Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer Company: General Motors Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-09-12 Experience Level: Senior / Lead (Equivalent to 8+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office minimum)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead strategic design direction for a cohesive digital ecosystem spanning web, mobile, and in-vehicle platforms, aligning with GM's vision of Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion.
• Provide creative and strategic leadership, mentoring junior designers and guiding them through complex user experience (UX) and interaction design challenges.
• Champion an evolving studio culture that fosters designer career development, inclusion, and belonging.
• Drive innovation in product experiences by leveraging deep knowledge of UX principles, an exceptional eye for detail, and a commitment to user-centric design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description is for a Product Designer role, the emphasis on "strategic design direction across web, mobile, and in-vehicle platforms" and "leading key design efforts" strongly suggests a senior or lead-level position within the operations of product development, focusing on the user experience and interface design, which is crucial for the successful deployment and adoption of GM's technological advancements. This role is pivotal in ensuring the operational efficiency and user satisfaction of GM's digital products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and scale a cohesive user experience that spans GM's diverse digital ecosystem, ensuring consistency and quality across all touchpoints.
• Lead the conceptualization and execution of innovative product experiences, translating user needs and business objectives into intuitive and engaging interfaces.
• Mentor and guide a team of designers, fostering their growth and ensuring high-quality design output through critiques and collaborative problem-solving.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and researchers, to deliver exceptional user-centered designs.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and best practices within the Human Interface Design Team.
• Expand on and build out future enhancements for GM's software experiences, anticipating user needs and technological advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on strategic thinking, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, which are critical operational components in a large automotive organization like GM. The expectation to "expand on and build out future enhancements" indicates a forward-looking approach to product development, requiring proactive problem-solving and a deep understanding of the product lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Design degree preferred, indicating a foundational understanding of design principles and methodologies relevant to product development.

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in creating digital interfaces for web, mobile, or in-vehicle platforms, demonstrating a proven track record in product design.
• Experience contributing within a cross-functional design team and inspiring designers to deliver on product experiences.

Required Skills:

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, user research methodologies, and information architecture.
• Interaction Design: Ability to craft intuitive and engaging user flows and interactions for complex digital products.
• Creativity: Proven ability to generate innovative design solutions and think conceptually to solve design challenges.
• Design Communication Skills: Excellent ability to articulate design concepts and rationale through written, graphical, and interactive media to various stakeholders.
• Collaboration Skills: Natural ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, incorporating feedback and building consensus.
• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.
• Adobe Creative Suites Proficiency: Strong command of relevant Adobe tools (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator) for asset creation and manipulation.
• Visual Design Skills: An exceptional eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout.
• Proactivity: Ability to identify and address potential problems before they arise and take initiative without constant supervision.
• Comfortable with Ambiguity: Ability to navigate and thrive in environments where problems and solutions are not always clearly defined.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in fleet management, suggesting an understanding of B2B or enterprise-level user needs within the automotive sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience and the emphasis on leadership and strategic direction clearly position this as a senior-level role. Proficiency in specific tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is critical for the operational execution of design tasks. The "Key Characteristics" section further elaborates on the soft skills essential for success in a collaborative and evolving design environment, highlighting the importance of empathetic and proactive problem-solving.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate impactful design work across systems and platforms, showcasing a holistic approach to user experience.
• Provide a strong portfolio with work samples specifically showcasing UX expertise, interaction design capabilities, creativity, and depth of thought.
• Include case studies that highlight your process from problem identification to solution implementation, emphasizing user research and iterative design.
• Showcase your ability to translate complex requirements into elegant and functional user interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your design process, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration.
• Detail how you approach design challenges, including problem framing, solution exploration, and decision-making rationale.
• Demonstrate how you incorporate feedback from stakeholders and user testing into your design iterations to optimize the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a lead role, a portfolio is not just a collection of work but a demonstration of strategic thinking and process. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design methodology, how they approach ambiguity, and how they collaborate with teams to drive projects forward. The "depth of thought" mentioned implies a need to showcase critical thinking and problem-solving skills beyond just visual aesthetics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated annual base salary range for this role is $177,000 to $270,900 USD.
• The final offer will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, location, and internal equity.

