📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Exterior Designer
🔹 Company: General Motors
🔹 Location: Pasadena, California, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Design
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-28
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Designing innovative exterior concepts for electrified vehicles
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to refine and implement designs
- Following the design process from initial sketch to final release
- Staying updated on design trends and technology
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong creative vision, technical skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Research, design, and create proposals for exterior vehicle designs
✅ Generate concepts in both 2D and 3D formats
✅ Collaborate with design team, sculpting organization, engineering, and fabrication teams
✅ Take a big-picture perspective on customer needs and future transportation
✅ Present ideas frequently to management and leadership
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to work under tight deadlines.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or related field
Experience: Relevant experience in exterior vehicle design
Required Skills:
- Analog sketching including Pen ideations
- Photoshop, digital sketching, rendering, Perspective drawing, Orthographic drawing
- 3D building software including Alias and Blender
- Taping on clay models
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with electric vehicle design
- Knowledge of automotive industry trends
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in English is likely required for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $125,319.60 to $143,300.00 Annually
Benefits:
- Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance
- Total Rewards Resources: Total Rewards Resources
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a mid-level design role in the automotive industry.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: 1908
Company Description:
- General Motors (GM) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts
- GM's vision is to create a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion
- GM is committed to leading the way toward a safer, better, and more sustainable world
Company Specialties:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Vehicles
- Transportation
- engineering
- information technology
- electrification
- software
- AI
Company Website: http://www.gm.com
ASSUMPTION: General Motors is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level
Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Design Manager
Work Arrangement: On-site, with potential for hybrid or remote work in the future
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to work on various vehicle models and projects
- Opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams
- Possibility to advance to senior design roles or management positions
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Design Studio
Office Location(s): Pasadena Design Studio - Pasadena Design Studio - Bldg. 3
Geographic Context:
- Pasadena is a city in California, known for its cultural and historical landmarks
- The office is located in a design studio, providing a creative work environment
- The area has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers
Work Schedule: Full-time, with potential for overtime during peak design periods
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is creative and collaborative, with a focus on innovation and design.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or virtual interview with the Design Manager
- Portfolio review and design challenge
Key Assessment Areas:
- Design skills and creativity
- Technical proficiency in relevant software
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Alignment with company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant design experience and projects in your resume
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best exterior design work
- Research General Motors' design philosophy and values
ATS Keywords: Exterior Design, Vehicle Design, Transportation Design, Industrial Design, 3D Modeling, Alias, Blender, Clay Modeling, Design Process, Collaboration
ASSUMPTION: The application process is competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their design skills and creativity.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Alias
- Blender
- Photoshop
- Clay modeling tools
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in these tools is required for this role, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skills during the interview process.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Respect
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Equality
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to feedback
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a creative and collaborative environment?
- Are you comfortable working under tight deadlines and providing frequent design updates?
- Do you possess a strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should assess their fit with General Motors' values and work style before applying.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Meeting tight design deadlines
- Managing feedback from multiple stakeholders
- Keeping up with industry trends and technology
- Adapting to changes in design direction or project scope
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are common in a fast-paced design environment and require strong time management, communication, and adaptability skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to other exterior vehicle design positions, but may have a stronger focus on electrified vehicle design
- General Motors' design process may differ from other automotive companies, with a greater emphasis on collaboration and innovation
- Career progression may involve moving into senior design roles or management positions within the company
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other exterior vehicle design positions, it also has unique aspects that set it apart.
📝 Sample Projects
- Designing an exterior concept for an electric vehicle
- Refining a design based on feedback from multiple stakeholders
- Creating a portfolio showcasing your best exterior design work
ASSUMPTION: These projects are representative of the types of tasks and responsibilities in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare for them?
- How does this role fit into the overall design process for electrified vehicles?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the company?
- How does General Motors support work-life balance for its employees?
- What is the company's long-term vision for electrified vehicle design, and how does this role contribute to that vision?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate a candidate's interest in the role and their commitment to understanding the company's goals and values.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your resume to highlight relevant design experience and skills
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best exterior design work
- Research General Motors' design philosophy and values
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
