Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: TRM Labs

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-17

Experience Level: 6+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Own and execute end-to-end brand design initiatives, from initial concept through final delivery, across diverse marketing channels including campaigns, web, social media, events, and sales collateral.

• Leverage AI-powered tools and workflows to enhance creative exploration, accelerate production, and maintain a high standard of craft while ensuring human-led judgment and taste guide the creative output.

• Translate complex, data-intensive subject matter into clear, compelling infographics and data visualizations that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Contribute to and evolve TRM's established brand systems, developing repeatable, AI-assisted asset workflows to ensure scalability and consistency without compromising creative integrity.

• Collaborate closely with strategists, copywriters, product marketing, and other creatives, providing an AI-informed perspective and potentially art directing external agencies and creatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is defined as an individual contributor with significant ownership and autonomy, focusing on high-craft brand design within a fast-paced, AI-integrated environment. The emphasis on "AI-first mindset" and "AI-assisted workflows" suggests a proactive approach to integrating new technologies into the design process, requiring not just proficiency but also strategic application.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deliver high-craft brand assets for campaigns, web platforms, social media content, event materials, and comprehensive reports, utilizing AI for iterative exploration and faster production.

• Apply and extend TRM's established creative direction through expert typographic, layout, imagery, and color decisions, using AI to expedite initial concept development.

• Develop clear and impactful infographics and data visualizations to communicate complex, data-heavy information effectively to diverse audiences.

• Maintain and evolve TRM's brand systems, creating scalable and efficient AI-assisted brand asset workflows that balance consistency with creative flexibility.

• Integrate generative AI tools into the design iteration and production phases, sharing learnings to foster team fluency while ensuring human taste and judgment remain paramount.

• Participate in critique sessions with strategists, copywriters, and product marketing, and provide art direction for external creative partners, offering an AI-informed perspective.

• Collaborate with brand strategists, copywriters, product marketers, and fellow designers, and support the art direction of external agencies, illustrators, and motion designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional brand design expertise and forward-thinking integration of AI. The emphasis on "end-to-end" ownership and "AI-assisted workflows" indicates a need for a designer who can manage projects autonomously and strategically leverage technology to enhance their creative output and team efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Brand Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 6+ years of progressive brand design experience, with a significant portion spent in environments known for high craft standards, such as leading agencies, editorial publications, elevated consumer brands, or design-forward technology companies.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional portfolio showcasing strong command of typography, layout, color theory, and composition, alongside a distinct aesthetic point of view.

• Proven ability to translate complex or data-heavy subject matter into effective infographics and data visualizations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Mastery of brand systems: experience in designing for scale and consistency while understanding when and how to adapt the system.

• AI-First Mindset: Hands-on experience integrating generative AI tools into real creative workflows, demonstrating an understanding of their strengths, limitations, and potential for creative augmentation.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), including experience with component libraries and design systems.

• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, scope projects effectively, ask pertinent questions, and deliver finished work to a high standard with minimal supervision.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the technology sector, particularly in areas related to cybersecurity, blockchain, or regulated industries, to understand complex subject matter.

• Familiarity with partnering with external developers for web implementations.

• Experience in art directing external creatives, illustrators, or motion designers.

• A proactive approach to learning and experimenting with new design tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "AI-first mindset" and "generative AI" integration is a critical differentiator. Candidates are expected to not only use AI tools but to have a strategic understanding of their application in a creative context, demonstrating how they enhance speed, range, and quality without compromising human judgment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end brand design projects, showcasing expertise in typography, layout, color, and composition.

• Specific examples of translating complex, data-heavy information into clear and impactful infographics and data visualizations.

• Case studies illustrating the application and evolution of brand systems, highlighting how scalability and consistency were achieved.

• Demonstrations of how AI-assisted workflows were integrated into the design process, showcasing exploration, iteration, and production efficiency.

• Examples of campaign design, web design, social media assets, event collateral, and report design. Process Documentation:

• Workflows demonstrating the process of taking a brand project from brief to final delivery, highlighting stages of ideation, AI-assisted exploration, refinement, and final output.

