You want to love what you do and love where you work. Gentex gives you the best of both worlds. A global technology company headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Gentex is an 8-time winner of the Top Workplaces in Michigan.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Design Director I is responsible for leading the Gentex Design Studio team and participating in the shaping of the overall creative vision of Gentex products. They will work cross functionally within the Product Team to support product design projects, ensure brand consistency, and collaborate to deliver exceptional products and experiences.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Develop and articulate the product design vision and strategy aligned with Gentex’s Product Team goals.
- Work cross functionally within the Product Team to support the design process from concept to prototype, ensuring that all designs are feasible, innovative, and align with brand standards.
- Inspire and mentor the design team, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration.
- Work closely with the Product Team, Marketing, and developers to create cohesive and user-centered designs.
- Act as a liaison between the design team and other departments to ensure alignment with design initiatives, market needs and business objectives.
- Work with the Product Line Management team to present design concepts and strategies to stakeholders, including executive leadership, ensuring alignment and buy-in.
- Ensure brand guidelines are consistently applied across all design outputs.
- Innovate and evolve the brand identity in response to market trends and consumer feedback.
- Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in design.
- Conduct user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure design integrity and manufacturability.
- Oversee the design budget, allocating resources effectively to meet project goals.
- Other duties as assigned.
HOW YOU’LL DO IT
- Project management - Applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to manage and meet project requirements.
- Situational adaptability - Ability to work with evolving systems, processes and structures, demonstrating the flexibility to adapt to changing environments, requirements and regulations.
- Managing effective teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
- Mentoring and coaching - Providing timely guidance and feedback (both positive and constructive) to help others recognize strengths and development opportunities. Inviting tough conversations.
- Maintaining a high level of honesty, integrity, and confidentiality with respect to company matters.
- Complying with all Company policies and procedures, safety regulations, company safety policies and safely perform all duties, including but not limited to, promoting a safe workplace.
WHAT TO BRING
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in design and/or UI/UX product design.
- 5+ years of experience leading a team.
- Proficiency in design software, including, but not limited to Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, and Figma.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout.
- Ability to travel internationally.
WHAT WILL HELP
- Master’s degree in in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in design.
- 10+ years of experience leading a team.
- 5+ years of project management experience.
- In-depth knowledge of the latest UI/UX trends, techniques, and technologies.
- Background working through iterative product design cycles.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing, high-growth environment.
- Experience in automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer products industries.
- Experience leading a global team.
Gentex is an equal opportunity employer
Gentex extends equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), disability, marital status, military service, height, weight, genetic information, or any other reason protected by law.
Assistance
Gentex is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. For accommodation requests, email us at [email protected]. Gentex will not discriminate against any qualified individual who can perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Understand your right to work
At Gentex, we use E-verify to confirm you're authorized to work in the U.S.
E-Verify – English & Spanish
Right to Work – English
Right to Work - Spanish
Top Skills
What We Do
Gentex is a global, high technology electronics company that is managed by engineers and others who understand the freedom and discipline that's required to run an entrepreneurial company. We are a unique, profitable company that is vertically integrated in highly automated electronics, CMOS camera development and manufacturing, vacuum coatings, and glass bending and fabrication. We specialize in a broad spectrum of technologies and processes to deliver high quality products to the automotive, aerospace and fire protection industries.
Thank you for visiting the Gentex Corporation (“Gentex”) LinkedIn page. This page is intended to share information about Gentex, its products and corporate culture. If you have specific questions about Gentex, please call our main phone number at 616.772.1800.
Any content, views, opinions and/or responses to questions uploaded, expressed or submitted by third parties on the Gentex LinkedIn page, other than the content provided by Gentex, are solely the views, opinions and responsibility of the person submitting them and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Gentex. Gentex reserves the right to terminate any user's ability to access this LinkedIn page, and to edit or delete any material it deems inappropriate and/or in violation of any Gentex policy, including but not limited to: Equal Employment Opportunity, Discrimination and Harassment, Workplace Violence, Non-Solicitation, Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and Insider Trading.