Bonus Potential:

• Eligibility for an incentive pay program based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellbeing programs including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare expense management.
• Retirement savings plan to support long-term financial goals.
• Sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, and paid time off including vacation and holidays.
• Tuition assistance programs for continuous learning and professional development.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.
• Employee discounts on GM vehicles.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with the expectation of hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is a good faith estimate for California. It's important for candidates to note that General Motors offers a robust benefits package designed to support employees' overall well-being and financial security, which is common for large, established corporations in the automotive industry. The bonus potential adds to the total compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing & Technology. General Motors is at the forefront of transforming the automotive industry towards a future of "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion." This involves significant investment in electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous driving technology, and connected services. Company Size: Large Enterprise. As a global automotive giant, GM has a vast workforce, implying a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact due to the scale of operations. Founded: 1908. With a long history, GM has a legacy of innovation and adaptation in the automotive sector. This history suggests a blend of established practices and a drive to innovate for the future.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Human Interface Design Team, focusing on product experience across digital platforms.
• This team likely works closely with product management, engineering, and other design disciplines (e.g., industrial design, UX research).
• As a Lead, you will mentor junior designers and collaborate with peers and leadership across various departments, requiring strong stakeholder management skills.

Methodology:

• The team operates with a focus on user experience design principles, aiming to create cohesive and intuitive digital products.
• Expect a collaborative approach, involving design critiques, cross-functional brainstorming, and iterative development based on user feedback and data.
• Emphasis on innovation and forward-thinking design to support GM's strategic vision.

