Senior Brand Designer

TRM Labs
Full-time

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: TRM Labs

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Marketing Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-06T00:00:00

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (4+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (United States)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Own the end-to-end production and quality assurance of all brand assets, ensuring consistency and appropriateness for a high-scrutiny customer base in the blockchain intelligence sector.

  • Leverage AI tools (Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway) as core components of the design workflow to accelerate concept generation and routine asset production, thereby maximizing time for strategic brand judgment and high-fidelity finishes.

  • Lead the visual design for critical brand moments, including major conference identities and flagship product launch campaigns, shaping TRM's perception at industry scale.

  • Develop and maintain a scalable Figma component library and template system to empower Growth Marketing, Product Marketing, and Sales teams to self-serve routine design needs, enhancing overall marketing velocity and reducing inbound design requests.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "distributed-first" company, indicating a strong emphasis on asynchronous communication and remote collaboration. The expectation for AI fluency is a key differentiator, suggesting that candidates must demonstrate practical application of AI tools in their design process, not just theoretical knowledge. The focus on "marketing velocity" and "reducing inbound requests" highlights the operational efficiency expected from this design role, aligning it with GTM operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Execute and oversee the final quality review of all brand touchpoints, including social media campaigns, digital advertisements, event branding, and executive presentations, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and suitability for a sophisticated client base.

  • Integrate AI-powered creative tools (e.g., Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway) into daily workflows for rapid concept exploration and efficient production of standardized design assets.

  • Drive the visual identity and creative execution for high-impact brand initiatives such as major industry conferences (e.g., Chainalysis Links, Consensus, RSA) and key product launches.

  • Design, build, and manage a comprehensive Figma component library and templated system to facilitate self-service design capabilities for cross-functional marketing teams, thereby increasing operational efficiency.

  • Collaborate closely with Growth Marketing, Product Marketing, and Sales teams to translate strategic objectives into compelling visual systems that resonate across all TRM marketing channels.

  • Provide art direction for external contractors and agencies to ensure brand consistency and maintain the established quality standards for all externally produced creative assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of high-level brand strategy, operational efficiency through self-service tools, and hands-on execution. The art direction component indicates a need for strong leadership and communication skills to manage external creative resources, directly impacting the brand's operational output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 4+ years of progressive experience in marketing or brand design, with a strong emphasis on producing high-quality visual assets across various media, including campaigns, events, and digital platforms, beyond just UI/UX design.

Required Skills:

  • Brand Design & Visual Identity: Proven ability to create and maintain cohesive brand aesthetics across diverse marketing materials and channels.

  • AI Tool Fluency: Demonstrated proficiency and consistent application of AI tools such as Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, or Runway for concept generation and production acceleration.

  • Full Design Stack Proficiency: Expertise in designing for social media, digital advertising, presentation decks, event creative, and branded print materials.

  • Brand Judgment & Communication: Strong intuition for brand consistency and the confidence to articulate and implement necessary design decisions effectively.

  • Fast-Paced Environment Acumen: Experience delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines in dynamic settings, prioritizing speed without compromising brand integrity.

  • Proactive & Self-Directed: Ability to take initiative, generate creative directions from briefs, and manage projects independently.

  • Figma Expertise: Advanced skills in Figma for component library development, templating, and collaborative design workflows.

Preferred Skills:

  • Art Direction: Experience guiding external designers or agencies to maintain brand consistency.

  • Blockchain/FinTech Industry Experience: Familiarity with the visual language and audience expectations within the blockchain intelligence or financial technology sectors.

  • System Design: Experience in building and scaling design systems that support broad organizational use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "demonstrable AI fluency" and the specific mention of AI tools positions this role at the cutting edge of design operations, requiring candidates to be early adopters and proficient users of these technologies to drive efficiency and innovation. The distinction between "marketing or brand design" and "just digital UI or UX" highlights the need for a broad, campaign-oriented design skillset.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 4 years of experience, with a strong emphasis on high-production-quality visual assets across campaigns, events, and digital media.

  • Clear examples of full-stack design capabilities, demonstrating proficiency in social media graphics, digital advertisements, executive presentations, and event branding.

  • Evidence of AI tool integration, with case studies or examples illustrating how AI was used to generate concepts or accelerate production workflows.

