Advanced CMF and Brand Designer

About the role

GM Design China is looking for an Advanced CMF and Brand Designer to lead colour, material and finish strategy across concept, advanced and production-relevant vehicle programmes. The role is on-site at the Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai, reporting full time, and combines about 70% advanced CMF with 30% brand work, helping define the next chapter of GM's CMF expression in China.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategic CMF vision for advanced and production programmes, defining long-range direction through trend forecasting, cultural insight and competitive analysis.
• Create advanced colour, material, grain, décor and finish concepts, seasonal palettes and material frameworks for concept and production.
• Develop innovative, sustainable materials and finishes with internal partners and suppliers, and build relationships with them.
• Influence brand material strategy and define how CMF supports a distinctive, emotionally resonant brand identity.
• Work closely with marketing and communications to align CMF with brand storytelling, launches and customer-facing content.
• Partner with China and Global Design, brand, marketing, communications and business stakeholders, and serve as the interface with global design and brand partners.
• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Program Teams, Appearance Quality and suppliers so advanced ideas remain feasible.
• Prepare strategic deliverables such as trend decks, material stories, renderings, sample boards and vision presentations.
• Mentor junior designers and promote a culture of curiosity, innovation and design rigor.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in CMF Design, Industrial Design, Material Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design or a related field.
• Typically 8+ years of professional CMF design experience in automotive, mobility, product, fashion or similar design-driven industries.
• Strong portfolio showing strategic CMF thinking, advanced concept development and brand-led material storytelling.
• Fluent spoken and written English; Mandarin strongly preferred.

Required skills

• Deep understanding of materials, finishes, textures, grains, décor, colour harmony and emerging processes.
• Ability to move from insight and vision through concept to production-aware design direction.
• Strong visual communication and presentation skills, including digital and physical CMF storytelling for senior leadership.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, cross-functional, global environment.

Preferred: experience with premium or luxury brands, knowledge of China market trends, familiarity with advanced design, concept vehicles, sustainability strategy and future mobility, and a network with material suppliers and innovation partners.