include project deadlines and client meetings. Job prospects depend on experience, portfolio quality, and regional demand for design services.
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What states have the most Exterior Designer jobs?

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

What are popular job titles related to Exterior Designer jobs?

For Exterior Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Exterior Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Exterior Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,444 per year, or $31.5 per hour.

Exterior Creative Designer - Performance Studio-Warren, Michigan

Lincoln Park, MI • On-site

General Motors
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing • 10K+ employees
Learn more about General Motorsexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

General Motors rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 311 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Description
The Role
Our Design organization plays a critical role in realizing GM's vision by shaping the emotional and functional character of every vehicle and experience we create. Within Global Design, the General Motors Performance Studio is at the forefront of expressive, driver-focused performance design that elevates our iconic nameplates and future products.
As a Creative Designer - Performance Studio, you will contribute to both advanced and production exterior performance design for General Motors performance vehicles and programs. You will focus on a range of performance-oriented products, including aero packages, exterior graphics, appearance packages, and performance accessories.
The ideal candidate is a highly creative, hands-on exterior designer with a deep understanding of performance vehicle proportion, brand character, aerodynamics, and motorsports-inspired aesthetics. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners in a fast-paced studio environment to deliver performance products that are both aspirational and authentic.
What You'll Do
  • Drive the creative development of exterior performance design concepts for new and existing GM performance vehicles, programs, and accessories from early ideation through production execution.
  • Define and communicate a compelling performance design vision that aligns with each brand's DNA and GM's overall design strategy.
  • Generate high-quality sketches, renderings, and digital models that explore proportion, surface development, graphics, and aero elements with a strong sense of stance, emotion, and performance authenticity.
  • Partner closely with studio leadership, Clay and Digital Sculpting, Engineering, Aerodynamics, Performance Engineering, Marketing, and Program Management to balance design intent with feasibility, performance targets, cost, and timing.
  • Lead execution of exterior performance appearance and accessory programs, including body kits, spoilers, splitters, diffusers, wheels, and graphics/stripe packages.
  • Champion brand-appropriate performance graphics, color-breaks, and visual signatures that reinforce vehicle identity on both road and track.
  • Participate in design reviews, leveraging GM's evolving digital design workflows (including VR reviews, digital visualization, and collaboration tools) to present design directions, gather feedback, refine quality, and accelerate decision-making while staying current on industry, motorsports, and cultural trends related to performance and customization.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
  • Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or a related field from an accredited institution.
  • 2+ years of professional experience in automotive exterior design with a strong portfolio demonstrating performance-oriented vehicle design, advanced and/or production exterior programs, and high-quality ideation sketches, renderings, and 3D collaboration.
  • Demonstrated experience developing exterior design themes or sub-programs from concept through production, working closely with clay and digital sculpting as well as engineering teams.
  • Expert-level sketching and visualization skills (traditional and digital) with proficiency in relevant design and visualization tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite, Alias, Blender, VRED, or similar).
  • Strong understanding of proportion, surfacing, aero principles, and performance design language, with proven ability to clearly present design intent, collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams, and work on-site at the GM Global Technical Center - Design Center West in Warren, MI with normal corporate flexibility.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Experience working specifically on performance or motorsports programs (road cars, track cars, racing, or aftermarket performance products).
  • Familiarity with GM brands and performance heritage, and enthusiasm for the performance and enthusiast community.
  • Experience with VR-based design reviews, real-time visualization, and/or innovative digital design workflows.
  • Strong storytelling skills, including the ability to connect design solutions to brand strategy, customer insights, and broader business objectives.
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc).This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
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, emailus 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

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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

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