Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Designer (Brand & Creative)

Company: Engine by Starling

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Creative Operations / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-03-21

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the visual identity and brand strategy for Engine by Starling, a SaaS business powering global financial institutions, ensuring clear communication of value to a worldwide market.

• Drive marketing excellence by defining and delivering a comprehensive suite of assets across all touchpoints, aimed at generating quality leads and enhancing global brand awareness.

• Empower the Business Development team by creating high-impact sales materials, including brochures, slide decks, demos, prototypes, and visualizations to secure world-class clients.

• Own and evolve the design system, establishing robust standards and governance to effectively bridge design execution with the company's strategic needs.

• Foster design talent through mentorship and advocacy, championing design expertise both internally and externally to elevate the company's creative vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Lead Designer (Brand & Creative)", has significant operational components. The emphasis on "shaping brand strategy," "delivering high-fidelity assets," "establishing design processes that scale," "design system governance," and "advocating for design at the highest levels of the business" points towards a role that requires not just creative execution but also strategic operational management of the design function. This aligns with a Brand & Creative Operations or Marketing Operations focus, requiring a candidate who can manage workflows, implement standards, and drive efficiency within the creative output.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Strategy & Execution: Lead the definition and execution of Engine's brand proposal, meticulously identifying and refining its purpose, position, personality, perception, and promotion strategies.

• Asset Delivery: Deliver consistent, high-quality creative assets across a range of mediums, including slidewear, social media graphics, digital marketing materials, and print collateral.

• Marketing Campaign Support: Drive marketing excellence by creating compelling campaign assets that align with global brand awareness objectives and lead generation targets.

• Sales Enablement: Develop impactful sales enablement materials such as brochures, detailed slide decks, interactive demos, prototypes, and strategic visualizations to support the business development team's client acquisition efforts.

• Design System Management: Own, maintain, and evolve the company's design system, ensuring its standards and governance are effectively implemented and scaled across various projects and teams.

• Process Development & Scaling: Establish and refine design processes that can scale efficiently with business growth, ensuring consistent quality and faster turnaround times for creative deliverables.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with product owners, technical leads, and marketing teams to plan discovery phases, assess design impacts, and ensure alignment with overall business objectives.

• Mentorship & Advocacy: Mentor and develop junior design talent within the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill enhancement, while actively advocating for design's strategic importance internally and externally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand leadership and hands-on creative production, with a strong emphasis on operational aspects like "design processes that scale," "design system governance," and "sales enablement asset creation." This indicates a need for a candidate who can manage the "how" of design output, not just the "what."

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating advanced design principles and strategic thinking is paramount. A degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in brand design, creative direction, and visual identity development, preferably within a fast-paced SaaS or technology-driven environment.

Required Skills:

• Brand Strategy & Development: Proven ability to define and shape brand identities, including purpose, position, personality, perception, and promotion.

• Creative Asset Production: Expertise in delivering high-fidelity assets across slidewear, digital media, social media, and print.

• Sales & Business Development Support: Experience creating impactful sales collateral, demos, prototypes, and visualizations that directly support revenue generation.

• Design System Management: Deep knowledge and practical experience in developing, maintaining, and governing comprehensive design systems.

• Process Optimization: Ability to establish, refine, and scale design processes for efficiency and consistency.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success in building relationships and aligning diverse teams (e.g., sales, marketing, product, engineering) around a unified vision.

• Strategic Problem-Solving: Mature approach to identifying complex problems and developing design-led solutions with consideration for second and third-order effects.

• Self-Starter Mentality: A proactive and "Own It" attitude, capable of taking initiatives from conception to completion with minimal oversight.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the FinTech or Banking SaaS sector.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Proficiency in advanced presentation and visualization tools.

• Experience in managing external creative agencies or freelancers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "fast-paced or SaaS environment" and "design systems and the ability to maintain and develop systems" strongly suggests that operational efficiency and scalable processes are key. The "Sales & Growth Mindset" requirement implies a focus on measurable impact and ROI from creative efforts.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand Strategy Case Study: A comprehensive case study showcasing the development of a brand identity from inception, detailing strategic thinking, target audience analysis, and the resulting brand assets.

• Sales Enablement Deliverables: Examples of high-impact sales materials, such as pitch decks, product brochures, or interactive demos, demonstrating how design supported business development goals.

• Design System Examples: Demonstrations of your experience with design systems, including components, guidelines, and how you've contributed to their development or governance.

• Process Improvement Showcase: Evidence of how you've identified inefficiencies in design workflows and implemented processes or tools to improve scalability, consistency, or output quality.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of documented design workflows, from brief to final delivery, highlighting stages of ideation, iteration, feedback, and asset finalization.

• System Governance: Documentation or examples of how design system rules and guidelines were established, communicated, and enforced.

• Performance Measurement: Any documentation or case studies that show how design output was measured for effectiveness (e.g., lead generation, brand perception, sales conversion rates).

