Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Runlayer

Location: New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Design Operations

Date Posted: September 02, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the definition, shaping, and launch of the Runlayer brand as a cohesive system across all visual touchpoints.

• Drive brand execution for marketing initiatives, web presence, sales enablement materials, and in-person events.

• Develop and implement generative AI brand tools, templates, and standards to enhance efficiency and quality of brand work company-wide.

• Foster a strong partnership with Product Design to ensure a unified brand and product experience, elevating visual craft across both domains.

• Operate as a key design individual contributor within a dynamic startup environment, balancing strategic brand building with rapid execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the first dedicated Brand Designer, indicating a significant opportunity to shape the visual identity of a rapidly growing AI platform. The emphasis on "owning decisions" and "setting a high bar" suggests a need for a proactive, strategic, and confident designer. The hybrid nature implies a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the execution of the Runlayer brand across diverse channels, including marketing campaigns, website design, sales collateral, and event materials, while simultaneously developing foundational brand system elements.

• Design and produce critical sales enablement assets such as pitch decks, one-pagers, and standardized templates to ensure consistent and impactful client presentations.

• Create compelling marketing collateral, including social media graphics, web page designs, trade show booth visuals, and branded merchandise (swag), to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

• Develop and deploy custom generative AI tools and workflows designed to accelerate brand asset creation and maintain high visual standards across all departments.

• Collaborate closely with the Product Design team to ensure seamless integration between brand identity and product user experience, fostering a unified and elevated visual narrative.

• Partner with the VP of Marketing to translate high-level marketing strategies into actionable visual design plans and executions.

• Contribute to raising the overall design craft and aesthetic quality within both the brand and product design functions.

• Manage and prioritize multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery while maintaining exceptional quality and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand system development and tactical execution across various marketing and sales touchpoints. The inclusion of "generative AI brand tools" is a forward-looking responsibility, indicating the company's commitment to leveraging AI for operational efficiency in design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience demonstrating strong design principles and application. Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience in brand design, visual design, or a similar role, with a proven track record in defining or significantly evolving brand identities.

• Experience working within a fast-paced startup environment is highly desirable, demonstrating adaptability and the ability to thrive under pressure. Required Skills:

• Brand Strategy & Execution: Demonstrated ability to define, evolve, and consistently execute a brand identity across multiple platforms.

• Design Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, and presentation software like Google Slides.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to translate complex technical concepts (e.g., AI infrastructure) into clear, compelling, and accessible visual narratives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong ability to work effectively with marketing, product design, and sales teams, incorporating feedback and driving consensus.

• Project Management: Proven capability to manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic setting.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics: Experience with motion design principles and tools to create dynamic visual content.

• Web Design & UI/UX Principles: Understanding of web design best practices and basic UI/UX principles to inform web-based brand assets.

• AI Tooling Development: Interest or experience in building or utilizing AI-powered tools for design workflows.

• Print & Event Design: Experience designing for physical mediums such as trade show booths, print collateral, and promotional items.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level suggests a need for a designer who can operate independently but also collaborate effectively. The emphasis on translating complex technical products into visual stories is crucial for this role, indicating the need for strong conceptual thinking beyond aesthetic execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a clear evolution of a brand identity, demonstrating strategic thinking behind design decisions and their impact.

• Include examples of diverse design applications, such as marketing collateral, web assets, sales decks, and potentially event materials.

• Highlight projects where you took ownership of brand execution and set high standards for visual quality.

• Demonstrate the ability to translate complex product information into easily digestible visual narratives.

• Provide case studies that articulate your design process, problem-solving approach, and the outcomes achieved. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and implementing design systems or style guides that ensure brand consistency and scalability.

• Examples of workflows developed to streamline design production, ideally involving templates or collaborative tools.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating how you've managed multiple projects and deadlines effectively.

• Any initiatives related to leveraging technology (including AI) to improve design efficiency or output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it will be the primary means of assessing the candidate's ability to define and execute a brand. The emphasis on process and system development suggests a need for a designer who thinks about scalability and efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Brand Designer with 2-5 years of experience in New York City, the estimated salary range is $85,000 - $120,000 per year. This range accounts for the competitive market in NYC, the hybrid work arrangement, and the critical nature of this first brand design hire for Runlayer. Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity: Compensation package designed to reflect expertise and customer-facing responsibilities within an early-stage, well-funded startup.

• Comprehensive Paid Time Off: Includes paid vacation, paid sick leave, and paid parental leave, supporting work-life balance.

• Professional Development: An allocated budget for conferences, courses, and certifications, specifically encouraging growth in AI, enterprise software, and customer success-related areas.

