3D Character & Motion Designer

3D Character & Motion Designer General information Location: Novi - Michigan, USA - Cabot Drive Job Family: Global Design Worker Type Reference: Regular - Permanent Pay Rate Type: Salary Career Level: P3 Job ID: R-50194-2025 Description & Requirements About the Role 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. Your Team 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. What You Will Do 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 What You Need to Be Successful 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 Bonus Points if You Have 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 What Makes You Eligible 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 What We Offer 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 Brilliant” program to celebrate achievements and contributions Wellness Benefits: Competitive packages that promote well-being and work-life balance Inclusive Culture: Be part of a diverse workplace that fosters professional and personal growth in a supportive, collaborative environment On-Campus Facilities: Access to the HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria for a healthy, convenient work environment Tuition Reimbursement: Support for further education and skill development through our tuition reimbursement program You Belong Here HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you – all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want. About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected. Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other. If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today! +++ HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or Protected Veterans status. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training, and competitive compensation. (www.harman.com) #LI-DPWHITE1 #LI-Hybrid Pay Transparency $ 76,500 - $ 112,200 Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation are also available, such as bonuses or commission. Pay is based on a wide range of factors, including, without limitation, skill set, experience, training, location, and business need. While the above range is a reasonable estimate of the wage range for this position, please note the disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographical differential associated with the location where the position may be filled. Benefits HARMAN is interested in the health and wellbeing of you and your family and offers a range of benefits designed to support your needs for holistic wellbeing. Benefits and perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment with HARMAN, and may include paid vacation and holidays, paid sick leave, volunteer leave, and paid bonding and care giver leave. Employees may also be eligible to participate in comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, fertility support and adoption assistance, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan with employer match, short and long term disability coverage, life insurance, and more. You Belong Here HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you – all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want. About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected. Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other. If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today! Important Notice: Recruitment Scams Please be aware that HARMAN recruiters will always communicate with you from an '@harman.com' email address. We will never ask for payments, banking, credit card, personal financial information or access to your LinkedIn/email account during the screening, interview, or recruitment process. If you are asked for such information or receive communication from an email address not ending in '@harman.com' about a job with HARMAN, please cease communication immediately and report the incident to us through: harmancareers@harman.com. HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job-related performance.(www.harman.com)

Salary : $76,500 - $112,200