Company Website: https://www.gm.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: GM's "Why Join Us" section emphasizes a culture of driving meaningful change and fostering belonging. For a Lead Product Designer, this translates to an environment where you can influence the user experience of products that impact millions, while also contributing to a culture of innovation and inclusivity. The scale of GM means that design decisions can have a wide-reaching operational impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Product Designer. This role signifies a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities, expected to influence design strategy and mentor junior team members. It bridges individual contribution with team guidance. Reporting Structure: The role reports into a leadership position within the Human Interface Design Team. As a lead, you will likely interact with various product teams and stakeholders across GM's digital and automotive divisions. Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the operational success of GM's digital products by ensuring they are user-friendly, efficient, and aligned with the company's strategic goals. A well-designed digital ecosystem enhances customer satisfaction, streamlines internal processes, and supports the adoption of new technologies like EVs and autonomous driving.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to further develop leadership skills through mentorship, team management, and leading complex design initiatives.
• Strategic Influence: Potential to influence the long-term design vision and strategy for GM's digital products and services.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI design, potentially specializing in in-vehicle infotainment, mobile applications, or connected services.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to various facets of the automotive industry, including product development, engineering, marketing, and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: A "Lead" title in a company like GM implies a significant level of responsibility and potential for growth into management or principal-level design roles. The ability to shape product experiences at this scale offers substantial career development opportunities within the burgeoning field of automotive technology and user interface design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Environment. The successful candidate is expected to work from the Sunnyvale Technical Center at least three days per week, indicating a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Office Location(s): Sunnyvale Technical Center, Sunnyvale, California. This location is likely a hub for GM's technical and design talent, particularly in areas related to software and digital innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The Sunnyvale Technical Center is expected to provide a collaborative environment with access to modern design tools and technology.
• Opportunities for direct interaction and knowledge sharing with other designers, engineers, product managers, and researchers.
• A dynamic workspace that supports both focused individual work and team-based collaboration.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule, requiring a minimum of three days per week at the designated office location. This structure allows for dedicated in-office time for team collaboration, meetings, and hands-on design work, while offering flexibility for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration for design work with the flexibility of remote work. For a Lead Product Designer, being present in the office for at least three days a week is crucial for effective team mentorship, cross-functional alignment, and fostering the studio culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter review of application and resume to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing their design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key case studies.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion focused on design philosophy, leadership approach, collaboration skills, and specific experience relevant to the role.
• Design Challenge/Workshop: May involve a practical exercise to assess design thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills in a simulated work scenario.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (e.g., product managers, engineers) to evaluate teamwork and communication.
• Final Interview: Typically with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision and overall fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-4 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your skills and experience relevant to this role (web, mobile, in-vehicle).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, challenges overcome, and the measurable results or impact.
• Showcase Process: Emphasize your thinking – user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration – not just the final visuals.
• Highlight Leadership: If applicable, showcase instances where you mentored junior designers or led design efforts.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and how you collaborate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice articulating your design process concisely and clearly.
• Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguous problems and how you define success.
• Familiarize yourself with GM's current digital products and brand to understand their design language and potential areas for improvement.
• Prepare examples that demonstrate your empathy, creativity, and collaborative spirit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should treat it as a presentation of their operational capabilities in design, showcasing not just the output but the strategic thinking and process management that leads to successful product outcomes. Demonstrating leadership in a portfolio context is key for a "Lead" role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, collaborative design, and creating design systems. Proficiency in advanced features like components, variants, and auto-layout is expected.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Primarily Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for image editing, graphic creation, and asset preparation.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., ProtoPie, Principle) may be beneficial for complex interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Experience with A/B testing tools to validate design hypotheses and optimize user flows.
• Ability to interpret user data and translate insights into actionable design improvements.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed within CRM and marketing automation platforms can provide context for digital product design and personalization.
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for workflow management within design and development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is explicitly required and is a core operational tool for modern product design teams. Understanding how design integrates with analytics and project management tools is crucial for demonstrating an awareness of the broader product development lifecycle and operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Empathy: Deeply understanding user needs and perspectives to drive user-centered design decisions.
• Creativity: Fostering an environment where innovative solutions are encouraged and explored without ego.
• Design Communication Skills: Valuing clear, concise, and persuasive communication of design ideas and rationale.
• Collaboration Skills: Emphasizing teamwork, open feedback, and collective ownership of design outcomes.
• Comfortable with Ambiguity: Embracing challenges and adapting to evolving project requirements and business needs.
• Proactivity: Encouraging initiative, foresight, and proactive problem-solving to ensure smooth project execution.
• A Keen Eye: Maintaining high standards for detail, consistency, and overall quality in design work.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration is key, working closely with product management, engineering, research, and marketing teams.
• A culture of constructive feedback and design critiques to elevate the quality of work.
• Emphasis on knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Key Characteristics" listed directly translate into the core values of the team and the company's desired operational culture for its designers. Demonstrating these traits in interviews will be crucial for cultural fit, showing an understanding of how to operate effectively within GM's design ecosystem.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for a vast digital ecosystem with diverse user needs and technical constraints across multiple platforms (web, mobile, in-vehicle).
• Legacy Systems & Innovation: Balancing the need to integrate with existing systems and processes while driving innovation in cutting-edge areas like EVs and autonomous technology.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring design consistency and user experience quality across numerous product teams and stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Evolving Technologies: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in automotive technology, AI, and user interface design to maintain a competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend and present at leading design and automotive technology events.
• Internal Training & Mentorship: Access to GM's internal learning resources and mentorship programs to enhance design and leadership skills.
• Specialized Skill Development: Focus on emerging areas like AI-driven interfaces, connected car experiences, and human-machine interaction (HMI) for autonomous systems.
• Leadership Track: Potential to move into more senior leadership roles, managing larger design teams or strategic design portfolios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented offer significant opportunities for a Lead Product Designer to demonstrate strategic problem-solving and adaptational skills. Overcoming these challenges contributes directly to professional growth and positions the candidate for greater impact within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to set a strategic design direction for a complex digital product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on foresight, user needs, and business alignment.)
• "How do you mentor junior designers and guide them through challenging design problems? Provide an example." (Highlight leadership, feedback delivery, and process guidance.)
• "Discuss a project where you had to collaborate closely with engineering and product management. How did you ensure alignment and overcome disagreements?" (Emphasize cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.)
• "How do you incorporate user feedback and research into your design process to drive improvements?" (Showcase iterative design and data-informed decision-making.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about GM's vision of 'Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion,' and how do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Connect your passion to GM's mission.)
• "How do you foster inclusion and belonging within a design team?" (Address the company's cultural emphasis.)
• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you ensure effective collaboration with remote and in-office team members." (Demonstrate adaptability to the work arrangement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role, the research and ideation phases, key design decisions, prototypes, testing, and the final impact/results.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, interactive prototypes, and clear explanations to convey your design thinking and execution.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your presented work, from early research to final implementation.
• Demonstrate Leadership: Highlight instances where you influenced design direction, mentored others, or managed stakeholder expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating your design process as an operational framework that consistently delivers high-quality, user-centered outcomes. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate not just their design skills but their ability to lead, mentor, and collaborate effectively within a large corporate structure.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the General Motors Careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your expertise in web, mobile, and in-vehicle interfaces, highlighting your strategic design thinking and leadership capabilities.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize 8+ years of relevant experience, specific design skills (Figma, Adobe), leadership, collaboration, and achievements that align with GM's focus on innovation and user experience.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership style, and how you contribute to a positive team culture. Prepare specific examples that showcase your empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with GM's current product offerings, its strategic vision, and recent advancements in automotive technology to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.