Overview
Lead. Grow. Transform. Ford Motor Company is evolving and innovating. As part of the International Markets Group, we are committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for our global customers. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, we are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.
About Us
As Australia's largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and our local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide.
Why Ford?
For a century, we\'ve been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. The Ranger continues its reign as Australia\'s No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang holds its position as Australia\'s No. 1 Sports Car. These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup. We build careers as well as award-winning vehicles.
Benefits
* Discounted lease car options.
* Multiple Employee Resource Groups – Ford Pride, Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities.
* Flexible Work Arrangements.
* Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training.
* Paid parental leave from day 1.
* Comprehensive Employee Assist Program.
* Paid volunteer days.
* Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks.
About The Role
As a Senior Automotive Designer, you will spearhead innovative design solutions for both advanced and production projects. This role demands exceptional skill in translating visionary concepts into tangible outputs, including compelling sketches, high-quality renderings, and precise 3D digital models. Your expertise will be critical in shaping the future of our automotive designs, seamlessly blending conceptual brilliance with robust production feasibility.
This position reports directly to the Design Manager and is based at the Design Studio in Broadmeadows, operating on a hybrid schedule with four days in the office.
Responsibilities
* Lead Visionary Design Development: Spearhead the creation of compelling and innovative design experiences and overarching visions for a diverse range of design projects, pushing creative boundaries and setting new benchmarks for our future product lines.
* Drive Human-Centered Design Exploration: Proactively explore and champion Human-Centered Design principles, leading deep dives into user needs, behaviours, and emotional connections. Emphasize a holistic approach to the vehicle, ensuring seamless integration across exterior, interior, UX/UI, and overall brand experience.
* Coordinate and Mentor Design Teams: Provide leadership and guidance to other design personnel, coordinating their work to ensure cohesive and holistic design visions are achieved. Foster a collaborative environment, mentor junior designers, and maintain design integrity from initial concept through to execution.
* Shape Future Brand Identity: Develop and articulate future brand-focused design visions, demonstrating strategic foresight by anticipating market trends and defining the visual and experiential language for upcoming product generations.
* Solve Complex Mobility Challenges: Lead problem-solving efforts around critical topics such as advanced connectivity, evolving mobility solutions, and diverse consumer segments. This includes integrating new technologies and tailoring design experiences to meet the specific needs and aspirations of various user groups, often in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Qualifications
* Education and Experience: Bachelor\'s degree in industrial or transportation design. A minimum of 5 years of global automotive or transportation design experience is required, including demonstrated success with final design product execution.
* Design Acumen: Proven ability to translate customer needs and global trends into compelling, innovative designs.
* Technical and Aesthetic Leadership: Strong technical aesthetic judgment, with the ability to work independently and guide other team members.
* Design Skills: Expertise in both traditional design media (storyboarding, sketching) and advanced 2D/3D digital design software (e.g., Photoshop, Alias AutoStudio, Gravity Sketch, Maya, VRED, AI tools).
* Form and Proportion: Exceptional ability to think three-dimensionally, translating 2D concepts to 3D with a strong emphasis on proportions and a refined sense of form.
* Creative and Strategic Thinking: Exceptional design intuition, strong problem-solving skills, and a keen interest in design trends across various professions and global cultures (automotive, fashion, architectural, etc.).
* Communication: Superior ability to visually communicate through sketches and renderings, combined with outstanding teamwork, leadership, visual, written, and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
* Manufacturing and Materials Knowledge: Good understanding of exterior/interior manufacturing processes and material science.
* Industry Passion: A deep passion for the automotive and mobility industry, global trends, innovation, and customer needs.
* Collaborative Experience: Experience working effectively within creative cultures and/or large, corporate environments.
* Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated experience managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects and presenting to executive audiences.
* Cross-Functional Partnership: Proven ability to collaborate seamlessly with Engineering and other partners to drive design development.
A design portfolio
A design portfolio (pdf) must be provided upon application to be considered.
Equal Opportunity
Ford Australia is an inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
Applications will close on Tuesday 2 June 2026; however, please do not delay your application as interviews will commence before this date.
Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
Privacy and Information Handling
Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Limited collects your personal information to consider you for a role at Ford. Ford may collect information from third parties such as referees and recruitment agencies for this purpose. Ford may disclose your information to related companies and third party service providers for activities such as screening, background checks, aptitude testing, health and safety and human resources management. Ford\'s privacy policy explains how you can access or correct information and how to raise a privacy complaint. You can contact Ford at 13 FORD ( 13 36 73 ).
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