Senior Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Visual Designer

Company: Tessell Inc

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-01T08:34:30

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Supports the global Marketing Team in executing creative campaigns and product communications through exceptional visual design.

• Manages a diverse range of design projects, from demand generation assets to core product marketing collateral, ensuring timely and on-brief delivery.

• Collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, including copywriters, demand generation specialists, developers, and product marketers, to translate creative concepts into engaging customer experiences.

• Drives the evolution and extension of the Tessell brand identity, challenging the status quo and ensuring a unified visual presence across all marketing channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Visual Designer," the responsibilities and experience level (2+ years) suggest a role that might be closer to a mid-level designer with senior responsibilities, rather than a strictly senior individual contributor. The emphasis on supporting the marketing team and managing projects points towards a collaborative, hands-on role within a growing GTM function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with marketing partners to manage the team's design projects, ensuring deliverables are on time and on brief, aligning with Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

• Develop and oversee digital and print design projects from conception to delivery, including demand generation assets, product marketing materials, landing pages, infographics, guides/eBooks, social media campaigns, event collateral, and sales enablement tools.

• Work collaboratively across marketing functions (demand gen, product marketing, content) to brainstorm and execute creative concepts that engage Tessell's target audience and drive purchase intent.

• Drive creative concept development with partners to execute designs across digital channels such as web, email, blog, social media, and digital paid media campaigns.

• Oversee the design of weekly digital projects, ensuring assets adhere to responsive design principles, e-commerce best practices, and corporate branding guidelines.

• Partner with the Brand and Creative team to evolve and extend the company's visual identity, supporting and differentiating Tessell's market position.

• Design marketing collateral and emails that are easily replicable and contribute to the evolving look and feel of the company website and blog.

• Collaborate with the events team to design event registration pages, banners, giveaways, and other promotional materials.

• Ensure all visual design, brand strategy, and user experience goals for identified digital marketing projects are accomplished.

• Stay current on industry trends in digital design, user experience, and marketing technologies, informing creative partners on potential opportunities for seamless customer experiences.

• Participate in real-time meetings and collaborate effectively with US and India-based creative and marketing teams, demonstrating strong cross-functional communication skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily lean into supporting Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives, particularly demand generation and product marketing. The role requires a designer who can translate business objectives into compelling visual assets that drive engagement and conversion.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Conceptualization and original graphic development: Ability to take an idea and bring it to life beautifully.

• Production-ready file preparation: Skill in creating final files suitable for various outputs.

• Deep understanding of Design theory: Including Color, Typography, and Layout principles.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud: Proficiency in XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential.

• Online portfolio: Must be available, showcasing individual contributions and design thinking.

• Problem-solving: Ability to develop simple and elegant design solutions for complex problems.

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment.

• Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills for stakeholder presentations and team interaction.

• Attention to Detail: Relentless focus on crafting high-quality, polished work.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion graphics and/or 3D capability.

• Illustration skills.

• Video editing and production experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title combined with "2+ years" suggests a focus on strong foundational skills and the ability to execute independently, rather than extensive strategic leadership. The preferred skills in motion graphics, 3D, illustration, and video editing indicate a desire for versatility and a candidate who can contribute to richer media campaigns.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Conceptual Thinking: Showcase the ability to generate original ideas and translate abstract concepts into compelling visual narratives.

• End-to-End Project Execution: Present projects that illustrate the entire design process, from initial brief and concept development through to final production-ready assets.

• Brand Integration and Extension: Include examples where you've worked within established brand guidelines and explored ways to evolve or extend the brand's visual language.

• Variety of Deliverables: Feature a range of asset types, such as digital campaigns, landing pages, marketing collateral, social media graphics, and potentially event materials.

• Clear Role Articulation: Be prepared to clearly discuss your specific role, contributions, and design decisions for each project presented.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you manage your design projects from brief to delivery, including time management and stakeholder communication.

• Tool Proficiency: Implicitly demonstrate your ability to use Adobe Creative Cloud tools to execute design concepts efficiently.

• Brand Guideline Adherence: Showcase how you apply and interpret brand standards across different marketing materials.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Present instances where you've solved complex design challenges with elegant and effective solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a visual designer, the portfolio serves as the primary "process and systems" document. The emphasis should be on showcasing the thought process, problem-solving capabilities, and execution skills across a variety of GTM-related design challenges.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Generous and competitive benefits package.

• Competitive Salary & Equity Grants: Indicating a potential for significant financial upside beyond base salary.

• Continuous Career Development and Pathing Opportunities: Suggests investment in employee growth and clear career progression frameworks.

