Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Forterra

Location: Arlington, VA, United States

Job Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Category: Marketing & Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design compelling visual assets for digital and print channels to support marketing campaigns, product launches, and company events.

• Translate complex technical concepts and highly technical subject matter into clear, compelling visual stories and on-brand creative.

• Develop and evolve Forterra’s visual language, ensuring consistency with established brand standards across diverse touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with marketing, communications, product, and other teams to deliver distinctive and impactful design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Graphic Designer within Forterra's marketing team, focusing on bringing the brand to life across various mediums. The emphasis on translating "highly technical subject matter" suggests a need for a designer comfortable with complex industries like technology, defense, or industrial sectors, requiring strong information design skills alongside creative execution. The role complements a Content Designer, indicating a division of responsibilities where this Graphic Designer will focus more on visual identity, campaign creative, and brand execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design high-quality creative assets for a wide range of channels including marketing campaigns, social media, web, events, advertising, recruiting materials, signage, collateral, and internal communications.

• Create distinct campaign identities, key art, graphics, illustrations, iconography, and infographics that communicate Forterra’s technology, mission, and impact.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems, templates, and asset libraries to ensure brand consistency and enable rapid team workflows.

• Partner with Content Designers on presentations, reports, and technical collateral, integrating strong information design with compelling visual execution.

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, including marketers, writers, engineers, product leaders, and executives, to understand project goals and deliver effective creative solutions.

• Prepare production-ready assets for digital, print, environmental, and large-format applications, ensuring accuracy and adherence to specifications.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, maintaining a high standard of craft, accuracy, and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

• Incorporate stakeholder feedback while safeguarding the integrity and consistency of the Forterra brand.

• Liaise with external vendors, agencies, photographers, printers, and production partners as required for project execution.

• Support major company initiatives such as product launches, announcements, trade shows, demonstrations, recruiting drives, and industry events through impactful design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a versatile designer capable of handling diverse creative outputs, from digital graphics to large-format print and environmental design. The emphasis on "scalable design systems, templates, and asset libraries" suggests an expectation for proactive contributions to design infrastructure and efficiency. The collaboration with "engineers, product leaders, and executives" points to a role that requires understanding technical subject matter and communicating it visually, a key differentiator for operations-focused roles in technical industries.

🎓 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: 4+ years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within an in-house marketing or creative team, agency, or a fast-paced technology organization.

Required Skills:

• Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in brand design, marketing creative, typography, layout, composition, and visual storytelling.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

• Solid understanding of typography, hierarchy, color theory, imagery, grid systems, and fundamental design principles.

• Demonstrated experience designing across both digital and print formats.

• Ability to manage projects from initial concept through final production.

• Strong grasp of brand systems and the capacity to apply guidelines creatively.

• Skill in simplifying complex or technical information visually without compromising accuracy.

• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality execution.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present and articulate design decisions effectively.

• Aptitude for prioritizing and managing multiple projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Comfort with receiving feedback and iterating quickly on designs. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with brands in technology, defense, automotive, robotics, autonomy, aerospace, industrial, or similarly technical sectors.

• Proven experience creating visual identities and creative systems for campaigns, product launches, or major events.

• Familiarity with environmental graphics, trade show design, signage, or large-format production.

• Skills in illustration, photo editing, retouching, or image compositing.

• Experience with motion graphics or animation tools such as Adobe After Effects.

• Familiarity with Figma and modern digital design workflows.

• Experience art directing photography, video, or external creative partners.

• An interest in emerging technologies and the ability to quickly comprehend highly technical products.

• A proactive, high-impact approach to projects and a desire to build within a collaborative creative team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred qualifications strongly indicate that candidates with experience in technical industries will have a significant advantage. The mention of Figma and After Effects suggests a desire for designers who can contribute to broader digital and potentially animated content strategies, aligning with modern marketing demands. The emphasis on "understanding highly technical products" is a critical requirement for this role, suggesting the need for strong analytical and visual translation skills beyond standard design aesthetics.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of projects demonstrating expertise in brand identity development, marketing campaign creative, and effective visual storytelling.

• Include examples of typography, layout, and composition that highlight strong design fundamentals.

• Present work that illustrates the ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, compelling visuals.

• Feature projects created for both digital and print channels, proving versatility across mediums.

• Detail the design process from concept to final production, including problem-solving and iteration. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to design projects, from brief interpretation to final asset delivery.

• Illustrate how brand guidelines are applied and maintained, with examples of creative application within established frameworks.

• Show how feedback is incorporated and how design decisions are articulated and defended.

• Highlight experience in managing project timelines and deliverables effectively for multiple concurrent projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer role, especially one involving technical subject matter, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics to showcase strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to execute within brand constraints while also innovating. The ability to document a clear design process and demonstrate how complex information was simplified visually will be key evaluation points.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options (including HSA-eligible) with Forterra covering 80% of premiums for employees and dependents.

• Basic Life/AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability insurance plans, 100% covered by Forterra.

• Option to purchase additional life insurance for employees and dependents.

• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a winter break in December.

• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 days accrued annually.

• Minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth or adoption.

