Senior Brand Designer - Expressive UI

Job Overview Job Title: Senior Brand Designer - Expressive UI Company: Mercury Location: San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Portland, OR; Remote within Canada; United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design / Creative Operations Date Posted: January 13, 2026 Experience Level: 7-10 years Remote Status: Fully Remote Role Summary • Shape the visual identity and user experience of Mercury's product interfaces and website, ensuring a cohesive and expressive brand presence. • Drive an AI-first design and development mindset, integrating innovative technologies into the creative process for enhanced efficiency and output. • Lead the evolution of core UI elements and visual asset libraries, establishing unique brand moments across all user touchpoints. • Contribute to the strategic direction of the company by participating in high-level decision-making with product and executive teams. • Foster a culture of continuous improvement through rigorous feedback loops and a commitment to elevating design quality across all deliverables. Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Brand Designer with a focus on "Expressive UI," indicating a need for not just aesthetic appeal but also a deep understanding of how design communicates brand values and enhances user interaction within a digital product. The emphasis on "AI-first" suggests a forward-thinking approach to design tools and methodologies. Primary Responsibilities • Conceptualize and execute sophisticated visual design, motion graphics, and evolving interfaces for both product and web platforms, ensuring brand consistency and emotional resonance. • Develop and implement an AI-first design strategy, leveraging artificial intelligence tools for ideation, asset generation, and workflow optimization. • Define and refine core aspects of the Mercury User Interface (UI), ensuring intuitive navigation and a delightful user experience. • Create and maintain innovative visual asset libraries and design frameworks that elevate brand expression and enable unique user interactions. • Build and scale Mercury's design system by developing comprehensive documentation, guidelines, and reusable components for consistent application by the broader design team. • Collaborate with product management, engineering, and executive leadership to contribute to high-level strategic decisions, product roadmaps, and business objectives. • Actively participate in design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to continuously elevate the quality and impact of design output. • Champion meticulous attention to detail and clarity throughout the entire design lifecycle, from initial concept sketches to final production-ready assets. • Efficiently manage multiple design projects simultaneously, balancing creative exploration with timely execution and clear timeline management. • Foster proactive collaboration and effective communication within a diverse team environment that values varied perspectives, creativity, and innovation. Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand leadership, hands-on UI/visual design execution, and a focus on building scalable design systems. The integration of "AI-first" and "expressive UI" suggests a role that is both technically sophisticated and creatively driven, aiming to blend cutting-edge technology with compelling brand storytelling. Skills & Qualifications Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communication, or a related field is implied by the experience requirements and the nature of the role. Experience: 7-10 years of progressive experience in brand design, art direction, or visual communication, with a demonstrated history of impactful design leadership. Required Skills: • Proven experience in brand design, art direction, or visual communication, with a strong portfolio showcasing conceptual range, systems thinking, and refined visual execution across digital interfaces. • Expertise in building and evolving applications, with a deep understanding of UI design principles and best practices. • Ability to translate complex problems into simple, intuitive, and expressive user interface designs. • Exceptional systems thinking capabilities, with a strong aptitude for designing scalable and consistent design systems. • Proficiency in applying user research findings, usability test results, and performance metrics to inform and validate design decisions. • Comfort and proficiency with an iterative design process, including actively seeking, accepting, and acting on constructive feedback. • Strong analytical, technical, and strategic thinking skills to drive design innovation and business impact. • Experience in defining and implementing motion design libraries for user interfaces to enhance user engagement and brand expression. • Experience in developing and maintaining data visualization libraries that are effectively consumed by product teams. • Proven ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines, leading or supporting new ideas and products from conception to successful launch. • Demonstrated experience in conducting and guiding user research initiatives and fostering cross-functional collaboration. • Strong presentation skills, with a proven track record of presenting design work, facilitating concept workshops, and evangelizing new ideas. • Experience working within front-end engineering constraints and a history of direct, productive partnerships with engineering teams. Preferred Skills: • A mix of in-house and agency experience, providing diverse perspectives on brand development and execution. • Direct experience with AI-powered design tools and workflows. • Experience in the FinTech industry, understanding the unique design challenges and opportunities within financial services. • 6+ years of experience specifically within creative teams and technical environments. • 8+ years of combined experience in software design, visual design, interaction design, UX design, and prototyping. Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of strategic vision, hands-on design skill, and collaborative ability. The explicit mention of "systems thinking," "AI-first," and "data visualization" points to a need for a designer who can manage complex digital ecosystems and leverage modern technological approaches. The portfolio requirement is critical for demonstrating these abilities. Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements Portfolio Essentials: • A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7-10 years of professional design work, with a strong emphasis on digital interfaces and brand expression. • Demonstrations of systems thinking through the creation or significant contribution to design systems, style guides, or component libraries. • Case studies that detail the process of transforming complex problems into simple, expressive UI solutions, highlighting the user-centered design approach. • Examples of data visualization libraries designed for product teams, illustrating an understanding of data communication and user needs. • Visual assets and motion design libraries that exemplify refined execution and unique brand moments. Process Documentation: • Documented examples of how user research and usability testing have informed design decisions and led to measurable improvements in the user experience. • Frameworks or documentation explaining the process of building and scaling design systems, including component libraries and style guides. • Case studies detailing the collaborative process with engineering teams, from concept to implementation, including how front-end constraints were managed. • Examples of strategic contributions to product development, showing how design thinking influenced high-level decisions and product roadmaps. Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the need for a portfolio that not only displays strong visual execution but also demonstrates a structured, process-driven approach to design. The emphasis on "systems thinking," "AI-first," and "data visualization" suggests that candidates should be prepared to showcase how they manage complexity and leverage technology in their design workflow. Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: • US Employees (any location): $151,000 - $188,700 USD per year. • Canadian Employees (any location): $142,700 - $178,300 CAD per year. Benefits: • Equity (Stock Options): Opportunity to share in the company's growth and success. • Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Ensuring the well-being of employees and their families. • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Encouraging work-life balance and employee well-being. • Professional Development Opportunities: Support for continuous learning and skill enhancement. • Remote Work Stipend: For setting up an effective home office environment. Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work arrangements. Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are competitive for senior-level design roles in the FinTech and SaaS industries, particularly for remote positions. The ranges are adjusted for US and Canadian employees, reflecting regional market standards. The inclusion of equity and stock options signifies a significant long-term incentive for employees. Team & Company Context Company Culture Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech), Banking Services. Mercury aims to bring a design-forward approach back to modern finance, differentiating itself from traditional banking institutions. Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, the context of building a "brand that brings it back" and having "product and executive teams" suggests a growing, potentially Series B or C stage startup, likely between 50-250 employees. Founded: The company was founded with a vision inspired by architectural and design principles from the mid-20th century, aiming to infuse modern finance with craftsmanship and transparency. Team Structure: • The design team likely operates collaboratively, with this Senior Brand Designer potentially leading specific initiatives or contributing to a larger design function under a Design Lead or Head of Design. • Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with significant interaction expected between Design, Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Executive teams. • The emphasis on "AI-first" suggests potential integration with specialized AI/ML teams or a mandate for designers to work with AI tools developed internally or externally. Methodology: • Data-driven design decisions informed by user research, usability testing, and performance metrics. • Iterative design processes that embrace feedback and continuous improvement. • A strong focus on systems thinking for building scalable design systems and consistent user experiences. • Embracing AI as a tool to enhance creativity, efficiency, and innovation in the design process. Company Website: Mercury.com Enhancement Note: Mercury's culture appears to be deeply rooted in design principles, aiming to disrupt the FinTech industry with a focus on user experience and aesthetic craft. The reference to Eero Saarinen's mid-century modern design highlights a commitment to thoughtful, intentional design that prioritizes transparency and user engagement. Career & Growth Analysis Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior individual contributor level, focusing on Brand Design and Expressive UI. It requires significant expertise and the ability to influence design direction and strategy. Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Director, or a Product Lead who oversees design functions. This role may also involve mentoring junior designers. Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer will directly impact the company's brand perception, product usability, and overall user experience. Their work will be critical in differentiating Mercury in the competitive FinTech market and fostering user loyalty through exceptional design. Growth Opportunities: • Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Art Director role, managing a team and setting the strategic vision for brand design. • Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, motion graphics, or complex data visualization within the FinTech context. • Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy, marketing, and executive decision-making by leveraging design expertise. • Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to building a strong design culture. Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth within a design-centric organization. The emphasis on seniority and strategic contribution suggests a path toward leadership and broader influence within the company's product development and brand strategy. Work Environment Office Type: The role is fully remote, offering flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere within the specified regions (US and Canada). Office Location(s): While the company has physical hubs in San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Portland, OR, the role is open to remote candidates within the United States and Canada. Workspace Context: • Remote work environment requiring self-discipline, excellent communication, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools. • Access to a strong digital infrastructure for design work, likely including cloud-based tools and platforms. • Potential for virtual team-building activities and online collaboration sessions to foster connection. Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected, with inherent flexibility due to the remote nature of the role. Collaboration across time zones may require occasional adjustments. Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this position emphasizes the need for strong communication skills, self-motivation, and proficiency in asynchronous collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable working independently while staying connected with a distributed team. Application & Portfolio Review Process Interview Process: • Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements. • Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their best work, focusing on conceptual range, systems thinking, and expressive UI execution. Expect to discuss design process, challenges, and outcomes. • Skills-Based Assessments: Potential for design challenges or case studies to evaluate problem-solving abilities, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency in areas like AI-driven design or data visualization. • Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, and potentially Marketing to assess collaboration style and strategic alignment. • Final Interview: Typically with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Design, CEO) to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and cultural alignment. Portfolio Review Tips: • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your expertise in expressive UI, brand design, and systems thinking. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex problems and deliver impactful results. • Detail Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process (including research, ideation, iteration), challenges encountered, and the final outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively to guide the narrative. • Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly demonstrate your ability to design scalable systems. Showcase your contributions to design systems, style guides, or component libraries, explaining the principles behind them. • Showcase Expressive UI: Ensure your portfolio includes examples where you've translated brand identity into engaging and expressive user interfaces. Discuss how you used visual elements, motion, and interaction to convey brand personality. • Integrate AI & Data Visualization: If applicable, include projects demonstrating your experience with AI-first design approaches or data visualization libraries. Explain the tools and methodologies used and the impact achieved. • Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and your understanding of FinTech design challenges. Challenge Preparation: • Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve conceptualizing a new feature or redesigning an existing interface, with an emphasis on expressive UI and integration of AI or data visualization principles. • Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, focusing on the "why" behind your choices and how they align with business goals and user needs. • Be ready to discuss how you would approach building or contributing to a design system at Mercury, considering scalability and adoption by other teams. Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and the ability to articulate design strategy and process. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not only their creative talent but also their strategic thinking, collaborative skills, and understanding of modern design methodologies, including AI integration. Tools & Technology Stack Primary Tools: • Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable for UI/UX design, collaborative design systems), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects for motion graphics). • AI Design Tools: Candidates are expected to lead with an "AI-first" mindset, so familiarity with generative AI tools for ideation, asset creation, or workflow automation (e.g., Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, AI-powered plugins for design software) is crucial. • Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack, Notion for team communication, task management, and documentation. Analytics & Reporting: • Tools for analyzing user behavior and design performance, such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or specialized A/B testing platforms. • Data visualization tools or libraries for presenting insights and design impact to stakeholders. CRM & Automation: • While not a direct responsibility, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation tools interact with product interfaces and brand messaging can be beneficial. Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools like Figma is expected. The emphasis on "AI-first" suggests that candidates should be comfortable exploring and integrating emerging AI design tools into their workflow. Familiarity with how design impacts broader business metrics and user engagement analytics will also be a strong asset. Team Culture & Values Operations Values: • Craftsmanship & Quality: A deep commitment to design excellence, attention to detail, and delivering polished, high-quality work across all touchpoints. • Innovation & AI-First: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to push creative boundaries and enhance design processes. • User-Centricity: Prioritizing user needs and experiences, using research and data to inform design decisions. • Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and diverse perspectives are valued. • Strategic Impact: Understanding how design contributes to broader business objectives and actively participating in strategic decision-making. Collaboration Style: • Highly collaborative, with designers working closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders. • Emphasis on iterative feedback loops and open communication channels (e.g., Slack, virtual meetings). • Proactive engagement in design critiques and cross-functional workshops. • Ability to evangelize design ideas and build consensus among diverse teams. Enhancement Note: Mercury's culture appears to value a blend of artistic integrity and technological innovation, driven by a desire to redefine the FinTech experience. The emphasis on collaboration and strategic impact suggests a dynamic and results-oriented environment. ⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities Challenges: • Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Ensuring that "expressive UI" and AI-driven design elements are not only creative but also scalable within a growing design system and product suite. • Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating complex design concepts and strategic rationale to non-design stakeholders, ensuring buy-in and alignment across departments. • Pioneering AI in Design: Navigating the evolving landscape of AI in design, identifying the most effective tools and workflows to enhance Mercury's brand and product experience. • Maintaining Brand Uniqueness in FinTech: Differentiating Mercury's brand in a crowded and often conservative industry through bold and expressive design. Learning & Development Opportunities: • AI Design Tool Mastery: Opportunity to become a leader in applying AI tools for creative and efficient design workflows. • Design System Leadership: Taking a lead role in expanding and evolving a critical design system. • Strategic Influence: Gaining experience in strategic product planning and contributing to high-level business decisions. • Industry Exposure: Working within the fast-paced FinTech sector, gaining insights into financial product design and market dynamics. Enhancement Note: This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the visual identity of a FinTech company at the forefront of design innovation. The challenges are significant but offer substantial growth potential for a designer eager to make a strategic impact. Interview Preparation Strategy Questions: • "How would you approach evolving Mercury's brand expression through expressive UI, considering our FinTech context and AI-first mindset?" (Prepare to discuss specific visual elements, interaction patterns, and how AI could enhance this.) • "Describe a time you significantly contributed to or built a design system from scratch. What were the key principles, challenges, and outcomes?" (Focus on systems thinking, scalability, and collaboration with engineers.) • "Walk us through a project where you used user research and data to inform your design decisions and led to a measurable positive outcome." (Prepare a case study highlighting your process and impact.) • "How do you balance creating unique brand moments with maintaining consistency across a complex digital product and website?" (Discuss your approach to brand guidelines and design system governance.) Company & Culture Questions: • "What excites you about Mercury's mission and its approach to design in the FinTech space?" (Research Mercury's product, values, and brand messaging.) • "How do you typically collaborate with product managers and engineers? Describe a challenging cross-functional collaboration and how you navigated it." (Prepare examples demonstrating strong communication and teamwork.) • "Given our AI-first approach, how do you envision AI tools impacting the role of a Senior Brand Designer at Mercury?" (Discuss your perspective on AI in design, including potential benefits and challenges.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy: • Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (problem/goal), middle (your process/solutions), and end (results/impact). • Highlight Your Role: Be explicit about your contributions in each project, especially in collaborative efforts. • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or user feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs. • Focus on Expressive UI & Systems: Ensure your selected projects clearly showcase your ability to create engaging UIs and design scalable systems. • Discuss AI Integration: Be ready to talk about any experience you have with AI tools in your workflow or how you envision integrating them. • Enthusiasm & Vision: Convey your passion for design and your vision for Mercury's brand. Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a deep understanding of design systems, and the ability to translate brand identity into expressive user experiences, with a particular emphasis on AI integration and the FinTech context. Application Steps To apply for this operations position: • Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse. • Portfolio Submission: Ensure your application includes a link to your online portfolio, or attach a presentation deck (PDF) of your best work. If password-protected, provide credentials. • Resume Tailoring: Customize your resume to highlight experience in brand design, expressive UI, design systems, AI-first methodologies, and relevant FinTech or SaaS environments. Quantify achievements where possible. • Cover Letter (Optional but Recommended): Briefly articulate your passion for Mercury's mission and how your unique skills in expressive UI and AI-driven design align with the role's requirements. • Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the company's website and product, and prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on process, impact, and your strategic approach to design challenges. ⚠️ 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. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job