• Top-tier Equipment: Provision of a laptop and accessories of the employee's choice to optimize their work environment.

• Health Benefits: Robust health, dental, and vision coverage for employees and potentially their dependents.

• Customer Interaction Opportunities: Direct engagement with innovative enterprise clients, offering tangible impact and learning experiences.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility often inherent in a hybrid startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from reputable compensation platforms for similar roles in New York City, considering the company's Series A funding and industry focus. The benefits package is comprehensive and tailored to attract talent in the competitive tech startup landscape.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure and Enterprise Software. Runlayer operates at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and enterprise solutions, focusing on secure and governed AI agent deployment.

Company Size: Early-stage startup (likely 50-100 employees, given $30M Series A funding and existing customer base like Gusto, Instacart). This size implies a fast-paced, agile, and collaborative environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company has raised $42M total and is actively shipping products, suggesting a recent but established founding timeline.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Designer will report to the VP of Marketing, indicating a direct line to marketing leadership.

• Close collaboration is expected with the existing Marketing team and the Product Design team, fostering a cross-functional design and marketing ecosystem.

• As the first Brand Designer, this role will be instrumental in defining the visual language that unites various departments, from engineering to sales. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Evolution: While focused on creative output, the role requires an understanding of how brand performance can be measured and how data can inform design decisions.

• Agile Design Processes: The startup environment necessitates rapid iteration, quick decision-making, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities, mirroring agile development methodologies.

• AI-Augmented Workflows: A core aspect of Runlayer's mission is to leverage AI; this role is expected to embrace and build AI tools to enhance design operations.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Runlayer is positioned at the forefront of enterprise AI, a high-growth and complex sector. The company culture is likely driven by innovation, speed, and a strong technical foundation, requiring designers to be both creative and strategically minded.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Mid-Level Individual Contributor position. As the first Brand Designer, it offers significant ownership and the opportunity to establish the foundational visual identity of the company. It sits within the broader marketing and design function, contributing directly to GTM efforts through compelling visual communication.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer reports directly to the VP of Marketing. This provides visibility to senior leadership and a direct channel for strategic input into marketing and branding initiatives. Collaboration will be key with Product Design, creating a balanced reporting dynamic for design output.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work will directly influence Runlayer's market perception, brand recognition, and sales effectiveness. By creating clear, compelling visual narratives for a complex AI product, the designer will enable broader market adoption and strengthen the company's competitive positioning. This role is crucial for translating technical value into market appeal.

Growth Opportunities:

• Brand Leadership: Potential to grow into a Brand Lead or Art Director role as the company scales and the design team expands.

• AI Tooling Specialization: Develop expertise in AI applications for design, becoming a go-to resource for leveraging generative AI in creative workflows.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Deepen understanding of product design, marketing strategy, and enterprise sales processes through close collaboration.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to high-level brand strategy discussions and shape the long-term visual direction of the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to make a significant mark on a company's visual identity from its early stages, coupled with exposure to the rapidly evolving field of enterprise AI. The growth potential is tied to both design leadership and the adoption of new technologies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This suggests a combination of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration for specific meetings, team events, or focused work sessions.

Office Location(s): Primarily New York City, New York. This location offers access to a vibrant creative and tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect frequent interaction with marketing and product design teams, fostering a culture of shared ideas and feedback.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to modern design software and hardware, including the opportunity to shape and utilize AI-powered design tools.

• Dynamic Startup Pace: The environment will be fast-paced, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to problem-solving and project execution.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility often provided in hybrid settings. The focus will be on delivering high-quality work and meeting project milestones rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a major tech hub like NYC provides a balance between work-life flexibility and the benefits of in-person collaboration and networking. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a modern and forward-thinking workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on brand strategy, execution, and problem-solving. Expect questions about design process, decision-making, and impact.

• Skills Assessment/Exercise: Potentially a small design challenge or a deep dive into specific skills (e.g., Figma proficiency, brand system thinking).

• Team Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders, including members of the marketing and product design teams, to evaluate collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Marketing, potentially CEO/CTO) to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your ability to define and execute brand identity, especially for technical or complex products.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the design decisions made, and the quantifiable or qualitative impact.

• Highlight Brand Systems: If you have experience building or contributing to design systems, showcase this. For Runlayer, this is crucial.

• Showcase AI Integration: If you have any experience or ideas around using AI in design, be prepared to discuss them.

• Be Ready for "Why": Articulate the rationale behind your design choices and how they align with business objectives.

