Colour and Material Designer

Ford Design; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted lease car

Flexible work arrangements

Training opportunities

Paid parental leave

Employee assistance program

Wellness programs

Volunteer days

Job summary

Ford Australia is seeking a Colour and Materials Designer to drive CMF design across advanced and production projects. You will translate concepts into production-ready, tactile designs, shaping vehicle aesthetics and brand experience.

The role reports to the CMF Design Manager and is based at the Broadmeadows Design Studio, with a hybrid schedule four days in the office. You’ll collaborate across design disciplines and suppliers to deliver innovative CMF solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant design field or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of global Automotive/Transportation CMF design experience, including final design execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead visionary CMF design across advanced and production projects.
• Collaborate with exterior/interior/UX to ensure cohesive CMF integration.
• Develop brand-focused CMF identity and material strategies for future models.
• Work with suppliers to production‑readiness and documentation of CMF strategies.
• Present design concepts through compelling imagery and renderings.

Skills

CMF design

Visual communication

Independent worker

Cross-functional collaboration

2D/3D design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in design

Tools

Photoshop

VRED

PowerPoint

Job description

Lead. Grow. Transform.

Ford Motor Company is constantly evolving and innovating. As part of the International Markets Group, we are committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for our Global customers. Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, we are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.

About Us

Lead. Grow. Transform.

Ford Motor Company is constantly evolving and innovating. As part of the International Markets Group, we are committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for our Global customers. Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, we are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.

As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and our local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide. #designteam

Why Ford?

For a century, we've been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Leading the way, the Ranger continues its reign as Australia's No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Car.

These remarkable achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup, giving us so much to be excited about! But we believe we do more than just build award-winning vehicles—we build careers.

• Discounted lease car options.
• Multiple Employee Resource Groups – Ford Pride, Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities.
• Flexible Work Arrangements.
• Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training.
• Paid parental leave from day 1.
• Comprehensive Employee Assist Program.
• Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks.
• Paid volunteer days.

About The Role

As a Colour and Materials Designer, you will play a pivotal role in driving the development of innovative Colour, Material, and Finish (CMF) solutions for both our advanced and production projects. You will be responsible for translating visionary concepts into tangible, production-ready designs, directly shaping the aesthetic and tactile future of our products and enhancing the overall brand experience.

This position reports directly to the CMF Design Manager and is based at the Design Studio in Broadmeadows, operating on a hybrid schedule with four days in the office.

• Lead Visionary CMF Design: Create and drive compelling, innovative Colour, Material, and Finish (CMF) design experiences and visions across various advanced and production projects. This includes developing sensory-rich palettes and material strategies that define the character and feel of our vehicles.
• Champion Human-Centered CMF: Explore and apply Human-Centered Design principles to CMF, with a strong emphasis on the holistic vehicle experience. Ensure that material choices, colours, and finishes enhance user comfort, interaction, emotional connection, and overall perception of quality, both inside and out.
• Coordinate Holistic Design Integration: Coordinate and collaborate with other design disciplines (e.g., exterior, interior, UX/UI) to ensure that CMF strategies are seamlessly integrated, contributing to a cohesive and holistic design vision for the entire vehicle.
• Develop Future Brand CMF Identity: Generate forward-thinking, brand-focused CMF design visions that anticipate future trends and translate our brand identity into tangible material and colour expressions for upcoming product generations.
• Strategic CMF Problem Solving: Lead problem-solving initiatives related to CMF in areas such as connectivity (e.g., integrating new material technologies for sensors or displays), future mobility solutions (e.g., sustainable or lightweight materials), and diverse consumer segments (e.g., tailored CMF options for specific demographics or regional preferences).
• Creative Visualization: Bring CMF designs to life through exception visualization including a realistic representation of material properties and a sensitivity to surface and form.
• Productionise CMF strategies: Work cross functionally and with external suppliers to take designs from concept to production ready.
• Critical Documentation: Responsible for the accurate and detailed documentation of CMF strategies across the complexity of a Series walk.
• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant design field or equivalent experience, coupled with a minimum of 3 - 5 years of global Automotive or Transportation Colour & Materials Design experience, including expertise in final design product execution.
• Design Acumen: Exceptional design intuition, strong problem-solving skills, and a superior ability to visually communicate through compelling imagery and renderings.
• CMF Expertise: A strong perception of colour and a good understanding of colour processes, enabling the interpretation of customer needs and global trends into compelling CMF designs.
• Independence and Judgment: Proven ability to work independently while providing strong technical aesthetic judgment.
• Technical Skills: Experience in developing artistic presentations and proficiency in 2D/3D digital design media (e.g., Photoshop, VRED, PowerPoint).
• Collaboration & Communication: Outstanding teamwork, leadership, visual, written, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Manufacturing and Mastering: A good understanding of exterior/interior manufacturing processes, materials, and the mastering process.
• Industry Passion and Trends: Passion for the automotive and mobility industry, global trends, innovation, and customer needs, alongside a keen interest in design trends across various professions and global cultures.
• Corporate and Collaborative Experience: Experience working within creative cultures and large corporate environments, managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects, and presenting to executive audiences.
• Cross-functional Partnership: A demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering and other partners to progress design development.

A design portfolio (pdf) must be provided upon application to be considered.

Equal Opportunity

Ford Australia is inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Applicants must be legally authorised to work in Australia. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

• Applications will open October 2 and close on November 2 2026, however, please do not delay your application as interviews will commence before this date---

Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.