Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: Apkudo

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Visual Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-07T15:27:45.107

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the evolution and enforcement of Apkudo's visual identity across all brand touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence.

• Develop and implement innovative AI-powered design systems and workflows to scale brand asset creation and empower non-designers.

• Create high-stakes, custom sales enablement materials, including presentations, that directly influence deal velocity and reinforce market leadership.

• Strategically manage external agency relationships, particularly for web development, ensuring brand fidelity and quality control.

• Drive a premium customer experience through thoughtful design in physical spaces like automation hubs and at domestic and international events.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Senior Brand Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into "Marketing Operations" and "Brand Operations" due to the focus on systems, AI integration for scaling, sales enablement workflows, and vendor management for brand execution. The role requires a blend of creative design leadership and operationalizing brand assets.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own, update, and rigorously enforce the Apkudo Brand Style Guide, defining its application across digital, physical, and event contexts.

• Act as the primary authority on design quality, guiding and coaching non-designers to become effective brand stewards.

• Design and build AI-powered tools (e.g., custom GPTs, Claude skills, templated generation systems) to enable scalable, on-brand asset production for the broader team.

• Pioneer the integration of AI into modern brand workflows to eliminate bottlenecks and maintain brand compliance at scale.

• Develop premium, custom presentations for high-value sales opportunities, translating complex narratives into persuasive visual decks.

• Build a flexible library of modular presentation components to support lower-stakes sales needs efficiently.

• Establish a flawless workflow and robust template system for presentations that ensures parity across Google Slides and PowerPoint.

• Manage the relationship with the outsourced web agency, providing clear creative briefs and critically reviewing deliverables for brand fidelity.

• Design engaging experiences for Apkudo-hosted and industry events, both domestically and internationally.

• Contribute to the design of premium customer experiences within automation hubs, focusing on detail and elevation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strategic, systems-level approach to brand management, moving beyond individual asset creation to building scalable processes and AI-driven solutions. This suggests a need for strong project management and operational thinking in addition to design expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience is expected. A degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is often a foundational element for such roles.

Experience: 3+ years of brand or graphic design experience, with a significant portion focused on scaling brand systems within a fast-paced B2B or growth-stage company environment.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma and Adobe Illustrator for design creation and system development.

• Strong working knowledge of Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint, with an emphasis on designing for presentation parity.

• Proven hands-on experience building workflows, templates, or tools using leading AI models and generative design tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) for scaling design systems.

• Demonstrated ability to create high-impact, custom sales presentations under tight deadlines, effectively translating complex narratives.

• Experience managing external agencies, including writing clear briefs, critically reviewing deliverables, and ensuring brand consistency.

• Systems-level thinking demonstrated through a portfolio showcasing brand guidelines, design systems, or reusable frameworks.

• Self-directed and comfortable operating with ambiguity in a dynamic environment. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Webflow for web design and agency management.

• Experience designing for AI-driven buyer journeys, focusing on structured content and semantic clarity.

• Experience in a growth-stage or scaling company where new systems are being built rather than merely maintained.

• Working knowledge of HubSpot for design support and content sharing.

• Experience designing for AI-driven buyer journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "scaling brand systems" and "AI-powered workflows" indicates a requirement for a candidate who can think operationally and strategically about design, not just execute creatively. Proficiency in AI tools for design scaling is a critical differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Systems-level thinking: Showcase examples of brand guidelines, design systems, or reusable frameworks that demonstrate scalability and consistency.

• AI integration: Provide examples of how AI has been used to build workflows, templates, or tools that enable others to create on-brand assets.

• Sales enablement: Include examples of high-stakes, custom sales presentations that effectively translate complex narratives and drive persuasive communication.

• Cross-platform parity: Demonstrate the ability to design for consistency and quality across different presentation tools like Google Slides and PowerPoint.

