Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Merge API

Location: New York, NY, United States / San Francisco, CA, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand Design / Product Design

Date Posted: February 10, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual identity and user experience for Merge's core products and customer-facing integrations, focusing on user-centric solutions and seamless design lifecycles.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate complex technical requirements into intuitive, high-fidelity designs.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across all product touchpoints and enabling rapid, effective product development.

• Conduct thorough market research and user interviews to deeply understand customer needs and inform design decisions, advocating for product quality and user-oriented goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary title is "Brand Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into Product Design and UX/UI, emphasizing systems thinking, user-centric solutions, and collaboration within the product development lifecycle. This role is crucial for shaping the user experience of complex B2B SaaS integration platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Critically evaluate all user touchpoints with Merge's platform and integrations to identify and implement optimal user experiences that align with user stories and business objectives.

• Partner closely with Product Managers and Engineers to define precise product specifications and feature scope, ensuring design feasibility and alignment with technical capabilities.

• Independently manage design projects from initial research and ideation through to final handoff, demonstrating strong project management and self-sufficiency.

• Execute comprehensive market research and conduct user interviews with both external customers and internal stakeholders to gather critical insights and validate design directions.

• Synthesize diverse feedback and perspectives from multiple stakeholders, including product, engineering, and leadership, into a cohesive and compelling design vision.

• Produce detailed low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity mock-ups and prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Develop and meticulously document usage guidelines for the design system's components and styles, empowering design and engineering teams to ship features quickly and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking (user stories, design vision) and tactical execution (mock-ups, documentation). The emphasis on "critically consider every touchpoint" and "synthesize feedback" points to a senior-level role requiring strong analytical and collaborative skills within a product development context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for roles with this experience level and responsibility scope. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 5+ years of full-time professional experience in design, with a significant focus on product design, UX/UI, or brand systems within a technology or SaaS environment.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating deep systems thinking, exceptional visual craft, and the ability to translate ambiguous problems into practical, user-centric solutions.

• Proven experience in the full design lifecycle, from initial research and ideation to prototyping, user testing, and final handoff to engineering.

• Excellent storytelling and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate the thought process behind design concepts and decisions to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other designers.

• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools, particularly Figma, for creating wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes.

• Experience with UX research methodologies, including user interviews and market research, to inform design decisions.

• A tendency to explore multiple solution paths and ideate broadly before narrowing down to the most effective and user-centric approach.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a fast-growing startup environment, adapting to evolving priorities and contributing to the development of design processes.

• Familiarity with design systems and experience in contributing to or maintaining design system components and documentation.

• Understanding of API integrations, B2B SaaS products, or enterprise software development, providing context for Merge's user base.

• Experience conducting product specifications and design reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems thinking," "visual craft," and "ambiguous problems" in the portfolio requirement suggests a need for a designer who can not only create beautiful interfaces but also architect complex, scalable design solutions. The "5+ years" combined with the scope of responsibilities points to a mid-to-senior level designer.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating a deep understanding of the design process from problem identification to solution implementation.

• Highlight projects that exhibit strong systems thinking, illustrating how you approached complex problems with interconnected user flows and scalable design patterns.

• Present work that clearly articulates your visual craft, including UI design, typography, color theory, and overall aesthetic sensibility.

• Demonstrate your ability to translate ambiguous problems into practical, user-centric solutions, detailing the research, ideation, and iteration involved.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research and market analysis, including methodologies used and key insights gained that influenced design decisions.

• Provide examples of your workflow for creating and iterating on low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity mock-ups, including any prototyping activities.

• Showcase your experience in documenting usage guidelines for design system components and styles, emphasizing clarity and usability for engineering and design teams.

• Demonstrate how you synthesized feedback from multiple stakeholders into a coherent design vision and how you managed design projects through their lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Brand Designer role with significant product focus, the portfolio should not just be a collection of pretty pictures. It must tell a story about the designer's problem-solving process, their ability to think systematically, and their collaborative approach within a product development context. Emphasis on documentation and design system contributions is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 USD per year. This range is based on the provided cash compensation figures, experience level (5+ years), and the specified locations (New York, NY and San Francisco, CA), which are high cost-of-living areas with competitive tech salaries.

Benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) plus 10 company holidays, offering flexibility and work-life balance.

