Senior Color Designer

Life at Nissan encompasses everything that inspires both the quality of our vehicles and the quality of our people. Company-wide, you'll find fast learners and self-starting engines as well as people who are quick to embrace change and take an idea into overdrive. At Nissan, minds race. Imagination gets a green light. Each opportunity is the fuel that drives an idea from inspiration to real-life.

We are currently looking for a Senior Color, Materials & Finish Designer. This position will be located in San Diego, CA.

Job Summary:

A Senior CMF Designer will have the opportunity to design all aspects of color surface and material associated with our automotive design projects and present this information visually and verbally.

Essential Job Functions: (Include but are not limited to)

• Lead the creation of future Color, Materials & Finish strategies, aligning brand vision, market trends, and customer expectations to enhance the visual appeal of our Nissan and Infiniti automotive products. 
• Conduct comprehensive research on global and regional color and material trends, staying in touch with industry advancements and emerging technologies.  Use this research to inform and inspire others within Nissan.
• Collaborate closely with Nissan Engineering, Product Planning, and Marketing teams and the Interior, Exterior and UX/UI designers, along with external suppliers to ensure seamless integration of CMF concepts into the product development process.
• Create detailed CMF specifications and documentation for engineers and suppliers to ensure the accurate execution of design intent during manufacturing.  Independently and with suppliers, develop and utilize all forms of automotive materials in creating color, pattern and texture. Knowledge of automotive suppliers and current technology used by OEM’s is required.
• Responsible for all aspects related to the projects, including: scheduling project steps, ordering and receiving materials, presenting concepts, creating design notes & build book.
• Clearly and concisely present proposals to all levels of management.
• Mentor and guide upcoming CMF designers, fostering a collaborative and creative work environment.      
• Domestic and international travel is required.     

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience:

• 5+ years of color & material design experience in an automotive studio

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Art with an interest in sociology and culture.

Required Skillsets:

• Proven experience as a CMF Designer in the automotive industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing successful production projects.
• In-depth knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes, and their impact on design.
• Create high quality renderings to demonstrate CMF proposals and designs using Adobe Creative Suite and 3D rendering and visualization tools. 
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts to all stakeholders.
• Insight, creativity and resourcefulness.
• High energy, perseverance, adaptability.
• Discerning eye for production design. 
• Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator; Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel & Office in a Windows PC environment.
• 3-D rendering skills using VRed or Keyshot
• Portfolio submission is required.

Optional Skillsets:

• Experience creating animations is a plus.

Welcome to an open lane of possibility. Drive your career forward and join the company leading the technology and business evolution of the automotive industry by applying today.

Nissan is committed to a drug-free workplace.  All employment is contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen for roles based in the United States and background screening for all positions.   

All of us at Nissan – regardless of functional area or expertise – share a passion to design, manufacture, and sell high-performance vehicles. It is Nissan’s policy to provide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, gender, military status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire; Nissan uses E-Verify to validate employment eligibility. **Visa sponsorship for this position is not available at this time.**

NISSAN FOR EVERYONE

People are our most valuable assets, and diversity and inclusion are the key to maximizing the power of each individual member of our team.  When everyone belongs, the power of NISSAN is undeniable.  Our Corporate Diversity Initiative aims to