• Examples of how brand systems were maintained or adapted, detailing the process for ensuring consistency across diverse touchpoints.

• Documentation of how complex information was translated into visual assets, outlining the research, ideation, and refinement stages.

• Evidence of AI tool integration, showing how these tools were used to speed up production, explore more options, or enhance output quality within specific projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, especially regarding the demonstration of AI integration. Candidates should be prepared to articulate not just the final output, but the process, including how AI was leveraged, the rationale behind its use, and the impact on the creative outcome and efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated base salary range for this role in the US is $184,000 - $202,000 annually.

• Methodology: This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for Senior Brand Designers in major US tech hubs, considering the company's Series C funding status and the specialized skills (AI integration, data visualization) required. Actual compensation will vary based on individual skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location, with adjustments made for locations outside the US to account for cost of living differences.

Benefits:

• Participation in TRM's equity plan.

• Comprehensive benefits package (details not specified but typical for a tech company of this stage).

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI technology in a mission-driven environment.

• Professional development and growth opportunities within a fast-paced organization.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 per week. While the role is remote, primary collaboration often overlaps with US working hours, and the team spans the US, Canada, and Argentina. The company culture emphasizes async-first collaboration with focused working sessions for critical decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to the US base salary. The company notes that compensation is adjusted for geographies outside the US, reflecting a global approach to compensation. Equity is also a key component of the compensation package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: TRM Labs operates in the technology sector, specifically focusing on AI-powered intelligence solutions for public and private sector agencies to investigate and disrupt crime. This intersects with national security, cybersecurity, and financial crime prevention.

Company Size: TRM Labs is a Series C funded company with significant backing, indicating a growth-stage startup environment. It is a distributed-first company with established hubs.

Founded: TRM Labs is a relatively young company, having secured Series C funding, suggesting a dynamic and rapidly evolving culture. Its mission-driven approach to building a safer world is central to its identity.

Team Structure:

• The Brand/Creative team is an individual contributor role with significant ownership and impact, supported by a collaborative team environment.

• The team includes brand strategists, copywriters, product marketers, and other designers.

• Collaboration extends to external agencies, illustrators, and motion designers, with the Senior Brand Designer potentially providing art direction. Methodology:

• AI-First Practice: The team is building an AI-first approach where human taste, judgment, and craft lead, while AI extends range and speed.

• Distributed Collaboration: Async-first collaboration is the norm, complemented by critique sessions and focused working sessions for key decisions.

• Feedback-Rich Culture: Thoughtful critique is a core mechanism for improving work and fostering growth.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: TRM Labs emphasizes a high-velocity, high-ownership culture that thrives on tackling hard problems and rapid iteration. The integration of AI is not just a tool but a core part of their operational methodology, impacting how creative work is approached and executed.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role within the Brand/Creative function. It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where the individual is expected to lead projects from conception to completion, mentor others implicitly through example, and contribute strategically to the brand's evolution.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer reports within the Brand/Creative team, collaborating with strategists, copywriters, and product marketing. The exact reporting manager is not specified, but it would likely be a Creative Director or Head of Brand.

Operations Impact: The brand design directly influences TRM's market perception, customer acquisition, and overall business narrative. Strong visual communication is critical for a company dealing with complex, data-heavy subject matter like crime disruption and AI intelligence. The Senior Brand Designer's work will be instrumental in shaping how TRM communicates its mission and value proposition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-assisted design workflows and advanced data visualization techniques.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunity to influence the creative direction and brand strategy, potentially leading to future art direction or leadership roles as the team grows.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working closely with product marketing, strategy, and potentially engineering teams, broadening understanding of the business.

