3D Character & Motion Designer

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

We are looking for a hands‑on 3D Character & Motion Designer specializing in Unity to join our award‑winning Automotive Design team in Novi. You will be responsible for crafting expressive, real‑time digital characters and immersive interface environments that push the boundaries of in‑vehicle experience.

This role combines expertise in Unity, character rigging and animation, 3D background design, and scene optimization. You will collaborate closely with UX, UI, and engineering teams while also mentoring junior designers and guiding visual execution from concept to implementation.

You’ll join HARMAN Automotive Design – a global, award‑winning design studio bringing together UX/UI, Product, Industrial, Communication, and Motion Designers. Our team spans Germany, the US, China, Korea, and Japan, working across time zones and disciplines with a shared commitment to design excellence, emotional storytelling, and real‑world impact – while staying connected to a broader international creative community.

• Design, animate, and implement 3D characters in Unity, including rigging, lighting, shading, and optimization for real‑time automotive performance
• Create visually polished, branded 3D backgrounds and UI environments aligned with project and brand guidelines
• Build real‑time motion sequences and interactive prototypes using Unity's animation tools (Timeline, Animator, VFX Graph, etc.)
• Ensure scene and asset optimization to meet the performance constraints of embedded hardware
• Collaborate across disciplines to align character animation with broader UX and HMI narratives
• Mentor junior designers and support cross‑functional collaboration within the product development team
• Lead or contribute to internal presentations, creative reviews, and design workshops
• Support and improve internal design processes, pipelines, and documentation

• 5+ years of experience designing in Unity with a strong focus on 3D character animation and motion design
• Expertise in real‑time rigging, shading, lighting, and animation workflows
• Proficiency in 3D tools such as Blender, Cinema 4D, or Maya
• Strong design sensibility: composition, emotion, and storytelling
• Experience in scene optimization, asset management, and Unity performance profiling
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, After Effects, and advanced motion design techniques
• Experience mentoring junior team members or leading visual execution within a design team
• Fluent in English and comfortable presenting to stakeholders

• Background in the gaming industry, especially NPC or character interaction design
• Experience designing for automotive HMI, IVI, or other real‑time digital cockpit systems
• Familiarity with Unity’s URP/HDRP, Shader Graph, or embedded systems workflows
• Understanding of the automotive HMI pipeline from design concept to implementation
• Exposure to prototyping, usability testing, or user research
• Experience working with AR/VR or immersive interaction design environments

• Based in the United States and authorized to work without visa sponsorship
• Fluent in English and comfortable collaborating across cultures and disciplines
• Able to work on‑site at our Novi, MI studio as needed
• Open to occasional travel for project reviews, HARMAN offices, or global design workshops

• Flexible Work Environment:
  Enjoy a flexible schedule with a culture that encourages work‑life integration and global collaboration
• Exclusive Discounts:
  Access employee discounts on world‑class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, and more)
• Professional Growth:
  Extensive training opportunities through HARMAN University’s academies for continuous learning and career development
• Recognition & Rewards:
  Participate in the “Be…