Sr. Graphic Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Sr. Graphic Designer Company: Salesforce Location: California - San Francisco (Multiple US locations considered, including New York, Atlanta, Indianapolis) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Technology Date Posted: December 8, 2025 Experience Level: 5+ Years
🚀 Role Summary
- Drive compelling, high-quality visual creation for digital customer success initiatives, operating within an in-house agency model.
- Translate complex ideas into intuitive, accessible, and brand-aligned creative assets across web, product, marketing, social media, and motion graphics.
- Collaborate closely with strategists, editors, and video producers to conceptualize and execute creative projects from initial intake to final delivery.
- Uphold and contribute to the evolution of the Salesforce brand aesthetic and design standards, ensuring consistency and craft across all touchpoints.
- Proactively manage multiple design projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, remote-first environment, demonstrating strong organizational and time management skills.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Salesforce's "Digital Success Creative Team," which functions as an in-house agency. The emphasis on "Agentforce" and AI suggests a forward-thinking approach to customer success and the integration of AI in creative processes, which applicants should research and consider. The "remote-first" environment implies a need for strong self-management and asynchronous collaboration skills.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Deliver dynamic, accessible, and user-centered design solutions for a variety of formats, including web graphics, presentation slides, campaign assets, enablement visuals, and more.
- Own the complete design lifecycle for projects, from initial concept development and stakeholder intake through to final asset delivery and quality assurance.
- Apply a strong understanding of content hierarchy and visual clarity to effectively support storytelling across diverse media, including editorial content, video, and product interfaces.
- Partner effectively with cross-functional teams, including strategists, content editors, video producers, and UX designers, to bring creative visions to fruition.
- Translate complex stakeholder requirements, content objectives, and user research insights into visually compelling and impactful creative artifacts.
- Ensure the consistent and accurate application of the Salesforce brand guidelines across all creative outputs, while actively contributing to the enhancement of team-wide style guides and templates.
- Proactively manage and prioritize a diverse workload of design projects, ensuring timely delivery in a fast-moving, remote-first operational setting.
- Participate in and provide constructive feedback during design reviews, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the refinement of team standards and best practices.
- Stay abreast of the latest design trends, evolving accessibility standards, and advancements in creative tools, including the exploration and application of AI-driven design technologies.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for end-to-end ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and a strong focus on brand consistency and user-centered design principles, all within a dynamic, remote work context. The mention of AI-driven design tools suggests an expectation for candidates to be adaptable and forward-thinking in their approach to creative technology.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is implied by the experience level and role expectations.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in graphic design, visual communication, or a closely related creative discipline.
Required Skills:
- A robust portfolio showcasing dynamic and effective graphic design work, with a clear emphasis on content strategy integration and user experience principles.
- Expertise in industry-standard design software, including Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, and Google Slides.
- Comprehensive understanding of branding principles and practical experience designing for a broad spectrum of mediums such as digital interfaces, print collateral, presentation decks, social media content, and motion graphics.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, characterized by a proactive approach to sharing work, soliciting feedback, and fostering collaborative relationships.
- Proven ability to work effectively within a collaborative creative team environment and to partner successfully with cross-functional departments including editorial, video production, UX/UI design, and marketing.
- Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple project deadlines concurrently and to operate with a high degree of autonomy within a remote, asynchronous work setting.
- Verifiable experience in leading design projects involving external contractors or agencies, including the ability to provide clear direction, deliver actionable feedback, and ensure alignment among internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience in mentoring or guiding other designers, contributing to their professional development and skill enhancement.
Preferred Skills:
- Proficiency in motion design or familiarity with animation software such as Adobe After Effects.
- Prior experience or familiarity with Salesforce products, platforms, and the broader Salesforce ecosystem.
- Working knowledge of responsive design principles and best practices for exporting assets optimized for web deployment.
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design proficiency, strategic thinking (content strategy, user experience), strong collaboration, and project management skills, particularly within a remote setting. The preference for motion design and Salesforce familiarity indicates areas where candidates can further differentiate themselves.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Showcase a range of design projects that clearly demonstrate an understanding of content strategy and user-centered design principles, highlighting how visual elements support overarching goals.
- Include case studies or detailed project descriptions that explain the design process, the challenges encountered, and the solutions implemented, focusing on problem-solving and strategic thinking.
