Senior Studio Engineer (m/f/d)

Senior Studio Engineer (m/f/d)

Your Mission:

The Senior Studio Engineer supports the European Kia Design Team with the development of production vehicles, show cars and advanced mobility studies that embody Kia’s global Design strategy and “Opposites United” philosophy. The role serves as the technical bridge between Design and Engineering functions within the automotive development process. The Senior Studio Engineer is responsible for multiple projects from product definition, through the whole creative design process until final feasibility proof. This role combines strong creative execution with technical understanding and cross-functional collaboration to ensure that design vision is carried through every phase of the project - from initial ideation to production readiness.

About us:

At Kia Design, we're not just a team - we're a community of visionary thinkers, creative doers, and passionate designers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of innovation.

If you revel in the art of envisioning the future and have a keen eye for aesthetics that resonate with the times to come, then you belong with us. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where you can unleash your imagination, experiment fearlessly, and craft designs that not only stand the test of time but set new standards.

Your Responsibilities:

Studio Engineering Duties

• Create conceptual vehicle package proposals in 3D.
• Create compelling and innovative technical concept proposals as a basis for new design solutions.
• Interpret engineering requirements and translate these into 3D design guides with a strong understanding of the correlation of legal, feasibility and cost requirements versus design proportion and execution needs. Ensure engineering requirement proposals align with Kia’s identity, feasibility standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Create detail studies and propose alternative technical solutions to support and enhance the design concepts.
• Create model check documents, generate design model and competitor comparisons, and communicate results to design counterparts.
• Organize and provide 2D and 3D data of production data.

Project Collaboration & Team Contribution

• Collaborate with design, digital modelling, clay modelling, visualization, and global engineering teams to support project development up to design freeze.
• Handle multiple engineering design tasks independently, ensuring timely delivery while coordinating cross-functional activities across departments.
• Communicate technical information, project updates, and results clearly to project owners, leadership, and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate show cars, special projects, and the organization of relevant project data on a technical level.
• Support Kia’s long-term strategic vision by contributing to innovation and advanced design studies and fostering strong collaboration in a multicultural and cross-functional environment.

Key Qualifications:

• University Degree in Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience in automotive engineering, ideally in a Design studio.
• Proven track record of involvement in full vehicle programs, ideally with global exposure.
• Prior experience in vehicle packing and ergonomics in both Exterior and Interior.
• Knowledge of automotive Design and show car process.
• Deep understanding of vehicle architecture, engineering feasibility and production constraints.
• Good sense for design and creative processes.
• Passion for vehicles and mobility solutions.
• Excellent software skills in Catia V5 and MS Office.
• Ability to manage 2-3 concurrent design tasks or projects efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Korean.
• Proactive, independent, and collaborative working style.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work in multicultural and cross-functional environments.
• Willingness to travel internationally and participate in training assignments in Korea.

If you’re interested to become part of our Kia Design Team, please apply via our online portal. We are looking forward to getting to know you!