Marketing Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Designer

Company: HARMAN International

Location: Carlsbad, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and adapt a wide range of marketing assets for various consumer touchpoints, ensuring brand consistency across all channels.

• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, project managers, and cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver high-quality creative solutions.

• Utilize industry-standard design software, including Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite, to produce visually compelling and on-brand materials.

• Manage assigned design deliverables from concept through production, adhering to established timelines and project processes.

• Contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Creative Services team by leveraging established templates and potentially AI-enabled creative tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Marketing Operations and Creative Services, focusing on the execution of marketing campaigns through design. The emphasis on adapting global assets for regional needs and maintaining brand consistency suggests a strong operational component to the design function. The hybrid work model with a requirement for 3+ days in the Carlsbad office indicates a need for strong in-person collaboration and team integration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and adapt marketing collateral for print, digital, social media, retail environments, events, email campaigns, presentations, web content, and promotional materials, all while adhering to approved campaign concepts and established brand guidelines.

• Produce consistent, on-brand design work by leveraging pre-defined Figma templates with components and auto layout features, alongside the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Proactively follow up with internal requestors to secure necessary production details, including dimensions, file formats, required content, and specific delivery requirements.

• Partner with Project Managers to clarify project scope, priorities, timelines, and to gain a comprehensive understanding of design briefs.

• Effectively present design work to requestors and internal reviewers, solicit constructive feedback, and iteratively refine designs based on input.

• Ensure timely completion of assigned design tasks, proactively communicating any missing information, production challenges, or conflicts that could impact delivery timelines to the Project Manager.

• Collaborate with Creative Services and broader Marketing teams to execute assigned projects, adapt global campaign assets for regional relevance, and uphold overall brand integrity.

• Employ approved AI-enabled creative tools to enhance asset versioning, adaptation, and overall production efficiency within defined workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational project management. The emphasis on "adapting global campaign assets for regional needs" points to a crucial GTM support function. The requirement to "follow up with internal requestors" and "work with Project Managers" underscores the importance of process adherence and communication within a structured workflow.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Marketing Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Two or more years of professional design experience supporting a consumer-facing brand, marketing team, or creative organization.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in Figma, including the use of components and auto layout.

• Strong command of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Proven ability to create and adapt marketing assets across both digital and print mediums.

• Experience in preparing digital and print assets according to defined specifications and production standards.

• Aptitude for consistently applying established brand systems across diverse formats and channels.

• Effective collaboration skills with internal requestors and cross-functional team members, including gathering production details, sharing work, and incorporating feedback.

• Capacity to make routine layout, typography, image selection, asset adaptation, and production decisions based on established practices.

• Clear and concise communication skills, with the ability to ask clarifying questions, confirm requirements, and ensure mutual understanding.

• Ability to manage and complete multiple assigned tasks within established timelines, escalating concerns or ambiguities promptly.

• High attention to detail and a strong commitment to accurate, consistent, and on-brand execution. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Adobe Workfront or similar project management platforms.

• Prior experience creating and adapting assets for regional marketing, channel marketing, retail, events, or sales enablement initiatives.

• Experience applying brand guidelines for premium consumer, lifestyle, technology, or audio brands.

• Exposure to motion graphics, video editing, animation, or presentation design.

• Familiarity with approved AI-enabled creative tools used for asset versioning, adaptation, and production efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize hands-on technical proficiency with core design tools and a strong understanding of brand application. The preferred skills suggest opportunities for candidates with broader creative capabilities and experience in specific marketing operational areas like retail or events, which are key for GTM support.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing well-crafted, on-brand work across a variety of digital and print marketing materials is mandatory.

• The portfolio should demonstrate the applicant's ability to execute design within established brand guidelines and creative direction.

• Include examples of asset adaptation for different channels (e.g., social media, web banners, print ads, retail displays).

• Showcase projects that highlight attention to detail, consistent application of brand elements, and adherence to production standards. Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for gathering project requirements, collaborating with stakeholders, and managing feedback loops.

• Be ready to articulate how you ensure brand consistency and quality across multiple design deliverables and project types.

• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow management, including how you prioritize tasks, manage your time, and communicate potential roadblocks.

• Showcase examples of how you've used established templates and production standards to create efficient and consistent design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Marketing Designer role, the portfolio is the primary artifact. The emphasis should be on demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also operational efficiency in design production, adherence to brand standards, and effective collaboration within a marketing framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $68,250 - $100,100 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Access to employee discounts on world-class HARMAN products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, and more).

