Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Kimley-Horn

Location: Dallas, TX, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in enhancing Kimley-Horn's visual communication strategy through the creation of compelling graphic assets for proposals, reports, and marketing collateral.

• The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with technical and project management teams to translate complex information into visually appealing and brand-compliant materials.

• Responsibilities span a wide range of design applications, from digital graphics for e-blasts and social media to large-format printing and multimedia elements.

• The position offers an opportunity to contribute to a specialized marketing team within a renowned engineering and design consulting firm, focusing on brand consistency and impactful visual storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," its integration within a firm like Kimley-Horn, which focuses on engineering and design consulting, suggests a strong emphasis on Marketing Operations and Creative Services that directly support business development and client communication efforts. The responsibilities lean heavily into creating assets for technical proposals and client-facing materials, requiring a blend of creative flair and an understanding of professional services marketing.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design visually engaging covers, templates, layouts, and supporting graphics for technical proposals and client reports, ensuring adherence to corporate branding guidelines.

• Develop dynamic presentations and multimedia graphics that effectively communicate project information and company capabilities to diverse audiences.

• Create detailed before-and-after photo simulations and aerial map exhibits to visually represent project scope, impact, and proposed solutions.

• Produce unique brochures, both print and digital, and eye-catching trade show graphics to support marketing campaigns and business development initiatives.

• Design effective e-blast campaigns and engaging social media graphics to enhance digital outreach and brand presence.

• Manage large format printing and production processes, ensuring quality and timely delivery of physical marketing materials.

• Thrive as an integral member of a large, creative, and specialized marketing team, contributing to a collaborative and innovative environment.

• Interact effectively with engineers, project managers, and technical staff to understand project details and translate them into clear visual narratives.

• Consistently work within established corporate and client branding guidelines to maintain brand integrity across all design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a need for proficiency in creating graphics for professional services marketing, particularly proposals and client reports. This requires an understanding of conveying technical information visually, which is a key aspect of proposal graphics and business development support within engineering and consulting firms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related creative field.

Experience: 0-2 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within a corporate environment or agency serving professional services clients.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator are essential for layout, image manipulation, and vector graphics creation.

• Adobe Acrobat Proficiency: Ability to create, edit, and manage PDF documents, including interactive elements and pre-press preparations.

• Microsoft Office Suite Mastery: Strong command of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, with a focus on creating professional documents, presentations, and data visualizations within a PC-based environment.

• Layout and Composition: Demonstrated ability to create visually balanced and compelling layouts for complex documents and marketing materials.

• Visual Communication: Strong aptitude for translating technical or abstract information into clear, concise, and impactful graphics.

• Branding Adherence: Ability to meticulously follow and apply corporate and client branding guidelines.

• Professional Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with internal stakeholders and technical teams.

• Problem-Solving Attitude: A positive, solution-seeking mindset with a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative.

• Deadline Management: Proven ability to manage multiple, varied assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Filming & Editing: Experience with video production, including filming and editing footage for marketing or internal communications.

• Motion Graphics Design: Skill in creating animated graphics and visual effects using software like Adobe After Effects.

• 3D Modeling & Rendering: Familiarity with 3D software such as 3DS Max or Sketchup for creating visualizations.

• Web Design Fundamentals: Experience with web design principles, including knowledge of WordPress, HTML, and CSS.

• Presentation Software: Advanced skills in creating sophisticated presentations beyond standard PowerPoint, potentially using tools like Prezi or custom templates.

• Large Format Printing Production: Understanding of the technical requirements and best practices for producing large-scale printed materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "0-2 years" experience level, combined with the Bachelor's degree requirement, clearly positions this as an entry-level role. The emphasis on InDesign for complex documents and the mention of video/motion graphics as preferred skills suggest a desire for a candidate who can grow into more advanced creative responsibilities within the marketing team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Core Software Proficiency: Showcase examples created using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, highlighting complex layouts, image manipulation, and vector artwork.

• Proposal & Report Graphics: Include samples of graphics designed for proposals, reports, or similar professional documents, demonstrating the ability to present technical information visually.

• Brochure & Marketing Collateral Design: Present examples of print or digital brochures, flyers, or other marketing materials that effectively convey brand messaging and calls to action.

• Presentation Design: Showcase examples of visually impactful presentations, illustrating effective use of layout, typography, and graphics to engage an audience.