• Tailor to Runlayer: If possible, include a small speculative piece or commentary on Runlayer's current visual presence, showing your understanding of their market and product.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Application: Be prepared for a challenge that might involve applying brand guidelines to a new marketing asset or suggesting improvements to an existing one.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you would approach designing for a complex B2B SaaS product, particularly in the AI space.

• AI Tooling Ideas: Think about how AI could be used to improve brand consistency, asset generation, or workflow efficiency at Runlayer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design craft but also strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and adaptability within a fast-paced startup. A well-prepared portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design work. Proficiency is a must.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects): Likely used for a range of graphic design, photo editing, and motion graphics tasks.

• Google Slides/Keynote: Critical for creating sales enablement materials and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, understanding how design impacts web traffic, conversion rates, and engagement is beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or similar web analytics platforms would be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM responsibilities, but an understanding of how marketing and sales collateral are used within a CRM context is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires strong proficiency in core design tools, with a particular emphasis on Figma and presentation software. Familiarity with the broader Adobe suite and an understanding of how design integrates with marketing analytics are also valuable. The mention of AI tools suggests an openness to exploring new technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to explore new technologies, particularly AI, and apply them to solve business problems and enhance creative output.

• Speed & Agility: Embracing a fast-paced environment, prioritizing rapid iteration, and adapting quickly to market shifts and company needs.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering tangible results that contribute to the company's growth and success, measured through brand perception, lead generation, and sales enablement.

• High Standards: Maintaining a commitment to quality and excellence in all aspects of design work, setting a high bar for visual craft and brand consistency.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded & Integrated: The Brand Designer is expected to be closely embedded within the marketing team while maintaining strong ties with product design, fostering a cohesive approach to visual communication.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback, encouraging open dialogue to refine designs and strategies.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, new design techniques, and insights, particularly around AI applications in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Runlayer's culture appears to value innovation, speed, and collaborative problem-solving, especially concerning the adoption of AI. The designer will need to be comfortable working autonomously while being a highly integrated team player.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a Brand from Scratch: Establishing a comprehensive and compelling brand identity for a rapidly growing AI company requires strategic vision and strong execution.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The startup environment demands quick turnarounds, which can sometimes conflict with the meticulous detail required for high-quality brand work.

• Translating Technical Complexity: Effectively communicating the value of a sophisticated AI infrastructure product to diverse audiences through visual design.

• Owning Design as a Team of One: Managing all brand design output independently while collaborating effectively with other teams requires strong organizational and self-management skills.

• Integrating AI into Design Workflows: Learning and implementing new AI tools and methodologies to enhance design efficiency and creativity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Enterprise AI: Gain in-depth knowledge of the AI infrastructure market, enterprise software sales cycles, and customer needs.

• Brand Leadership Development: Opportunities to shape the brand strategy and potentially lead future design initiatives as the company grows.

• AI Tooling Expertise: Become proficient in leveraging generative AI for design, a highly sought-after skill in the current market.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of marketing, product development, and sales processes within a high-growth tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to building a brand in a nascent but critical industry, coupled with the opportunity to pioneer AI-driven design processes. The growth path is clear for those who can navigate these challenges successfully.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the core visual identity for a company like Runlayer, given its focus on enterprise AI security and governance?"

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex technical product into a clear and compelling visual story. What was your process?"

• "How do you balance the need for rapid design execution in a startup with maintaining high-quality brand standards?"

• "What are your thoughts on using generative AI tools for brand design? How might you implement them at Runlayer?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Runlayer's mission and its position in the AI market?"

• "How do you see yourself contributing to our fast-paced, collaborative culture as the first Brand Designer?"

• "Describe your ideal working relationship with marketing and product design teams." Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of Runlayer and your understanding of their brand needs. Then, dive into 3-5 key projects, detailing the problem, your solution, process, and impact.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and how you arrive at design decisions, not just the final visuals.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., improved engagement, faster asset creation, positive feedback) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your work.

• Showcase Versatility: Highlight your ability to design for various mediums (web, print, sales, social) and your adaptability.

• Discuss AI Potential: Be ready to talk about how you envision AI tools enhancing your role and Runlayer's brand output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic brand thinking, adaptability, technical communication skills, and an understanding of AI's role in design and business. A strong portfolio presentation is key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided Ashby link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that showcase brand definition, evolution, and execution across diverse media. Prioritize examples demonstrating your ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling visual narratives.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in brand strategy, visual design, cross-functional collaboration, and any exposure to AI tools or fast-paced startup environments. Use keywords relevant to brand design, AI, and B2B SaaS.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale behind key decisions, and how you approach challenges. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio with confidence.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Runlayer, understanding their product, target market (enterprise AI), funding status, and existing visual identity. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their mission and culture.

⚠️ 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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