Head of Design Studio (Shanghai)

Who we are: 

 

AVATR is about bringing people together, connecting ideas and cultures: we believe people from different backgrounds working together in a multidisciplinary atmosphere inspire each other to create a design composition that in the long run radiates its richness from the inside out. 

 

AVATR, inspired by ‘avatar’, aims to enable each user to create another self in an intelligent parallel world, becoming “your most emotional intelligent companion”. Our technology focuses on emotional intelligence and stands for casual luxury with forward-looking design and warm technology. Through a holistic approach the brand looks at the big picture and by understanding users’ lifestyle and desires to enable them to pursue what they love.  

 

As an explorer in the new track of smart electric vehicles (SEV), AVATR is committed to building an international high-end SEV brand.  

More about AVATR: https://www.avatr.com/en 

 

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What it’s like to work with us: 

 

“Our Design Center is a vivid platform, where people from all over the world will find a stage to unleash their talents! It is a place where ideas and innovative minds meet. A bold and lively discourse of different views and multidimensional design thinking are always welcome here. Authenticity and originality based on our unique design philosophy generate remarkable designs. The AVATR Design Center feels like a small creative family with the vision to find solutions towards future high-end with a humanized spirit”. 

 

-Nader Faghihzadeh, Chief Design Officer at AVATR 

 

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AVATR Global Design Center is seeking an accomplished and visionary Head of Design Studio to lead our AVATR Design Studio in Shanghai, China. This role demands a dynamic leader with proven experience in luxury automotive design, capable of managing multidisciplinary teams and driving innovation across both production and advanced design projects. As the key design authority in the Shanghai studio, the successful candidate will assist our Chief Design Officer in overseeing all facets of design, from exterior to interior, and concept development, ensuring brand consistency and design excellence. 

 

What you will do:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse design team, fostering a high-performance culture and encouraging creative collaboration across departments. 

• Lead production vehicle design and project management, collaborating with product planning and local engineering teams to ensure seamless program execution. 

• Oversee multiple concurrent design programs from concept through production, ensuring timely delivery within scope and to the highest aesthetic and functional standards. 

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams at both local and global levels to drive integrated design solutions. 

• Support the Chief Design Officer of AVATR Global Design Center in managing the day-to-day operations of the Design Studio in Shanghai, including strategic resource planning, budgeting, talent acquisition, and performance management. 

• Act as a cultural and creative liaison between the AVATR Design Studio in Shanghai and the AVATR Global Design Center in Munich, integrating regional consumer insights and market trends into the design process. 

• Represent the design function in executive forums, design reviews, media engagements, and public events as needed. 

 

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or a related field. 

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in automotive design, with at least 5 years in a senior design leadership role. 

• Proven experience in luxury automotive design is mandatory. 

• Familiarity with the Chinese automotive industry is preferred. 

• Deep understanding of the complete automotive design process. 

• Strong knowledge of digital design tools and physical modeling processes. 

• English is required. Proficiency in Chinese or German is a strong plus. 

 

Thank you for considering joining our team! We look forward to hearing from you and hope you become a part of our company. If you are interested in the position, please apply now. We are excited about the possibility of working together to create a bright future!