• Branding Consistency: Provide examples that clearly demonstrate adherence to specific branding guidelines, showing how you adapt designs to maintain a consistent brand identity.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design for Project Execution: Be prepared to discuss your process for taking a design request from initial brief to final delivery, including client/stakeholder communication, revision cycles, and final asset handoff.

• Quality Assurance & Accuracy: Explain your methods for ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to project requirements and brand standards throughout the design process.

• System Integration & Asset Management: Briefly touch upon how you manage design files and assets, and your experience integrating designs with various platforms (e.g., proposal software, web content management systems, social media schedulers).

📝 Enhancement Note: For an entry-level Graphic Designer role, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to demonstrate foundational skills in the required software and a clear understanding of how design serves business objectives, particularly in a professional services context. The emphasis on "process documentation" within the portfolio section refers more to the candidate's ability to articulate their design process rather than formal documentation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for entry-level Graphic Designers in Dallas, TX, with 0-2 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is between $50,000 and $65,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Dallas and the specialized nature of design work within professional services.

Benefits:

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: Kimley-Horn offers a generous 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus), plus an additional profit-sharing contribution.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access to low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options to support employee well-being.

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy personal leave, flexible scheduling options, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays, promoting work-life balance.

• Financial Wellness Support: Benefit from student loan matching within the 401(k) plan and receive performance-based bonuses.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs to foster continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Family-Friendly Benefits: Access to New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources to support employees' family needs.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. While standard business hours are expected, there is flexibility to periodically work outside normal working hours as required for business needs, especially to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of entry-level graphic designer roles in Dallas, TX, factoring in the company's industry (engineering consulting) which often offers competitive compensation. The benefits package is exceptionally strong and detailed in the provided company information, highlighting Kimley-Horn's commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering and Design Consulting. Kimley-Horn operates within a highly professional services sector, where technical expertise, client relationships, and robust project delivery are paramount. The graphic design function directly supports these core business objectives by enhancing proposals, presentations, and marketing communications.

Company Size: Kimley-Horn is a large, established firm, indicated by its long tenure on Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work" list for 19 years. This size suggests a well-structured organization with established processes, ample resources, and opportunities for specialization.

Founded: Founded in 1947, Kimley-Horn has a long history and a proven track record in the engineering and design consulting industry. This longevity points to a stable, reputable company with a strong foundation and a culture that values expertise and client satisfaction.

Team Structure:

• Specialized Marketing Team: The graphic designer will join a "large, creative, and specialized marketing team," implying a dedicated department with various roles focused on supporting business development and corporate communications.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: A significant aspect of the role involves interacting with engineers, project managers, and technical staff, indicating a highly collaborative environment where design supports technical disciplines.

• Reporting Hierarchy: While not explicitly stated, in a firm of this size, the marketing team likely operates under a Marketing Director or similar leadership, with graphic designers reporting to a design lead or marketing manager.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Visualizations: The role requires creating graphics for proposals and reports, suggesting a need to translate data and technical information into understandable visuals.

• Brand Consistency Focus: A core methodology will be adhering to strict corporate and client branding guidelines to ensure a unified and professional visual identity across all outputs.

• Efficiency and Quality: The need to handle simultaneous, varied assignments under tight deadlines points to a methodology that balances speed with high-quality output and accuracy.

Company Website: www.kimley-horn.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights that this is not a typical agency or pure creative studio role. It's an in-house position within a professional services firm, meaning the design work is highly integrated with business development and project delivery. Understanding the client-facing nature of proposals and reports is key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an Entry-Level Graphic Designer position. It's designed for individuals with foundational design education and a maximum of two years of professional experience. The role focuses on executing design tasks under guidance, learning company-specific processes, and developing proficiency in a corporate environment. The emphasis is on skill development and contribution to core marketing outputs.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Senior Graphic Designer, Design Manager, or Marketing Manager within the specialized marketing team. This structure provides mentorship and oversight essential for early-career professionals. Collaboration will extend to engineers, project managers, and other technical staff across various departments.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work has a direct impact on Kimley-Horn's ability to win new business and maintain its professional image. High-quality proposals, engaging presentations, and consistent branding are critical for client perception and competitive differentiation in the engineering and design consulting market. The role contributes to the overall effectiveness of the firm's marketing and business development efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to develop advanced skills in areas like motion graphics, video editing, or complex document layout within the Adobe CC suite, based on project needs and personal development interests.

