Brand Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer II

Company: Vast

Location: Long Beach, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-7 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive visual brand consistency and excellence across a diverse range of creative projects for a cutting-edge space infrastructure company.

• Extend and refine existing design systems, contributing to the evolution of Vast's visual identity.

• Translate complex strategies and messaging into clear, compelling visual narratives for various stakeholders.

• Execute high-quality design craft, from conceptualization through to production-ready assets.

• Collaborate closely with brand and marketing teams to ensure cohesive brand representation in all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a rapidly growing, innovative company in the space technology sector. The "Brand Designer II" title, combined with the 3-7 years of experience requirement and the broad project scope, suggests a mid-level position with significant responsibility for executing and contributing to the brand's visual strategy, rather than a purely junior or senior strategic role. The emphasis on "production-ready work" and "extending design systems" indicates a need for both creative flair and practical execution skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute a wide array of visual assets including event graphics, presentation decks, RFPs, illustrations, key art, and other marketing collateral.

• Actively contribute to and expand the established design system, identifying opportunities for improvement and proposing enhancements.

• Develop and implement high-quality layouts, sophisticated typography systems, and impactful visual assets that align with brand guidelines.

• Skillfully translate strategic objectives and core messaging into clear, persuasive, and visually engaging creative solutions.

• Take ownership of production-level tasks when priorities shift, ensuring timely delivery without compromising quality.

• Uphold stringent brand consistency and visual quality standards across all internal and external communication channels.

• Clearly articulate design rationale and present creative work effectively to diverse stakeholder groups, including leadership.

• Proactively manage multiple fast-paced projects concurrently, maintaining meticulous organization and workflow order.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who is not only creatively adept but also highly organized and capable of managing a high volume of diverse tasks in a dynamic environment. The inclusion of "RFP layout" and "event graphics" points to the need for understanding B2B marketing collateral alongside broader brand campaigns.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience.

Experience: 3-7 years of professional brand design experience, demonstrating a consistent track record of delivering high-quality creative work across various formats and project types.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating and manipulating visual assets.

• Advanced skills in Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and design system management.

• Strong command of Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, Sheets) for document creation and presentation.

• Deep understanding and application of typography principles, layout design, color theory, and visual storytelling techniques.

• Proven ability to think conceptually, developing innovative design solutions, and to work systematically within established brand frameworks.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and concepts clearly and persuasively.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities, maintain organization, and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience gained within an agency environment or a high-growth, fast-paced brand setting.

• Proven experience in contributing to the development, maintenance, and extension of comprehensive brand guidelines and design systems.

• A highly versatile design approach, demonstrating the ability to adapt to diverse project requirements and see work through from concept to final delivery.

• A craft-obsessed mindset with an exceptionally sharp eye for detail and a commitment to achieving visual excellence.

• Strong systems-thinking capabilities, with the ability to work effectively within existing design systems and identify opportunities to enhance them.

• A proactive, self-directed work ethic coupled with excellent communication skills, ensuring work is consistently organized and stakeholders are kept well-informed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred skills emphasize attributes common in successful designers at high-growth tech companies: adaptability, a keen eye for detail, system thinking, and strong communication. The "craft-obsessed" descriptor suggests a high standard for aesthetic quality.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of brand design projects.

• Demonstrations of brand system development, campaign execution, and presentation design.

• Examples of event graphics and/or environmental graphics, illustrating application in physical spaces or large-scale events.

• Production-ready work samples that highlight technical proficiency and adherence to brand standards.

• Case studies detailing the design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of the final design solution. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of systematic design thinking, including workflow outlines and decision-making processes.

• Examples of how design systems were leveraged or extended, demonstrating an understanding of scalable brand assets.

• Case studies that articulate the translation of strategy into visual design, showcasing the creative rationale.

• Documentation of collaboration processes, particularly how feedback was incorporated and how designs were presented to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Brand Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic appeal but also strategic thinking, systematic application of brand guidelines, and the ability to produce polished, production-ready assets. The emphasis on "extending design systems" and "production-ready work" is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $96,000 - $173,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy: up to 20+ days for exempt staff and up to 10+ days for non-exempt staff, with annual cash-out options for unused vacation.

• Paid parental leave to support new parents.

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance for income protection.

• Life insurance coverage.

• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan for long-term financial planning.

• ClassPass credits for fitness and wellness.

• Personalized mental healthcare support through Spring Health.

• Company equity, offering a stake in Vast's growth and success.

• Subsidized lunch program.

• Complimentary snacks, drip coffee, and onsite barista services.

• Access to additional discounts and perks.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and company needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for California, a high cost-of-living state, and reflects a broad spectrum for a mid-level to potentially senior-leaning designer role, allowing for calibration based on candidate experience. The extensive benefits package, including equity and generous PTO, is typical for growth-stage tech companies and signals a commitment to employee well-being and long-term incentives.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace, Space Technology, Infrastructure Development. Vast is at the forefront of developing next-generation space stations and infrastructure, aiming to establish a continuous human presence in space and unlock new economic opportunities.

