Lead Exterior Creative Designer – Performance Studio

generalmotors; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Lead Creative Designer – Performance Studio in Warren, MI to lead exterior performance design for GM performance vehicles. You will guide a small design team, shape brand DNA, and collaborate with Engineering, Aerodynamics, and Marketing to balance aesthetics with feasibility.

You will develop sketches, renderings, and digital models with a strong sense of emotion and performance authenticity, while staying ahead of trends in motorsports and enthusiast communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design or related field from an accredited institution.
• 7+ years of professional automotive exterior design experience with a strong portfolio.
• Proven experience leading design themes or sub-programs from concept through production in close partnership with clay/digital sculpting and engineering.
• Expert sketching and visualization abilities (traditional and digital) plus proficiency in key design/visualization tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Alias, Blender, VRED or similar).
• Deep understanding of proportion, surfacing, aeroprinciples, and performance design language, with strong communication, collaboration, mentoring skills, and ability to work on-site in Warren, MI.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative development of exterior performance design concepts for new and existing GM performance vehicles, programs, and accessories, from early ideation through production implementation.
• Define and communicate a compelling performance design vision that aligns with each brand’s DNA and GM’s overall design strategy.
• Generate high-quality sketches, renderings, and digital models that explore proportion, surface development, graphics, and aero elements with a strong sense of emotion, stance, and performance authenticity.
• Direct, mentor, and inspire a small team of creative designers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in craft.
• Partner closely with Studio leadership, Clay and Digital Sculpting, Engineering, Aerodynamics, Performance Engineering, Marketing, and Program Management to balance design intent with feasibility, performance targets, cost, and timing.
• Champion brand-appropriate performance graphics, color-breaks, and visual signatures that reinforce vehicle identity on both road and track, leveraging GM’s digital design workflows to refine quality and accelerate decision-making.
• Monitor industry, motorsports, and cultural trends related to performance, customization, and enthusiast communities and advocate for the customer and enthusiast perspective in all design decisions.

Skills

Exterior design

Performance design

Leadership

Mentoring

Sketching & visualization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Alias

Blender

VRED

Clay/Digital Sculpting

Job description

Job Description

Our Design organization plays a critical role in realizing GM’s vision by shaping the emotional and functional character of every vehicle and experience we create. Within this organization, the General Motors Performance Studio is at the forefront of expressive, driver-focused performance design that elevates our iconic nameplates and future products.

The Lead Creative Designer – Performance Studio is responsible for leading advanced and production exterior performance design for GM performance vehicles and programs. This role focuses on performance-oriented products, including aero packages, exterior graphics, appearance packages, and motorsport opportunities.

The ideal candidate is a highly creative, hands‑on exterior designer with a deep understanding of performance vehicle proportion, brand character, aerodynamics, and motorsports‑inspired aesthetics, combined with the leadership skills to guide a team of designers and cross‑functional partners.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the creative development of exterior performance design concepts for new and existing GM performance vehicles, programs, and accessories, from early ideation through production implementation.

• Define and communicate a compelling performance design vision that aligns with each brand’s DNA and GM’s overall design strategy.

• Generate high‑quality sketches, renderings, and digital models that explore proportion, surface development, graphics, and aero elements with a strong sense of emotion, stance, and performance authenticity.

• Direct, mentor, and inspire a small team of creative designers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in craft.

• Partner closely with Studio leadership, Clay and Digital Sculpting, Engineering, Aerodynamics, Performance Engineering, Marketing, and Program Management to balance design intent with feasibility, performance targets, cost, and timing.

• Champion brand‑appropriate performance graphics, color‑breaks, and visual signatures that reinforce vehicle identity on both road and track, leveraging GM’s digital design workflows (including VR reviews and advanced visualization) to refine quality and accelerate decision‑making.

• Monitor industry, motorsports, and cultural trends related to performance, customization, and enthusiast communities and advocate for the customer and enthusiast perspective in all design decisions.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’sdegreeinTransportationDesign,IndustrialDesign,orrelatedfieldfromanaccreditedinstitution.

• 7+yearsofprofessionalautomotiveexteriordesignexperiencewithastrongportfolioofperformance-orientedandadvanced/productionprograms.

• Provenexperienceleadingdesignthemesorsub-programsfromconceptthroughproductioninclosepartnershipwithclay/digitalsculptingandengineering.

• Expertsketchingandvisualizationabilities(traditionalanddigital)plusproficiencyinkeydesign/visualizationtools(e.g.,AdobeCreativeSuite,Alias,Blender,VREDorsimilar).

• Deepunderstandingofproportion,surfacing,aeroprinciples,andperformancedesignlanguage,withstrongcommunication,collaboration,mentoringskills,andabilitytoworkon-siteinWarren,MI.

What Will Give You A Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience working specifically on performance or motorsports programs (road cars, track cars, racing programs, or aftermarket performance products).

• Prior experience in a lead, principal, or equivalent senior designer capacity within an OEM or advanced design studio.

• Familiarity with GM brands and performance heritage and enthusiasm for the performance and enthusiast space.

• Experience with VR‑based design reviews, real‑time visualization, and/or innovative digital design workflows.

• Strong storytelling skills, including the ability to connect design solutions to brand strategy, customer insights, and business objectives.

GM does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1‑B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J‑1, etc). This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full‑time basis. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we’re looking out for your well‑being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non‑Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non‑discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role‑related assessment(s) and/or a pre‑employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1‑800‑865‑7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.