CMF Designer

Role: CMF Designer

Location: Foster City, CA

Job Description:

As a CMF Designer, you will play a pivotal role in fostering seamless collaboration across design, quality, engineering, and supplier teams to ensure the precise execution of Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) strategies. You will provide critical coordination and hands-on support, proactively managing timelines, resolving issues, and upholding the highest quality standards to keep CMF development aligned and efficient. If you thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where creative problem-solving meets technical precision, and you're passionate about CMF design, materials, and their impact on product aesthetics and user experience, join our team and help shape the next chapter of Zoox s vehicle and hardware design evolution.

Responsibilities:

• Initiate and Drive CMF Development: Support the early-stage development of CMF concepts, collaborating with designers and suppliers to ensure alignment with design intent.
• Mastering Coordination: Organize, track, and distribute CMF mastering samples, setting up an efficient in-house mastering distribution system while managing inventory logs.
• Proactive Issue Resolution: Take initiative in identifying process gaps, flagging discrepancies, and implementing solutions to keep projects on track.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with designers, engineers, and leadership to ensure smooth project coordination and alignment on expectations.
• Data & Process Optimization: Evaluate CMF-related data and contribute to best practices that enhance efficiency and quality in development.
• Project Ownership & Communication: Maintain clear and transparent communication on project progress, ensuring stakeholders are informed and aligned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in CMF Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, Design Quality, Product Development, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience with exceptional ability.
• 4+ years of experience in automotive CMF, program management, or coordination, with a strong understanding of industry-specific materials, finishes, and processes.
• High color acuity demonstrated ability to accurately assess and differentiate colors, with the capability to pass the Munsell Hue Color Test with a score.
• Hands-on expertise in CMF development, including material evaluations, supplier coordination, and mastering processes.
• Proactive problem solver highly motivated with the ability to identify gaps, take initiative, and drive solutions to ensure seamless project execution.
• Deep knowledge of CMF development timing and the color matching/mastering process, ensuring accuracy and consistency in production.
• Excellent communication and organization skills strong ability to manage and maintain relationships with external suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.
• Project management proficiency experience coordinating complex projects, tracking deliverables, and ensuring alignment across departments.
• Ability to work autonomously while keeping stakeholders informed, making independent decisions, and driving projects forward.
• Meticulous attention to detail keen eye for material quality, color accuracy, texture, and overall aesthetics.
• Passion for CMF innovation eager to explore emerging materials, finishes, and industry trends to elevate design standards.