Color and Material Mastering Designer

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

In this position…

Join our Color & Material team to lead design for current and future customers of the Ford brands product line up, including Battery Electric Vehicle, Commercial vehicles, Trucks, Compact trucks, Icons, Passenger vehicle/utilities, Luxury, and Emerging Markets.

Color & Material Design creates, curates, and delivers Color, Material and Finish (CMF) solutions that influence and enhance the current automotive landscape. This role is responsible in developing and mastering all the Colors, Materials, Finishes for use on the exterior and interior of the vehicles that bring a distinct look and experience to the automobile. 

This position will be located in Dearborn, MI.

As a Color and Material Designer you will:

• Ideate and collaborate for overall CMF designs using concepts that embody a creative narrative, advanced functionality, and innovative user experience.


• Ensure integration of complex CMF into the overall vehicle design and alignment with cross-functional teams across all stages of design.


• Collaborate with external vendors and internal teams to translate new designs into visual samples to validate feasibility and functionality. 


• Partner with teammates in analysis of future consumer trends to identify brand relevant CMF narratives that inform cutting-edge CMF design solutions.


• Develop digital and physical CMF presentations that embody the creative narrative and accurately depict design intent.


• Develop and guide color and material designs/master’s through the creation and definition of physical, digital samples for use in concept and production vehicles.


• Work with other Color & Material Designers to strategize and deliver color correct film, finishes, textiles, paints, threads, vinyl to support ongoing and future programs. 


• Create and validate color, texture, gloss and finish masters in various materials (i.e., Films, Finishes, Leather, Vinyl, Plastic, Paint, Plating, etc.) and establish the Design Intent.


• Supports all program timing, ensuring program and project deliverables are met within the program targets.


• Procure and track Purchase Orders related to master developments.

What you'll have…

• Bachelor's Degree preferred in Industrial Design, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Color Science or equivalent with specialization in fashion, textiles, plastics, paints, metals, plating, or material fields dealing with color.


• 2+ year of experience required in automotive/industrial/mobility color and material design or development including work in product design, textile design, Color Development Quality Control


• Strong, demonstrated understanding of color theory (hue, value, chroma, etc.).


• Experience and knowledge of Color Application across materials including but not limited to films, finishes, plastic, paint, vinyl, fabric, etc.


• Knowledge of the Colors and Materials design process.

Even better you'll have…

• Automotive CMF Design experience 


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with diverse disciplines.


• Highly collaborative and proactive both internally and externally.


• Ability to effectively communicate in a wide range of formats for presenting Material future design strategies. 


• Must be self-motivated, adaptable, flexible, and able to multi-task.


• Proficient in Adobe Suit tools (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, VRED) and Microsoft Suit tools (i.e. PowerPoint, Excel)


• Ability to effectively communicate color evaluation and corrective direction with cross functional teams.


• Experience with spectrophotometers/color data.

 You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

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:
• 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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSRSP1

This position is a range of salary grades 6-7.      

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.

Onsite work of up to three days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location.  #LI-Hybrid  #FDCMJOB #LI-LS1