Staff Brand Designer, AI Products
Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
Your impact
Handshake is expanding into AI research and development, shaping a world-class network of expert Fellows—PhDs, researchers, and subject matter specialists—who contribute to cutting-edge AI through specialized research, model evaluation, and domain-specific applications. We’re looking for a Brand Designer to craft compelling narratives and visual systems that bring this work to life, ensuring our brand resonates with both technical experts and broader audiences.
This is a unique opportunity to define how AI innovation is communicated, translating complex ideas into clear, engaging experiences that connect with researchers, industry leaders, and the next generation of talent.
**This is an onsite role, with an expectation to work out of our San Francisco HQ 5 days per week**
Your role
- As a Staff Brand Designer on the Brand Design team, you will develop creative concepts and execute high-quality brand design for our owned channels, shaping how we communicate our growing AI initiatives. Your work will be informed by creative briefs, marketing insights, and a deep understanding of how to translate complex ideas into compelling visual narratives.
- You’ll operate autonomously as a designer while also guiding cross-functional teams, freelancers, agencies, and production partners. Working closely with the marketing team, you’ll help craft high-impact brand marketing content that elevates our positioning in the AI space.
- You’ll expand our visual design systems to create a holistic approach to typography, color, patterns, layouts, and imagery—ensuring consistency across every touchpoint. As an advocate for brand clarity and storytelling, you’ll play a key role in defining how Handshake’s AI initiatives connect with students, researchers, and industry leaders, while also mentoring and up-leveling the broader team.
Your experience
- You have 7+ years of experience and an outstanding brand design portfolio with examples of having led art direction for integrated brand and marketing projects from business need to concepts to execution.
- You have led brand design teams in the day-to-day delivery of marketing creative with best-in-class quality and consistency.
- You have an impeccable eye for detail and a keen understanding of typography, color, and composition.
- You have experience building and managing strong relationships with marketers and cross-functional teams, and have a collaborative no ego, approach to working with others.
- You have strong communication and presentation skills. You can articulate concepts and ideas clearly, can engage in healthy critique, can accept directional feedback, and articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. You are organized and can collaborate with other creative partners.
- You have worked on a breadth of design projects, from campaigns to the web to social media, video, and everything in between.
- You are an expert in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, with experience in art direction for photography and illustration.
- You have a working knowledge of motion graphics, interaction, and environmental design.
- Additional skills not required but a plus to have: video editing; illustration; and photography.
Compensation range
- $185,000 - $215,000 + RSUs
For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
About us
Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.
What we offer
At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.
Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.
- 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
- 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
- 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
- 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
- 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
- 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
- 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
- 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
- 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
- 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.
(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
- 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
- 🍼 Family support: We partner with Milk Stork to provide comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians. Parental leave coaching and support provided by Parentaly.
(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
- 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.
(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
- 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.
Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.
Average salary estimate
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At Handshake, we're excited to announce an opportunity for a Staff Brand Designer specializing in AI Products to join our vibrant team in San Francisco, CA. This is a unique chance to shape how we represent our innovative work in AI, ensuring that our brand resonates strongly with both technical experts and a wider audience. As a key member of the Brand Design team, you'll be crafting compelling narratives and visual systems that translate complex ideas into clear and engaging experiences. Your creative concepts will drive the design for our marketing content, helping to elevate our positioning in the AI space. With over 7 years of experience under your belt, your portfolio will showcase your ability to lead art direction across various integrated projects. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, guide freelancers, and advocate for strong brand storytelling, while also mentoring fellow designers. Your expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma will come in handy as you expand our visual design systems, ensuring consistency in typography, color, and composition. If you're passionate about translating cutting-edge AI research into captivating visual narratives at Handshake, we want to hear from you!
Our mission at Handshake is to give all students the chance to build the career they want, no matter where they’re from or what school they attend.
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