• Annual stipend of $9,000 for tuition reimbursement or professional development.

• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan (traditional, Roth, after-tax deferral) with a company match up to 4%.

• Equity in Forterra is included in most full-time, high-demand roles and is considered part of the overall compensation package.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are assumed to be 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time salaried position. The on-site nature of the role implies adherence to office hours, though flexibility may exist depending on project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and aligns with a mid-level Graphic Designer role in the Arlington, VA area. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on health, well-being, and professional development, including a significant annual stipend. The inclusion of equity and a generous parental leave policy are notable perks. The mention of "Celsius" in the description adds a touch of company culture. The estimate of 40 working hours is standard, but the on-site requirement suggests a more traditional office schedule.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Forterra operates in the technology sector, specifically focusing on autonomous systems that support national resilience and supply chain robustness. This implies a work environment that values innovation, precision, and cutting-edge solutions. The company's industry likely involves complex engineering and technical challenges.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the comprehensive benefits package and the presence of a dedicated marketing team suggest a mid-sized to large organization. This size typically allows for structured processes and career development opportunities, while still offering a dynamic and potentially less bureaucratic environment than a very large enterprise.

Founded: Forterra was founded in 2015. This means it's a relatively young company, likely experiencing rapid growth and evolution, which can translate to a dynamic and entrepreneurial culture where employees can make a significant impact.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the marketing team, working closely with a Content Designer. This suggests a collaborative creative function within marketing.

• The broader marketing team likely collaborates with other departments such as growth, product, and executive leadership, indicating a cross-functional operational environment.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Marketing Manager or Creative Director, with direct interaction with various stakeholders across the organization for project briefs and feedback. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and clear communication of technical concepts are likely core to Forterra's operations, given its industry.

• Design processes will need to be efficient and adaptable to support rapid product development and market communication.

• A focus on consistency and brand integrity will be paramount, especially when communicating complex technological advancements.

Company Website: [Company URL]

📝 Enhancement Note: Forterra's focus on autonomous systems for national resilience and supply chains suggests a culture that values expertise, problem-solving, and high-impact contributions. The company's relatively recent founding implies a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. The collaboration with a Content Designer is a key structural detail, highlighting a team approach to content creation where visual and textual elements are integrated.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer. It requires a solid foundation of 4+ years of experience and the ability to work independently on projects while also collaborating effectively with others. The responsibilities include not just execution but also contributing to design systems and translating complex information, indicating a level of strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report into the marketing team, likely to a Marketing Manager or Creative Lead. They will collaborate closely with a Content Designer and interact with stakeholders across various departments, including product, engineering, and executive leadership, to gather project requirements and present design solutions.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work will directly impact Forterra's brand perception, marketing campaign effectiveness, product launch success, and overall communication of its complex technological offerings. High-quality visuals are crucial for conveying credibility, innovation, and the value proposition of autonomous systems to diverse audiences, including potential clients, partners, and talent.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in technical design, motion graphics (with After Effects), digital design workflows (Figma), and potentially art direction.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in areas like campaign creative systems, environmental graphics, or information design for highly technical products.

• Leadership Potential: Over time, this role could evolve into a Senior Graphic Designer position, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, or taking on more strategic brand management responsibilities.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working with engineering and product teams offers exposure to cutting-edge technology, which can broaden design perspectives and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a technically focused company. The emphasis on translating complex information and contributing to design systems suggests opportunities to develop specialized skills valuable in high-tech industries. The potential for art direction and leadership development provides a trajectory beyond pure design execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Arlington, VA, suggesting a traditional office environment. This typically fosters in-person collaboration, spontaneous idea-sharing, and a more structured workday.

Office Location(s): Arlington, VA, offers a vibrant professional hub with access to talent, amenities, and transportation networks. This location is strategic for a technology company seeking to attract skilled professionals.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with opportunities to interact directly with marketing colleagues, including the Content Designer, and other teams.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, is a given. Preferred qualifications suggest potential access to motion graphics software (After Effects) and digital design platforms (Figma).

• The environment will likely be dynamic, with a focus on fast-paced project execution and a culture that values innovation and precision, reflecting the company's industry.

Work Schedule: As a full-time, salaried position, the work schedule is likely to be standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM, 40 hours per week), with potential for occasional overtime to meet project deadlines, especially during product launches or major events. The on-site requirement means adherence to office hours is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Arlington, VA, places the role in a competitive professional environment. The emphasis on collaboration within the marketing team and with other departments is a key aspect of the physical workspace. The expectation for a dynamic, fast-paced environment is consistent with a growing tech company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess your qualifications and fit for the role.

• Portfolio Presentation: An opportunity to walk through your portfolio, discussing your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work, particularly focusing on how you've translated complex information visually.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Potentially a practical design exercise or case study to evaluate your design thinking, execution skills, and ability to work within brand guidelines and project constraints.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with members of the marketing team, potentially the Content Designer, and other key stakeholders (e.g., product managers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those showcasing brand identity, campaign creative, and the ability to simplify complex or technical information.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the creative solution, and the outcome or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Technical Translation: If you have experience designing for technical industries, explicitly showcase how you approached translating complex concepts into understandable visuals.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples from both digital and print, and if applicable, mention any experience with environmental graphics, motion graphics, or large-format design.