- Present examples of brand application and evolution, illustrating the ability to maintain brand consistency while also contributing to new creative directions or template development.
- Demonstrate proficiency in designing for multiple platforms and formats, providing examples of how designs are adapted for different mediums (e.g., web, social, print, presentations).
Process Documentation:
- Prepare to discuss your personal design process, from initial project brief and concept ideation through to final asset delivery and iteration, emphasizing workflow efficiency and collaboration touchpoints.
- Be ready to articulate how you approach user research and stakeholder feedback integration into your design workflow to ensure designs are user-centric and meet business objectives.
- Familiarize yourself with how you would document design decisions, brand guidelines, and template usage to ensure consistency and scalability across projects and teams.
- Be prepared to discuss how you measure the effectiveness of your designs, potentially including metrics related to engagement, conversion, or user feedback, and how this informs future design iterations.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio should not only display aesthetic talent but also strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to articulate design decisions and their impact. Emphasis on user-centered design and brand consistency is crucial.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on San Francisco and New York market data for Sr. Graphic Designer roles with 5+ years of experience at large tech companies, the estimated base salary range is $137,100 - $188,600 annually. This range is consistent with the provided figures for California and New York.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive time-off programs designed to support work-life balance.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
- Dedicated mental health support resources.
- Paid parental leave to support new parents.
- Life and disability insurance policies for financial security.
- Retirement savings plan (401(k)) with potential company match.
- Employee Stock Purchasing Program (ESPP) allowing employees to buy company stock at a discount.
Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position. Given the "remote-first" environment, there may be flexibility in daily scheduling, but consistent availability for collaboration and project completion is expected.
📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary ranges for New York and California are used as a benchmark. The benefits listed are directly from the input data and are typical for large technology companies. The "remote-first" nature may offer some schedule flexibility, but core availability for collaboration is assumed.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Technology, specifically Software as a Service (SaaS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) CRM solutions. Salesforce is a leader in digital transformation and customer relationship management. Company Size: Salesforce is a large enterprise company, indicated by its significant employee count and global presence, which suggests a structured yet dynamic work environment with ample resources. Founded: Salesforce was founded in 1999. Its long history in the tech industry signifies a stable and established company with a proven track record of innovation and growth.
Team Structure:
- The Digital Success Creative Team operates as an in-house agency, implying a collaborative structure focused on delivering creative services to various internal departments.
- The team likely comprises designers, editors, strategists, and potentially project managers, working together to support customer success initiatives.
- Reporting lines are likely hierarchical but with a strong emphasis on cross-functional project teams and collaboration, especially given the "remote-first" nature.
Methodology:
- Data-driven decision-making and user-centric design are core tenets, with an emphasis on translating complex information into accessible visuals.
- Agile methodologies are likely employed for project management, allowing for flexibility and iterative development in response to evolving needs.
- A strong focus on brand consistency and quality control is expected, ensuring all creative outputs align with Salesforce's established identity and standards.
Company Website: https://www.salesforce.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's culture is known for its "Trailblazer" ethos, emphasizing innovation, customer success, and core values. The "Agentforce" initiative points to a strategic focus on AI and its role in transforming customer interactions and employee experiences. The in-house agency model suggests a dynamic, project-driven environment.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer role, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond junior or mid-level positions. It requires not only strong design execution but also the ability to lead projects, mentor others, and contribute to strategic creative discussions and team standards.
Reporting Structure: The Sr. Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Manager, or Head of Digital Design within the Digital Success Creative Team. They will collaborate extensively with project managers, content strategists, editors, video producers, and stakeholders from various customer success departments.
Operations Impact: The role directly impacts customer engagement and understanding of Salesforce products and services. High-quality, clear, and compelling visuals are critical for customer education, adoption, and overall satisfaction, which in turn influences customer retention and revenue. The designs produced will support key customer success initiatives, product launches, and marketing campaigns, all of which are vital for business growth.
Growth Opportunities:
- Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like motion graphics, advanced UI/UX principles, or specialization in specific campaign types. Exposure to AI-driven design tools offers a pathway to becoming an expert in emerging creative technologies.
- Leadership Development: Potential to take on lead roles for larger projects, mentor junior designers, contribute significantly to team-wide best practices, and potentially move into a Lead Designer or Art Director role.
