📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Head of Brand Design
🔹 Company: Scale AI
🔹 Location: San Francisco, CA & New York, NY
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Brand Design
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-02
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the Scale Brand Studio, a strategic, multidisciplinary creative team shaping Scale's visual identity
- Driving visual expression of the Scale brand across all surfaces, from digital to print and motion
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to co-create brand initiatives and maintain a scalable brand system
- Mentoring and guiding both senior and junior creatives, fostering a culture of creative excellence
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creative direction and leadership, with a strong focus on maintaining visual quality and consistency across various touchpoints.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Contribute to a growing team of designers and creatives responsible for shaping Scale’s visual identity
✅ Own the visual expression of the Scale brand across all surfaces, uphold the craft bar, direct creative workstreams, lead design crits, shape scalable visual systems, and guide key creative decisions
✅ Drive hands-on design directions from concept through execution—across digital, print, motion, and event environments
✅ Partner with Brand Studio leadership and cross-functional teams across Marketing, Product, and Comms to co-create brand initiatives
✅ Evolve and maintain a brand system that enables consistency and creative flexibility across internal and external communications
✅ Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver high-impact work that is visually innovative and strategically sound
✅ Implement scalable design systems and creative processes that enable fast iteration without sacrificing quality
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, hands-on design, and creative leadership, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple projects and priorities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 10+ years of brand design and creative direction experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
Required Skills:
- Proven track record of leading design teams within fast-paced, high-growth companies
- Experience translating complex, technical concepts into accessible, compelling narratives
- Strong leadership and creative mentorship skills
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially when collaborating cross-functionally or with executive stakeholders
- Fluent in hands-on design skills in Figma, Adobe, and emerging AI tools
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working at a fast-paced startup and agencies
- Experience working in AI or with innovative AI tools
- Background in web design, motion design, 3D or illustration
- Strong written communication skills and the ability to contribute to brand voice and messaging when needed
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a well-rounded designer with a strong portfolio showcasing visual, typographic, and strategic thinking across a variety of formats.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $204,000 - $255,000 USD per year (based on location and experience)
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
- Retirement benefits
- Learning and development stipend
- Generous PTO
- Commuter stipend
Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work as needed
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and locations. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as interview performance and relevant education or training.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically focused on AI and machine learning
Company Size: Medium (501-1,000 employees) - Large enough to have established processes and resources, but still agile and innovative
Founded: 2016 - Scale AI has been operating for nearly a decade, providing ample opportunity for growth and career development
Company Description:
- Scale AI accelerates AI development by providing high-quality training data and infrastructure
- Works with leading organizations to solve complex problems, enabling them to build transformative AI models
- Committed to equal employment opportunity and fostering an inclusive work environment
Company Specialties:
- Computer Vision
- Data Annotation
- Sensor Fusion
- Machine Learning
- Autonomous Driving
- APIs
- Ground Truth Data
- Training Data
- Deep Learning
- Robotics
- Drones
- NLP
- Document Processing
Company Website: scale.com
ASSUMPTION: Scale AI is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and growth, making it an attractive option for creative professionals looking to make a significant impact in the AI industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Leadership - This role offers the opportunity to lead a team and shape the visual identity of a growing company
Reporting Structure: The Head of Brand Design will report directly to the Brand Studio leadership and collaborate with cross-functional teams across Marketing, Product, and Comms
Work Arrangement: On-site, with flexibility for remote work as needed - This role requires regular on-site presence for collaboration and creative direction
Growth Opportunities:
- Leading and mentoring a growing team of designers and creatives
- Expanding the Scale brand across new touchpoints and platforms
- Contributing to the overall growth and success of the company
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, both in terms of personal development and career advancement within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspaces in San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY
Office Location(s): 303 2nd St, South Tower, 5th FL, San Francisco, CA 94107, US
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco, CA - A vibrant, tech-focused city with a diverse cultural scene and a strong job market
- New York, NY - A global hub for finance, media, and technology, offering endless opportunities for networking and professional growth
