Brand Designer

Assembled
Full-time$150k-190k/year (USD)San Francisco, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Assembled

Location: San Francisco, California, United States / New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing / Creative

Date Posted: 2026-06-11

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Own and evolve Assembled's visual identity and brand system across all marketing channels, ensuring consistency and impact.

  • Develop and implement AI-native design systems, enabling automation and scalable execution by both AI tools and human teammates.

  • Translate complex B2B SaaS positioning into clear, compelling creative assets that resonate with CX and support leaders.

  • Lead creative concepting and execution for marketing campaigns, product launches, and events, driving engagement and conversion.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Brand Designer," the description emphasizes a strategic role in evolving brand identity and building AI-native design systems, indicating a need for a designer with strong strategic thinking and a forward-looking approach to technology integration in creative workflows. This role is positioned as a key creative hire with significant latitude.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Define and maintain Assembled's visual identity, encompassing brand system, design language, typography, color palettes, and motion graphics.

  • Design and art-direct a wide range of core marketing materials, including website assets, email campaigns, event collateral, digital advertisements, branded merchandise, and sales enablement materials.

  • Architect and document AI-native design systems, creating robust templates, component libraries, and clear guidelines that facilitate reliable execution by AI tools and cross-functional teams.

  • Identify and automate repetitive production tasks, such as asset resizing, generating social media variants, and standardizing email layouts, to optimize team efficiency and focus.

  • Translate sophisticated positioning and messaging frameworks into creative outputs that effectively communicate value to skeptical CX and support leaders, prioritizing clarity and impact.

  • Spearhead the creative direction for integrated campaigns, new product introductions, and significant company events, guiding projects from initial concept through final execution.

  • Establish and uphold the creative standard for all marketing design, while effectively managing relationships with internal designers, external contractors, and agency partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand ownership and hands-on execution, with a strong emphasis on building scalable, AI-integrated design systems. The expectation to "automate repeatable production tasks" and create "AI-native design systems" suggests a need for a designer who can think systemically and leverage technology to enhance creative output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in brand design and creative direction.

Experience: 5 to 8 years of progressive experience in brand design or creative direction, with a proven track record in high-growth startup environments or agency settings serving B2B technology clients.

Required Skills:

  • Expertise in developing and maintaining a comprehensive visual identity and brand system for a B2B technology company.

  • Demonstrated ability to design and art-direct a diverse range of marketing materials, including digital and print collateral, web assets, and campaign visuals.

  • Proven experience in building and documenting scalable design systems, including component libraries and usage guidelines, suitable for team and AI tool adoption.

  • Strong proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma for UI/UX and design system development.

  • A genuine adopter and practitioner of AI tools within creative workflows, with a clear understanding of their capabilities for accelerating design production and ideation.

  • Strategic thinking capabilities to translate complex business objectives and positioning into effective creative strategies and tangible design outputs.

  • High degree of ownership, with the ability to make sound judgment calls, drive projects forward autonomously, and proactively seek alignment when necessary.

  • Collaborative mindset, adept at receiving and providing constructive feedback, and skilled in bringing stakeholders along without resorting to design by committee. Preferred Skills:

  • Proficiency in motion graphics and video production tools, enhancing capabilities in dynamic content creation.

  • Experience in leading creative direction for integrated marketing campaigns and product launches from concept to completion.

  • Ability to manage and mentor junior designers, contractors, and agency partners, ensuring high-quality creative output.

  • Understanding of CX and support leader personas and their specific communication needs and preferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "AI adopter mindset" and building "AI-native design systems" is a critical differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples of how they've used AI tools to improve their design process, automate tasks, or create more scalable design solutions. The emphasis on translating "positioning and messaging into creative that resonates with CX and support leaders who are skeptical of hype and respond to clarity" indicates a need for a designer who understands B2B marketing and can connect design to business outcomes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of work, including opinionated brand identity development and practical, conversion-driven marketing assets.

  • Case studies demonstrating the creation and implementation of design systems, highlighting their structure, scalability, and impact on team efficiency.

  • Examples of how AI tools have been integrated into the design workflow to automate production tasks, enhance ideation, or streamline asset creation.

  • Visualizations of marketing collateral (website, ads, email campaigns, event assets) that clearly articulate creative strategy and demonstrate measurable results or conversion impact.

  • Documentation or examples of design guidelines, templates, and component libraries that were developed for team or AI tool usage. Process Documentation:

  • Evidence of processes established for building and maintaining AI-native design systems, including version control, update procedures, and accessibility standards.

