Lead Exterior Creative Designer – Performance Studio

General Motors; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors’ Design organization in Warren, MI is seeking a Lead Creative Designer – Performance Studio to lead exterior performance design for GM performance vehicles, from ideation to production. The role requires deep understanding of proportion, aerodynamics, and brand character, plus the ability to guide a small team of designers and collaborate with engineering and marketing partners.

You will create sketches, renderings, and digital models exploring stance, graphics, and aero elements,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design or Industrial Design from an accredited institution.
• 7+ years of automotive exterior design experience with a strong performance portfolio.
• Experience leading design themes or sub-projects with cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative development of exterior performance design concepts from ideation to production.
• Define and communicate a compelling performance design vision aligned with brand DNA and GM strategy.
• Generate sketches, renderings and digital models focusing on proportion, surface and aero elements.
• Direct, mentor and inspire a small design team, fostering innovation and collaboration.
• Partner with Studio leadership, Engineering, Aerodynamics, Marketing and PM to balance design with feasibility.
• Champion performance graphics and visual signatures for road and track using VR reviews and visualization.
• Monitor trends in motorsports and enthusiast communities to inform design decisions.

Skills

Exterior design

Team leadership

Proportion & aerodynamics

Sketching & visualization

Communication & collaboration

VR visualization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design or Industrial Design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Alias

Blender

VRED

Job description

Job Description

The Role

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

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

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