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Senior Instrument Designer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Principal Studio Designer to be a senior leader within our automotive design ... Displays and interaction systems (HMI / UX) Seating comfort and kinematics Instrument panels ...

We are seeking a Principal Studio Designer to be a senior leader within our automotive design ... Instrument panels, center consoles, and door panels People & Studio Collaboration * Lead project ...

Senior Backend Developer

Dearborn, MI

$111K - $144.10K/yr

... Instrument services with observability tooling - structured logging, distributed tracing, and ... For example, designing and implementing a cloud-native application architecture using GKE (Google ...

... protocols designed with the senior team - including accuracy, precision, specificity, LOD/LOQ ... Secondary Roles & Responsibilities 1. Laboratory & Instrument Support * Perform routine maintenance ...

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Senior Instrument Designer information

See Michigan salary details

$51.4K

$92.3K

$114.2K

How much do senior instrument designer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior instrument designer in Michigan is $92,286.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,900.00 and $95,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Senior Instrument Designer job?

A Senior Instrument Designer is responsible for designing and developing instrumentation and control systems for industrial projects. They create detailed drawings, specifications, and layouts for equipment such as sensors, valves, and control panels. Their role involves collaborating with engineers, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and overseeing the installation process. They typically use specialized design software like AutoCAD or SmartPlant to produce accurate schematics. Additionally, they may provide technical guidance to junior designers and coordinate with other disciplines to ensure seamless project execution.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Senior Instrument Designer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Instrument Designer, you need a strong background in instrumentation design, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and knowledge of industry codes, supported by a relevant engineering degree or diploma. Proficiency with design software such as AutoCAD, SPI (SmartPlant Instrumentation), and familiarity with ISA standards are typically required, and certifications in these areas can be advantageous. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary engineering teams are standout soft skills. These competencies ensure the accurate development and integration of complex instrument systems, helping projects meet safety, quality, and timeline expectations.

What does a typical workday look like for a Senior Instrument Designer?

A typical day for a Senior Instrument Designer involves creating and reviewing detailed instrument drawings, developing and updating P&IDs, and coordinating with engineers and project managers to ensure design consistency and compliance with project specifications. You may spend time attending meetings to resolve design challenges, mentoring junior designers, and working with procurement teams to specify instrument components. Additionally, regular site visits or virtual walk-downs may be required to verify instrument locations and support construction or commissioning activities. This role offers a dynamic mix of technical design, collaboration, and problem-solving within a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
What are popular job titles related to Senior Instrument Designer jobs in Michigan? For Senior Instrument Designer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Instrument Designer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Instrument Designer jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Senior Instrument Designer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Senior Instrument Designer job openings:
Senior Designer - VehicleOS, Instrumentation

Senior Designer - VehicleOS, Instrumentation

General Motors

Warren, MI

$106.60K - $163.40K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


General Motors rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 301 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 44 rated automakers


Job description

Job Description
Work Arrangement
This role is categorized as hybrid. The successful candidate is expected to report to GM Sunnyvale Technical Center or Warren, Sloan Technical Center three times per week, or as dictated by business needs.
The Role
GM's Human Interface Design - Vehicle Studio is hiring a Senior Designer - Instrumentation to lead the future of in-vehicle driver information. In this role, you will act as a senior individual contributor and domain expert for digital instrument clusters and alert architecture, defining patterns that make complex, real-time information clear, glanceable, and trustworthy. You'll partner closely with design managers, software, engineering, safety, and product teams to ship high-quality cluster experiences at scale across GM brands.
If you're passionate about data-rich interfaces, safety-critical UI, and crafting cohesive information systems that drivers can rely on every day, this role is for you.
What You'll Do
  • Lead the design of digital instrument clusters, including layouts, cluster faces, states, and model/brand variants.
  • Define and refine alert and notification architecture, prioritizing safety, legibility, and consistency across programs.
  • Shape information hierarchy, motion, and state models for real-time and contextual driver information.
  • Partner with product managers, software engineers, safety, and human factors to translate requirements into user-centered, regulation-aware solutions.
  • Own complex initiatives from early concepts and IA through wireframes, prototypes, and final specifications.
  • Contribute to and evolve design guidelines, patterns, and frameworks for driver information and alerts across the ecosystem.
  • Collaborate with brand design to ensure instrumentation feels on-brand while maintaining clarity and usability.
  • Leverage research, validation studies, and data to iterate and improve designs.
  • Mentor other designers on instrumentation best practices, elevating the craft and quality across the team.
  • Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and curious team culture.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
  • 5+ years' experience creating digital interfaces for automotive, web, mobile, gaming, or embedded systems, with a strong focus on complex information displays or real-time data.
  • Formal training or degree in Interface Design, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related discipline.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing UX, interaction design, visual systems, and information design for data-rich or real-time experiences.
  • Demonstrated experience owning end-to-end design of complex, multi-state interfaces.
  • Ability to exercise restraint in design, balancing aesthetics, glanceability, and functional clarity for safety-critical use cases.
  • Proficiency in design tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, plus familiarity with prototyping tools for motion and interaction.
  • Proven ability to partner with cross-functional teams (engineering, safety, human factors, product, brand) to solve complex problems.
  • Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, with experience managing multiple programs or variants in parallel.
  • Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills, especially when explaining complex states and behaviors.

What Can Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Experience in automotive HMI, especially instrument clusters, HUDs, or safety-critical displays.
  • Hands-on experience in lean or agile product environments, including iterative design and rapid validation.
  • Strong understanding of accessibility, legibility, and inclusive design in low-attention, in-vehicle contexts.
  • Proficiency in interactive prototyping (software and/or hardware), ideally with real-time system or data simulation.
  • Experience mentoring other designers and influencing design direction beyond your immediate projects.

Compensation:
  • The expected base compensation for this role is: ($106,600-163,400). Actual base compensation within the identified range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
  • Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
  • Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.
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 hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.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