• Product Training: To develop an in-depth understanding of Tessell's Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) platform and market.

• Best-in-Breed Onboarding: A structured and supportive introduction to the company and role.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available depending on project deadlines and team collaboration needs, especially considering the cross-timezone collaboration with India.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for San Francisco, a high-cost-of-living area. Equity grants are a significant component for early-stage tech companies like Tessell, offering potential for substantial financial reward as the company grows.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS), Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise Software. Tessell operates in a rapidly evolving tech sector focused on data management and cloud computing, a space known for innovation and high growth.

Company Size: Hyper-growth, Series A funded startup. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individuals can have a significant impact and are expected to be adaptable and proactive.

Founded: 2021. A relatively young company, meaning processes may still be evolving, offering opportunities to shape them.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Team Integration: The designer will be embedded within and directly supporting the global Marketing Team.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect close partnerships with copywriters, demand generation specialists, developers, customer marketing, and product marketing teams.

• Brand and Creative Team: The role sits within a broader Brand and Creative team responsible for overall company art direction and brand identity.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While creative, the role emphasizes using design to achieve specific marketing goals (demand generation, purchase intent) and adhering to data-informed best practices (responsive design, e-commerce).

• Brand-Centric Execution: Maintaining and evolving a unified brand identity across diverse marketing assets is a core methodology.

• Agile Project Management: Managing multiple projects with varying deadlines, requiring efficient workflows and clear communication.

Company Website: https://www.tessell.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Series A startup, Tessell likely fosters a culture of innovation, rapid execution, and high impact. The designer will need to be comfortable with ambiguity and contributing to building out brand assets and processes from the ground up.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior Visual Designer," implying a level of autonomy and expertise beyond an entry-level position. It suggests the individual is expected to contribute significantly to creative output and potentially mentor junior team members or guide design direction on specific projects.

Reporting Structure: The designer will be embedded with the global Marketing Team and will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Director of Marketing, or potentially a Creative Lead/Director, depending on the team's structure. They will also collaborate closely with the Brand and Creative team.

Operations Impact: The visual designer's impact is crucial for Tessell's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy. High-quality, on-brand visual assets are essential for:

• Brand Perception: Establishing credibility and professionalism in the competitive DBaaS market.

• Demand Generation: Creating compelling materials for campaigns that attract leads.

• Product Marketing: Communicating the value and features of Tessell's complex technology in an accessible way.

• User Experience: Ensuring consistency and usability across all digital touchpoints.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion graphics, 3D, illustration, or video production based on project needs and personal interest.

• Brand Development: Play a key role in shaping and evolving the visual identity of a rapidly growing tech company.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain experience leading visual aspects of GTM campaigns and collaborating with senior stakeholders across marketing and product teams.

• Career Pathing: Potential to grow into a Lead Visual Designer, Art Director, or Creative Manager role as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title in a startup context often means having a broad impact and the opportunity to shape processes. Growth will likely come from taking on more complex projects, leading design initiatives, and potentially mentoring others as the team expands.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" in San Francisco, California. This suggests a traditional office environment, likely a modern tech office space designed for collaboration.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. This places the designer in a major tech hub with access to a vibrant design community and industry events.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role explicitly mentions working collaboratively with internal teams (marketing, product) and external vendors, as well as real-time collaboration with US and India-based teams. The office space will likely facilitate this.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Cloud) and likely other project management and communication tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person brainstorming, feedback sessions, and team building within the San Francisco office.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time, likely around 40 hours per week. While on-site, there may be some flexibility, particularly for late-stage campaign pushes or specific collaboration needs with the India-based team, though the primary expectation is office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in San Francisco suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion. The designer should be prepared for a dynamic office environment typical of a growing tech startup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of the resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where the candidate presents their online portfolio, discussing their role, design thinking, and problem-solving approaches for specific projects. Expect detailed questions about their contributions.

• Skills-Based Assessment: Potentially a design challenge or exercise to evaluate conceptual thinking, technical skills (e.g., in Adobe CC), and ability to work within brand guidelines.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with marketing team members (e.g., demand gen, product marketing) and potentially members of the Brand/Creative team to assess collaboration style and understanding of GTM objectives.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Final discussion to assess cultural fit, career aspirations, and overall alignment with the team and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your abilities relevant to GTM marketing assets (digital campaigns, landing pages, sales collateral).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the outcome or impact. Quantify results where possible.

• Showcase Range: Include examples of different types of design work (digital, print, social, etc.) and demonstrate your ability to adapt to different briefs.

• Highlight Originality: Emphasize conceptual strength and original graphic development.