• Industry Impact: Contribute to a mission-critical company at the intersection of AI, national security, and crime fighting, offering a unique and impactful career path.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth through hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools and the opportunity to shape the brand of a prominent company in a critical sector. Career progression could involve deepening specialization or moving into broader creative leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: TRM Labs operates as a "distributed-first" company, meaning remote work is the primary model. While they have physical hubs (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, Singapore), the emphasis is on effective remote collaboration.

Office Location(s): TRM Labs has established hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, and Singapore. The role is remote, with the primary collaboration overlapping US working hours, and the team spanning the US, Canada, and Argentina.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being distributed, the team fosters collaboration through async-first communication, critique sessions, and focused working sessions.

• Tools & Technology: The role requires fluency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, with an expectation to integrate AI tools. The company likely provides access to necessary software and platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with strategists, copywriters, product marketers, and other designers, as well as external partners, facilitates knowledge sharing and diverse perspectives.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The distributed nature and async-first approach suggest flexibility, but core collaboration hours overlapping US working times are expected. The pace is high, with an emphasis on shipping and iterating quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "distributed-first" model implies a structured approach to remote work, focusing on clear communication protocols and leveraging technology to bridge geographical distances. While remote, the expectation is for active engagement and collaboration within defined team rhythms.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Recruiter Intro: Initial screening to assess experience, motivations, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into relevant experience, skills, and demonstrated impact, focusing on the Senior Brand Designer's qualifications.

• First Round Interviews: Typically 1-2 interviews focused on specific technical skills crucial for the role, such as AI integration in design, data visualization, or brand system application.

• Final Round Interviews: 3-5 interviews covering craft, problem-solving, leadership principles (Impact-Oriented Trailblazer, Master Craftsperson, Inspiring Colleague), and cultural fit with TRM. This round may include a case study or AI skills assessment.

• References: Verification of work history and impact through conversations with former colleagues.

• Offer: Extension of an offer if mutual fit is confirmed.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• AI Integration Focus: Clearly showcase how generative AI was used in your projects, detailing the specific tools, the creative process, and the impact on the outcome (e.g., speed, exploration range, quality).

• Data Visualization Expertise: Present compelling examples of transforming complex data into accessible and engaging infographics and visualizations.

• Brand System Fluency: Demonstrate understanding of brand systems, showing how you've applied or evolved them for consistency and scalability.

• End-to-End Ownership: Highlight projects where you managed the full design lifecycle, from brief to final delivery, demonstrating autonomy and project management skills.

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio pieces as stories, explaining the challenge, your approach (including AI integration), and the measurable impact or outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Skills Assessment: Be prepared for a practical assessment or discussion about your proficiency and strategic application of AI tools in design.

• Case Study Presentation: Practice presenting a past project, focusing on your process, problem-solving, and the role of AI in achieving results. Articulate the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Leadership Principles: Prepare examples that align with TRM's leadership principles (Impact-Oriented Trailblazer, Master Craftsperson, Inspiring Colleague), demonstrating how you embody these values in your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is rigorous and multi-stage, with a strong emphasis on practical application of skills, particularly AI integration. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design process, demonstrate problem-solving capabilities, and align their experience with TRM's core values and mission.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Master fluency required for collaborative design, prototyping, and managing component libraries.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Comprehensive proficiency across Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for all design tasks (digital and print).

• Generative AI Tools: Hands-on experience and a strategic understanding of integrating tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, or similar for ideation, asset generation, and workflow acceleration.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly a designer's tool, familiarity with how design impacts metrics (e.g., website engagement, conversion rates) is beneficial. Understanding data visualization tools and principles is key.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the designer's core tools, but understanding how brand assets are used in marketing and sales workflows is important for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is standard, but the explicit requirement for "AI-first mindset" and "hands-on experience bringing generative AI into real creative work" makes AI tools a critical part of the expected technology stack.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Master Craftsperson: A deep commitment to the quality and execution of design work, balancing speed with high standards and continuous improvement.

• Impact-Oriented Trailblazer: A focus on customer needs and delivering results with speed, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment and iterate rapidly.

• Inspiring Colleague: Bringing clarity, energy, humility, and candor to team interactions, fostering a collaborative environment through feedback and a one-team mindset.

