Forward Deployed Design Lead
Leads end-to-end design deployments with strategic customers, from discovery through production rollout.
An amalgamated composite. Calibrate to your model.
About the role
You will lead complex end-to-end design deployments alongside our most strategic customers. You will own discovery, creative scoping, system design, build, and production rollout, partnering directly with customer design, engineering, and executive teams. You will measure success through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and field feedback that changes product and technical roadmaps.
What you'll do
- Own creative delivery across multiple deployments, from first prototype to stable production.
- Build full-stack design systems that deliver customer value.
- Embed closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of what you build.
- Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early.
- Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality; adjust plans to protect delivery.
- Contribute directly in Figma and code when progress or clarity depends on it.
- Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks that other designers can use.
- Share field feedback that helps product and research understand where design patterns succeed and where they can improve.
- Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through.
- Mentor newer team members and elevate the practice of Forward Deployed Design.
What we're looking for
- 7+ years of design experience, with at least 3 years in client-facing, embedded, or consulting environments.
- Proven track record of shipping production design systems and surfaces for enterprise customers.
- Personable communicator who can explain creative and technical concepts clearly to executive stakeholders.
- Clear, concise documentation for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to present updates, trade-offs, and recommendations to executives, tailored to the audience.
- Demonstrated ability to work under ambiguity with high ownership.
- Experience with design ops, team process, and cross-functional delivery at scale.