• Detail Your Contribution: Be explicit about what you did on team projects.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud tools.

• Visual Polish: The portfolio itself should be a testament to your attention to detail and design craft.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully read and understand the objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Brand Immersion: Thoroughly review Tessell's website, marketing materials, and brand guidelines to understand their current visual identity.

• Focus on Concept: Prioritize strong conceptual thinking and a clear design strategy over immediate pixel-perfect execution for timed challenges.

• Present Your Rationale: Be prepared to articulate your design choices and how they align with the brief and brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare to walk through their work in detail, explaining their thought process and impact, especially for GTM-related projects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential suite including:

  • Adobe XD: For UI/UX design of landing pages, web assets, and potentially interactive prototypes.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design of longer-form content like eBooks, guides, and marketing collateral.

• Design Collaboration Tools: Potentially tools like Figma, Sketch (though Adobe XD is specified), or others for collaborative design and prototyping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct design tool, understanding how design impacts metrics is key. The designer should be familiar with or able to interpret data from:
  • Web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand website performance.
  • Marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) to see email engagement.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms is beneficial for understanding how design assets fit into the broader GTM funnel and customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite is explicitly required. Experience with UI/UX tools like Adobe XD is critical for digital asset creation. Understanding how design impacts marketing performance metrics is a valuable, though not explicitly stated, requirement for a GTM-focused designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A focus on creating designs that contribute to tangible business outcomes like demand generation and brand awareness.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouragement to push boundaries, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo within brand guidelines.

• Craftsmanship & Detail: A commitment to high-quality execution, meticulous attention to detail, and polished final products.

• Adaptability: Embracing a fast-paced startup environment where priorities can shift and new challenges arise.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Support: Working closely within the Marketing Team, acting as a dedicated design resource.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Proactively engaging with copywriters, demand gen, product marketing, and developers to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

• Real-time Interaction: Participating in synchronous meetings and discussions with teams across different time zones (US and India).

• Feedback Integration: Openness to receiving and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders to refine designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a blend of creative exploration and results-oriented execution, typical of a high-growth tech startup aiming to make a significant market impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a unified brand identity while also exploring new creative directions and pushing boundaries.

• Translating Complex Technology: Visually communicating the intricacies of a DBaaS platform to a diverse audience, from technical experts to business decision-makers.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Managing multiple high-priority projects simultaneously in a hyper-growth startup setting with potentially evolving priorities.

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with teams based in different geographical locations and time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into DBaaS Technology: Gaining specialized knowledge in a critical area of cloud computing and data infrastructure.

• GTM Strategy Exposure: Understanding the full spectrum of marketing campaigns and how design contributes to their success.

• Brand Evolution: Contributing to the growth and refinement of a company's visual identity during its formative stages.

• Advanced Design Skills: Potential to develop skills in motion graphics, 3D, illustration, or video editing based on company needs and personal development goals.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from experienced marketing and creative professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a role in a growing tech company, offering significant opportunities for professional development and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative exploration with strict brand guidelines. How did you approach it?" (Focus on your process for extending the brand while maintaining consistency.)

• "Walk us through a GTM campaign where your design played a critical role in achieving its objectives. What was your process, and what was the impact?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio.)

• "How do you approach translating complex technical concepts into easily understandable visual assets?" (Be ready to discuss your strategy for simplifying information.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Tessell and our mission in the DBaaS space?" (Research Tessell's product, funding, and market position.)

• "How would you contribute to our friendly and inclusive workplace culture?" (Align your personal values with the company's stated culture.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically. For each project, clearly state the objective, your specific role and responsibilities, the problem you solved, your design process (sketches, wireframes, iterations), the final solution, and any measurable results.

• Focus on Process: Don't just show the final images; explain why you made certain design decisions. This demonstrates your strategic thinking.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use metrics to show how your designs contributed to campaign success (e.g., increased click-through rates, lead generation, engagement).

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within a reasonable timeframe. Be prepared for deep dives into specific projects.

• Highlight Versatility: Showcase your ability to work across different asset types and styles, demonstrating your adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to discuss your specific contributions to each project in your portfolio and demonstrate how your design thinking directly supports marketing and business objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Tessell's careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date and highlights projects most relevant to GTM marketing, digital campaigns, and brand development. Prepare to discuss your specific contributions to each piece.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 2+ years of design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, conceptualization skills, and experience with digital and print marketing assets. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio confidently.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Tessell, its product (DBaaS), its market, and its current branding. Understand their mission and how your design skills can contribute to their growth.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Tessell Inc. before making application decisions.