• Agency collaboration: If possible, include examples of projects where external vendors were managed, highlighting brief creation and deliverable review processes. Process Documentation:

• Workflow design and optimization: Detail processes developed for creating and managing brand assets, especially those involving AI integration or templated systems.

• Implementation and automation: Showcase how systems and workflows have been implemented and automated to enable broader team usage and efficiency.

• Measurement and performance analysis: Outline how the impact of brand systems and sales enablement materials has been measured, focusing on efficiency, consistency, and contribution to business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The prompt specifically requests examples of "systems-level thinking" and "AI integration" in the portfolio. Candidates should prioritize showcasing how they've built repeatable processes and leveraged technology to scale design impact, rather than just individual design pieces.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Brand Designer role in the United States with 3+ years of experience, especially in a remote, growth-stage B2B tech company, the estimated salary range is typically $90,000 - $130,000 USD per year. This range can vary based on specific location, the candidate's depth of AI experience, and the company's funding and compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with potential company match.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and access to learning resources.

• Remote work stipend or home office setup allowance.

• Potential for equity or stock options in a growth-stage company.

Working Hours: The role is likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility typically offered due to the remote nature of the position. Core working hours may be established to facilitate team collaboration across different time zones, but the emphasis is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to a schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for Senior Brand Designers in US-based tech companies, considering the remote work arrangement, the emphasis on AI and sales enablement skills, and the "growth-stage" company context. Benefits are standard for such roles, with potential additions like equity being common in startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Apkudo operates within the IoT (Internet of Things) and Device Management sector, specifically focusing on the "Device Passport Platform" for the connected device ecosystem. This involves managing and securing device identities and lifecycles.

Company Size: Apkudo is likely a growth-stage company, indicated by the need to scale brand systems and manage external agencies rather than having a large internal team. Company sizes for such firms can range from 50-250 employees.

Founded: Founded in 2015, Apkudo has established itself in a dynamic technology market, aiming to provide essential infrastructure for the growing connected device landscape.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Brand Designer will be an individual contributor, reporting into a Marketing or Go-To-Market leadership role.

• They will collaborate closely with marketing, sales, product, and potentially engineering teams.

• The role is designed for someone who can operate autonomously but also influence and guide others on brand best practices. Methodology:

• Data-driven brand evolution: Using insights from sales performance and market perception to inform brand strategy and design decisions.

• Systems-thinking approach: Building scalable, repeatable processes and tools (especially AI-driven) to ensure brand consistency and efficiency.

• Collaborative creation: Working with cross-functional teams to ensure brand messaging is aligned with product and sales narratives.

• Customer-centric design: Focusing on how design impacts the customer experience, from sales interactions to physical touchpoints.

Company Website: Apkudo.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "Device Passport" and the "connected device ecosystem" implies a need for brand messaging that conveys trust, security, and technical sophistication. The Senior Brand Designer's role is crucial in translating this complex technological offering into a clear, compelling visual narrative.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into a "Lead" or "Principal" individual contributor path within Brand Design. It moves beyond pure execution to strategic ownership of brand systems and AI integration for scaling. It’s a position for a creator with a strong operational mindset.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Marketing, or potentially a Head of Go-To-Market. This structure provides direct exposure to high-level business strategy and sales objectives.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and measurable impact on revenue by enhancing sales enablement materials, influencing deal velocity, and reinforcing market credibility. By building scalable systems, the designer's impact extends far beyond their direct output.

Growth Opportunities:

• Brand Strategy Leadership: Potential to grow into a Brand Director or Head of Brand role, taking on broader strategic responsibilities and potentially managing a team in the future.

• AI & Design Innovation: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in applying AI to brand and design operations, leading future innovation in this space for the company.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop deep understanding of sales processes, product messaging, and go-to-market strategies, broadening career applicability.

• Systems Architecture: Gain extensive experience in building and refining complex design systems and operational workflows, a highly valued skill in the industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique path for a designer to bridge creative excellence with operational efficiency and technological innovation (AI), providing a strong foundation for future leadership roles in marketing operations or brand strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from any location within the United States.

