Automotive Class A Surface Designer

Cognizant; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 74,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays & PTO

Disability Insurance

Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Class A surface designer to create production-ready 3D automotive surfaces, translating styling concepts into data compatible with manufacturing and tooling. Responsibilities include preserving designer intent and ensuring high visual quality across body panels and interior trim.

The role uses Autodesk Alias, ICEM Surf, or CATIA and collaborates with design and engineering to release CAD data through systems such as Teamcenter. Onsite in Dearborn, MI.

Qualifications

• Class A surface designer role requires converting design concepts into production-ready CAD surfaces.
• Maintain designer intent in reflections, proportions and character lines for production feasibility.
• Ensure surfaces meet manufacturing, packaging, tooling and assembly requirements.
• Manage interfaces between components, including gaps, flushness and alignment.

Responsibilities

• Convert styling concepts into production-ready CAD surfaces.
• Preserve designer intent across reflections, proportions and character lines.
• Ensure smooth surface transitions and high visual quality.
• Validate surface data with quality-checking tools.

Tools

Autodesk Alias

ICEM Surf

CATIA

Job description

Job Details:

A Class A surface designer is a highly specialized automotive CAD professional who creates the final, visible 3D surfaces of a vehicle—such as the body panels, fascia, grille, lamps, instrument panel, console, and interior trim. A Class A surface designer turns a vehicle’s styling intent into visually flawless, engineering-compatible, production-feasible 3D surface data.

Their work typically includes:

• Converting design concepts or styling models into precise, production-ready CAD surfaces.
• Preserving the designer’s intended appearance, reflections, proportions, and character lines.
• Ensuring smooth surface transitions, consistent curvature, and high visual quality.
• Confirming that surfaces are feasible to manufacture and meet engineering, packaging, tooling, and assembly requirements.
• Managing interfaces between adjacent components, including gaps, flushness, and alignment.
• Correcting surface-quality issues and validating the data with quality-checking tools.
• Supporting design and engineering reviews and releasing approved CAD data through systems such as Teamcenter.
• Using specialized surfacing software such as Autodesk Alias, ICEM Surf, or CATIA.

About Cognizant’s IoT Practice:

Intelligent, IoT-enabled products will soon result in the proliferation of data and disrupt virtually all industries. To be successful, both large and small companies must leverage IoT capabilities by designing modern products that fundamentally connect people with processes. Within Cognizant IOT, we engineer industry‑aligned, IoT‑enabled products that merge industry needs with human drivers. Our intelligent products will revolutionize experiences and result in exciting, transformative outcomes. Without human‑centered thinking, connected products are just standalone things—but with it, our modern connected products facilitate a unified way of life enjoyed by all.

*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

• Applications will be accepted until October 28, 2026
• LI#- #LI‑SC6

Compensation & Benefits

$74,000– $105,00 per year + Cost of Living Allowance

Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits

Additional Information

• Onsite role
• Visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future. Candidates requiring sponsorship will not be considered.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan