Senior Lead Exterior Designer

Role Summary

As a Senior Lead Exterior Designer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity and proportion of future Rivian vehicle programs. Operating out of our Irvine Design Studio, you will lead the exterior design narrative from early blue-sky ideation through production execution.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Exterior Design, you will collaborate closely with digital sculptors, clay modelers, aerodynamicists, packaging engineers, and studio leadership. You are both a visionary stylist with exceptional aesthetic taste and a seasoned design leader capable of mentoring designers, navigating engineering constraints, and championing design intent to final tooling.

Responsibilities

• Creative Vision & Leadership: Lead exterior design themes for next-generation vehicle architectures, defining proportions, surfacing language, graphics, and lighting signatures aligned with Rivian's brand ethos.
• Concept to Production Delivery: Drive projects through every phase of the vehicle development cycle-from 2D sketch ideation and 3D CAS modeling to 1:1 clay refinement and Class-A surfacing buy-off.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Studio Engineering, Aerodynamics, Body-in-White (BIW), Thermal, and Engineering teams to develop innovative technical solutions without compromising aesthetic integrity.
• Mentorship & Culture: Provide day-to-day guidance, creative inspiration, and critique to junior and mid-level exterior designers, fostering a highly collaborative studio environment.
• Executive Presentation: Prepare and deliver compelling design presentations, physical model walk-arounds, and visual assets to the Senior Director of Exterior Design, Head of Design, and executive leadership.
• Studio Hands-On Direction: Work side-by-side with digital sculptors (Alias/SubD) and clay modelers on the studio floor, translating sketches into clean, sculptural, production-ready form.

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of production and concept automotive exterior design experience within an OEM studio or high-profile automotive design consultancy.
• Proven Track Record: At least one production vehicle exterior to your credit (from initial concept sketch through to production sign-off).
• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Skills & Mastery:
  • Exceptional 2D visualization skills (analog sketching, Photoshop, Procreate).
  • Strong 3D spatial awareness with hands-on fluency or deep working knowledge of Alias, Blender, V-Red, or digital modeling workflows.
  • Deep understanding of automotive package architecture, hard points, aerodynamics, pedestrian safety regulations, lighting, and manufacturing feasibility.
  • Experience working directly with clay modeling teams to refine surfaces under studio lighting conditions.
  • Experience in multiple A.I. software used in the design process, presentations, story telling, etc.
• Mindset: An adventurous, collaborative mindset and push-the-envelope of vehicle typologies.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $196,000 - $245,000 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.