Digital Automotive Design Modeler

Meyers Manx; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Meyers Manx is seeking a skilled Digital Automotive Design Modeler to translate sketches into production-ready 3D surfaces, bridging artistic intent and engineering feasibility.

You will work across exterior and interior class-A surfaces, collaborate with design and engineering teams, and contribute to real-time visualization and AR/VR design reviews.

Qualifications

• Experience 5–10 years in automotive digital design modeling.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Alias for class-A surfacing and concept modeling.
• Working knowledge of Blender for concept exploration and visualization.
• Experience with Autodesk VRED for real-time rendering and design reviews.
• Experience with Unreal Engine for real-time visualization.
• Knowledge of Gravity Sketch or AR/VR sketching tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop exterior and interior class-A and class-B surface models from sketches and briefs.
• Build and refine digital models through all stages of the design process: concept, exploration, refinement, and production handoff.
• Collaborate with designers, engineers and studio engineers to balance vision with constraints.
• Produce real-time visualization scenes for design reviews and executive walkthroughs.
• Set up designs in AR/VR environments for immersive design evaluation.
• Maintain surface continuity and curvature standards across automotive forms.
• Prepare models for CAS handoff to engineering teams.
• Iterate quickly based on feedback while preserving data integrity.

Skills

5–10 years exp in automotive design

Artistic sensibility

Engineering understanding

2D sketch interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Transportation/Industrial Design or related field

Tools

Autodesk Alias

Blender

Autodesk VRED

Unreal Engine

Gravity Sketch

Job description

We are seeking a skilled Digital Automotive Design Modeler to join our design studio. This role bridges creative design intent and engineering feasibility, translating sketches and design concepts into precise, production-viable 3D surface models. The ideal candidate combines strong artistic sensibility with technical discipline and is fluent across the modern automotive design toolchain — including class-A surfacing, real-time visualization, and AR/VR design review workflows.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop exterior and/or interior class-A and class-B surface models from 2D sketches, clay models, or design briefs, ensuring accurate proportion, form language, and surface quality
• Build and refine digital models through all stages of the design process — concept, exploration, refinement, and production handoff
• Collaborate closely with designers, engineers, and studio engineers to balance creative vision with manufacturing and packaging constraints
• Produce and manage real-time visualization scenes for design reviews, milestone presentations, and executive walkthroughs
• Set up and present designs in AR/VR environments for immersive, full-scale design evaluation
• Maintain surface continuity, tangency, and curvature standards across complex automotive forms
• Support design sign-off processes by preparing models for CAS (Class-A Surfacing) handoff to engineering teams
• Iterate quickly based on design and engineering feedback while maintaining data integrity
• Contribute to the development and improvement of digital modeling workflows and studio best practices

Required Skills & Experience

• 5–10 years of professional experience in automotive or transportation digital design modeling
• Proficiency in Autodesk Alias (Class-A surfacing, sketching, and concept modeling)
• Working knowledge of Blender for concept exploration, visualization, or asset preparation
• Experience with Autodesk VRED for real-time rendering, lighting, and design review presentations
• Experience with Unreal Engine for real-time visualization and interactive design reviews
• Working knowledge of Gravity Sketch or similar AR/VR sketching and design tools
• Strong understanding of surfacing principles: curvature continuity (G0/G1/G2/G3), reflection quality, and class-A standards
• Solid grasp of automotive form, proportion, and design language
• Engineering background or strong technical understanding (mechanical, industrial, or automotive engineering) preferred
• Ability to interpret and work from 2D sketches, tape drawings, or physical/digital clay data

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Experience Level: 5–10 Years
• Experience working with physical clay modeling teams and understanding the digital-clay feedback loop
• Familiarity with CAD/CAS data exchange and downstream engineering handoff processes
• Understanding of manufacturing constraints (stamping, molding, tooling) as they relate to surface design

What We're Looking For

A hybrid creative-technical thinker who can move fluidly between artistic surface refinement and engineering-informed problem solving, while staying current with emerging real-time and immersive design tools. We welcome candidates across a range of experience levels — from strong mid-career modelers to seasoned senior specialists.