  • Demonstrations of brand judgment, showing how strategic objectives were translated into effective visual systems that maintained brand integrity.

Process Documentation:

  • Case studies or project examples that illustrate the process of building and maintaining a scalable Figma component library and template system, detailing its impact on marketing velocity and self-service adoption.

  • Documentation or explanations of how creative briefs were translated into design strategies and executed across multiple channels.

  • Examples of art direction provided to external resources, showcasing the process of ensuring brand consistency.

  • Workflow examples demonstrating the integration of AI tools into the design process, from ideation to final asset delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating practical application of design skills in a business context, with a specific focus on operational efficiency (Figma library, AI integration) and impact (marketing velocity, brand consistency for high-stakes clients).

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Brand Designer role in the United States with 4+ years of experience, particularly in tech/fintech, and considering a fully remote, distributed-first model, the estimated salary range is $110,000 - $150,000 USD annually. This estimate accounts for the company's Series C funding status and its focus on high-impact roles.

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

  • Generous paid time off (PTO) and company holidays.

  • Remote work stipend for home office setup and ongoing expenses.

  • Opportunities for professional development, including training in AI tools and design methodologies.

  • Equity/stock options in a rapidly growing Series C company.

  • Access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies for professional use.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours of approximately 40 hours per week, with an expectation of at least a 4-hour overlap with PST business hours to facilitate synchronous collaboration. Flexibility is provided, but timely communication and responsiveness are key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on the stated experience level, the company's funding stage (Series C), and the nature of the role (Senior Brand Designer in a tech-focused, remote environment in the US). Benefits are inferred from typical offerings for tech companies of this size and funding stage, with specific emphasis on remote work support and professional development relevant to AI and design.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Blockchain Intelligence & AI-powered Security Solutions. TRM Labs operates at the critical intersection of blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and combating illicit financial activities, serving public and private sector agencies. This unique position requires a brand that conveys authority, trustworthiness, and technological sophistication to a discerning audience.

Company Size: Series C company with significant funding ($220M raised), indicating a phase of rapid growth and scaling. This size suggests established processes but also a continued need for agility and innovation.

Founded: Founded prior to its Series C funding, TRM Labs has a history of developing its core AI-powered intelligence solutions, establishing credibility in a niche but high-stakes market. This foundational history informs its current mission to build a safer world.

Team Structure:

  • The Marketing team is characterized as senior, high-autonomy, and deeply cross-functional, with each member owning their domain.

  • This Senior Brand Designer role reports to Alex Lumain and serves as the primary owner of design execution within Marketing, indicating a high-visibility position with significant creative latitude.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Brand Strategy: While focused on design, the role is expected to align visual output with strategic objectives and customer needs, implying a data-informed approach to creative decision-making.

  • Agile & Iterative Design: The company culture ("TRM Speed," "experimentation," "iterate quickly") necessitates a design process that is adaptable, fast-paced, and iterative, with a focus on shipping and refining rather than lengthy perfectionism.

  • AI-Augmented Workflows: AI tools are not just supplementary but a core expectation, driving efficiency and reimagining creative processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is explicitly defined as "distributed-first," "high velocity," and "high ownership," with a strong emphasis on speed, adaptability, and direct communication. This context is crucial for understanding the operational demands placed on the design function.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role, demanding a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and execution capability. It sits at the "Master Craftsperson" level, focusing on excellence in one's domain and contributing to team success through expertise and ownership.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to Alex Lumain, who serves as the primary owner of design execution across Marketing. This suggests a direct line of communication and influence regarding design strategy and implementation.

Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer's work directly impacts TRM's brand perception among critical stakeholders like federal agencies, global financial institutions, and regulators. High-quality, defensible branding is essential for credibility and trust in this high-stakes market, directly influencing GTM effectiveness and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design workflows and advanced brand system development.

  • Leadership in Design: Potential to influence and shape the future of TRM's visual identity and design operations as the company scales.

  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deep understanding of GTM strategies by closely partnering with Growth Marketing, Product Marketing, and Sales.

  • Industry Influence: Contribute to defining the visual standards for a nascent but critical industry (blockchain intelligence).

