Brand & UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand & UI Designer

Company: Kestra Technologies

Location: Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Nord, France (Remote within Europe)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & UI Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-14

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (Europe-based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design high-conversion landing pages and marketing site assets that visually simplify complex technical concepts for a data orchestration platform.

• Maintain and evolve Kestra's Figma Design System, ensuring visual consistency across product interfaces, marketing materials, and digital channels.

• Develop and expand Kestra's visual brand identity, including typography, color theory, and layout across all touchpoints.

• Contribute to the design of physical touchpoints, such as premium merchandise and event booth layouts, demonstrating spatial thinking and brand presence.

• Collaborate closely with the Founding Designer and UX Designer to polish the Kestra interface and ensure a seamless user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Brand & UI Designer," the emphasis on technical storytelling, complex concept visualization, and collaboration with engineers positions this role within a broader GTM and Marketing Operations context, particularly concerning the creation of technical marketing collateral and product-adjacent design assets. The "Remote Solely" and "Europe-based" constraints indicate a need for strong asynchronous communication skills and an understanding of European market aesthetics. The implied 5-10 years of experience suggests a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of landing pages and marketing website sections, focusing on maximizing conversion rates through compelling visual storytelling and intuitive user flows.

• Translate highly technical product features, such as "pipelines as code" and "event-driven orchestration," into clear, engaging, and technically precise visual representations.

• Design and refine UI components, custom icons, and visual elements for the Kestra product interface, working in tandem with the UX Designer.

• Maintain and update the comprehensive Figma Design System, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and facilitating efficient design handoffs to engineering teams.

• Develop and execute visual elements for marketing campaigns, social media content, slide decks, and product release announcements to ensure brand consistency.

• Conceptualize and design physical marketing assets, including premium merchandise and impactful event booth experiences, considering spatial layout and signage.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure the technical feasibility and optimal implementation of design solutions, leveraging an understanding of HTML/CSS.

• Contribute to the overall brand strategy by ensuring a cohesive and sophisticated visual language across all Kestra's external communications and product touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a unique blend of marketing design and product UI polish, with a strong emphasis on technical communication. The "couteau suisse" (Swiss Army knife) descriptor implies a need for versatility and a proactive, hands-on approach to diverse design challenges within a growing tech company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for this level of responsibility. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in Brand Design and UI Design, with a proven track record of creating high-impact visual assets for technical products.

Required Skills:

• Dual Portfolio: Demonstrated expertise in both UI Design (with a focus on web interfaces and conversion optimization) and Brand/Graphic Design.

• Technical Storytelling: Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling, and simple visual narratives (diagrams, interfaces, infographics).

• Figma Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including advanced use of components, variants, auto-layout, and design system management.

• Technical Literacy: A strong appreciation for clean, technical aesthetics; understanding of web foundational technologies (HTML/CSS) for effective collaboration with frontend developers.

• Brand Identity Development: Proven experience in defining, maintaining, and expanding visual brand languages, including typography, color palettes, and layout systems.

• Conversion Optimization: Understanding of UX principles and design strategies that drive user engagement and conversion on web platforms.

• Autonomy & Remote Work Proficiency: Ability to work independently in a remote-first, asynchronous environment, managing projects from brief to final delivery with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills:

• Spatial Thinking & Physical Design: Experience in designing for physical spaces, such as event booths, or conceptualizing merchandise.

• Iconography Design: A strong portfolio showcasing custom, pixel-perfect icon set creation.

• Open Source Community Experience: Familiarity or experience working with brands in the developer tooling or open-source software (OSS) communities.

• Animation & Motion Graphics: Basic skills in adding subtle animations or motion to enhance UI elements or marketing visuals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "Dual Portfolio" and "Technical Storytelling" are critical differentiators. Candidates should be prepared to showcase projects that clearly demonstrate their ability to bridge the gap between aesthetics and complex technical communication, a hallmark of effective GTM design in the SaaS and developer tooling space.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Dual Focus Demonstration: Curate a portfolio that distinctly showcases both UI Design projects (e.g., landing pages, dashboards, web apps with conversion metrics) and Brand/Graphic Design projects (e.g., brand identity guides, campaign visuals, technical diagrams).

