Company Description

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €39.7 billion in 2024 and currently employs around 95,000 people in 54 countries and markets.

Tire solutions from the Tires group sector make mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio encompasses car, truck, bus, two-wheel, and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and tire retailers. Continental has been delivering top performance for more than 150 years and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. In fiscal 2024, the Tires group sector generated sales of 13.9 billion euros. Continental's tire division employs more than 57,000 people worldwide and has 20 production and 16 development sites.  

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic and visionary Leader of Industrial Design to lead the global design function for Passenger Car, VAN, SUV/LT, CVT, CST, and 2-Wheel tire products. This role is responsible for shaping the industrial design language of our tire portfolio, ensuring alignment with marketing expectations, technical feasibility, and brand identity across all business units and regions.

You will lead a team of highly specialized designers and act as a functional leader across the Tire Division, driving innovation, process excellence, and cross-functional collaboration. Your work will directly influence the visual and functional impact of our products in the market, reinforcing our position as a design-driven mobility leader.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of industrial designers with deep expertise in tire aesthetics and functionalityFoster a culture of creativity, precision, and continuous improvement within the design organization

Strategic Design Management

Develop, maintain, and implement a comprehensive Industrial Design Strategy for all tire segments, ensuring its integration into the product development lifecycleEnsure all designs meet both marketing requirements and technical specifications, balancing form and function

Functional Leadership Across Divisions

Provide functional leadership to all product design-related employees across global business units and regions, including CVT, CST, and 2-WheelAlign design efforts with divisional goals and ensure consistency in design language and execution

Process Optimization & Interface Management

Drive continuous improvement in collaboration processes with key interface functions such as Product Management, Mold Design, Mold Engineering, and R&DEnsure effective interface management with Marketing to translate customer and market insights into design solutions

Tools & Visualization Excellence

Oversee the development and deployment of advanced visualization and drawing tools tailored to customer and internal stakeholder needsEnsure design outputs are communicated effectively through high-quality visual assets

Competitive Analysis & Trend Monitoring

Lead ongoing industrial design benchmarking and competitor analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and differentiation strategiesIntegrate market and design trends into strategic planning and concept development

Quality & Process Governance

Ensure adherence to R&D-wide quality standards and procedures, including gate processes and risk management protocolsEstablish and promote a high-quality mindset throughout the design organization

QualificationsDegree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related fieldExtended years of experience in industrial design, with several years in a leadership role within the automotive or tire industryStrong portfolio showcasing strategic design leadership and product innovationFluent English language skills (written and spoken); German language skills are desirableExcellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-cultural collaboration skills

Applications from severely handicapped people are welcome.

Additional Information

We offer the following benefits:

Potential to an out of Tariff salary contract30 day of paid vacation per year Attractive career development opportunities We offer balanced working conditions by doing mobile work, working part-time, flexible working time as well as Sabbatical optionsCross-Border mobile work options up to 40 days per year from other EU countriesCompany Pension planAttractive employee benefits with discountsDiverse offers that support a better “work-family” balance (e.g. company childcare places and free emergency care for your children)A highly diverse environment across our locationA new canteen on site with a variety of lunch options 

If this sounds like a perfect match for you and if you want to become the next supporter of our core values: Trust, for one another, passion to win and freedom to act - we are looking forward to receiving your application.

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging are important to us and make our company strong and successful. We offer equal opportunities to everyone - regardless of age, gender, nationality, cultural background, disability, religion, ideology or sexual orientation.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.