Senior Level Store Designer Jobs
Senior level store designer jobs put experienced designers in charge of spatial concepts, brand environments, and the cross-functional teams that bring retail spaces to life. Openings are concentrated in Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Construction & Real Estate, with 27% of roles offered as remote or hybrid, and employers like HDR, Burns & McDonnell, and Amazon hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 356+ Senior Level Store Designer jobs
INTRODUCTION
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.
ROLE AND 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.
BASIC 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).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 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, storytelling, etc.
- Mindset: An adventurous, collaborative mindset and push-the-envelope of vehicle typologies.
INTRODUCTION
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.
ROLE AND 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.
BASIC 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).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 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, storytelling, etc.
- Mindset: An adventurous, collaborative mindset and push-the-envelope of vehicle typologies.
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Find JobsSenior Level Store Designer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- HDR16
- Burns & McDonnell16
- Amazon13
- Floor & Decor13
- Kimley-Horn9
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software96
- Consulting & Professional Services95
- Construction & Real Estate53
- Healthcare & Medical Services19
- Retail15
Senior Level Store Designer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level store designer job?
Employers at this level look for a portfolio that demonstrates ownership of full-cycle retail projects, from concept through construction documentation. What gives candidates an edge is evidence of leading cross-functional teams, managing vendor and contractor relationships, and influencing brand standards across multiple locations. Strong proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, or similar tools, combined with a clear point of view on spatial storytelling, signals readiness for senior responsibility.
Which companies hire senior level store designers?
Companies hiring senior level store designers right now include HDR, Burns & McDonnell, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from national retailers, specialty brands, and commercial interior firms that maintain in-house design teams and need designers who can own projects with minimal oversight.
Are there remote senior level store designer jobs?
Yes, though the role is inherently tied to physical spaces, so full-remote positions are less common than hybrid arrangements. About 27% of senior level store designer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, typically covering concept development, documentation review, and vendor coordination while requiring periodic site visits for key project milestones.
What makes a store designer role senior level?
Senior level store designer roles are defined by ownership and scope rather than task execution. At this stage, designers lead projects from strategy through delivery, set design standards that others follow, and mentor junior team members. They are accountable for decisions that affect brand consistency, budget, and timeline across multiple projects or locations, and they interface directly with leadership, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
Which industries hire the most senior level store designers?
Senior Level store designer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Construction & Real Estate, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring because they maintain large physical footprints, frequently refresh store concepts, or operate at a scale that demands dedicated senior design talent to manage brand consistency and spatial execution across locations.