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential through specialized skill development in AI and design systems, coupled with the opportunity to influence brand strategy in a high-stakes industry. The "Master Craftsperson" leadership principle underscores the focus on deep expertise and ownership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Distributed-first work environment, meaning the company operates primarily remotely with no central physical office for the entire workforce. Team members are expected to maintain overlap with specific time zones but work from their chosen locations within the United States.

Office Location(s): While the company has hubs (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, Singapore), this role is fully remote within the United States and does not require relocation to a specific hub.

Workspace Context:

  • Remote Collaboration Tools: Reliance on tools like Notion and Slack for asynchronous communication, creative briefs, feedback, and approvals.

  • Figma & Loom: Primary tools for design collaboration, feedback, and review, emphasizing visual communication.

  • Cross-functional Interaction: Frequent interaction with Growth Marketing, Product Marketing, and Sales teams, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills within a remote setting.

Work Schedule: While full-time (approx. 40 hours/week), the "distributed-first" model and "TRM Speed" culture imply a need for flexibility to meet deadlines and project demands. A minimum 4-hour overlap with PST business hours is mandatory for team alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "distributed-first" nature of the work environment is paramount. This means candidates must be comfortable with asynchronous communication, self-management, and leveraging digital tools for all aspects of collaboration and project execution.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, focusing on experience, AI fluency, and brand design quality.

  • Portfolio Review & Case Study: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, potentially with a focus on a specific case study demonstrating AI integration, brand system development, or campaign execution. Expect to discuss the "why" behind design decisions and process.

  • Skills Assessment (AI & Design): Practical exercises or discussions to evaluate AI tool proficiency and ability to translate strategic briefs into visual concepts rapidly.

  • Team & Culture Fit: Interviews with team members (including Alex Lumain) to assess collaboration style, communication, problem-solving approach, and alignment with TRM's high-velocity, high-ownership culture.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic impact and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight AI Integration: Clearly showcase how AI tools were used in your projects, detailing the specific tools, the problem they solved, and the impact on your workflow and output.

  • Demonstrate Brand Systems: Include examples of component libraries, style guides, or template systems you've built. Explain how these systems improved efficiency and consistency for your team or organization.

  • Showcase Campaign Execution: Present end-to-end campaign work, from initial concept to final assets across multiple channels. Explain your role and the strategic thinking behind the creative.

  • Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., reduced turnaround time, increased engagement, improved brand consistency).

  • Tailor to TRM: Emphasize projects that align with TRM's mission, target audience (government, finance), and fast-paced culture.

Challenge Preparation:

  • AI Workflow Design: Be prepared to discuss how you would structure an AI-assisted design workflow for a specific TRM marketing initiative (e.g., a product launch campaign).

  • Brand Consistency Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would address brand consistency gaps or manage a situation where a stakeholder's request is off-brand.

  • Process Improvement: Think about how you would approach building the Figma component library and template system outlined in the responsibilities, including your proposed process and timeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess not only design craft but also operational efficiency, AI fluency, and cultural fit for a demanding, fast-paced environment. A strong portfolio showcasing practical application of AI and design systems is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, component library creation, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Proficiency is a must.

  • AI Generation Tools: Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway are explicitly mentioned as core to the workflow for concept generation and production acceleration.

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Standard tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects are likely expected for advanced image editing, vector work, and motion graphics.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

  • Project Management/Collaboration: Notion and Slack are highlighted for briefs, feedback, and team communication, indicating a reliance on these platforms for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack places a significant emphasis on AI tools and Figma. Candidates must demonstrate not just familiarity but active, proficient use of these technologies as integral parts of their design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Impact-Oriented Trailblazer: Prioritizing customer needs and business objectives, moving with speed and adaptability, and treating plans as experiments to be iterated upon quickly. This means the designer's work must directly contribute to marketing and business goals.

  • Master Craftsperson: Deep care and pride in one's craft, balancing speed with high standards, owning outcomes end-to-end, and committing to continuous improvement. This emphasizes quality, responsibility, and a dedication to design excellence.

  • Inspiring Colleague: Bringing clarity and energy, demonstrating humility and candor, and fostering a one-team mindset through effective feedback and collaboration. This highlights the importance of positive interpersonal dynamics and constructive communication.