  • Examples of workflow optimization through automation, detailing specific tasks that were automated and the resulting time savings or efficiency gains.

  • Methodologies for translating ambiguous creative briefs or strategic positioning into clear, actionable design direction and execution plans.

  • Processes for collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., marketing, product) and managing feedback loops to ensure alignment and high-quality output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, system-building capability, and a proactive approach to technology integration, particularly AI. Candidates should be ready to walk through their portfolio, explaining not only the "what" but the "why" and "how," with a focus on process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $190,000 per year. This range is based on the provided salary data and reflects typical compensation for a Brand Designer with 5-8 years of experience in high-cost-of-living areas like San Francisco and New York City within the B2B SaaS industry.

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

  • Generous paid time off, including company holidays, sick days, and an unlimited vacation policy.

  • Monthly credits for professional development, general wellness, utilizing Assembled's customer platform, and commuting expenses.

  • Paid parental leave to support new parents.

  • Daily catered lunches (Monday-Friday) and a fully stocked kitchen for employee convenience.

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan.

  • Stock options, providing an opportunity for equity participation in Assembled's growth.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with an expectation of on-site presence in either the San Francisco or New York City office. While a standard work week is expected, the emphasis on automating tasks suggests a focus on output and efficiency rather than strict adherence to hours, allowing for flexibility where feasible within the on-site framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided and falls within the upper quartile for Brand Designer roles in major tech hubs for experienced professionals. The benefits package is robust, with unique credits for professional development, wellness, and commuting, as well as stock options, indicating a competitive total compensation offering. The "unlimited time off" is a notable perk for work-life balance, though the on-site requirement means this flexibility is within the context of physical office presence.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (SaaS), specifically focused on Customer Support and Workforce Management. Assembled operates within the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-augmented customer service solutions.

Company Size: High-growth startup (implied by funding and focus on scaling operations and marketing). This size typically means a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individual contributions have significant visibility and impact.

Founded: Assembled was founded with a mission to optimize customer support operations through a unified platform for human agents and AI. The company is backed by significant venture capital, indicating a strong growth trajectory and ambition.

Team Structure:

  • The Brand Designer will be a key creative hire within the Marketing team, reporting likely to a Marketing Director or VP of Marketing.

  • Collaboration will be essential with Product Marketing, Demand Generation, Content, and potentially Product and Sales teams.

  • The role emphasizes building design systems that can be leveraged by other teams and potentially by AI agents, suggesting a centralized function with broad reach. Methodology:

  • Data-driven decision-making is implied by the focus on marketing performance, conversion, and AI integration.

  • Emphasis on process optimization and efficiency, particularly in design production and system scalability, aligns with the company's core offering in workforce management.

  • A forward-thinking approach to technology, especially AI, is central to the company's product and is expected to be embraced by its employees.

Company Website: https://www.assembled.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Assembled's focus on AI and human collaboration in customer support is a critical differentiator. The company culture likely reflects this by valuing innovation, efficiency, and a pragmatic approach to technology. The "high-growth startup" environment suggests a culture of ownership, agility, and a strong emphasis on achieving ambitious goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior individual contributor position, likely categorized as a Senior Brand Designer or Creative Lead within the design function. It offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape the company's visual narrative during a pivotal growth phase.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer will likely report to a Marketing Leader (e.g., Director of Marketing, VP of Marketing), indicating a direct line of influence on marketing strategy and execution. Collaboration will be extensive across marketing disciplines and potentially with product teams.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work will have a direct and measurable impact on Assembled's market perception, lead generation, customer acquisition, and brand recognition. By developing a strong, consistent, and AI-optimized brand presence, they will contribute to the effectiveness of all marketing and sales efforts, directly influencing revenue growth and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership in Design Systems: Opportunity to become the go-to expert for Assembled's design systems, potentially leading to a Design System Lead role or expanding responsibilities into broader UX/UI strategy.

  • Creative Direction Expansion: Potential to grow into a Creative Director role, managing a team of designers and external agencies, and overseeing all creative output for the company.

  • Strategic Brand Development: Influence the long-term brand strategy, contributing to major repositioning efforts and establishing Assembled as a thought leader in the AI-powered CX space.

  • AI & Creative Innovation: Become a pioneer in integrating AI into creative workflows, developing best practices and potentially presenting on this topic within the industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as high-impact and strategic, offering substantial growth potential beyond a standard Brand Designer position. The emphasis on AI integration suggests that individuals who excel in this area will be well-positioned for future opportunities in emerging creative technology fields.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site" with a requirement to be in the office 5 days a week. This indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, team synergy, and immediate access to office resources.