- Cross-Functional Exposure: Working with diverse teams across Customer Success, Marketing, and Product provides a broad understanding of business operations and different facets of the customer journey, opening doors to other roles within the company.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title implies a significant level of responsibility and the expectation of leadership and mentorship. Growth opportunities are likely tied to expanding technical skills, taking on more strategic project leadership, and contributing to the team's overall creative direction and operational efficiency.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: While the role is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" and "remote-first," Salesforce maintains physical office spaces in major hubs like San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. The "remote-first" approach suggests that remote work is the default, but occasional in-person collaboration or team meetings at a local office might be expected or offered.
Office Location(s): Key office locations include San Francisco (California), New York (New York), Atlanta (Georgia), and Indianapolis (Indiana). The specific location preference will be clarified during the application process, with compensation adjusted accordingly.
Workspace Context:
- The remote-first environment necessitates a self-directed and organized workspace at home, equipped with reliable technology to support creative software and virtual collaboration tools.
- Collaboration will be facilitated through digital platforms, requiring strong communication skills for effective asynchronous and synchronous interaction with team members and stakeholders.
- Opportunities for connection with colleagues may include virtual team-building activities, online forums, and potentially occasional in-person meetups or offsites for significant team events.
Work Schedule: The role involves a standard 40-hour work week. While remote work can offer flexibility, designers are expected to be available during core business hours for team interactions, meetings, and to meet project deadlines. Effective time management will be crucial to balance project demands with personal work preferences.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" designation is key. It implies a need for efficient asynchronous communication and self-management. While physical offices exist, the primary work setup is expected to be remote, with potential for hybrid arrangements or office use as needed.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your application and portfolio for basic qualifications and cultural fit. Be prepared to articulate your experience and highlight key portfolio pieces.
- Hiring Manager Interview: This interview will focus on your design process, experience with specific tools, and your understanding of user-centered design and branding. Expect questions about your portfolio projects.
- Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio. This is where you'll showcase your problem-solving skills, creative approach, and ability to articulate design rationale. Focus on projects that demonstrate impact and strategic thinking.
- Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential team members or cross-functional partners to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural alignment.
- Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss your overall fit and long-term potential within the organization.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience outlined in the job description (user-centered design, branding, multi-platform experience, content strategy).
- Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges, the solutions, and the measurable impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.
- Highlight Process & Strategy: Emphasize how you approached the problem, your research methods, your collaboration with stakeholders, and how your design decisions were strategic and user-focused.
- Showcase Brand Consistency & Adaptability: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to work within established brand guidelines and your skill in adapting designs across different mediums.
- Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your experience with specific tools or project types.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Goal: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the brief, the target audience, and the desired outcome.
- Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across research, ideation, design execution, and presentation preparation.
- Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain your design decisions, even if the output is a concept. Focus on the "why" behind your choices.
- Consider Constraints: Think about how you would address potential constraints like budget, timeline, or technical limitations in a real-world scenario.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior creative role will heavily rely on portfolio evaluation. Candidates should prepare to not only show their work but also to deeply explain their strategic thinking, process, and impact. The remote-first nature means strong virtual presentation skills are essential.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential proficiency expected in Photoshop (image editing, manipulation), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), and InDesign (layout, publication design).
- Figma: A critical tool for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and design system management, increasingly used for various graphic design tasks.
- Google Slides: Expected proficiency for creating dynamic and visually engaging presentations, as indicated by the job description.
Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly a primary tool for graphic design, an understanding of how designs perform is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user engagement with web graphics or campaign assets could be an advantage.
CRM & Automation:
- Salesforce Ecosystem: Familiarity with Salesforce products (e.g., Sales Cloud, Service Cloud) is a plus, as designs will likely support customer success initiatives within this environment.
- Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design projects and workflows is common in remote, collaborative environments.
- Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency in tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Workspace for communication and collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core toolset is clearly defined: Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Google Slides. While direct analytics or CRM tools aren't primary for a graphic designer, understanding how their work integrates into these systems and impacts user behavior is increasingly important.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Customer Success Driven: A primary focus on enabling customer success through clear, compelling, and user-friendly visual communication. Designs should aim to educate, inform, and inspire users.