📝 Enhancement Note: Potential candidates should prepare to showcase their ability to not just create beautiful designs, but to manage the entire lifecycle of creative production, including process, systems, and measurable outcomes. This is a key differentiator for operations-focused roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Designer role with 5-10 years of experience in London, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £60,000 - £85,000 per annum. This range reflects the strategic and hands-on nature of the role, the required experience, and the London market.

Benefits:

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 33 days of holiday per year (including public holidays), with flexibility in timing.

• Birthday Holiday: An additional day off for your birthday.

• Service-Based Leave: Annual leave increases with length of service.

• Holiday Flexibility: Option to buy or sell up to five extra days off annually.

• Paid Volunteering: 16 hours of paid time off for volunteering activities each year.

• Pension Scheme: Company-enhanced pension plan with salary sacrifice options.

• Life Insurance: Coverage at 4x your annual salary.

• Income Protection: Group income protection benefits.

• Private Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage with VitalityHealth, including mental health support and cancer care.

• Partner Benefits: Discounts on services like Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith, and Peloton.

• Family-Friendly Policies: Supportive policies for employees with family responsibilities.

• Referral Scheme: Incentives for referring successful candidates.

• Perkbox Membership: Access to a wide range of retail discounts, a wellness platform, and weekly perks.

• Lifestyle Initiatives: Access to schemes like Cycle to Work, subsidized gym partnerships, and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid working model encouraging in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in London, considering the specified experience level and the scope of responsibilities. The benefits package is extensive and reflects a company that invests in employee well-being and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech) / Software as a Service (SaaS) - specifically providing banking technology infrastructure.

Company Size: Engine by Starling is part of Starling Bank, a rapidly growing digital bank. While Starling Bank is significant, Engine operates as a distinct SaaS business, likely with a focused, agile team structure. The exact size of the Engine team is not specified but is implied to be growing.

Founded: Starling Bank was founded in 2014, with Engine by Starling emerging as a strategic expansion to leverage its technology globally.

Team Structure:

• Flat Hierarchy: Operates with a flat structure, empowering individuals to make decisions and take ownership.

• Cross-Functional: Design team collaborates closely with product owners, technical leads, sales, and marketing.

• Agile Environment: Likely operates within agile principles, fostering rapid iteration and collaboration.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on "value communication" and "quality leads" suggests a data-informed approach to creative output.

• Iterative Development: The SaaS and FinTech environment implies a continuous cycle of improvement and feature development.

• Ownership & Autonomy: A culture that encourages self-driven individuals to take full ownership of their workstreams.

Company Website: https://www.starlingbank.com/ (for Starling Bank), and likely a dedicated Engine by Starling site under development or in use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is described as flat, empowering, and ownership-driven, which is common in high-growth tech companies. The "Engine by Starling" branding suggests a focus on providing technology solutions to other banks, positioning it as a B2B SaaS offering within the broader FinTech space.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior or Lead position within the Brand & Creative function, bridging strategic brand leadership with operational execution of creative processes and systems. It's a critical role for a growing SaaS business.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Designer is expected to "advocate for design at the highest levels of the business" and "collaborate with owners and technical leads," suggesting a direct reporting line to a senior leader, potentially a Head of Marketing, Head of Product, or a dedicated Head of Design/Creative.

Operations Impact: The Lead Designer's work directly impacts Engine's ability to attract and convert new banking clients. High-quality, strategically aligned brand assets and sales enablement materials are crucial for communicating value proposition, building trust, and driving lead generation in a competitive global market. Effective design operations and a strong design system contribute to efficiency, brand consistency, and faster go-to-market capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Head of Design or Creative Director role as Engine scales, managing larger teams and broader creative functions.

• Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in shaping overall business strategy and product positioning through design leadership.

• Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in FinTech branding or SaaS design systems.

• Team Development: Building and nurturing a high-performing design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential beyond pure design, moving into operational leadership, strategic influence, and team management within a high-growth FinTech SaaS company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a preference for employees to be located within a commutable distance of an office for in-person interaction and collaboration. This suggests a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office details are not provided but are implied to exist to support the hybrid model.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid preference indicates an environment conducive to team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions.

• Technology & Tools: Access to modern design software and potentially a robust digital infrastructure to support creative workflows and collaboration.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with and learn from teams across marketing, sales, product, and engineering.

Work Schedule: Primarily full-time, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model, allowing for a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration. The emphasis on "delivering consistent, high-quality assets" suggests a need for structured workdays, even with hybrid flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup in London suggests a professional, collaborative office space designed to facilitate teamwork, which is essential for a Lead Designer role that involves mentoring and cross-functional alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or hiring manager call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on strategic brand development, sales enablement examples, and design system experience. This is where operational aspects of their work will be scrutinized.

• Skills-Based Assessment: Potential for a design challenge or case study to assess problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and hands-on design capabilities relevant to Engine's needs.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., Head of Marketing, Product Leads, Business Development representatives) to evaluate collaboration, communication, and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Ensure your portfolio tells a story of impact, not just a showcase of pretty pictures. For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your strategic approach, the process you followed, your specific contributions, and the measurable results.