• Industry Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of the engineering and design consulting industry, understanding how visual communication supports technical services and client engagement.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to roles such as Senior Graphic Designer, Lead Designer, or even explore related areas like Marketing Coordinator or Communications Specialist within the firm, depending on performance and business needs.

• Mentorship and Training: Benefit from Kimley-Horn's commitment to professional development, including tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs, which can accelerate career growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential is tied to mastering the specific demands of design within a professional services firm. Advancing often means demonstrating not just creative skill but also an understanding of business objectives and client needs, which is crucial for long-term success in this environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position, requiring the designer to work from the Dallas, TX office. This setting promotes direct collaboration, immediate feedback, and immersion in the company culture.

Office Location(s): The job is located in Dallas, Texas. Specific office details like accessibility, public transport links, and amenities would typically be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The designer will be part of a "large, creative, and specialized marketing team," suggesting a dynamic workspace with opportunities for interaction, brainstorming, and peer review.

• Tools and Technology: Access to a PC-based system with the required Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office Suite software is standard. The firm likely provides necessary hardware and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with engineers, project managers, and technical staff is expected, fostering a cross-functional working dynamic. This provides exposure to different perspectives and project challenges.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, 40 hours per week. While flexibility is mentioned for working outside normal hours, the emphasis on "half-day Fridays" and "flexible scheduling" within the benefits suggests a company culture that values work-life balance where possible, within the operational demands of a client-focused firm.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor. This setting is often preferred for roles involving close team collaboration and direct interaction with various departments, which is typical for in-house design roles supporting technical teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio link to assess qualifications and creative capabilities.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A session with the hiring manager and/or senior design team members to discuss your portfolio in detail. Be prepared to walk through specific projects, explain your design process, and justify your creative choices.

• Technical Skills Assessment: Potentially a practical design exercise or a discussion about your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, focusing on how you'd approach specific design challenges relevant to Kimley-Horn's work.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions with team members and potentially other department leads (e.g., engineers, project managers) to assess your communication skills, problem-solving approach, ability to work collaboratively, and alignment with Kimley-Horn's values.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with a higher-level manager or director to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to the job description. Prioritize work demonstrating proposal graphics, report layouts, brochures, and presentations.

• Showcase Software Proficiency: Clearly indicate which software was used for each project. Highlight complex InDesign layouts, Photoshop edits, and Illustrator vector work.

• Tell a Story: For each project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the outcome or impact. Focus on how your design solved a problem or met a business need.

• Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Include at least one project where you adhered to specific branding guidelines, showing your ability to work within constraints.

• Quality Over Quantity: Ensure all presented work is polished, error-free, and visually compelling. A clean, professional online portfolio (e.g., Behance, personal website) is essential.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: If a practical exercise is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly. Prioritize clear communication and brand adherence. For a proposal-related task, think about how to make technical information accessible.

• Process Explanation: Be ready to articulate your design process clearly and concisely. Use examples from your portfolio to illustrate your workflow, problem-solving, and collaboration methods.

• Company Research: Understand Kimley-Horn's services, projects, and client base. Think about how your design skills can contribute to their success in winning projects and building their brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Candidates must be prepared to not only present their work but also to discuss their strategic thinking behind each design choice, emphasizing how it serves the business objectives of a professional services firm.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud:

  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for complex document layout, proposals, reports, and brochures. Expect to use advanced features for multi-page documents, typography, and master pages.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, retouching, creating digital graphics, and preparing assets for various media.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Key for vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations that require scalability.
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro: For creating, editing, and optimizing PDF documents, including interactive forms and pre-press checks.

• Microsoft Office Suite:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint: For creating presentations, often requiring integration of designed graphics and maintaining brand consistency.
  • Microsoft Word: For document formatting and layout, especially in conjunction with InDesign for proposal documents.
  • Microsoft Excel: Potentially for data visualization and creating charts/graphs to be incorporated into designs.

Analytics & Reporting: (Less direct for this role, but understanding is beneficial)

• Familiarity with how design assets are used in marketing campaigns and how their performance might be tracked (e.g., e-blast open rates, social media engagement).

