Senior Principal Automotive Clay Modeler

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it's a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of "power" that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize "the joy and freedom of mobility" by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a "zero environmental footprint."

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda's, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!


Job Purpose

• This role is instrumental in realising designers' concepts by creating compelling 3D vehicle models using advanced clay modelling and digital techniques, thereby supporting American Honda's global reputation for excellence.
• The incumbent will be working in close partnership with the Creative Director and multidisciplinary teams, the 3D Expert ensures that styling projects achieve the highest standards of quality and innovation.
• The position bridges the gap between creative vision and practical execution by balancing styling intent with engineering requirements and facilitating seamless communication and collaboration across teams.
• Leadership responsibilities include providing technical mentorship, offering strategic guidance, and fostering emotionally engaging design solutions.
• Adaptability to emerging trends and technologies, along with a commitment to continuous improvement, are essential.
• By proactively seeking opportunities for innovation and optimising processes, the 3D Expert cultivates a culture of excellence within the Production Design department, ensuring every project not only meets but exceeds the expectations of both internal stakeholders and the wider automotive industry.

Key Accountabilities

• Demonstrate exceptional proportional judgement and advanced surface development expertise by exploring, developing, and resolving diverse styling directions.
• Ensure the integration of production and engineering requirements with styling objectives to deliver fully resolved and feasible 3D models, thereby supporting the successful realisation of design intent within each project.
• Apply advanced hands-on clay modelling skills to establish and implement efficient development workflows, ensuring the timely achievement of program milestones, whilst providing direct leadership and support across multiple vehicle development projects as a core responsibility in fulfilling the job's purpose.
• Critically evaluate existing processes to uncover inefficiencies and take ownership of driving continuous improvement by proactively researching, introducing, and implementing innovative technologies, tools, and training methods that elevate both team and departmental performance as a central aspect of fulfilling the job's purpose.
• Deliver hands-on mentorship and technical guidance to design team members by imparting practical expertise in concept interpretation, styling expression, and clay modelling, thereby enhancing team capability and ensuring consistently high standards of execution in support of the job's overall purpose.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Minimum Educational Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Industrial / Transportation / Product Design / Interior or Exterior Design / Engineering or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Minimum relevant industry experience:
  • At least 12 or more years, of which 8 or more years should be in Styling (FMC/ MMC PL experience).
• Other Job-Specific Skills:
  • Proficiency in automotive manufacturing and development.
  • A high level of hands-on competency in 2D to 3D
  • Mastery knowledge of both styling design and proportion principals
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
  • Must be able to propose innovative solution to balance styling and engineering requirements
  • Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • Advanced experience in quality control and ensuring high standards of design quality

Workstyle

• This is an onsite job

• This is an onsite job

What differentiates Honda and make us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards:

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth:

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued Learning
• Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings :

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.