• Comprehensive 100% covered health, vision, and dental insurance plans, ensuring employee well-being.

• 401K Plan, providing a retirement savings option.

• A one-time home office stipend of $200, supporting remote or hybrid work setups.

• Complimentary dinner provided for employees working past 7 PM, acknowledging extended work hours.

• Equity compensation package, offering employees a stake in the company's growth and success.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time work schedule, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility for on-site collaboration and potential for extended hours as indicated by the free dinner benefit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated. The benefits package is comprehensive and competitive for a tech startup, with particular emphasis on health coverage and work-life balance (Unlimited PTO). The mention of equity is a significant component for startup compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on providing integration solutions for LLMs, Fortune 500 organizations, and B2B SaaS companies. This includes API development, AI tools, and enterprise software.

Company Size: As a fast-growing startup, Merge API likely operates with a lean, agile structure, fostering a dynamic and innovative environment. The "on the ground floor" mention suggests a company that is scaling rapidly and offers significant opportunities for impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, the description points to a company that has established core products (Merge Unified, Merge Agent Handler) and is now focusing on scaling its product development and design processes.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and integrated directly within product development squads, working in close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers.

• Reporting structure will likely be to a Head of Design, VP of Product, or CTO, depending on the current organizational hierarchy.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, informed by user research, market analysis, and product performance metrics.

• Agile development methodologies, emphasizing iterative design, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• A focus on building robust, scalable solutions, as evidenced by the mention of "enterprise-grade platform" and "API."

Company Website: merge.dev

📝 Enhancement Note: The description positions Merge API as a leader in a cutting-edge tech space, leveraging AI and APIs for B2B integration. The culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative, typical of a scaling startup. The emphasis on "on the ground floor" suggests an opportunity to shape processes and culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level Brand Designer, with expectations for systems thinking, independent project management, and significant influence on product strategy and user experience. The "on the ground floor" aspect implies potential for growth into leadership or specialized design roles as the company scales.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Product/Engineering leader, depending on the current organizational structure. Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is expected.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work directly impacts the usability and adoption of Merge's core products, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and overall satisfaction. By creating intuitive and well-designed integrations, they enable external development teams to accelerate their own product roadmaps, contributing directly to Merge's value proposition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Brand Designer, Design Lead, or Head of Design role as the company expands its product and design teams.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like design systems, UX research, or specific product domains within the integration and AI space.

• Process Development: A chance to significantly influence and build out Merge's product design processes and methodologies from an early stage.

• Skill Enhancement: Exposure to cutting-edge technologies (LLMs, AI agents) and complex B2B integration challenges will foster continuous learning and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on the ground floor" phrasing strongly suggests significant growth potential. The role offers a chance to not just execute but also to build and define design processes within a rapidly scaling tech company, making it attractive for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a focus on in-person collaboration, team synergy, and a structured work setting.

Office Location(s): The position is available in both New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA, offering candidates in these major tech hubs the opportunity to join Merge API.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative office space designed to foster interaction between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Access to standard design tools and technology, with Figma explicitly mentioned as a required skill.

• Opportunities for spontaneous brainstorming, design critiques, and direct mentorship within the team.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is implied, likely around 9 AM to 5 PM or similar, with the "free dinner" benefit suggesting occasional needs for extended hours to meet project deadlines or team goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is key. This implies a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be beneficial for a startup looking to build a strong team culture and facilitate rapid iteration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: An in-depth session where you present your portfolio, walk through key case studies, and discuss your design process, systems thinking, and problem-solving approach.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to translate complex requirements into design solutions.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A practical exercise, possibly a take-home assignment or an in-interview whiteboarding session, to evaluate your design thinking and execution under simulated conditions.

• Final Interview: A meeting with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, CTO) to discuss company vision, culture fit, and long-term career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate the problem, your research methodology, design decisions, and the rationale behind them. Showcase your systems thinking and how you approached ambiguity.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible (e.g., improved user engagement, reduced churn, faster integration times). Use metrics and user feedback to support your claims.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with engineers and product managers, showing your ability to incorporate feedback and manage handoffs effectively.

• Showcase Visual Craft: Ensure your visual design is polished and consistent, reflecting your aesthetic sensibilities and attention to detail.

