Senior Designer
About UsWe run a professional process and only share your profile with your consent. We hire continuously. Job DescriptionThe assignment is focused on the creative development, design maturation and delivery of exteriorcomponents and automotive lighting solutions, with particular emphasis on lighting as a key element of vehicle identity, technology expression and brand differentiation. The role requires a senior automotive designer combining strong creative judgement with provenexperience in component design, lighting design, 3D development and production feasibility. Theconsultant must be able to work independently, contribute immediately to active vehicle programmes and develop design solutions from early ideation through detailed digital development and production-oriented execution. Automotive lighting is evolving rapidly from a primarily functional component into an increasinglyimportant part of brand identity, vehicle communication, user experience and digital expression. The assignment therefore requires a designer with a strong awareness of current and emerging lighting technologies and the ability to translate technological opportunities into distinctive, sophisticated and feasible exterior design solutions. The consultant will work closely with Exterior Design, Studio Engineering, Vehicle Architecture,lighting engineering, digital modelling teams, suppliers and China-based project stakeholders.
Description of the assignment1. Exterior Components & Lighting Design DevelopmentThe consultant will support the Exterior Design team in the development and maturation of exterior components and lighting design proposals. Main responsibilities include:• create and develop high-quality exterior component and lighting design proposals for advanced and production vehicle programmes;• develop front and rear lighting concepts, including DRL signatures, position lamps, rear lampgraphics and other illuminated exterior elements;• create distinctive day and night identities that support the design language and individual vehicle character;• develop exterior components including lighting assemblies, technology bands, grilles, decorative elements, trims and other integrated exterior details where required;• explore component architecture, graphics, proportion, depth, layering, transparency, materiality and perceived quality;• develop multiple clearly differentiated creative directions when required;• translate early 2D concepts into convincing and accurately resolved 3D design solutions;• refine component designs through successive design reviews and project maturity phases;• ensure consistency between component design, whole-vehicle design intent and overall brand identity.• prepare and deliver clear visual and verbal design presentations for senior design management and project stakeholders. 2. Lighting Technology, Innovation and Feasibility IntegrationThe consultant must combine strong creative capability with an up-to-date understanding ofautomotive lighting technology and its impact on exterior design. Main responsibilities include:• remain informed about state-of-the-art and emerging automotive lighting technologies andidentify relevant opportunities for future vehicle programmes;• explore applications of technologies such as advanced LED systems, micro-LED, pixel lighting, matrix lighting, projection systems, illuminated surfaces, transparent and semi-transparent materials and dynamic light graphics;• investigate opportunities for increasingly integrated and digitally controlled lighting solutions;• understand the interaction between optical architecture, packaging, thermal requirements,component depth, electronics, materials and exterior surface design;• collaborate closely with lighting engineering and suppliers to understand technological opportunities and limitations;• contribute to the development of lighting concepts combining strong visual identity with technical feasibility and production readiness;• understand relevant homologation, functional and regulatory constraints influencing exteriorlighting design;• evaluate proposals against manufacturing feasibility, cost, packaging and component integration requirements;• support the resolution of technical constraints without unnecessarily compromising the original design intent;• contribute to discussions involving sensors, cameras, ADAS hardware and other technologiesincreasingly integrated into exterior components and lighting systems. The objective is not only to respond to existing technical solutions, but also to identify new creative opportunities enabled by technological development. 3. Digital Design Development and Production IntegrationThe consultant must be able to work efficiently from early concept development through detaileddigital and production-oriented design phases. Main responsibilities include:• work closely with CAS, Alias, Blender, visualisation and physical modelling teams;• guide and evaluate 3D development of exterior components and lighting systems;• provide clear design direction regarding surfaces, graphics, sections, depth, radii, interfaces and component relationships;• support translation of design intent into technically accurate 3D data;• review component development regularly and identify design-quality issues at an early stage;• work with Studio Engineering and project engineering teams to resolve package, feasibility and manufacturing constraints;• understand component split lines, interfaces, tolerances, attachment principles and other design-relevant production requirements;• assess physical and digital prototypes for proportions, surface quality, graphics, optical appearance and perceived quality;• contribute to design maturation through prototype, model and production-development phases;• help ensure that design intent remains strong throughout engineering development andsupplier implementation;• support design releases and final design-quality assessments when required. 4. Cross-Functional and Cross-Cultural Project SupportThe consultant will operate in an international development environment involving close collaboration between Sweden, China, suppliers and other global engineering partners. Main responsibilities include:• participate actively in project and design reviews with Sweden- and China-based stakeholders;• prepare structured design material for internal, project and executive reviews;• communicate design intent clearly across design, engineering, programme and supplierorganisations;• work effectively with lighting engineering, Studio Engineering, Product, Vehicle Architecture,digital modelling and manufacturing functions;• support alignment between creative ambition, technical requirements and programme objectives;• collaborate directly with component and lighting suppliers when required;• contribute to efficient decision-making between design and engineering teams;• communicate effectively across different cultures, functions and seniority levels;• travel to China or supplier locations when required for workshops, design reviews, modelevaluations or project milestones. Qualifications and Skills RequiredRequired:• minimum 5 years of professional experience in automotive exterior design;• proven professional experience specifically related to automotive exterior components and/orautomotive lighting design;• strong background in exterior design development within an automotive OEM, advanced design studio or recognized automotive design consultancy;• experience working on production and/or advanced vehicle programme• proven ability to develop design proposals from early ideation through detailed 3D andproduction-oriented development;• strong portfolio demonstrating high-level exterior component design capability and designmaturity;• demonstrable understanding of automotive lighting design and its contribution to vehicleidentity;• experience collaborating with automotive engineers, digital modellers, lighting specialists andsuppliers;• experience working within multidisciplinary automotive development organisations;• ability to become operational quickly and contribute to active programmes with limited onboarding.