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility for remote work as needed - This role requires regular on-site presence for collaboration and creative direction, but may offer some flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The on-site nature of this role allows for better collaboration and creative direction, but also offers flexibility for remote work as needed.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with a recruiter to discuss qualifications and fit
- Design challenge or case study presentation to assess creative problem-solving skills
- On-site or virtual interview with the Brand Studio leadership team to discuss vision, leadership style, and cultural fit
- Final interview with key stakeholders to discuss next steps and make a hiring decision
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative problem-solving skills and design thinking
- Leadership and mentorship abilities
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Scale's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include a portfolio showcasing your visual, typographic, and strategic thinking across a variety of formats
- Prepare for design challenges or case studies by demonstrating your ability to translate complex, technical concepts into accessible, compelling narratives
- Research Scale AI and be prepared to discuss how your creative vision aligns with the company's mission and values
ATS Keywords: Brand Design, Creative Direction, Visual Identity, Design Systems, Leadership, Communication, Mentorship, Collaboration, Adobe, Figma, Generative AI, Strategic Thinking, Visual Storytelling, Motion Design, Web Design, Illustration
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, requiring a strong portfolio and tailored application materials to stand out.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Figma
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Emerging AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with the latest design tools and emerging AI technologies is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation - Scale AI values creativity, experimentation, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible
- Collaboration - The company fosters a culture of teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
- Integrity - Scale AI is committed to ethical and responsible AI development and deployment
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic - This role requires the ability to thrive in a rapidly changing environment
- Creative and strategic - Strong visual, typographic, and strategic thinking are essential for success
- Collaborative and inclusive - The ideal candidate will be able to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach translating complex, technical concepts into accessible, compelling narratives?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a team through a significant creative challenge?
- How do you balance high standards with empathy, clarity, and creative trust in your leadership style?
ASSUMPTION: Cultural fit is crucial for success in this role, as it requires strong collaboration and alignment with Scale's mission and values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a growing team of designers and creatives with varying levels of experience and expertise
- Balancing the need for consistency and scalability in the brand system with the desire for creative flexibility and innovation
- Navigating the fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of the AI industry
- Managing external creative vendors and freelancers to deliver high-impact work on tight deadlines
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to fostering a culture of creative excellence.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Head of Brand Design at Scale AI vs. Head of Brand Design at a traditional advertising agency - This role offers the opportunity to shape the visual identity of a growing tech company, whereas a traditional agency role may involve working on a wider range of clients and projects
- Industry-specific context - The AI industry is rapidly evolving, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for creative professionals
- Career path comparison - This role offers significant growth potential, both in terms of personal development and career advancement within the company
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual identity of a growing tech company in the rapidly evolving AI industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Redesigning the Scale website to better reflect the company's innovative and forward-thinking approach to AI development
- Creating a comprehensive brand style guide that enables consistency and creative flexibility across internal and external communications
- Developing a series of motion graphics and animations to showcase Scale's cutting-edge AI capabilities and applications
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative challenges and opportunities that the Head of Brand Design at Scale AI might encounter.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of the Scale brand and the vision for its evolution under my leadership?
- How does the Brand Studio collaborate with cross-functional teams across Marketing, Product, and Comms to co-create brand initiatives?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how will my success be measured?
- How does Scale support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly within the Brand Studio?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does that manifest in the day-to-day for the Head of Brand Design?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help applicants better understand the role, the team, and the company culture, enabling them to make a more informed decision about their fit and potential for success.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your visual, typographic, and strategic thinking across a variety of formats
- Prepare for design challenges or case studies by demonstrating your ability to translate complex, technical concepts into accessible, compelling narratives
- Research Scale AI and be prepared to discuss how your creative vision aligns with the company's mission and values
- Follow up with the recruiter after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
