Design Director, Product Design

Instrument

4d•$125,000 - $158,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Instrument is a design and technology company that builds brands, products, and experiences. They partner with companies to navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention. Their work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, integrating strategy, design, and engineering from the start. They are a collaborative, hands-on team with a distributed presence, valuing curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning in an inclusive environment. At Instrument, Design Directors are senior creative leaders who bridge strategy, systems thinking, and design craft to create meaningful digital experiences. They lead multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity, guide clients through complex challenges, and elevate the quality of work. This role specifically seeks a Design Director with a strong product design background, thriving at the intersection of vision, systems thinking, and execution. The ideal candidate will enjoy tackling complex digital challenges, from shaping future product concepts and emerging technologies to designing large-scale platforms and connected ecosystems. Working within a dedicated, long-term client partnership, this role offers the opportunity to develop deep domain expertise while helping define and evolve products and experiences reaching millions of users. The Design Director will partner closely with strategists, designers, technologists, producers, and clients to define opportunities, guide creative direction, and deliver exceptional outcomes. Engagements may range from small, confidential innovation initiatives to leading large multidisciplinary teams through complex platform, product, and service design work. Passion for craft leadership, product thinking, emerging technologies, and team development is highly valued.

Requirements

8+ years of experience leading the design of complex digital products, platforms, services, or interactive experiences.
Strong product design expertise, with the ability to connect user needs, business goals, and technical realities.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and collaborating closely with strategy, technology, and production partners.
Systems-thinking mindset with experience navigating large-scale, interconnected experiences.
Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
Ability to lead multiple projects and priorities while maintaining a high standard of craft and execution.
Confidence working directly with clients, building trust, and guiding complex conversations.
Curiosity about emerging technologies, including AI, and enthusiasm for exploring how they can enhance products, experiences, and workflows.
A collaborative, humble approach to leadership and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

Lead the design of complex digital products, platforms, and experiences from concept through execution.
Partner with clients and cross-functional teams to define opportunities, shape solutions, and drive alignment.
Guide teams through ambiguity, helping translate complex challenges into clear, thoughtful experiences.
Establish and maintain a high bar for craft across visual design, interaction design, systems thinking, and user experience.
Facilitate workshops, presentations, critiques, and working sessions with clients and internal teams.
Mentor designers through feedback, creative direction, and collaborative problem-solving.
Balance strategic vision with practical execution, ensuring ideas can be delivered successfully.
Lead multiple projects and workstreams while supporting team health, quality, and delivery.
Champion collaboration across design, strategy, production, and technology disciplines.
Stay curious about emerging technologies and help teams thoughtfully explore new opportunities and ways of working.