Head of Exterior Design — Global Vehicle Styling

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Generous PTO

Flexible hours

Global environment

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. in Irvine, CA seeks a Head of Exterior Design to lead exterior design programs from concept to production, mentoring the next generation of designers and aligning with Hyundai's global design vision.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years of automotive design leadership, proven production or concept vehicle experience, and strong collaboration with cross-functional teams in international settings, with domestic and international travel up to 20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Automotive Design, Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional automotive design experience.
• Experience leading vehicle design programs and collaborating with global engineering and design organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead exterior design programs from concept ideation through production release.
• Develop compelling design proposals through sketches, renderings, and 3D digital models.
• Execute and refine design themes while aligning with design philosophy and brand strategy.
• Create and develop digital data sets and production-feasible design solutions.
• Take ownership of design programs and provide creative direction throughout vehicle development.
• Mentor junior designers through coaching, feedback, and hands-on guidance.
• Lead design reviews and provide constructive critique to elevate team performance.
• Collaborate with Design Management on project planning, resource allocation, and timing requirements.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Product Planning teams to ensure successful program execution.

Skills

Sketching

Rendering

Digital modeling

Alias

Unreal

Photoshop

AI software

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Automotive Design, Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or related field

Tools

Alias

Unreal

Photoshop

AI Software

PowerPoint

Job description

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. in Irvine, CA seeks a Head of Exterior Design to lead exterior design programs from concept to production, mentoring the next generation of designers and aligning with Hyundai's global design vision.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years of automotive design leadership, proven production or concept vehicle experience, and strong collaboration with cross-functional teams in international settings, with domestic and international travel up to 20%.