• AI Fluency: A baseline expectation for all team members to leverage AI to accelerate workflows, solve problems, improve output quality, and increase speed and leverage.

Collaboration Style:

• Distributed, Not Distant: Async-first communication is preferred, supplemented by focused working sessions for critical decisions, ensuring efficient collaboration across geographies.

• Feedback-Rich: Openness to giving and receiving thoughtful critique as a means to elevate the quality of work and foster professional growth.

• Mission-Driven: A shared dedication to TRM's mission of building a safer world, which influences decision-making and fosters a sense of purpose.

📝 Enhancement Note: TRM's culture is characterized by high velocity, high ownership, and a strong emphasis on rapid iteration and continuous learning. The integration of AI is a cultural norm, expected to be embraced and applied strategically by all team members.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Pace and Ambiguity: The fast-moving environment and evolving priorities require adaptability and comfort with operating in situations that are not always fully defined.

• AI Integration Complexity: Effectively integrating and managing AI tools while maintaining human-led creative integrity and high craft standards.

• Translating Complex Data: Consistently simplifying and visualizing highly technical or data-intensive subject matter for broad understanding.

• Maintaining Brand Soul at Scale: Ensuring that brand assets retain their originality and impact as workflows are automated and scaled.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Skill Advancement: Opportunity to become a leader in applying generative AI to brand design, staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in a critical sector (AI, national security, crime fighting) and contributing to significant societal impact.

• Creative Leadership: Potential to influence brand strategy, art direct external creatives, and grow into leadership roles within the creative team.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to product marketing, strategy, and other business functions, fostering a holistic understanding of the company's operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around navigating a high-pace, AI-integrated environment and translating complex information visually. Growth opportunities are significant, particularly in developing expertise in applied AI for creative functions and contributing to a mission with substantial real-world impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for integrating generative AI into your brand design workflow. What are the benefits and limitations you've encountered?" (Focus on specific examples, tools used, and impact on speed/quality).

• "How do you approach translating complex, data-heavy information into clear and compelling visual narratives like infographics or data visualizations?" (Prepare a case study or specific project example).

• "TRM has a 'Master Craftsperson' leadership principle. How do you ensure high standards and quality in your work, especially in a fast-paced, remote environment?" (Provide examples of balancing speed with craft). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about TRM's mission to build a safer world, and how do you see your role as a Senior Brand Designer contributing to that mission?"

• "Our team operates with an 'async-first' approach and values feedback. How do you manage collaboration and communication in a distributed team, and how do you approach giving and receiving critique?"

• "Discuss your experience with AI fluency. How do you see AI augmenting, rather than replacing, human creativity and judgment in design?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• AI-Powered Workflow Showcase: Dedicate a segment of your presentation to illustrating how you've used AI tools in specific projects. Detail the prompts, outputs, and your critical refinement process.

• Data Visualization Case Study: Present a project where you successfully visualized complex data, explaining your approach to understanding the data, identifying key insights, and designing for clarity.

• Brand System Application: Show examples of how you've applied or evolved brand systems, demonstrating your understanding of consistency, scalability, and strategic brand management.

• Impact & Outcome Focus: For each project, articulate the problem, your solution (including AI's role), and the tangible results or impact achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews will heavily assess practical application of AI in design, ability to communicate complex information visually, and alignment with TRM's leadership principles and fast-paced, collaborative culture. Be ready to present specific, tangible examples from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your experience with generative AI integration, data visualization, and brand systems. Showcase end-to-end project ownership with clear examples of impact.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight your 6+ years of high-craft brand design experience, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and any specific experience relevant to TRM's industry or AI applications. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, especially your approach to AI integration and data visualization. Prepare specific examples that align with TRM's leadership principles and the company's fast-paced, mission-driven culture.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with TRM Labs' mission, products, and recent news. Understand their "distributed-first" model and commitment to AI fluency.

⚠️ 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.