Office Location(s): While remote, the company is headquartered in the United States, and the candidate must be based there. Specific time zone alignment for collaboration might be preferred, with "America/Chicago" being listed as a derived timezone.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Remote collaboration will be key, utilizing digital tools for communication, project management, and design reviews. Expect regular video calls and asynchronous communication.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Suite), productivity tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office), and AI platforms will be essential.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with marketing, sales, and product teams through virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and project-specific collaborations.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, with flexibility inherent in a remote role. The focus will be on achieving project milestones and delivering high-quality work, rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule. Effective time management and communication are critical for success in this remote setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a remote role, the candidate will need to be highly self-motivated and adept at managing their own work environment and schedule to ensure productivity and effective collaboration with distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on demonstrated experience in brand systems, AI integration, and sales enablement design.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion about your background, approach to brand strategy, experience with AI tools, and how you handle vendor management. This may include behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A session where you present key case studies from your portfolio, focusing on systems-level thinking and AI applications. You may also be given a small design challenge related to sales enablement or brand system application.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from marketing, sales, or product to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Dedicate sections to brand guidelines, design systems, or reusable frameworks you've built. Explain the problem, your solution, and the impact.

• Showcase AI Integration: Clearly present projects where you've used AI to build workflows, templates, or tools that scale design for others. Detail the AI models used and the benefits achieved.

• Demonstrate Sales Enablement Impact: Include examples of high-stakes sales decks. Explain how you translated complex information into persuasive visuals and how your designs supported sales objectives.

• Address Presentation Parity: If possible, show examples of designs that were successfully adapted for both Google Slides and PowerPoint, highlighting your process for maintaining consistency.

• Explain Vendor Management: Briefly describe your experience managing external agencies, emphasizing your role in briefing, reviewing, and ensuring brand adherence.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate AI Workflow Questions: Be ready to discuss how you would approach building an AI tool for sales teams to generate on-brand materials.

• Prepare for Presentation Design Scenarios: Think about how you would approach designing a pitch deck for a complex B2B tech solution under a tight deadline.

• Articulate Brand Stewardship: Be prepared to discuss how you would enforce brand standards with non-designers and manage an external web agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical. Candidates should curate it to specifically address the unique requirements of this role: brand systems, AI scaling, and sales enablement. Demonstrating operational thinking alongside creative talent will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency expected for design system development, UI/UX design, and collaborative workflows.

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for vector graphics, logo design, and complex illustrations within the brand identity.

• Google Workspace (Slides, Docs, Drive): Strong working knowledge for creating and managing sales presentations, collaborating on documents, and file organization.

• Microsoft Office (PowerPoint): Critical for designing presentations with strict parity to Google Slides, understanding its nuances and limitations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, familiarity with analytics platforms that track website engagement or the effectiveness of marketing materials (e.g., Google Analytics, HubSpot reporting) would be beneficial for understanding campaign performance. CRM & Automation:

• HubSpot: Preferred for design support, content sharing, and potentially for understanding how design assets are utilized within marketing automation workflows.

• AI Models (Claude, ChatGPT): Hands-on experience building workflows, custom GPTs, or generative tools for creative production and scaling design systems.

Other:

• Webflow: Familiarity is a strong plus for managing the relationship with the outsourced web agency and critically reviewing their work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical requirements highlight a blend of traditional design tools and emerging AI technologies, emphasizing the need for a designer who is both technically proficient and forward-thinking in leveraging new tools for operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Impact: A drive to create high-quality work that has a tangible effect on business outcomes, particularly sales velocity and brand perception.

• Innovation & Efficiency: Embracing new technologies like AI to streamline processes, scale creative output, and solve complex design challenges.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Taking full responsibility for brand standards and systems, operating independently with a proactive approach.

• Collaboration & Stewardship: Working effectively with cross-functional teams and empowering others to champion the brand.