- Innovation & AI Integration: Embracing new technologies, including AI-driven design tools, to enhance creativity, efficiency, and the quality of output. A forward-thinking mindset is valued.
- Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working together, sharing ideas, providing constructive feedback, and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.
- Brand Stewardship: A commitment to maintaining and evolving the Salesforce brand with a high degree of craft, consistency, and attention to detail across all visual touchpoints.
- Data-Informed Creativity: Utilizing user research, content strategy, and performance data to inform design decisions and ensure creative solutions are effective and impactful.
Collaboration Style:
- Remote-First & Asynchronous: Expect a collaborative environment that relies heavily on digital communication tools and effective asynchronous collaboration, requiring clear documentation and proactive communication.
- Cross-Functional Partnerships: A strong emphasis on working closely with strategists, editors, video producers, and other internal stakeholders to ensure creative solutions are integrated and aligned with broader business objectives.
- Feedback & Iteration: An open culture of providing and receiving constructive feedback during design reviews, fostering a continuous improvement mindset for both individual projects and team processes.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's core values (Trust, Customer Success, Innovation, Equality, Sustainability) are likely embedded in the team's culture. The emphasis on "Agentforce" and AI points to a culture that values forward-thinking and technological advancement.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas within the established Salesforce brand guidelines and ensuring accessibility standards are met across all designs.
- Managing Remote Collaboration: Navigating communication and project management in a remote-first environment, ensuring clarity, alignment, and timely delivery across distributed teams.
- Pace of Innovation: Keeping up with rapidly evolving design trends, new technologies (especially AI in design), and the dynamic needs of a large tech company.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring designs effectively meet the diverse needs and expectations of various internal stakeholders, from product teams to customer success managers.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- AI in Design Workshops: Potential for training on utilizing AI tools to enhance design workflows, generate concepts, and improve efficiency.
- Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to specialize in areas like motion graphics, complex infographic design, or advanced UI/UX principles through internal training or external courses.
- Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship opportunities with senior designers and creative leaders to guide career progression and skill development.
- Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant design conferences or pursuing certifications to stay current with industry best practices and emerging trends.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a large, fast-paced tech company with a remote-first model. Growth opportunities are geared towards enhancing both creative and technical skills, as well as developing leadership capabilities within the design function.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure both were met?" (Focus on your process, compromise, and strategic thinking.)
- "How do you approach translating complex technical information or abstract concepts into clear, engaging visual assets?" (Highlight your ability to simplify and communicate through design.)
- "Walk me through your process for managing multiple design projects simultaneously in a remote environment. What tools and strategies do you use?" (Emphasize organization, prioritization, and communication.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you about Salesforce and specifically the Digital Success Creative Team?" (Show you've researched the company, its values, and the role's unique aspects, like the in-house agency model and AI focus.)
- "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a remote setting?" (Share examples of proactive communication, feedback sharing, and teamwork.)
- "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies like AI in design?" (Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and innovation.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, clearly outline the objective, your specific role and contributions, the challenges faced, your design process and rationale, the final solution, and the measurable impact or outcome.
- Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved clarity, positive feedback).
- Showcase Process: Don't just show the final product; explain your thinking, your iterations, and how you arrived at the solution. This is crucial for a senior role.
- Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you collaborated with stakeholders, incorporated feedback, and worked with other disciplines (e.g., content, video).
- Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and other relevant tools.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews for senior design roles will heavily scrutinize strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to articulate design decisions and their business impact. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is paramount.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Sr. Graphic Designer position:
- Submit your application through the Salesforce careers portal, ensuring you include a link to your online portfolio.
- Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight the 5+ years of relevant experience, specific software proficiencies (Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Google Slides), and achievements in areas such as user-centered design, branding, and remote collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.
- Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best align with the role's requirements, focusing on strategic thinking, user experience, brand consistency, and demonstrable impact. Prepare to walk through these projects in detail.
- Research Salesforce: Understand Salesforce's mission, values, recent innovations (especially regarding AI and customer success), and the "Agentforce" initiative. Prepare to articulate why you are a good cultural fit.
- Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your introduction and your explanations for portfolio projects, focusing on clear, concise communication and demonstrating your strategic approach to design.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have 5+ years of experience in graphic design and a strong portfolio demonstrating effective design rooted in user experience. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and experience in a collaborative creative team are essential.