• Showcase Brand Consistency: If possible, include examples where you worked within strict brand guidelines or developed new visual systems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully analyze any design challenge prompt, identifying key objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Focus on Process: Even in a timed exercise, document your thought process. This is often more important than the final polished output.

• Brand Alignment: Ensure any proposed design aligns with the Forterra brand identity, even if conceptual.

• Presentation Clarity: Be prepared to clearly articulate your design choices and rationale, especially how they address the project brief.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to translate technical information visually and to work within a structured brand framework. A design challenge is likely, requiring candidates to demonstrate practical skills and strategic thinking under pressure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is mandatory, specifically:

  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design of brochures, reports, presentations, and print collateral.

• Figma: Preferred for modern digital design workflows, collaboration, and potentially UI/UX elements.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary tool for a Graphic Designer, understanding how design impacts metrics and engagement is beneficial. Familiarity with how design assets are used in digital marketing platforms and how their performance is tracked would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of a Graphic Designer.

Other Potential Tools (Preferred):

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics and animation.

• Prototyping Tools: Such as Figma, for creating interactive mockups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of Adobe Creative Suite. The inclusion of Figma and After Effects as preferred skills indicates a move towards more integrated digital design workflows and potential for motion graphics content creation, aligning with modern marketing demands.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Precision: Given Forterra's industry, a culture valuing cutting-edge solutions and meticulous execution is likely.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, especially between design, content, marketing, and product teams, to achieve shared goals.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on creating designs that have a tangible effect on business objectives, such as campaign success, product adoption, and brand perception.

• Continuous Learning: An environment that encourages staying updated with design trends, technologies, and the evolving landscape of autonomous systems.

• Brand Integrity: A deep respect for and commitment to maintaining and evolving the Forterra brand identity consistently and effectively.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers will work closely with non-designers (engineers, product managers, marketers) requiring clear communication and the ability to translate technical needs into visual solutions.

• Feedback Loop: A culture that embraces constructive feedback as a means of refining designs and ensuring project success.

• Proactive Contribution: Encouragement to contribute ideas and solutions beyond direct requests, helping to shape the visual direction of the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at Forterra likely balances a fast-paced, innovative environment with a strong emphasis on precision and collaboration, reflecting its technical industry. The values will likely center around driving impact through design and fostering a learning mindset.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Complexity: The primary challenge will be to visually represent and simplify highly technical concepts related to autonomous systems for diverse audiences.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining brand integrity while creating fresh, engaging creative for various campaigns and touchpoints.

• Managing Fast-Paced Demands: Juggling multiple projects with tight deadlines in a dynamic tech environment.

• Incorporating Diverse Feedback: Synthesizing feedback from various stakeholders with potentially different perspectives and priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Technical Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex industries like robotics, aerospace, or defense.

• Motion Graphics & Digital Tools: Develop skills in Adobe After Effects and Figma for more dynamic digital content and modern design workflows.

• Art Direction: Gain experience in guiding photography, video, or external creative partners.

• Strategic Brand Contribution: Opportunities to influence the broader visual identity and design systems of a growing technology company.

• Industry Exposure: Learning about emerging technologies and their applications through collaboration with engineering and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique demands of designing for a technical company. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to develop specialized skills and gain strategic experience in a high-growth sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex technical concept into a visual asset. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving, simplification skills, and ability to articulate your design choices.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of marketing materials, especially when working with multiple stakeholders?" (Highlight your understanding of brand systems and your collaboration/feedback management approach.)

• "Walk us through a campaign you designed from concept to completion. What were the key objectives, your creative approach, and the results?" (Prepare a case study that demonstrates your end-to-end project management and strategic thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Forterra's mission and the autonomous systems industry?" (Research Forterra's products, news, and its role in national resilience and supply chains.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-designers, such as engineers or product managers?" (Emphasize your communication skills, empathy, and ability to understand different perspectives.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning and professional development.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact. Use strong visuals to support your story.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out how your portfolio demonstrates your expertise in typography, layout, visual storytelling, and translating technical information.

• Showcase Brand Work: If you have examples of developing or working within brand guidelines, make sure to feature them.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your software proficiency, design systems, and how you approach production-ready assets.

• Engage and Discuss: Be ready to have a conversation about your work, not just present it. Show enthusiasm and genuine interest in Forterra's work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both design craft and strategic thinking, with a particular emphasis on the ability to handle technical subject matter and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced tech environment. Your portfolio is your primary tool; ensure it's curated and presented strategically.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on ats.rippling.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in technical industries, campaign creative, and visual storytelling. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and your ability to translate complex information visually.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly list your years of experience (4+ years), specific software proficiencies (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and preferred tools like Figma/After Effects), and any relevant industry experience (technology, defense, etc.). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving, and ability to articulate your creative decisions, especially for technical subjects. Be ready to discuss your experience with brand systems and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Forterra, its mission, products, and its position in the autonomous systems industry. Understand its brand identity and the types of visual communication it employs.

⚠️ 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.