Studio X Chief Designer

Ford Design; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Parental leave

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford Design is seeking a senior leader to drive digital transformation across Global Design, directing a roadmap for AI, automation, and immersive visualization. You will oversee end-to-end pipelines, production services, and executive-level presentations while guiding a world-class team in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

The role demands 10+ years in automotive design or digital visualization, strong leadership, and a strategic mindset to balance innovation with brand integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years in Automotive Design, high-end product visualization, or digital design (in-studio program experience preferred).
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder multimedia projects and budgets.
• Extensive knowledge of modern digital tools, hardware, data governance, IP protection, and the overall Product Development/Design process.
• Strong business acumen with demonstrated leadership in hiring, developing, and inspiring creative technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a long-term global digital support strategy and transformation roadmap.
• Evaluate and implement emerging digital tools, including AI, automation, and AR/VR/MR.
• Partner with Program teams, Engineering, IT, Security, and Marketing to align digital initiatives with brand vision.
• Oversee high-fidelity rendering, narrative animation, real-time visualization, and immersive simulations pipelines.
• Manage photography and videography services for the Design studio and ensure on-time delivery of assets.
• Support ELT presentations and Market Research stimuli; pitch and facilitate project reviews.
• Manage hardware lifecycle, software licensing, vendor negotiations, and enterprise agreements.
• Implement data governance and security protocols and enforce access controls.
• Mentor senior stakeholders and lead OKR/KPI development and performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Technical Expertise

Cross-functional Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design

Job description

Job Description

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Responsibilities

What you'll do

Strategic Leadership & Digital Transformation

• Digital Roadmap: Define and execute a long-term global digital support strategy and transformation roadmap to enhance creativity and efficiency across Global Design.
• Emerging Tech & AI: Evaluate and implement emerging digital tools, including AI, procedural workflow automation, and immersive technologies (AR/VR/MR).
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner with Program teams, Engineering, IT, Corporate Security, and Marketing to align digital initiatives with brand vision and future product strategies.

Digital Production & Visualization

• End-to-End Pipelines: Oversee high-fidelity rendering, narrative animation, real-time visualization, and immersive digital simulation pipelines.
• Media Services: Manage comprehensive photography (including drone and documentary) and professional videography/editing services for the Design studio.
• Quality & Delivery: Establish and enforce rigorous quality standards and review processes to ensure on-time delivery of all Studio X assets.
• Executive Presentation: Support Marketing and Strategy teams with Executive Leadership Team (ELT) presentations and Market Research stimuli; confidently pitch and facilitate project reviews for senior leadership.

Operations, Budget, & IT Asset Management

• Hardware Lifecycle: Manage procurement, maintenance, and lifecycles for high-performance workstations, AR/VR head-mounted displays, MicroLED displays, printers, and data management systems.
• Software & SaaS: Oversee software licensing, SaaS usage, vendor negotiations, enterprise agreements, and corporate compliance.
• ROI Optimization: Ensure maximum ROI on all hardware and software acquisitions through pipeline automation and licensing efficiencies.

Data Governance & Studio Security

• IP Protection: Implement data governance and security protocols for design imagery and highly sensitive, pre-production data.
• Access Control: Create, implement, and enforce strict physical access-control policies for all secure design studios and spaces.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Culture & Performance: Foster a highly collaborative, accountable, and engaged studio culture. Lead OKR/KPI development and performance management.
• HR & Personnel Management: Assist the Design Operations Director with personnel programs, including performance reviews, salary planning, employee counseling, and training plans.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, and mentor team members through complex, ambiguous challenges.

Qualifications

You'll have

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years in Automotive Design, high-end product visualization, or digital design (in-studio program experience preferred).
• Project Management: Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder multimedia projects and budgets.
• Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of modern digital tools, hardware, data governance, IP protection, and the overall Product Development/Design process.
• Leadership: Strong business acumen with demonstrated leadership skills in hiring, developing, and inspiring creative technical teams.

Even better, you may have

• Prior experience working within large, complex corporate environments and creative cultures.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and global automotive design trends.
• Proven track record of presenting to and influencing executive-level audiences.

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.