CMF Designer

About the Role

CMF Designer, Industrial Design
Onsite in Foster City, CA | 5 days in office
Zoox Industrial Design brings together visionary designers and innovators dedicated to creating the
world's best autonomous mobility solutions. Our team designs from the ground updeveloping
autonomous robotaxi vehicles and hardware that balance beauty, functionality, and social impact. We
believe thoughtful design is purposeful and impactful, and can transform not just individual experiences,
but entire communities and generations. Join us in shaping the future of autonomous mobility, where
every design decision reflects our commitment to beauty, innovation, and enjoyment.
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 Zooxs vehicle and
hardware design evolution.
Responsibilities:
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Initiate and Drive CMF Development: Support the early-stage development of CMF concepts,
collaborating with designers and suppliers to ensure alignment with design intent.
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Mastering Coordination: Organize, track, and distribute CMF mastering samples, setting up an efficient
in-house mastering distribution system while managing inventory logs.
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Proactive Issue Resolution: Take initiative in identifying process gaps, flagging discrepancies, and
implementing solutions to keep projects on track.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with designers, engineers, and leadership to ensure
smooth project coordination and alignment on expectations.
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Data & Process Optimization: Evaluate CMF-related data and contribute to best practices that enhance
efficiency and quality in development.
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Project Ownership & Communication: Maintain clear and transparent communication on project
progress, ensuring stakeholders are informed and aligned.
Qualifications:
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Bachelors degree in CMF Design, Industrial Design, Engineering, Design Quality, Product
Development, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience with exceptional ability.
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4-6 years of experience in automotive CMF, program management, or coordination, with a strong
understanding of industry-specific materials, finishes, and processes.
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High color acuitydemonstrated ability to accurately assess and differentiate colors, with the capability
to pass the Munsell Hue Color Test with a score.
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Hands-on expertise in CMF development, including material evaluations, supplier coordination, and
mastering processes.
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Proactive problem solverhighly motivated with the ability to identify gaps, take initiative, and drive
solutions to ensure seamless project execution.
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Deep knowledge of CMF development timing and the color matching/mastering process, ensuring
accuracy and consistency in production.
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Excellent communication and organization skillsstrong ability to manage and maintain relationships
with external suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.
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Project management proficiencyexperience coordinating complex projects, tracking deliverables, and
ensuring alignment across departments.
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Ability to work autonomously while keeping stakeholders informed, making independent decisions, and
driving projects forward.
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Meticulous attention to detailkeen eye for material quality, color accuracy, texture, and overall
aesthetics.
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Passion for CMF innovationeager to explore emerging materials, finishes, and industry trends to
elevate design standards.
Who You Are:
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Hands-on, detail-oriented, and proactive in identifying areas for improvement.
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Highly organized with strong project management skills to handle multiple tasks efficiently.
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Skilled at building relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
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Comfortable taking the initiative, troubleshooting issues, and driving solutions independently.

Key Responsibilities & Skills

• CMF Development & Strategy
• Color Acuity & Assessment
• Material Evaluation & Selection
• Finish & Surface Engineering
• Supplier Coordination & Mastering
• Inventory Management & Mastering Distribution
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Project Management & Scheduling
• Data Analysis & Process Optimization
• Quality Assurance & Compliance
• Automotive Design Intent Alignment
• Aesthetic Evaluation & User Experience

Technical Skills

• Spectrophotometer / Color Measurement Tools
• Material Testing Instruments
• CAD / 3D Modeling (SolidWorks / Rhino)
• PLM Systems (Teamcenter / Windchill)
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator / Photoshop)
• Microsoft Excel / Data Visualization
• Project Management Software (MS Project / Smartsheet / Jira)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in CMF Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Design Quality, Product Development, Materials Engineering. Preferred: Master's in Industrial Design, Master's in Materials Engineering, Master's in Design Management, Master's in Product Design.

Industry Experience

• Automotive
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Robotaxi
• Industrial Design
• Mobility Solutions
• Consumer Product Materials