• Highlight Operations: Explicitly demonstrate your experience with design systems, process scaling, and creating sales enablement assets. Quantify the impact of these operational contributions where possible (e.g., "Reduced asset creation time by X%," "Increased lead quality by Y% through improved sales collateral").

• Brand Strategy Depth: Showcase your ability to define and articulate brand personality, purpose, and positioning.

• Hands-on Examples: Include examples of high-fidelity assets (slidewear, digital, print) that demonstrate your technical proficiency.

• SaaS/FinTech Relevance: If possible, include projects from similar industries or highlight transferable skills relevant to a B2B SaaS environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Scenarios: Be prepared for challenges that involve defining a brand for a new feature, developing a key sales presentation, or outlining how you would scale a design system.

• Process Focus: Demonstrate your thinking around workflow, collaboration, and how you would ensure quality and consistency.

• Strategic Alignment: Articulate how your proposed solutions align with business goals (lead generation, brand awareness, client acquisition).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "hands-on role," "delivering consistent, high-quality assets," and "shaping brand strategy" means the interview process will likely balance creative talent with operational execution and strategic thinking. A strong portfolio showcasing process and impact is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, Sketch, or similar. Figma is often preferred for collaborative workflows and design system management.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools like Figma, InVision, Adobe XD, or similar for creating interactive prototypes and mockups.

• Presentation Software: Advanced skills in creating compelling slide decks using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote, optimized for sales presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) from a user perspective, particularly regarding how marketing and sales collateral are utilized. Understanding of marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) from a content creation standpoint.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools or platforms specifically for managing and distributing design system components and guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in collaborative design tools like Figma and experience with design system management platforms are likely critical for this role, given the emphasis on scaling design operations and governance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: A deep-seated commitment to taking initiative and seeing projects through to successful completion, characteristic of a "Own It" culture.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively across teams to achieve common goals, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Excellence: A pursuit of high-quality output, whether in brand strategy, creative asset delivery, or process refinement.

• Innovation: A forward-thinking approach to design, seeking new opportunities and better ways to communicate value.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on how design contributes directly to business objectives, such as lead generation and client acquisition.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engages with sales, marketing, product, and engineering teams to ensure design efforts are aligned with broader business objectives.

• Open Communication: Encourages open dialogue and feedback loops to refine designs and processes.

• Strategic Partnership: Works as a strategic partner to other departments, providing design expertise to solve business challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes autonomy, collaboration, and a results-oriented approach, which are key for operations roles that require strong interpersonal skills and a focus on driving tangible business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Hands-on Delivery with Strategy: Effectively managing personal design output while also leading strategic brand initiatives and scaling design operations.

• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting design processes and brand execution to keep pace with the rapid expansion of a SaaS business.

• Global Market Reach: Ensuring brand consistency and effectiveness across diverse international markets and financial institutions.

• Evolving Design Systems: Continuously updating and governing a design system to meet new product features and marketing needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Deepening expertise in brand strategy and its application in a global B2B SaaS context.

• Design Operations Maturity: Developing advanced skills in scaling design processes, implementing governance, and managing design systems for efficiency.

• FinTech Industry Insight: Gaining specialized knowledge within the rapidly evolving FinTech and banking technology sectors.

• Team Leadership: Developing mentorship and leadership skills through guiding and growing the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a lead role in a growing tech company, offering significant opportunities for professional development in areas crucial to operations and strategic leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach defining the "personality" of a new B2B SaaS brand in the FinTech space, considering its target audience of global banks?

• Describe a time you had to advocate for design at a senior leadership level. What was the situation, your approach, and the outcome?

• Outline your strategy for ensuring brand consistency across all marketing and sales collateral for a global product launch.

Company & Culture Questions:

• What do you know about Engine by Starling and its mission? How do you see design contributing to that mission?

• How does your "Own It" mentality translate into your day-to-day work and decision-making?

• Describe your ideal collaborative relationship with sales, marketing, and product teams.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation around the problem, your strategic solution, your process, your specific contributions, and the quantifiable results.

• Operational Focus: Clearly highlight projects where you've managed design systems, scaled processes, or directly contributed to sales enablement. Use metrics and data to support your claims.

• Strategic Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made certain design decisions, linking them back to brand strategy and business goals.

• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Aim for a presentation that is detailed but efficient, leaving ample time for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only creative skill but also strategic thinking, operational prowess, and a clear understanding of how design drives business outcomes, especially in a B2B SaaS context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned Brand & Creative position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating brand strategy development, sales enablement asset creation, and design system management. Emphasize your role in process optimization and scaling.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with keywords relevant to Brand Strategy, Creative Direction, Design Operations, SaaS, and B2B sales enablement. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your strategic thinking and operational approach to design challenges. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that showcase your ability to lead, collaborate, and deliver impactful creative solutions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Engine by Starling and Starling Bank. Understand their mission, target market, and the competitive FinTech landscape. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their culture and operational goals.

⚠️ 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.