- Strong advantage:• experience developing production automotive lighting systems;• experience working directly with automotive lighting suppliers;• experience with Chinese automotive OEMs or China-Europe vehicle-development programmes• experience within global or multi-brand automotive organizations;• previous experience with automotive design environments is a plus;• experience with premium, technology-focused or highly differentiated vehicle brands;• experience developing advanced illuminated exterior elements beyond conventional headlamp and rear-lamp solutions.
Design and Technical SkillsRequired:• excellent automotive exterior design judgement, including proportion, graphics, detailing,surfacing and perceived quality;• strong sensitivity to lighting graphics, illuminated signatures and day/night vehicle identity;• strong understanding of the automotive exterior design process from concept throughproduction feasibility;• ability to develop sophisticated component concepts within complex packaging and engineering constraints;• ability to guide CAS, Alias, Blender and other digital-model development;• strong understanding of automotive exterior components, interfaces, materials and manufacturing principles;• ability to translate 2D creative intent into high-quality and technically resolved 3D execution;• good understanding of lighting architecture and optical/package constraints relevant to automotive design;• awareness of current and emerging automotive lighting technologies;• understanding of exterior integration involving sensors, cameras, ADAS hardware and othertechnology components;• ability to balance creative ambition with engineering, homologation, cost and productionconstraints;• ability to create or direct high-quality visual material for design and executive decision-making. Communication and Collaboration SkillsRequired:• ability to work independently at Senior Designer level within an automotive studioenvironment;• ability to provide clear and constructive creative direction to digital modelers and technicalpartners;• excellent visual, verbal and written communication skills in English;• ability to articulate and justify design decisions clearly to senior designers, engineers, projectteams and management;• structured, reliable, proactive and solution-oriented working style;• strong collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams;• ability to work effectively in a Swedish collaborative culture and in a China-facing businessenvironment;• ability to communicate across different functions, cultures and seniority levels;• strong attention to detail and commitment to design quality;• ability to manage several design activities simultaneously and operate effectively underprogramme time pressure. Reporting StructureThe consultant reports directly to the Head of Exterior Design and works closely with:
- Exterior Design Chief Designers;• Exterior Designers and Component Designers;• Lighting Design and Lighting Engineering teams;• Studio Engineering and Vehicle Architecture;• CAS, Alias, Blender and physical modelling teams;• Product and Programme Management;• component and lighting suppliers;• China-based Engineering and Design teams;• Design Board leadership and senior project stakeholders.
IT / Software RequirementsHands-on experience with the following tools is an advantage:
- Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator;• Autodesk Alias;• Blender;• VRED / KeyShot;• Vizcom and other relevant AI-assisted design and visualisation tools
Experience with additional automotive design, rendering, animation or lighting-development tools is anadvantage. Hands-on digital capability is important for this assignment. The consultant is expected not only toevaluate design work, but also to be capable of personally generating, developing and communicatinghigh-quality design proposals at Senior Designer level. Ready for your next career move? Explore opportunities at Co-Workertech.com Join our LinkedIn groups for updates on upcoming opportunities! Connect, collaborate, and thrive with industry leaders: Co-Worker TechnologyCo-Worker Renewable Energy Industry Jobs