Senior CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Designer

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

Passionate about aesthetics and product innovation, Waymo’s Industrial Design Team is responsible for envisioning the future of mobility and autonomous driving technology. The Design Team develops and applies cohesive design language to the Waymo Driver, delivering an exceptional customer experience with best-in-class product quality.

The Industrial Design Team creates smart and elegant solutions that pave the future of mobility while prioritizing our riders’ needs & safety. We are involved in every step of the engineering and product development process to optimize Waymo’s technology and delight the rider’s journey. The team is a unique fusion of creatives and innovators with the opportunity to pioneer a new industry.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and you will report to a Head of Industrial Design.

You will:

• Define, evolve, and maintain the Waymo CMF (Color, Materials, Finish) design language and palette, ensuring visual consistency and a cohesive brand experience across all vehicle platforms and interior/exterior hardware. Follow market trends and insights to inform and strategize long term CMF direction for Waymo

• Lead CMF collaboration with external automotive OEM partners, integrating Waymo's brand materials into existing vehicle interiors while championing unifying CMF elements across the fleet

• Drive the color, material, and finish specification for complex exterior hardware, including sensor arrays and ancillary components, ensuring technical CMF compatibility (e.g., radar, lidar pass-through), longevity and durability, and cohesive aesthetic integration

• Research and develop proprietary or custom material solutions and finishes, managing a digital and physical CMF library and collaborating with engineering to validate materials for automotive standards, longevity, and sustainability

• Partner with Engineering and Operations to manage CMF vendors and material suppliers, overseeing the execution of the CMF strategy from design specification through mass production PPAP (Production Part approval Process) and maintain the highest quality and design intent

• Articulate the CMF design rationale and strategic direction to cross-functional stakeholders, translating complex technical and branding requirements into clear material specifications

• Troubleshoot complex CMF manufacturing issues, communicate clearly with cross-functional teams to build consensus, and maintain adaptability to implement reliable solutions

You have:

• Experience: 8+ years of dedicated professional experience as a CMF Designer, Material Specialist, or Industrial Designer with a heavy CMF focus, ideally within the automotive industry

• A proven history of shipping high-volume products, demonstrating deep knowledge of material science, automotive-grade manufacturing processes, and quality control

• Expert proficiency in CMF documentation (schematics, manufacturing spec sheets, mood boards, color review ), perform spectrophotometer reading, wavescan and managing physical material libraries

• Demonstrated ability to bridge the gap between design vision and technical constraints, particularly in managing materials validation data for functional performance (e.g., reliability test and engineering test )

• Exceptional presentation skills, with a strong portfolio showcasing the strategic thinking and meticulous execution required to define a premium brand's CMF identity

• A degree in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, Fashion Textile Design Material Science, or a related field

We prefer:

• Direct experience managing CMF programs and negotiations with automotive OEM teams or major Tier 1 suppliers

• Specific experience in CMF selection for exterior vehicle systems, lidar, radar, or camera sensors, including experience solving signal pass-through challenges

• Experience with advanced digital material creation and integration into visualization tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, VRED) for high-fidelity design review

• Proficiency in 3D rendering programs to visualize CMF proposals. Physical and digital prototyping skills to communicate and represent CMF intent

• Specialized in advanced automotive technology and covering high-complexity CMF material sourcing and rapid prototype mock-up execution

Travel requirements :

• Includes occasional domestic and/or international travel (approximately 15–20%)

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range
$196,000—$248,000 USD