CRM & Automation: (Indirect relevance)

• Understanding how proposals are managed within a CRM or proposal management system could be beneficial, though direct interaction is unlikely for an entry-level designer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is heavily focused on Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, with InDesign and Photoshop being particularly critical given the responsibilities. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate proficiency and discuss their experience with these tools in detail.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Commitment to Quality: A strong emphasis on delivering high-quality, accurate, and visually polished work that upholds the firm's reputation.

• Client Focus: Understanding that design serves the ultimate goal of client satisfaction and business acquisition, requiring designs to be professional, clear, and effective for external audiences.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Valuing the ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including technical staff, and contributing positively to a creative group dynamic.

• Efficiency and Responsiveness: Demonstrating the ability to manage workloads, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing project requirements in a fast-paced environment.

• Proactive Problem-Solving: Approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset and taking personal responsibility for outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with engineers and project managers to understand project needs and translate technical concepts into visual assets.

• Feedback and Iteration: Openness to receiving and incorporating feedback from team members and stakeholders to refine designs and ensure project goals are met.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a team environment where best practices, design techniques, and creative solutions are shared to elevate the overall output of the marketing department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes professionalism, dedication to client success, and collaborative problem-solving, which are hallmarks of successful firms in the professional services sector. Design is viewed as a critical support function that directly contributes to business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Corporate Constraints: Learning to express creativity while strictly adhering to established branding guidelines and the technical nature of proposal content.

• Managing Multiple Demanding Projects: Effectively prioritizing and managing a diverse workload with tight deadlines, ensuring consistent quality across all assignments.

• Translating Technical Information: Developing the skill to visually interpret and communicate complex engineering or technical concepts in an easily understandable format for non-technical audiences.

• Adapting to Evolving Tools and Trends: Staying current with design software updates and emerging visual communication trends while maintaining proficiency in core company systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Access to internal programs or tuition reimbursement for specialized courses in Adobe Creative Suite, motion graphics, or other relevant design software.

• Industry-Specific Design: Gaining expertise in designing for the engineering and consulting sector, understanding its unique visual communication needs and proposal best practices.

• Mentorship from Senior Designers: Learning from experienced professionals within the team, receiving guidance on design strategy, workflow optimization, and career development.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a wide array of projects, from large-scale reports to social media campaigns, broadening design experience and skill sets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for an in-house designer in a professional services firm, focusing on the intersection of creative execution and business requirements. The growth opportunities are framed around skill enhancement and industry immersion.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a graphic for a complex or technical subject. How did you ensure clarity and accuracy?" (Prepare with a proposal graphic or report illustration example.)

• "How do you approach working within strict branding guidelines while still bringing a creative element to your designs?" (Highlight your understanding of brand consistency and creative problem-solving within constraints.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a brochure or a multi-page report from brief to final delivery." (Use a portfolio project to illustrate your workflow, including client interaction and revisions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Kimley-Horn specifically, rather than a design agency?" (Show awareness of Kimley-Horn's industry, reputation, and the unique challenges/rewards of in-house design.)

• "How do you handle receiving critical feedback on your designs?" (Emphasize your ability to be receptive, learn, and iterate constructively.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple design projects with competing deadlines. How did you prioritize?" (Demonstrate your organizational skills and ability to perform under pressure.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type (e.g., Proposals, Brochures, Digital Graphics) or by your strongest pieces.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the problem you solved, your design process, and the final outcome. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "This design helped secure X project").

• Software Focus: Be ready to discuss your proficiency in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, and how you leveraged their specific features for each project.

• Engagement: Be prepared for interactive discussion. Point to specific design elements and explain your rationale. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating design decisions in terms of business impact and demonstrating an understanding of the professional services environment. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing capabilities, so being able to discuss it thoroughly is key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Kimley-Horn careers portal and ensure your resume is up-to-date and highlights relevant design experience.

• Provide a direct link to your online portfolio within your application. Ensure it is easily accessible and showcases your best work, particularly in areas like proposal graphics, report layouts, and marketing collateral.

• Tailor your resume to emphasize skills and software proficiency mentioned in the job description, such as Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Microsoft Office Suite, and experience with complex document layouts.

• Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail during the interview process. Be ready to explain your design process, rationale for creative choices, and how your work aligns with client needs and branding guidelines.

• Research Kimley-Horn to understand their services, industry, and company culture. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest during the interview.

⚠️ 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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