• Tailor to Merge: If possible, subtly connect your experience to Merge's mission of simplifying integrations and empowering AI agents.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing for complex B2B SaaS products and integrations.

• Practice articulating your design process and decision-making for abstract or ambiguous problems.

• Familiarize yourself with Merge's products and the challenges faced by their target users (developers integrating APIs, AI agents accessing tools).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and discussion suggests that this is a critical part of the evaluation. Candidates should be ready to deeply explain their process, rationale, and impact, especially regarding systems thinking and user-centric problem-solving.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to create wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Design Systems: Experience in building, contributing to, or utilizing design systems is highly valued. Proficiency in documenting components and styles is a key responsibility.

• UX Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Brand Designer role's primary responsibilities, but an understanding of how design impacts the user journey within CRM and other business automation tools could be advantageous for broader product context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the core tool mentioned. The role also heavily emphasizes the creation and maintenance of design systems, indicating a need for a designer who can think systematically and contribute to scalable design infrastructure.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that design solutions are practical and delightful for external development teams.

• Collaboration: Valuing cross-functional teamwork, open communication, and the collective effort to build great products.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and embracing new technologies and approaches to design.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high standards in both visual execution and the technical robustness of design systems.

• Efficiency: Driving speed and effectiveness in product development through well-defined processes and reusable design components.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work closely within product squads, fostering tight-knit relationships with PMs and Engineers.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback during design reviews and throughout the development process.

• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote the sharing of insights, best practices, and design patterns across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values likely revolve around innovation, collaboration, and a strong user focus, typical for a forward-thinking tech startup in the AI/API space. The emphasis on "on the ground floor" suggests a culture that is still being shaped, offering employees a chance to influence it.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Developers: Understanding the unique needs, workflows, and expectations of technical users (developers integrating APIs, AI agents) requires a specific mindset and research approach.

• Ambiguity in a Fast-Paced Environment: Navigating evolving product roadmaps and defining solutions for novel integration challenges in a startup setting.

• Balancing Brand and Product Design: Ensuring a cohesive brand identity while delivering highly functional and user-friendly product interfaces for complex technical tools.

• Scaling Design Systems: Contributing to and evolving a design system that can support rapid product expansion and diverse integration needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge Technology: Gaining deep experience with LLMs, AI agents, and complex API integration platforms.

• Product Strategy Influence: Having a significant impact on the product direction and user experience of a rapidly growing company.

• Process Building: Opportunity to actively shape and improve the product design processes at Merge API.

• Industry Exposure: Networking with other professionals in the API and AI integration space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working at the forefront of technology and within a startup. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a chance to gain expertise in a high-demand field and influence product strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex technical requirement into a user-friendly design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, process, and impact)

• "How do you approach designing for a technical audience versus a general consumer audience?" (Demonstrate understanding of user empathy and tailored design)

• "Walk us through your portfolio and explain the systems thinking behind one of your projects. How did you ensure scalability and consistency?" (Highlight your design architecture and strategic approach)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Merge API and our mission to simplify integrations?" (Research their website, recent news, and product offerings)

• "How do you envision contributing to our design culture as a 'ground floor' employee?" (Express enthusiasm for shaping processes and team dynamics)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of Merge and the role, then dive into 2-3 key case studies that best showcase your systems thinking, user-centricity, and visual craft.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project: the problem, your approach (research, ideation), your solution, and the impact.

• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality mock-ups and prototypes. Annotate key design decisions and user flows.

• Process Detail: Be ready to explain the "why" behind your design choices, including research findings, user feedback, and collaboration points.

• Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, challenges, and how your work aligns with Merge's goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process, systems thinking, and collaborative skills. Preparation should focus on storytelling and demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centric problem-solving in a technical context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in brand design, product design, UX/UI, design systems, and collaboration within tech/SaaS environments. Use keywords from the job description like "systems thinking," "user-centric solutions," and "Figma."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate systems thinking, visual craft, and the ability to solve ambiguous, user-centric problems. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your solution, and the impact.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen case studies, focusing on articulating your thought process, design rationale, and collaborative experiences. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your work.

• Research Merge API: Understand their mission, products (Merge Unified, Merge Agent Handler), target audience (developers, B2B SaaS companies), and the competitive landscape. This will help you tailor your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.