• Extensive training opportunities through HARMAN University for continuous professional development.

• Competitive wellness benefits designed to support employee health and well-being.

• Tuition reimbursement to support ongoing education and skill enhancement.

• "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program to acknowledge outstanding contributions.

• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters professional and personal growth.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 3+ days per week in the Carlsbad, CA office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a significant data point. Based on industry benchmarks for a Marketing Designer with 2-5 years of experience in the Carlsbad, CA area, this range appears competitive and aligns with typical market rates for mid-level creative roles within larger technology or consumer goods companies. The benefits package is comprehensive and offers substantial value for employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Electronics, Automotive Technology, Audio Equipment. HARMAN International is a leader in connected car technology, lifestyle audio and visual products, and enterprise automation solutions.

Company Size: HARMAN is a large enterprise, part of Samsung Electronics. This implies a structured corporate environment with established processes and extensive resources.

Founded: HARMAN was founded in 1953, bringing a rich history and deep expertise in audio and electronics innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing Designer is part of the Creative Services team, which likely operates within the broader Marketing department.

• This team collaborates closely with regional marketing, channel marketing, and business initiatives teams.

• The role involves working with Project Managers and potentially other designers, copywriters, and marketing specialists. Methodology:

• Emphasis on established brand guidelines, creative direction, and defined project processes to ensure consistency and quality.

• Use of templates (Figma) and production standards for efficient asset creation and adaptation.

• Collaboration and feedback loops are integral to the design process.

• Potential integration of AI-enabled tools to streamline workflows and enhance production efficiency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: HARMAN's extensive history and its position as a subsidiary of Samsung suggest a corporate culture that values innovation, quality, and structured processes. The "Lifestyle" division specifically focuses on consumer audio, implying a creative and brand-conscious environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Mid-Level (2-5 years experience) within the creative operations spectrum. It involves executing established designs and adapting them, rather than setting overarching creative strategy, but requires significant professional judgment and autonomy in production.

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Designer reports to a Project Manager or a Creative Services Manager, within a larger marketing or creative services department. They will collaborate with various internal stakeholders across different marketing functions.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by ensuring visually appealing, on-brand assets are delivered promptly across all relevant channels. High-quality design supports brand perception, customer engagement, and ultimately, sales enablement and revenue generation for HARMAN's consumer products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific design areas like retail POP, event graphics, or digital campaign asset creation.

• Skill Expansion: Gain proficiency in motion graphics, video editing, or advanced presentation design, as indicated by "Bonus Points."

• Project Management: Transition into a Project Management role within Creative Services by leveraging experience in managing timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication.

• Senior Designer: Progress to a Senior Marketing Designer role with increased responsibility for concept development or leading smaller design projects.

• Cross-functional Movement: Potentially move into broader marketing roles within HARMAN, utilizing design understanding to inform marketing strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Marketing Designer often involves deepening creative skills, expanding into related disciplines (like motion or UX/UI if applicable), or moving into project management and leadership within the creative operations framework.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring 3+ days per week in the Carlsbad, CA office. This suggests a blend of remote flexibility and in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Carlsbad, California, United States (5541 Fermi Court). This location is likely a hub for HARMAN's Lifestyle division operations.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, facilitating interaction with Creative Services team members, Project Managers, and other marketing professionals.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including high-performance computers and software licenses, will be provided.

• Opportunities for in-person brainstorming sessions and project reviews will be available, fostering a dynamic creative process.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with flexibility managed through the hybrid arrangement. The focus will be on meeting deadlines and project deliverables rather than strict hour-by-hour adherence, common in creative roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model indicates a modern work approach balancing flexibility with the recognized benefits of in-person collaboration for creative teams. The Carlsbad office likely houses key marketing and design functions for the region.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative output.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion about experience, design process, collaboration style, and fit with the Creative Services team. This may include a review of specific portfolio pieces.

• Design Challenge/Task: A practical exercise to evaluate design skills, adherence to brand guidelines, and efficiency in creating or adapting assets under timed conditions.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior marketing leader, focusing on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and overall cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your ability to create on-brand marketing assets for digital and print.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the challenges, your creative process, and the outcome (quantifiable results if possible).

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples that span different channels (social, web, print, retail) and demonstrate your proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Showcase Brand Application: Ensure examples clearly illustrate your understanding and consistent application of brand guidelines.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design decisions, how you handle feedback, and your experience with production workflows.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize Yourself: Practice creating and adapting assets using Figma and Adobe Creative Suite under time constraints.

• Understand Brand Basics: Review HARMAN's brand guidelines thoroughly before any design challenge.

• Focus on Efficiency: Understand that the challenge may assess not just creativity but also speed and adherence to specifications.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain your design choices and how they meet the brief's objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a design role heavily relies on the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to not only present their work but also articulate their creative and operational process behind it, especially concerning brand consistency and production efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for creating and adapting designs, leveraging components and auto layout for efficiency and consistency.

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design of print materials like brochures, flyers, and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary design tool, understanding how assets perform in marketing campaigns (e.g., click-through rates for digital ads) would be beneficial. Familiarity with how marketing reports are generated is a plus.

CRM & Automation: No specific CRM or automation tools are listed as primary requirements for this design role, but familiarity with how marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) utilize design assets might be advantageous.

Project Management:

• Adobe Workfront (Preferred): Experience with this or similar project management platforms is a plus, indicating familiarity with structured workflow and task management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is heavily focused on design execution. Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. Experience with project management tools like Workfront points to an operational understanding of how creative assets integrate into broader marketing workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brand Consistency: A paramount value, ensuring all creative output upholds HARMAN's brand identity and quality standards.

• Efficiency & Productivity: Driven by the use of templates, AI tools, and streamlined workflows to deliver assets effectively.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with internal requestors, project managers, and fellow creative team members.

• Quality & Attention to Detail: A commitment to producing accurate, polished, and error-free design work.

• Innovation: Embracing new tools and methods (like AI-enabled creative tools) to enhance the design process.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with various marketing teams and business units to understand their creative needs.

• Feedback-Oriented: Open to receiving and incorporating feedback from stakeholders to refine designs.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly checking for understanding and communicating potential issues or needs to ensure smooth project progression.

• Team-Oriented: Contributing to a collective effort within the Creative Services team to meet overall marketing objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to balance creative excellence with operational rigor, emphasizing teamwork, efficiency, and a strong adherence to brand standards within a corporate structure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Producing high-quality, on-brand assets quickly to meet marketing deadlines.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively interpreting and executing design requests from various internal teams with potentially different objectives.

• Adapting Global Assets: Translating global campaign concepts into regionally relevant designs while maintaining brand integrity.

• Staying Current with Brand Guidelines: Continuously ensuring designs align with evolving brand standards and creative direction.

• Leveraging New Technologies: Integrating AI-enabled tools effectively into existing workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Deepening expertise in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and potentially exploring related software.

• Specialized Design Areas: Gaining skills in motion graphics, animation, or UX/UI design if opportunities arise.

• Brand Management Workshops: Enhancing understanding of brand strategy and its application in design.

• Project Management Fundamentals: Learning best practices for workflow management and stakeholder communication.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest trends in graphic design, digital marketing, and consumer electronics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a production-focused design role within a large organization. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding creative capabilities and operational project management skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a design brief from initial concept to final delivery, especially when working with established brand guidelines and templates." (Focus on workflow, communication, and adherence to standards.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design assets for different channels (e.g., digital ads, social posts, print brochures)?" (Highlight your understanding of brand systems and attention to detail.)

• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where you had to adapt existing creative assets for a specific regional market or campaign. What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Prepare a case study demonstrating adaptation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about HARMAN International and our brands like JBL or Mark Levinson?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with internal requestors and project managers who may have different priorities or feedback?" (Emphasize communication, problem-solving, and diplomacy.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and incorporate them while maintaining brand integrity?" (Balance creativity with brand compliance.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the objective, your role, the process you followed, the tools used, and the impact of your design.

• Highlight Key Skills: Point to specific examples that demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, brand application, and asset adaptation for various channels.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Expect questions about your workflow, how you handle specific design challenges, and your familiarity with production specifications.

• Showcase Professionalism: Present your portfolio cleanly and professionally, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design talent but also operational efficiency, adaptability, and strong communication skills essential for a hybrid role within a corporate marketing structure.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the HARMAN Workday portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 2+ years of professional design experience, specifically mentioning your proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience with consumer-facing brands or marketing teams. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of digital and print marketing assets, demonstrating brand consistency and adaptation skills. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail.

• Prepare for Design Challenges: Practice creating and adapting design assets within time limits, focusing on adherence to brand guidelines and production standards.

• Research HARMAN: Familiarize yourself with HARMAN International, its brands (JBL, Mark Levinson, etc.), and its mission to understand the company culture and the context of the role.

⚠️ 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.

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