Sr Design Manager, Firefly Generative Video

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Design Manager, Firefly Generative Video Company: Adobe Location: San Francisco, California, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Design Management / Product Design Date Posted: January 13, 2026 Experience Level: 10+ Years (Senior Level) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and scale a user-centered design practice for generative video creation workflows, integrating cutting-edge AI technologies.
• Drive the strategic vision and execution for innovative video tools, ensuring human creativity remains central to the user experience.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive design team environment, mentoring designers and nurturing talent.
• Collaborate closely with AI researchers, user researchers, and cross-functional partners to define and deliver exceptional creative tooling.
• Represent the design team's vision and progress to executive leadership and external stakeholders, advocating for user needs and product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Adobe's Creative Cloud division, focusing specifically on the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI for video. The "Sr. Design Manager" title, combined with the emphasis on vision, strategy, and team leadership, indicates a significant scope of responsibility beyond typical individual contributor roles. The mention of "Firefly Generative Video" signifies a focus on Adobe's proprietary AI model for creative content generation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the end-to-end vision and strategy for generative video creation workflows, leveraging both Adobe and third-party AI models.
• Establish and scale a robust, user-centered design practice that connects long-term strategic goals with actionable, near-term product milestones.
• Cultivate a high-trust, collaborative design team culture that encourages innovation, deep partnerships with AI researchers, user researchers, product management, and engineering.
• Set and maintain an exceptionally high standard for design excellence across all phases of the product lifecycle, from strategic problem definition and user research to detailed design execution and final polish.
• Oversee day-to-day team operations, including design critiques, team syncs, and reviews, in close partnership with program management to ensure efficient execution.
• Actively engage with emerging technologies, especially in the AI and generative media space, to inform design strategy and identify new opportunities for creative tooling.
• Represent the design team and its work to executive leadership, stakeholders, and potentially external audiences at conferences and industry events, articulating the value and impact of generative video tools.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top-tier design talent, providing mentorship and growth opportunities, particularly for early-career designers.
• Facilitate design thinking workshops and sprints for early-stage strategy development, ensuring creative solutions align with user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, operational management, and hands-on design oversight. The focus on "scaling a user-centered design practice" and "fostering a trust-based, collaborative environment" points to a need for strong people management and process development skills, crucial for a senior role in a large tech organization like Adobe.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in product design, with a significant portion in leadership or management roles.
• Proven track record of leading design for complex, innovative digital products, ideally within the creative software or AI/ML space.
• Experience establishing and scaling design processes and practices within a growing team or organization.

Required Skills:

• Empathetic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and inspire design teams, fostering inclusion, trust, and psychological safety to enable impactful work.
• Creative Workflow Expertise: Deep understanding of creative workflows, particularly in video production and editing, with a strong appreciation for the creative process.
• User-Centered Design: Proven ability to advocate for users, grounding design decisions in user research, empathy, and a deep understanding of user needs and pain points.
• Communication & Storytelling: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives that inspire teams and influence stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience leading design within a matrixed organization, effectively influencing and aligning with product management, engineering, research, and marketing.
• Strategic Thinking & Problem Definition: Ability to dive deep into complex product spaces, identify key user problems, and frame strategic design challenges.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Comfort with ambiguity, rapid change, and fast-paced environments, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• AI & Emerging Technology Fluency: A strong curiosity and learner's mindset regarding AI, generative media, and emerging technologies, with the ability to translate these into user-centric product experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Community Engagement: Existing connections to the creative community and experience representing a team or company at industry events or conferences.
• Design Thinking Facilitation: Experience facilitating design thinking workshops, sprints, or similar activities for early-stage strategy and innovation.
• Hands-on Design/Prototyping: While a management role, familiarity with design tools and prototyping can be beneficial for understanding technical nuances and guiding the team.
• Portfolio of Impact: A portfolio showcasing leadership in designing successful, user-loved creative tools or AI-powered applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "connections to the creative community" and "personal creative practice" suggests that Adobe values leaders who are deeply immersed in and understand the creative professional's world. The requirement for "experience leading design within a matrixed organization" is critical for navigating a large company like Adobe.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Leadership Case Studies: Showcase examples of leading design teams through the development of complex products, demonstrating strategic vision, process improvement, and successful product launches.
• User-Centric Process: Present evidence of how user research, testing, and feedback loops were integrated into the design process to ensure products meet genuine user needs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Illustrate how you've effectively partnered with engineering, product management, and research to drive product development and achieve shared goals.
• Impact & ROI: Quantify the impact of your design leadership, ideally with metrics related to user adoption, engagement, satisfaction, or business outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in designing, implementing, and iterating on product development workflows that enhance team efficiency and design quality.
• AI Integration Strategy: Provide examples of how you've approached the design of AI-powered features or products, considering user trust, transparency, and ethical implications.
• Performance Measurement: Show how you've established metrics for design success and utilized data to inform design decisions and measure the effectiveness of creative tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Design Manager role, a portfolio should highlight leadership and strategic impact more than individual design execution. The focus should be on how you enabled teams, improved processes, and drove successful product outcomes, particularly in innovative areas like generative AI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• U.S. National Range: $141,700 - $272,500 annually
• California Range: $188,200 - $272,500 annually