Office Location(s): Offices are located in vibrant, central urban areas: The Mission District in San Francisco and Chelsea Market in New York City. These locations are known for their accessibility and dynamic work environments.

Workspace Context:

  • The offices are described as "bright, airy," suggesting a positive and stimulating physical workspace.

  • The requirement to be in-office 5 days a week facilitates spontaneous collaboration, team building, and a strong sense of camaraderie among colleagues.

  • Access to physical resources, such as potentially high-end design hardware, collaborative meeting spaces, and well-stocked kitchens/cafeterias, is implied.

  • The company culture of catered lunches and a fully stocked kitchen further enhances the on-site work experience, fostering a communal atmosphere.

Work Schedule: While the standard is a 40-hour work week, the emphasis on automating tasks and achieving outcomes suggests that the focus is on delivering results efficiently. This could allow for some flexibility in daily schedules, provided work is completed and collaboration needs are met, within the context of the required on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The firm "on-site 5 days a week" policy is a key characteristic of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with this requirement and appreciate the benefits associated with a collaborative, in-person setting, such as daily catered lunches and a stocked kitchen, which contribute to a positive office culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's core requirements, particularly design experience, AI adoption, and system-building capabilities.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on specific projects that demonstrate your brand strategy, design system development, AI integration, and conversion-driven marketing asset creation. Be prepared to discuss your process, strategic rationale, and the impact of your work.

  • Creative Challenge/Case Study: Potential for a design exercise or case study that assesses your ability to translate complex briefs into creative solutions, build scalable systems, or integrate AI into a workflow. Focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, potentially Product, and other relevant teams to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

  • Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: Final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and alignment with Assembled's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select projects that most clearly demonstrate your ownership of visual identity, your experience with AI-native design systems, and your ability to create conversion-driven marketing assets. Prioritize quality over quantity.

  • Narrative is Key: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the specific solutions you designed (especially AI integration and system components), and the measurable impact or results achieved. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

  • Showcase AI Integration: Explicitly highlight how you've used AI tools. Detail the tools, the tasks automated, the benefits derived (e.g., speed, efficiency, scale), and any challenges overcome.

  • Design System Depth: For design system projects, show not just the visual components but also the underlying structure, documentation, and how they facilitate efficient and consistent execution by others (including AI).

  • B2B Tech Focus: Emphasize projects for B2B tech clients, demonstrating an understanding of their unique marketing challenges and audience.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brief: If given a creative challenge, ensure you fully grasp the objectives, target audience, and any constraints. Ask clarifying questions.

  • Think Systemically: Approach any design task with an eye towards scalability and reusability. How can this solution be applied broadly? How can it be integrated into a design system?

  • Embrace AI: Consider how AI could be leveraged to solve aspects of the challenge, whether for ideation, asset generation, or workflow automation.

  • Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your decision-making process, your strategic rationale, and how your solution addresses the core problem effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI integration means candidates should be prepared to discuss specific AI tools they use and how they've incorporated them into their design process and system development. The portfolio review will likely scrutinize the strategic thinking behind the design choices and the practical application of design systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI/UX design, collaborative design system development, and prototyping. Proficiency in Figma's advanced features for component management and auto-layout will be highly valued.

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, illustration, photo editing, and potentially motion graphics. Specific tools likely include Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

  • Motion/Video Tools: Experience with tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar for creating animated assets, video content, and dynamic marketing materials is a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not a direct analytics role, understanding how design impacts key marketing metrics (website traffic, conversion rates, engagement) is crucial. Familiarity with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) or BI tools might be beneficial for understanding performance data.

  • Experience interpreting data to inform design decisions and measure the effectiveness of creative assets. CRM & Automation:

  • Familiarity with marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) for email campaign design and understanding their templating capabilities.

  • Understanding of how design assets are deployed within CRM and marketing automation systems to ensure proper rendering and integration.

  • Experience with tools that facilitate asset management and distribution within a marketing technology stack.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The "AI-native design systems" requirement strongly suggests that candidates should be able to articulate their experience with tools that support component libraries, design tokens, and potentially automation workflows within Figma or via plugins.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Ownership & Initiative: A strong drive to take responsibility for projects, make independent decisions, and proactively move initiatives forward, especially in a fast-paced startup environment.

  • AI-Forward Thinking: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to enhance creative processes, drive efficiency, and build innovative design solutions.

  • Clarity & Impact: A commitment to clear communication, both visually and verbally, and a focus on creating design that delivers measurable business impact for B2B CX leaders.

