Surface Design Engineer

Sigil Partners; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sigil Partners seeks a Surface Design Engineer to drive exterior and interior vehicle surface development, translating design intent into high-quality digital surfaces.

The role requires mastery of Autodesk Alias, strong 2D/3D design skills, and collaboration with designers, engineers, suppliers, and leadership to deliver production-feasible designs while maintaining aesthetic integrity.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of surface design experience in automotive or related industries.
• High proficiency in Autodesk Alias for surface modeling.
• Experience with Autodesk VRED or similar visualization tools.
• Experience with Teamcenter or similar PLM systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality Class-A surfaces and 3D digital models that embody design intent, brand identity, and user experience goals.
• Translate sketches, concept renderings, and 2D layouts into refined 3D digital forms using Autodesk Alias.
• Create compelling digital visualizations, renderings, and presentations to communicate design ideas clearly to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Collaborate closely with designers, engineers, suppliers, production teams, and leadership to evolve concepts into production-feasible designs while maintaining design integrity.
• Ensure consistency of form language, proportions, and surface quality across vehicle components including exteriors, interiors, and key touchpoints.
• Utilize Teamcenter PLM to organize and manage design data, ensuring clean structure, traceability, and efficient workflow.
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time planning skills to manage multiple design iterations, reviews, and project timelines effectively.
• Produce clear, visually driven design documentation and concise reports to communicate progress, rationale, and decision-making.
• Participate actively in design reviews, contributing insights on aesthetics, usability, manufacturability, and overall design quality.

Skills

Autodesk Alias

3D Surface Modeling

Visual storytelling

Presentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Communication

Problem solving

Design intent

Tools

Autodesk Alias

Autodesk VRED

Teamcenter

Job description

We are seeking a highly creative and detail-oriented Surface Design Engineer to drive the design development of vehicle Exterior and Interior. This role is centered on shaping compelling design solutions and translating design intent into high-quality digital surfaces.

The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in 2D and 3D digital design environments, with proficiency in Autodesk Alias, along with advanced digital visualization, storytelling, and presentation skills. This position plays a key role in defining the aesthetic, form language, ergonomics, and user experience for vehicles across the automotive industry.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Develop high-quality Class-A surfaces and 3D digital models that embody design intent, brand identity, and user experience goals.
• Translate sketches, concept renderings, and 2D layouts into refined 3D digital forms using Autodesk Alias.
• Create compelling digital visualizations, renderings, and presentations to communicate design ideas clearly to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Collaborate closely with designers, engineers, suppliers, production teams, and leadership to evolve concepts into production-feasible designs while maintaining design integrity.
• Ensure consistency of form language, proportions, and surface quality across vehicle components including exteriors, interiors, and key touchpoints.
• Utilize Teamcenter PLM to organize and manage design data, ensuring clean structure, traceability, and efficient workflow.
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time planning skills to manage multiple design iterations, reviews, and project timelines effectively.
• Produce clear, visually driven design documentation and concise reports to communicate progress, rationale, and decision-making.
• Participate actively in design reviews, contributing insights on aesthetics, usability, manufacturability, and overall design quality.

Key Attributes

• Strong sense of form, proportion, and surface quality, with a refined eye for detail
• Strong understanding of Class-A surfacing, design intent, and form development
• Advanced digital visualization and visual storytelling skills (rendering, presentation, design communication)
• Creative problem-solving ability with a passion for design innovation
• Excellent organizing skills with the ability to manage complex design data and workflows
• Effective time management and prioritization skills in a fast-paced, iterative design environment
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly present design concepts
• Ability to balance creative vision with technical constraints and business objectives
• Experience collaborating in multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with vehicle design trends, materials, and production considerations

Education & Experience

• 3+ years of surface design experience in automotive or related industries
• High proficiency in Autodesk Alias for surface modeling
• Experience with Autodesk VRED or similar visualization tools strongly preferred
• Experience with Teamcenter or similar PLM systems