Explanation of Range: Adobe's compensation structure reflects the cost of labor across various U.S. geographic markets. Pay is determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as the specific work location. The provided ranges are benchmarks, and the final salary will be discussed with the recruiter during the hiring process.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) with company match.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP): For non-sales roles, this provides short-term incentives based on company and individual performance.
• Equity Awards: Potential for new hire equity awards, offering participation in the company's long-term growth.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning, training, and attending industry conferences.
• Employee Assistance Program: Support for personal and professional well-being.
• Discounts on Adobe Products: Access to Adobe's software suite.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected for meetings and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is substantial, reflecting a senior leadership role at a major tech company in a high-cost-of-living area like San Francisco. The mention of "Total Target Compensation (TTC)" for sales roles and "Annual Incentive Plan (AIP)" for non-sales roles clarifies Adobe's incentive structures. The potential for equity awards is a significant benefit for senior positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Digital Media / Creative Tools / Artificial Intelligence Company Size: Over 10,000 employees (Adobe is a large, publicly traded company). This scale offers extensive resources, cross-functional opportunities, and a mature organizational structure, but also requires navigating larger processes. Founded: 1982. Adobe has a long history of innovation in digital creation, providing a stable foundation and a deep understanding of creative professional needs.

Team Structure:

• Adobe Design: This role is part of the broader Adobe Design organization, a global team of designers, researchers, and strategists across Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, and Experience Cloud.
• Firefly Generative Video Team: This specific team is likely a focused unit within Creative Cloud, comprised of designers, AI researchers, product managers, and engineers dedicated to advancing generative AI capabilities for video.
• Reporting: The Sr. Design Manager will report to a Director or VP of Design within Creative Cloud, overseeing a team of individual contributor designers.
• Collaboration: Expect extensive collaboration with AI research teams, product management, engineering, user research, and marketing.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: Adobe's core philosophy is designing for its users, with a strong emphasis on research and understanding creative workflows.
• Data-Driven Decisions: While creativity is paramount, design decisions are increasingly informed by user data, A/B testing, and performance metrics.
• Agile Development: The company likely employs agile methodologies, requiring flexibility and iterative design processes.
• Innovation Focus: With Firefly, Adobe is heavily invested in pushing the boundaries of AI in creative applications, fostering an environment of rapid experimentation and learning.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Adobe's culture is known for balancing creative freedom with structured processes. The integration of AI into creative workflows represents a significant strategic shift, and this role is at the forefront of that transformation. The company's established presence means established processes and a large, diverse workforce.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Management (Design Leadership). This role is responsible for leading a team, shaping product strategy, and influencing design direction for a critical, emerging product area. It sits above individual contributor designers and potentially leads other design managers. Reporting Structure: The Sr. Design Manager will report to a Director or VP of Design, likely within the Creative Cloud product group. They will directly manage a team of designers. Operations Impact: This role has a profound impact on Adobe's future in generative AI and video creation. Success here will directly influence how millions of creators produce video content, solidifying Adobe's position as a leader in AI-powered creative tools and driving significant revenue and market share.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into Director-level positions, managing larger teams or broader product portfolios within Adobe Design.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the strategic direction of Adobe's generative AI initiatives for video, influencing product roadmaps and R&D investments.
• Industry Thought Leadership: As a leader in generative AI design, there will be opportunities to represent Adobe at industry events, publish insights, and contribute to the broader dialogue on AI in creativity.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven creative tools, user experience for generative models, and leading design in rapidly evolving technological landscapes.