• Technical Visualization Case Studies: Include detailed case studies of how you've simplified complex technical concepts visually, highlighting the problem, your design approach, and the impact (e.g., increased understanding, improved conversion).

• Figma Design System Examples: Showcase your contributions to or creation of a Figma Design System, detailing its structure, components, and how it ensures consistency.

• Brand Evolution Examples: Present examples of how you've maintained or evolved a brand's visual language across various digital and potentially physical touchpoints.

• Conversion Metrics: Where applicable to web design projects, include data or insights on the conversion impact achieved through your design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for taking a design brief from concept to final asset delivery, including research, ideation, iteration, feedback incorporation, and handoff.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Articulate how you collaborate with UX designers, product managers, and engineers, particularly in translating technical requirements into design solutions and ensuring design feasibility.

• Design System Governance: Discuss your approach to maintaining and scaling a design system, including component management, documentation, and version control.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific, demanding evidence of both creative execution and strategic understanding of technical product marketing. Candidates should prioritize showcasing projects that demonstrate their ability to quantify design impact, especially concerning conversion rates and technical clarity.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Senior Brand & UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience, located in France, and working remotely for a well-funded Series A startup, an estimated annual gross salary range would be €55,000 - €75,000. This range accounts for the cost of living in France and the specialized technical design skills required.

Benefits:

• Remote-First Work Environment: Freedom to work from anywhere within Europe, promoting work-life balance and flexibility.

• Flexible Schedule: Ability to manage your workday asynchronously, aligning with global team collaboration needs.

• Competitive Salary: A compensation package reflecting your expertise and contribution to a rapidly growing startup.

• Stock Options: Potential for equity in a fast-growing, venture-backed company.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth, including potential for conferences and workshops.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits package (specifics to be confirmed).

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility in scheduling due to the remote-first and asynchronous nature of the company. Core collaboration hours may be established to facilitate team syncs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in France, considering the company's funding stage (Series A) and the specialized nature of the role. Benefits like stock options are common for early-stage startups and are highly attractive to ambitious professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data Orchestration, Open Source Software (OSS), Cloud-Native Technologies, Developer Tools. Kestra operates in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, providing critical infrastructure for data teams and engineers.

Company Size: Kestra is a Series A funded startup, implying a lean, agile team structure with high growth potential. Expect a dynamic environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Kestra was founded with a vision to simplify complex data workflows, leveraging open-source principles. This foundation suggests a culture that values community, transparency, and technical excellence.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and highly collaborative, reporting to senior leadership or a Founding Designer.

• This role will work closely with a UX Designer and the Founding Designer, indicating a focus on integrated product and brand design.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Utilizing data and user feedback to inform design decisions, particularly for landing pages and UI elements.

• Agile Development: Embracing iterative design and development processes to respond quickly to market needs and user feedback.

• Open Source Ethos: Fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and community engagement, reflected in both product development and brand communication.

• Technical Precision: A strong emphasis on accuracy, clarity, and sophisticated aesthetics in all design outputs.

Company Website: https://kestra.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kestra's focus on open-source and developer tools suggests a culture that values deep technical understanding, community contribution, and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. The "technical powerhouse" mentioned in the company description indicates a high bar for technical acumen across all roles, including design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Brand & UI Designer" role, with its emphasis on technical storytelling, design systems, and strategic brand evolution for a sophisticated product, is positioned as a mid-to-senior individual contributor. It offers a path to becoming a lead designer or specialist in technical brand and product design within the growing company.

