Design Lead

Position Overview

Our renewable energy and ocean technology company is committed to a sustainable future by unlocking the vast energy potential of our oceans. As a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we are backed by top venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and university endowments. We believe that storytelling is central to our mission. As the Design Lead, you will guide the concepting and execution of branding and graphic design projects—from websites and digital campaigns to investor decks and product graphics—in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and lead complex, high-impact design projects, such as publications, websites, campaigns, and brand guides.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners, setting the creative bar and ensuring cohesion across deliverables.
• Independently drive projects including decks, one-pagers, digital brochures, investor materials, corporate communications, and internal design needs with a high level of craft and clarity.
• Lead and contribute to the creative process from concept to execution on both internal and external projects.
• Create systems to work smarter—whether in Figma, PowerPoint, or After Effects.
• Maintain asset libraries and archives.
• Lead thoughtful, constructive critiques focused on the work, not the ego.
• Drive projects forward while knowing when to seek feedback or delegate.
• Define, refine, and protect brand aesthetics through sketching, storyboarding, and prototyping new ideas based on company direction.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in graphic, brand, or communication design in a creative agency, brand, or similar environment.
• 3+ years of experience leading projects, teams, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Mastery of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Exceptional graphic design fundamentals, including typography, smart grids, hierarchy, and systems thinking.
• Experience in building and evolving design systems.
• Ability to thrive in a creative, dynamic environment with the autonomy to create future processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a balance of confidence and healthy self-doubt.
• Excellent verbal and visual communication skills.
• Comfortable mentoring junior designers and contributing to a positive team culture.
• Detail-oriented with a capacity for big-picture thinking and prioritizing tasks.
• Passion for learning and creativity both inside and outside of work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in photography, video, technical illustration, motion graphics, 3D, or coding.

Compensation and Benefits

• Cash Compensation: $110,000 - 135,000
• Equity: Participate as an owner—if we are successful, your equity could be the most valuable component of your compensation.
• Benefits Package: Includes flexible paid time off, health insurance (company pays 100% of the gold level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents), dental insurance (33% for full-time employees and 100% for partners and dependents), vision insurance (company pays 100%), and disability insurance (company pays 100% for a long-term policy). Also eligible to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA.
• Relocation Assistance: Available to facilitate your move to Portland, if needed.

Location

This is an on-site position. Our offices are located in Portland, Oregon.