• Cross-Product Collaboration: Potential to collaborate with design leaders across other Adobe Cloud offerings, broadening understanding of Adobe's ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a critical stepping stone for individuals looking to lead significant product initiatives at a top-tier technology company. The rapid evolution of generative AI means this is a high-growth area with substantial opportunities for impact and career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in San Francisco. Adobe emphasizes a collaborative in-office experience, blending dedicated workspaces with areas designed for collaboration, brainstorming, and team interaction. Office Location(s): San Francisco, California. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and a large talent pool. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office is designed to foster interaction, with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and open spaces for spontaneous discussions.
• Technology & Tools: Access to state-of-the-art design software, hardware, and internal tools necessary for creative work and team management.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person critiques, team meetings, and informal interactions with colleagues across design, research, product, and engineering.
• Creative Atmosphere: Adobe's office environments are often designed to inspire creativity, reflecting the company's mission.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily 40 hours per week, standard business hours. However, given the senior leadership nature and the fast-paced AI domain, flexibility will be required to meet project deadlines, attend critical meetings, and engage with global teams if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is on-site, Adobe is known for offering a degree of flexibility. The emphasis on collaboration suggests that in-office presence is valued for its contribution to team dynamics and innovation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, salary expectations, and cultural fit.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: Deep dive into experience, leadership philosophy, strategic thinking, and understanding of generative AI in creative workflows. This will likely involve discussing past leadership challenges and successes.
3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on leadership case studies, strategic impact, and team development. This is a crucial step to demonstrate your vision and ability to articulate complex ideas. Expect to present 2-3 key projects.
4. Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with other design leaders, senior designers, and potentially cross-functional partners (e.g., research, product management) to assess collaboration style, design thinking, and technical understanding.
5. Executive Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Design) to assess strategic alignment, executive presence, and overall fit for the role and Adobe's future vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership: Showcase how you led teams, defined strategy, and drove impact, rather than just individual design contributions.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the user insights, the design process, the challenges, and the measurable outcomes.
• Highlight AI/Generative Design: If you have relevant experience, emphasize your approach to designing with or for AI, focusing on user trust, control, and ethical considerations.
• Demonstrate Process: Explain how you established or improved design processes, facilitated collaboration, and fostered a strong team culture.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your initiatives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical challenge, such as defining the initial design strategy for a new generative AI video feature, or how you would handle a conflict between user needs and technical constraints.
• Leadership Scenarios: Anticipate questions about managing difficult team members, driving alignment across conflicting priorities, or fostering innovation in a fast-paced environment.
• Industry Trends: Be ready to discuss your perspective on the future of generative AI in creative media and Adobe's role in it.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and cultural fit, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation. Candidates should prepare to articulate their vision for the future of generative video design and demonstrate how they can lead a team to achieve it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design & Prototyping Tools:

• Figma: Likely the primary tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects): Essential for understanding the creative ecosystem and potentially for creating visual assets or prototypes.
• Prototyping Tools: Potentially tools like ProtoPie, Principle, or Framer for more advanced interactive prototypes.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira/Confluence: For agile project tracking, documentation, and team communication.
• Slack/Microsoft Teams: For real-time team communication and collaboration.
• Asana/Trello: Potentially used for team task management.

Research & Analytics:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).
• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, or internal product analytics platforms to understand user behavior and product performance.

AI & Generative Technologies:

• Familiarity with Generative AI Concepts: While not necessarily a coding role, understanding the principles and capabilities of generative models (e.g., diffusion models, GANs) is crucial.
• Adobe Firefly: Direct experience or deep understanding of Adobe's Firefly generative AI models and their application in creative workflows.
• Third-Party AI Models: Awareness of other relevant generative AI models and platforms in the media space.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard design tools is a given. The critical differentiator for this role will be a deep understanding of generative AI technologies, especially Adobe's Firefly, and how to translate these into intuitive and powerful user experiences.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A core value at Adobe, encouraging pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas, especially in the rapidly evolving AI space.
• User Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of creative professionals, ensuring tools empower rather than hinder creativity.
• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and teams work together effectively across disciplines.
• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design, attention to detail, and delivering polished, impactful products.
• Adaptability & Learning: Embracing change, staying curious, and continuously learning in the face of rapid technological advancements, particularly in AI.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Expect a highly collaborative style, working hand-in-hand with AI researchers, product managers, engineers, and user researchers to co-create solutions.
• Open Critiques & Feedback: A culture where design critiques are constructive, providing valuable feedback for iteration and improvement.
• Shared Ownership: Encouraging a sense of shared responsibility for product success among all team members.
• Empowering Leadership: The manager's role is to empower their team, remove obstacles, and facilitate productive collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Adobe's values align closely with those expected in a leading creative technology company. For this role, the emphasis on innovation, user focus, and adaptability will be paramount, especially given the transformative nature of generative AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of AI Innovation: The generative AI landscape is evolving at an unprecedented speed, requiring continuous learning and adaptation to stay ahead.
• Balancing AI Capabilities with User Control: Designing AI-powered tools that are powerful yet intuitive, offering control without overwhelming users, and ensuring ethical AI use.
• Integrating New Technologies: Seamlessly integrating cutting-edge AI models into existing or new creative workflows, ensuring a cohesive and efficient user experience.
• Defining the Future of Video Creation: Shaping entirely new paradigms for video production, which involves significant exploration and potential for missteps.
• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Aligning the vision and priorities of AI researchers, product managers, designers, and executive leadership, who may have differing perspectives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Generative AI: Unparalleled opportunity to become an expert in the application of generative AI for creative media.
• Leadership Development: Access to Adobe's extensive leadership training programs and mentorship opportunities.
• Industry Exposure: Representing Adobe at key industry events and conferences, contributing to the discourse on AI in creativity.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with world-class AI researchers and engineers to understand the technical underpinnings of generative models.
• Product Strategy Influence: Playing a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Adobe's generative AI product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is at the forefront of a major technological shift. The challenges are significant but offer immense opportunities for professional growth and impact in a rapidly expanding field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define the user experience vision for generative video creation, considering the rapid advancements in AI?" (Prepare to discuss user-centricity, control, ethics, and workflow integration).
• "Describe a time you led a design team through significant ambiguity or rapid technological change. What was your approach?" (Focus on leadership, adaptability, and process).
• "How would you balance the capabilities of advanced AI models with the need for creative control and user trust in video editing tools?" (Discuss user research, iterative design, and transparency).
• "What are your thoughts on the ethical implications of generative AI in creative content creation, and how would you ensure these are addressed in the design process?" (Show awareness of bias, ownership, and responsible AI).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Adobe's Firefly initiative and its potential for video creation?" (Demonstrate research into Adobe's AI strategy).
• "How do you foster an inclusive and high-performing design team culture, especially when working with diverse technical and creative backgrounds?" (Discuss your leadership philosophy and team-building strategies).
• "How do you measure the success of design initiatives, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like generative AI?" (Prepare to discuss metrics beyond traditional UX KPIs).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your leadership experience, followed by 2-3 in-depth case studies.
• Focus on "Why" and "How": Clearly articulate the strategic rationale behind your decisions, the user problems you solved, and the specific methods you used.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, mockups, and prototypes to illustrate your work. For leadership, describe team dynamics, process improvements, and outcomes.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present data showing the positive results of your leadership and design efforts.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize experiences relevant to AI, generative media, video, and leading design teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their strategic vision for generative AI in video, their leadership philosophy, and how they foster innovation and collaboration. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase practical application of these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the Adobe careers portal via the provided link.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, strategic product development, user-centered design practices, and any experience with AI, generative media, or creative tools. Use keywords from the job description.
• Portfolio Curation: Select 2-3 of your most impactful leadership case studies. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your ability to define strategy, lead teams, drive user-centric design, and achieve measurable results, particularly in complex or innovative product areas. Prepare to present these effectively.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Adobe's Firefly initiative, its position in the generative AI market, and Adobe's overall design philosophy. Prepare to discuss your strategic vision, leadership approach, and how you would tackle the challenges of leading generative video design. Practice articulating your portfolio case studies.
• Networking (Optional but Recommended): If you have connections within Adobe, reach out to learn more about the team and culture. This can provide valuable insights for your application and interviews.

⚠️ 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.