Company Size: Over 1,000 employees. This indicates a mature, well-funded, and rapidly scaling organization with established processes but still retaining a dynamic, growth-oriented culture.

Founded: (Information not explicitly provided, but implies recent significant growth given employee count and funding). The company's rapid development of its multi-module Haven Station and the launch of Haven Demo and Haven-1 suggest a strong focus on innovation, execution, and achieving ambitious milestones.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Designer reports into the Senior Director, Brand Design, indicating a dedicated brand design function within a larger marketing or communications department.

• The team likely comprises other designers, potentially copywriters, and marketing specialists, fostering a collaborative creative environment.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected, particularly with product, engineering, marketing, and executive teams, to ensure brand alignment across all company initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and a focus on measurable results are likely core to Vast's operations, mirroring industry best practices in tech.

• Agile methodologies may be employed to manage the fast-paced development and project cycles inherent in the space industry.

• A strong emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and pushing technological boundaries is inherent in Vast's mission.

Company Website: vastspace.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of a space technology company like Vast suggests a culture that values innovation, precision, technical excellence, and a forward-thinking mindset. The brand design function will play a crucial role in translating these complex technological advancements into accessible and compelling visual narratives for a broad audience.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Brand Designer II" role represents a mid-career opportunity. It signifies a designer who has moved beyond foundational skills and is expected to contribute significantly to brand execution, system enhancement, and project management. The role requires a blend of creative craft and practical application, with opportunities to influence design direction within specific projects.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports to the Senior Director, Brand Design. This structure implies mentorship opportunities and a clear path for receiving constructive feedback and strategic guidance. The Senior Director likely oversees the overall brand vision and strategy, while the Brand Designer II focuses on bringing that vision to life through execution and detailed design work.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's impact is critical in shaping Vast's public perception, communicating its complex mission and technological achievements, and attracting talent and investment. High-quality design across all touchpoints—from marketing materials and investor presentations to event collateral and internal communications—directly supports sales enablement, brand recognition, and overall business objectives. Consistent and compelling branding is essential for a company operating in a highly competitive and visible sector like space technology.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific design disciplines (e.g., motion graphics, illustration, UI/UX principles relevant to brand) and gain experience with advanced design tools and workflows.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to a Senior Brand Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more heavily to strategic brand initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Develop a broader understanding of marketing strategy, product development, and business operations through close collaboration with other departments.

• Design System Ownership: Potentially lead the evolution or specific components of Vast's design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on how a mid-level designer can develop within Vast, emphasizing both skill enhancement and potential leadership trajectories. The "Operations Impact" section highlights how design directly contributes to business outcomes, which is a key consideration for operations-minded candidates.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Long Beach, California, indicating a collaborative office-based environment. This suggests opportunities for in-person brainstorming, direct feedback, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Long Beach, California. This location offers access to a significant talent pool and a vibrant business community. Specific details about office amenities or accessibility would need to be confirmed directly.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative workspace designed to foster teamwork and idea exchange among creative professionals.

• Access to essential design tools and technology, including powerful workstations and software suites (Adobe CC, Figma).

• Opportunities for direct interaction with the Brand Design team, as well as cross-functional teams, facilitating a holistic understanding of company projects.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While on-site, the company's culture likely supports focused work periods interspersed with collaborative sessions, allowing for effective project management and creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often beneficial for creative roles where spontaneous interaction and feedback loops are valuable. This context is important for candidates who thrive in team-based environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the recruiting team and hiring manager to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Skills Assessment: A session where candidates present a curated selection of their work, discussing their process, rationale, and problem-solving approaches. This may include a design challenge or a case study presentation focused on brand execution and system thinking.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with members of the Brand Design team and potentially cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., marketing leads) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Senior Director, Brand Design) to finalize assessment of strategic thinking, experience, and overall fit for Vast.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest and most relevant projects that best showcase your versatility across different formats (brand systems, presentations, event graphics, production work).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process (concept development, iterations), the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes or impact. Use visual aids effectively.

• Highlight System Thinking: If applicable, demonstrate how you worked within or extended a design system. Show examples of how you ensure consistency and scalability.

• Showcase Craft & Production: Include examples that highlight your attention to detail, typography, layout skills, and ability to deliver polished, production-ready files.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a clear, concise, and confident delivery within the allotted time. Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Vast's Brand: Research Vast's mission, products (space stations, satellites), target audiences, and existing visual identity. Identify potential areas for brand expression.

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach extending or contributing to a design system for a complex technical company.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would tackle design challenges under tight deadlines or with ambiguous briefs.