  • Collaboration & Generosity: A willingness to share knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and work effectively with cross-functional teams, fostering a supportive and productive environment.

  • Pragmatism & Efficiency: A focus on practical solutions that are scalable and executable, with an emphasis on optimizing workflows and automating repetitive tasks.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Actively collaborates with Marketing, Product, and Sales teams to ensure brand consistency and to translate business objectives into compelling creative.

  • Feedback-Driven Improvement: Openly seeks and incorporates feedback from stakeholders and peers to refine designs and improve outcomes, while maintaining a strong point of view.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share expertise on design systems, AI tools, and best practices to elevate the entire creative output of the team and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values emphasize a proactive, results-oriented approach combined with a forward-thinking mindset regarding technology and collaboration. Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values align with these principles, particularly in their approach to AI and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Evolving Brand Identity: Navigating and evolving a brand identity during a period of company repositioning requires strategic agility and a deep understanding of market dynamics.

  • AI Integration Complexity: Building and maintaining AI-native design systems that are robust, scalable, and truly functional for both AI and human users presents a unique technical and strategic challenge.

  • Balancing Creative Vision with Business Needs: Translating sophisticated B2B SaaS positioning into visually appealing and conversion-optimized marketing assets for a discerning audience requires a delicate balance.

  • Maintaining Creative Bar in a Fast-Paced Environment: Ensuring high-quality creative output while working under tight deadlines and with a focus on automation and efficiency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep Dive into AI in Design: Opportunity to become a leading expert in applying AI to creative workflows and design systems within the B2B SaaS space.

  • Strategic Brand Leadership: Develop skills in brand strategy, creative direction, and potentially team management, with pathways to more senior leadership roles.

  • Industry Collaboration: Engage with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with teams at companies like Canva, Etsy, and Robinhood (Assembled's clients), offering exposure to diverse operational challenges.

  • Professional Development: Utilize monthly credits for continuous learning, attending conferences, workshops, or pursuing certifications relevant to brand design, AI, or creative technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant opportunities for growth in specialized areas like AI-driven design and strategic brand leadership. Candidates should view these challenges as catalysts for professional development and be eager to contribute to Assembled's innovative approach to marketing and design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe your process for evolving a brand identity. How would you approach Assembled's current repositioning?" (Focus on strategic approach, research, stakeholder alignment, and iterative design.)

  • "How have you integrated AI tools into your design workflow? Can you provide specific examples of tasks automated or systems built, and the impact?" (Be ready with concrete examples of AI tools used, benefits achieved, and any lessons learned.)

  • "Walk us through a complex B2B marketing campaign you designed. How did you translate the product's value proposition into creative assets for a skeptical audience?" (Emphasize strategic thinking, audience understanding, and measurable results.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about Assembled's mission and its approach to AI in customer support?" (Show genuine interest in the company's product and market position.)

  • "How do you approach collaboration and feedback, especially when working with cross-functional teams or managing external partners?" (Highlight your ability to be a collaborative team player and manage stakeholder expectations.)

  • "How do you define and measure the success of your design work, particularly in a marketing context focused on conversion and brand impact?" (Connect your design output to business objectives and metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Storytelling is Paramount: For each project, craft a narrative that clearly outlines the problem, your strategic approach, the creative solutions (especially AI-native systems), and the quantifiable outcomes or impact.

  • Highlight AI Integration: Dedicate specific slides or sections to showcasing your AI tools and their application. Explain why you chose certain tools and how they enhanced your process or deliverables.

  • Demonstrate Systemic Thinking: For design system examples, articulate the underlying principles, component structure, documentation standards, and how they enable scalability and efficiency for others.

  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, technical execution, and the rationale behind your strategic choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus heavily on demonstrating a strategic, AI-integrated approach to design. Candidates must be ready to discuss their experience with design systems and how they translate complex B2B messaging into effective creative. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

  • Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in brand identity development, design systems, AI tool integration, and B2B tech marketing. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

  • Curate your portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your strategic thinking, AI-native design system capabilities, and conversion-driven marketing asset creation. Prepare a concise narrative for each project.

  • Prepare for interview questions: Practice articulating your design process, strategic rationale, and the impact of your work, with a specific focus on AI integration and B2B marketing challenges.

  • Research Assembled: Understand their product, target audience, and recent company news to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.


Application Requirements

Candidates need 5 to 8 years of brand design or creative direction experience, preferably at a high-growth startup or B2B tech agency. Proficiency in Adobe and Figma is required, along with a portfolio demonstrating both brand work and conversion-driven marketing assets.