• Systems Thinking: A commitment to building robust, scalable frameworks rather than focusing solely on individual assets.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with marketing, sales, and product teams to ensure brand consistency and support GTM strategies.

• Process-Oriented Communication: Clear and concise communication, especially when briefing agencies or guiding non-designers, with a focus on actionable feedback.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to continuously improve brand execution and operational workflows.

• Influence & Education: A proactive approach to educating stakeholders on brand guidelines and best practices, fostering a culture of brand stewardship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely values individuals who are not only creative but also possess a strong sense of ownership, a proactive problem-solving attitude, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Brand Consistency with AI: Developing and maintaining brand integrity as AI-generated assets proliferate, requiring robust guardrails and oversight.

• Balancing Customization and Scalability: Creating high-impact custom sales presentations while also building modular systems that empower the sales team for broader, less critical needs.

• Managing External Vendors: Effectively briefing, managing, and holding an external web agency accountable to high brand standards without direct day-to-day control.

• Bridging Presentation Platforms: Ensuring a flawless user experience and brand presentation across both Google Slides and PowerPoint, which can have subtle differences.

• Translating Complex Technology: Visually communicating the value of a sophisticated "Device Passport Platform" in the connected device ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI for creative production, workflow automation, and custom tool development.

• Brand Strategy Acumen: Gain insights into broader Go-To-Market strategies, sales cycles, and product positioning, informing design decisions.

• Vendor Management Skills: Enhance negotiation, briefing, and quality assurance skills through direct management of external creative partners.

• Cross-functional Impact: Develop a comprehensive understanding of how design directly influences sales success and business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to tackle cutting-edge challenges in AI-driven design operations and brand scaling, offering significant professional development in a high-impact area of marketing technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing and scaling a brand system. How would you ensure its adoption and consistent use across a company, especially by non-designers?"

• "How have you leveraged AI tools in your design workflow? Provide a specific example of a tool or workflow you built that scaled design output for others."

• "Walk us through a high-stakes sales presentation you designed. What was the objective, how did you approach the narrative and visual design, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you approach managing an external agency? What are your key principles for briefing, reviewing, and ensuring brand fidelity?"

• "Imagine you need to create a presentation template that works flawlessly in both Google Slides and PowerPoint. What are the key considerations and challenges you'd anticipate?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Apkudo's Device Passport Platform, how would you approach visually representing its value proposition and building trust with potential enterprise clients?"

• "How do you stay updated on emerging design trends and AI technologies relevant to brand and marketing operations?"

• "Describe a time you had to work with ambiguity or incomplete information. How did you proceed?"

• "How do you ensure your design work aligns with business objectives and contributes to measurable outcomes like deal velocity?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by key skill areas: Brand Systems, AI Integration, Sales Enablement, and Cross-Platform Design.

• Storytelling: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the specific solutions you implemented (especially AI/systems), and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups and clear examples. For AI tools, show screenshots or a brief demo if possible. For presentations, showcase key slides and explain the narrative flow.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most relevant work efficiently, focusing on the aspects that directly address the job requirements. Have additional examples ready if asked.

• AI Emphasis: Explicitly call out your AI-driven projects and explain your role in their creation and implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creative talent but also strategic thinking, operational capability, and a forward-looking approach to design, particularly concerning AI integration and sales enablement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your comprehensive portfolio through the Apkudo careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of brand systems, AI-driven workflows, and high-impact sales presentations, tailored to highlight your strategic and operational design capabilities.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords related to brand design, AI integration, sales enablement, Figma, Adobe Illustrator, vendor management, and systems-level thinking, using achievement-oriented bullet points.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience with AI tools, your process for building scalable design systems, and your approach to managing external agencies, ready for interview discussions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Apkudo's Device Passport Platform, its market position, and its target audience to understand how your design expertise can directly contribute to their business objectives and sales success.

⚠️ 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.