• Communication & Rationale: Practice articulating your design choices and strategic thinking clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a design role, emphasizing portfolio content, presentation skills, and preparation for potential design challenges, all within the context of Vast's industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expert proficiency is mandatory, covering Photoshop for image manipulation, Illustrator for vector graphics and illustrations, and InDesign for layout and document design (presentations, RFPs).

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and the management/extension of design systems.

• Google Workspace: Proficiency in Google Slides for presentations, Google Docs for copy and documentation, and Google Sheets for data organization.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary focus for a Brand Designer, understanding how design impacts metrics (e.g., engagement, conversion rates for marketing materials) is beneficial. Familiarity with tools that visualize campaign performance may be advantageous.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of this Brand Designer role, but an awareness of how design assets are used within marketing automation platforms or CRM systems (e.g., email templates) could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section clearly delineates the core technical requirements for the role, focusing on the design software and collaborative platforms essential for brand design execution and system management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: A core value driven by Vast's mission to develop next-generation space technology. This translates to a creative environment that encourages new ideas and pushes boundaries.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high standards in all aspects of work, from engineering to design. This means attention to detail, precision, and a dedication to producing polished, impactful results.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Essential for achieving complex, multi-disciplinary goals. This value emphasizes open communication, mutual support, and shared responsibility across teams.

• Data-Driven Approach: While design is creative, decisions are often informed by data and strategic objectives, ensuring that creative output aligns with business goals and resonates with target audiences.

• Adaptability & Agility: Necessary in a fast-paced, evolving industry. The culture likely embraces flexibility and the ability to pivot quickly in response to new challenges or opportunities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Brand designers are expected to work closely with marketing, product, engineering, and executive teams, acting as a central point for visual communication.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to refine creative work and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting an environment where designers share insights, best practices, and learnings to elevate the collective skill set of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values are inferred from the company's industry and mission, highlighting key traits like innovation, excellence, and collaboration that are crucial for success in a high-tech, ambitious environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Complexity: Effectively communicating Vast's advanced space technology and complex mission to diverse audiences through design.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive visual identity across a broad spectrum of applications and touchpoints as the company scales rapidly.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Managing multiple high-priority projects with tight deadlines in a dynamic, evolving industry.

• Evolving Design Systems: Continuously adapting and expanding design systems to meet new creative needs and technological advancements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like motion graphics, 3D visualization, or advanced illustration techniques relevant to the aerospace industry.

• Brand Strategy Contribution: Gaining exposure to and contributing to higher-level brand strategy discussions and initiatives.

• Industry Exposure: Learning about the nuances of the space technology sector and how design plays a critical role in its communication and market positioning.

• Mentorship: Learning from a Senior Director and collaborating with experienced professionals across various disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section anticipates potential difficulties and outlines pathways for professional development, framing challenges as opportunities for growth and skill acquisition within the context of Vast's unique industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a highly technical concept into a clear and compelling visual for a non-technical audience. What was your process and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving and communication strategy.)

• "How would you approach extending Vast's existing design system to accommodate a new product line, like Vast Satellite, while maintaining brand integrity?" (Assess your understanding of design systems and brand consistency.)

• "Walk us through a complex brand design project from your portfolio. What were the objectives, your role, the challenges, and how did you measure success?" (Prepare a detailed case study with clear rationale and impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for Vast's brand identity in the current market?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the company and its industry.)

• "How do you prefer to receive feedback on your designs, and how do you incorporate it into your work?" (Evaluate your collaboration and receptiveness to critique.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to balance creative vision with practical constraints (e.g., budget, timeline, technical limitations)." (Assess your adaptability and problem-solving skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Selectivity is Key: Choose 3-5 projects that best represent your range, craft, and strategic thinking relevant to this role. Prioritize projects that showcase brand systems, presentations, and production-ready work.

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation logically for each project: problem/objective, your role, creative process, solutions, and results/impact. Use clear headings and concise descriptions.

• Visual Emphasis: Let your designs speak for themselves, but be prepared to articulate the 'why' behind your choices, especially regarding typography, color, layout, and conceptual direction.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Engage and Listen: Be prepared for Q&A. Listen carefully to questions and provide thoughtful, specific answers. Show enthusiasm for Vast's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions are designed to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, all crucial for a Brand Designer in a high-growth tech company.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Vast careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your online portfolio or PDF to highlight projects demonstrating brand system development, presentation design, event graphics, and production-ready work. Ensure it is easily accessible and showcases your best work relevant to Vast's industry.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 3-7 years of brand design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma, and successful contributions to brand consistency and design systems. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to present your portfolio and discuss how your skills align with Vast's mission and the specific requirements of the role.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Vast, its mission, products (Haven Station, Vast Satellite), and its existing brand presence. Understand the company's values and the innovative nature of the space technology industry.

⚠️ 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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