Lead Designer

Sunnyvale, California

Onward Search
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Onward Search is a specialized staffing and talent solutions company that helps professionals find top jobs with the nation's leading brands.


We're hiring a Lead Designer to help define and elevate the visual identity of a leading education-focused organization. In this hands-on, player/coach role, you'll guide creative direction while actively contributing to design execution - particularly during the early stages of team growth. This is a unique opportunity for a design leader who's passionate about translating STEM concepts into fun, accessible content for students, educators, and families.


This is a full-time, hybrid role based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and candidates must be local and available for on-site collaboration as needed.


Lead Designer Responsibilities:

  • Own and evolve the overall visual identity and design systems across all products, platforms, and brand materials
  • Execute graphic design work for educational content, including student handouts, teacher guides, infographics, and interactive visuals
  • Design engaging assets for web, print, packaging, and digital platforms, including a website refresh
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with product, marketing, curriculum, and engineering teams to deliver impactful visuals
  • Translate complex educational topics into clear, playful designs
  • Build and lead a small design team, providing direction, mentorship, and feedback
  • Develop scalable design systems and processes to support rapid growth and maintain quality

Lead Designer Requirements:

  • 5+ years of senior-level experience in graphic design, visual design, or art direction
  • Proven experience leading and mentoring design teams while contributing hands-on
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and Figma
  • Strong portfolio showing work across digital, print, packaging, and marketing
  • Experience working on education, content-driven, or consumer product brands
  • Ability to simplify and visually explain complex topics, particularly STEM-related content
  • Strategic thinker with strong organizational and communication skills
  • Bonus: Experience in motion graphics, animation, or education-focused design

Perks & Benefits:

  • Full Time role with Benefits, Vacations and Perks - more details available.

No deadline to apply.

Date Posted: 02 May 2025
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