Reporting Structure: The designer will work closely with the Founding Designer and UX Designer, suggesting a flat reporting structure within the design team, likely reporting directly to the Founding Designer or a Head of Design/Marketing.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on Kestra's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by creating compelling marketing assets that drive lead generation and customer acquisition. Visually communicating complex technical concepts effectively is crucial for Kestra's success in the competitive data orchestration market. The design of the product UI also directly influences user adoption and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in technical product branding, UI design for developer tools, or advanced design system architecture.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Brand & UI Designer role as the company scales, managing junior designers or specific design initiatives.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy, marketing campaigns, and community engagement through design leadership.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to learn about data visualization, AI-driven design tools, and advanced marketing automation design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Field Engineering playbook" mention in the "Why Join Kestra?" section suggests that this role might evolve to include elements of technical marketing enablement, bridging the gap between design and field/sales engineering efforts. This offers significant growth potential beyond traditional design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote role, allowing employees to work from their preferred location within Europe.

Office Location(s): While remote, the role is based in Europe, with a specific mention of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, as a primary location. This suggests a focus on serving the European market and potentially building a team presence there.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First: Emphasizes autonomy, self-discipline, and effective asynchronous communication.

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Expectations for seamless collaboration using digital tools like Figma, Slack, and video conferencing.

• Access to Modern Tools: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge design software and potentially contribute to the selection of new tools.

• International Exposure: Interaction with a globally distributed team and customer base, fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Work Schedule: Flexible work hours are a key benefit, allowing for work-life integration. However, a commitment to core collaboration times and responsiveness during business hours relevant to European and potentially North American time zones will be expected for effective teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" and "flexible schedule" aspects are central to Kestra's work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication, proactive self-management, and leveraging digital tools for all aspects of their work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess alignment with required skills and experience, particularly the dual nature of UI and Brand Design.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A dedicated session with the Founding Designer or Hiring Manager to walk through key projects, focusing on technical storytelling, design process, Figma proficiency, and brand evolution examples. Expect questions about design rationale and problem-solving approaches.

• Technical & Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with other team members (e.g., UX Designer, Marketing Lead) to evaluate technical literacy, collaboration style, understanding of OSS/developer tools, and cultural alignment with Kestra's values.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A small, focused design exercise may be given to assess practical application of skills in a simulated work scenario, potentially involving a technical concept visualization or a landing page element.

• Final Interview: Likely with a co-founder or senior leadership to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Duality: Clearly separate and label UI and Brand Design projects. For UI, emphasize conversion metrics and user-centric problem-solving. For Brand, showcase strategic thinking and visual consistency.

• Showcase Technical Translation: Dedicate specific case studies to how you've simplified complex technical topics. Detail your thought process, the visual elements used, and any feedback received.

• Figma System Showcase: If possible, include a link to a live Figma prototype or detailed screenshots of your design system work, explaining its structure and benefits.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data, metrics, or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

• Conciseness: While comprehensive, ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate and digest. Use clear project descriptions and compelling visuals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Kestra's Product: Thoroughly research Kestra's platform, target audience (engineers, data professionals), and competitive landscape.

• Practice Technical Visualization: Prepare to sketch or outline how you would visually represent core Kestra concepts (e.g., orchestration, pipelines as code) on a whiteboard or digital canvas.

• Landing Page Strategy: Be ready to discuss key elements of a high-conversion landing page for a technical SaaS product and how you would approach designing one for Kestra.

• Brand Consistency: Think about how you would maintain brand consistency across different platforms and touchpoints for a company like Kestra.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to bridge technical depth with design excellence. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates should tailor it to directly address the "technical storytelling" and "dual portfolio" requirements.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level mastery required for UI design, design systems, component creation, auto-layout, and collaborative workflows.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for graphic design, icon creation, and motion graphics.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with Figma's prototyping features or other tools like InVision for interactive mockups.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude to understand user behavior on landing pages and the website, informing design decisions based on conversion data.

• Heatmap & User Session Tools: Experience with tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg to analyze user interactions on web pages.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Awareness of how designs integrate with platforms like HubSpot or Marketo for email campaigns and landing page deployments.

