Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader
Principal Studio Designer
FORVIA is a global leader in sustainable mobility technology. We design and deliver experiences that matter—at scale, with impact, and in close partnership with our OEM customers.
Your Mission, Roles And Responsibilities
Your Role
As a Principal Studio Designer, you will act as a senior design authority and ambassador for FORVIA Design, leading studio projects from early‑phase concepts through customer engagement, RFQs, and execution. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, represent the studio directly with OEM customers, and help position FORVIA’s technologies and innovations to win new business. This is a visible, outward‑facing studio role with strong influence across design, engineering, and commercial teams.
What You’ll Do
Studio Design Leadership
- Lead automotive studio design projects involving internal design teams and external partners
- Balance hands‑on design contribution with hands‑off leadership and direction
- Provide senior‑level expertise in product definition, design development, and execution
- Lead and participate in studio design critiques, reviews, and workshops
- Support and strengthen design studio practices and methodologies
Customer Interface & Business Development
- Serve as a primary design representative with OEM customers and internal stakeholders
- Build, maintain, and actively develop customer relationships
- Leverage your customer and ecosystem network to support early‑phase concepts, RFQs, and new business acquisition
- Confidently present, defend, and evolve design proposals directly with customers
- Promote FORVIA technologies and innovations through strong studio storytelling and design vision
Product, Process & Technical Alignment
- Translate OEM and FORVIA requirements into clear, actionable design specifications
- Analyze and clarify customer requirement documents and functional specifications
- Ensure studio concepts are grounded in technical feasibility, ergonomics, and system integration
- Apply strong understanding of automotive interior systems, including:
- Displays and interaction systems (HMI/UX)
- Seating comfort and kinematics
- Instrument panels, center consoles, and door panels
People & Studio Collaboration
- Lead project‑based design contributors across local and global FORVIA design studios
- Mentor designers and provide input on studio capability development
- Collaborate across FORVIA’s global design studio network
- Support broader management and innovation initiatives as a senior studio leader
- Willingness to travel frequently to customers and studio locations
Your profile and competencies to succeed
Experience & Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Design
- 5+ years of experience in Automotive or Product Design
- Minimum 5 years within an automotive design studio environment
- International experience a plus
Design & Technical Skills
- Strong background in studio‑based, system‑level automotive design
- Understanding of user‑centered design (UX/UI, design thinking)
- Experience with product and service concept creation (use‑case driven, architecture‑aware)
- Strong visualization and communication skills
- Proficiency in tools such as Alias, Maya, Blender, Gravity, Substance, Adobe Creative Suite, Vizcom, and AI‑enabled design tools
Behavioral Profile
- Extroverted, customer‑oriented, and commercially minded
- Comfortable networking, influencing, and negotiating at a senior level
- Existing OEM relationships strongly preferred
- Entrepreneurial mindset with high accountability and ownership
- Decisive, proactive, and comfortable making tough calls
- Global mindset with the ability to operate across cultures
What We Can Do For You
- Comprehensive training via FORVIA University and access to a global learning ecosystem
- Multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration
- Commitment to CO2 Net Zero by 2045 and leading sustainability initiatives