Collaboration Style:

  • Asynchronous-First: Primarily relies on written communication and shared documentation (Notion, Slack) for briefs and feedback, promoting efficiency and clarity.

  • Direct & Candor: Open and honest communication is valued, encouraging direct feedback to ensure alignment and rapid problem-solving.

  • Cross-functional Integration: Close partnership with Growth Marketing, Product Marketing, and Sales, requiring an understanding of their objectives and how design supports them.

  • High-Autonomy: Team members are expected to take ownership of their domains and drive initiatives without constant oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Inspiring Colleague" principle, combined with the emphasis on candor and direct feedback, suggests a culture that values high-performing individuals who can also contribute positively to team dynamics and collective success, even in a remote setting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Navigating Ambiguity: The fast-paced, experimental nature of TRM means priorities and projects can shift rapidly, requiring adaptability and comfort with evolving requirements.

  • Maintaining Brand Integrity at Speed: Balancing the company's demand for "TRM Speed" with the need for high-quality, defensible brand assets for a sophisticated audience.

  • Leading Design in a Distributed Environment: Effectively collaborating, providing art direction, and ensuring brand consistency across a remote team and external resources.

  • Integrating AI Seamlessly: Continuously evolving the use of AI tools to enhance, rather than dilute, the brand's creative output and maintain a high standard of craft.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • AI Tool Mastery: Becoming a leading expert in applying generative AI tools to brand design and marketing creative.

  • Design System Scalability: Developing expertise in creating and managing robust design systems that support rapid growth and cross-functional adoption.

  • Strategic Brand Impact: Gaining experience in shaping brand perception for a critical, high-stakes industry that influences national security and financial integrity.

  • Leadership in a Fast-Paced Tech Environment: Developing skills in autonomy, rapid iteration, and strategic execution within a high-growth startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge revolves around balancing speed and quality in a high-stakes industry, amplified by the remote work model and the rapid evolution of AI tools. Growth is tied to mastering these challenges and becoming a leader in AI-augmented brand operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "How would you approach auditing TRM's current marketing design assets to identify the top 3 brand consistency gaps within your first 30 days?" (Focus on process, prioritization, and reporting.)

  • "Describe a time you had to deliver a high-quality design campaign under significant time pressure. What was your process, and how did you ensure brand integrity?" (Focus on speed, efficiency, and quality control.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "How do you see AI tools changing the role of a brand designer, and how have you personally adapted your workflow to incorporate them?" (Focus on AI fluency, adaptability, and forward-thinking.)

  • "TRM operates at high velocity with high ownership. Can you give an example from your past experience that demonstrates these qualities?" (Focus on cultural fit, proactivity, and responsibility.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase your experience with AI tools, design systems (Figma libraries), and end-to-end campaign execution.

  • AI Case Studies: Dedicate specific sections or slides to projects where AI was instrumental. Detail the tools used, the problem solved, your creative process, and the outcome.

  • Brand System Walkthrough: Present your Figma component library or template system, explaining its architecture, benefits, and how it enabled efficiency for your team.

  • Narrative: For each project, tell a compelling story that highlights the strategic challenge, your creative solution, your process (including AI integration), and the measurable impact.

  • Conciseness: Be prepared to present key highlights efficiently, as time will be valuable. Focus on demonstrating the "why" behind your decisions and the operational impact of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize practical application of AI in design, operational efficiency through tools like Figma, and the ability to perform under pressure while maintaining high brand standards. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of process are key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best demonstrate your AI fluency, experience with Figma component libraries, end-to-end campaign design, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Ensure clear case studies illustrating your process and impact.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords such as "Brand Design," "AI Fluency," "Figma," "Campaign Design," "Art Direction," "Design Systems," and specific AI tools used. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Prepare for AI & Process Discussions: Be ready to articulate your AI workflow, discuss your approach to building design systems, and explain how you manage brand consistency at speed. Practice presenting your portfolio and case studies concisely.

  • Research TRM Labs: Understand their mission, target audience (government, finance), and company culture (high velocity, high ownership, distributed-first). Articulate how your skills and approach align with their operational needs and values.

⚠️ 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

Requires 4+ years of marketing or brand design experience with a high-production portfolio and demonstrable fluency in AI tools. Must be able to own the full design stack and operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment.