Software Design Director

IDEO•Cambridge, MA

9h•$140,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

IDEO LLC is seeking a Software Design Director in Cambridge, MA. This role involves guiding and contributing to large-scale, interdisciplinary digital design projects, ensuring alignment with business goals, design standards, and client expectations. The Director will serve as a key point of contact for clients, offering strategic direction and clear communication throughout the design lifecycle. Collaboration across design, engineering, and research disciplines is essential for scoping project goals, developing timelines, and contributing to framing and RFP responses. The role requires developing and delivering impactful client-facing materials using advanced design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Webflow), ensuring accessibility and usability. Active contribution to the execution of design deliverables, including responsive layouts, interactive components, and immersive interfaces, is expected. Workflow management using design-centric tools and methods to track milestones, team communication, and quality benchmarks is also a key responsibility. The Director will design complex digital products using user-centered design principles, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing. Building and sustaining strong client relationships, offering guidance on digital design challenges and experience strategy, is crucial. Mentorship to junior designers and team members, supporting their growth in UX, interaction design, visual design, and consulting fundamentals, is a core aspect of the role. Contribution to internal knowledge-sharing, standards development, and craft leadership efforts is expected. Participation in business development activities, such as pipeline planning and client presentations, to align opportunities with design capabilities is also part of the role. The Director will lead discussions on emerging technologies (e.g., XR, realtime rendering) and evaluate their relevance in interface and experience design. Evaluating project outcomes and applying insights to refine internal practices and design quality is important. Supporting a culture of experimentation and learning by mentoring teams in rapid iteration, user testing, and design validation is also a responsibility. Maintaining awareness of budget and timeline expectations as they relate to design deliverables and client satisfaction is required.

Requirements

Master’s degree or U.S. equivalent in Computer Science, Architecture, Design, or related field.
3 years of professional experience as a Core Engineer, Computer Scientist, Designer or any occupation, job title, position involving user-centered experiences, products, and services.
3 years of professional experience utilizing C# in Unity VR development, React.js for web frontend, and Arduino for IoT.
3 years of professional experience utilizing electrical engineering, microcontrollers, sensors, creative coding, and robotics.
3 years of professional experience creating connected installations, experiences, and augmented objects.
3 years of professional experience performing hardware prototyping, integration, firmware development, wireless/network connectivity, and sketching/rough prototyping.
3 years of professional experience performing product management, including prioritizing features, pacing the process, and defining a product roadmap.
3 years of professional experience utilizing computer vision, machine learning, augmented/mixed reality, and Large Language Model (LLMs).
3 years of professional experience creating immersive experiences, games, or interactive narratives.
3 years of professional experience applying physics or computer graphics to 2D, 3D, or VR, with front-end technology tools (including Unity).
3 years of professional experience constructing interdependent, multi-faceted systems, and performing information flow, inputs and outputs, choice, behavior, and feedback.
3 years of professional experience translating technical terms to a wide audience.
3 years of professional experience winning new work for a consulting company by applying technical creative coding, development skills, and business knowledge of business development processes, systems, and client engagements.
3 years of professional experience managing complex projects for interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

Guide and contribute to large-scale, interdisciplinary digital design projects, ensuring alignment with business goals, design standards, and client expectations.
Serve as a key point of contact for clients, offering strategic direction and clear communication throughout the design lifecycle.
Collaborate across design, engineering, and research disciplines to scope project goals, develop timelines, and contribute to framing and RFP responses.
Develop and deliver impactful client-facing materials using advanced design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Webflow), ensuring accessibility and usability.
Actively contribute to the execution of design deliverables, including responsive layouts, interactive components, and immersive interfaces.
Manage workflows using design-centric tools and methods to track milestones, team communication, and quality benchmarks.
Design complex digital products using user-centered design principles, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing.
Build and sustain strong client relationships, offering guidance on digital design challenges and experience strategy.
Provide mentorship to junior designers and team members, supporting growth in UX, interaction design, visual design, and consulting fundamentals.
Contribute to internal knowledge-sharing, standards development, and craft leadership efforts.
Participate in business development activities, such as pipeline planning and client presentations, to align opportunities with design capabilities.
Lead discussions on emerging technologies (e.g., XR, realtime rendering) and evaluate their relevance in interface and experience design.
Evaluate project outcomes and apply insights to refine internal practices and design quality.
Support a culture of experimentation and learning by mentoring teams in rapid iteration, user testing, and design validation.
Maintain awareness of budget and timeline expectations as they relate to design deliverables and client satisfaction.