• CMS Platforms: Familiarity with content management systems (e.g., Webflow, WordPress) for website content and design implementation.

• Frontend Technologies: Basic understanding of HTML and CSS is crucial for effective collaboration with frontend engineers and for designing implementable web interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and a strong understanding of web technologies (HTML/CSS) indicates a need for a designer who can work closely with development teams and ensure designs are both aesthetically pleasing and technically feasible.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Technical Excellence: A deep respect for engineering and a commitment to producing high-quality, technically sound design work.

• Simplicity & Clarity: A drive to make complex concepts accessible and understandable through design.

• Collaboration: A belief in working together, sharing knowledge, and fostering an inclusive environment across distributed teams.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Empowering individuals to take initiative, own their work, and drive projects forward independently.

• Community Focus: An appreciation for the open-source community and a desire to contribute positively to it.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Prioritizing clear written communication and documentation to facilitate collaboration across time zones.

• Design-Led: A culture where design thinking is integrated into problem-solving across various departments, not just within the design team.

• Feedback-Rich: Encouraging constructive feedback loops to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Cross-Functional Partnerships: Building strong working relationships with engineering, product, and marketing to ensure cohesive execution of GTM and product strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Kestra likely values individuals who are not only skilled designers but also proactive problem-solvers who can operate effectively in a remote, fast-paced startup environment and who understand the nuances of working with a technical audience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Visualizing Abstraction: The primary challenge will be translating highly abstract and complex data orchestration concepts into intuitive and visually appealing designs.

• Balancing Brand & Technicality: Striking the right balance between a sophisticated brand identity and the need to communicate technical depth accurately to a developer audience.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong creative output in a fully remote, asynchronous setting.

• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced, evolving needs of a Series A startup, which may involve shifting priorities and new design challenges.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Technical Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for developer tools, OSS communities, and complex SaaS products.

• Advanced Design System Practices: Gain experience in scaling and governing sophisticated design systems for a growing product suite.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Understand the intricacies of data engineering, cloud-native technologies, and AI agents to better inform design decisions.

• Brand Strategy Contribution: Play a key role in shaping the future of Kestra's brand identity and visual narrative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working with cutting-edge technology and a distributed team. The growth opportunities are significant for designers looking to specialize in the B2B SaaS and developer tooling space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to explain a complex technical concept visually. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on technical storytelling, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a landing page for a new Kestra feature like 'AI Agents for Orchestration'? What key elements would you prioritize for conversion?" (Assess understanding of landing page strategy and technical product marketing.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What appeals to you about Kestra's mission and its open-source nature?" (Gauge genuine interest and cultural fit.)

• "How do you thrive in a remote-first, asynchronous work environment? What strategies do you use to stay productive and connected?" (Assess self-management and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around clear narratives for each project, highlighting the problem, your creative solution, the design process, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Technical Translation: For relevant projects, explicitly point out how you translated complex information into accessible visuals. Use screenshots or mockups to show the "before" (complexity) and "after" (clarity).

• Figma Showcase: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma techniques you used, especially regarding components, auto-layout, and variables if applicable.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Show how your design choices reinforce brand messaging and create a cohesive experience across different mediums.

• Be Prepared for Whiteboarding: Have a digital whiteboard or sketching tool ready to quickly visualize ideas or respond to impromptu design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of both design principles and Kestra's technical domain. Candidates need to articulate their design process with clarity and provide evidence of their ability to impact business objectives like conversion.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand & UI Designer position:

• Submit your application via the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature examples of technical concept visualization, high-conversion landing page design, and design system contributions. Ensure it directly addresses the "Dual Portfolio" and "Technical Storytelling" requirements.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight relevant experience in UI/UX design, brand identity, Figma mastery, and any experience with developer tools or open-source communities. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work for each key project.

• Research Kestra: Thoroughly understand Kestra's product, target audience, and competitive landscape. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their technical and brand goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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