IDEO LLC

SoftwareDesignDirector

$140–200k Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Remote Friendly
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Director candidates.

The Brief

“Software Design Director at IDEO LLC. Skills: Digital design, UX, Interaction design, Visual design, Consulting. Guide digital design projects. Contribute to digital design projects”

Industry & Context.

Problems you'll solve

Design challenges; Root cause analysis

Eligibility Requirements

Partial telecommuting, Up to 30% domestic travel

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Master's degree or equivalent, 3 years professional experience, 3 years C# in Unity VR, 3 years React.js frontend, 3 years Arduino, 3 years electrical engineering, 3 years microcontrollers, 3 years sensors, 3 years creative coding, 3 years connected installations, 3 years hardware prototyping, 3 years firmware development, 3 years wireless network connectivity, 3 years sketching rough, 3 years product management, 3 years prioritizing features, 3 years pacing process, 3 years defining product, 3 years computer vision, 3 years machine learning, 3 years augmented mixed reality, 3 years Large Language Models, 3 years immersive experiences, 3 years games, 3 years interactive, 3 years physics computer graphics, 3 years 2D 3D VR, 3 years front-end technology tools, 3 years Unity, 3 years constructing interdependent systems, 3 years information flow, 3 years inputs outputs, 3 years choice behavior, 3 years translating technical terms, 3 years winning new work, 3 years business development processes, 3 years managing complex projects, 3 years interdisciplinary teams

What You'll Do.

Guide digital design projects

Contribute to digital design projects

Ensure alignment business goals

Ensure alignment design standards

Ensure alignment client expectations

Serve as client contact

Offer strategic direction

Provide clear communication

Collaborate across disciplines

Contribute to framing

Contribute to RFP responses

Develop client-facing materials

Deliver client-facing materials

Contribute to execution design deliverables

Track team communication

Track quality benchmarks

Design digital products

Apply user-centered design

Apply rapid prototyping

Apply iterative testing

Build client relationships

Sustain client relationships

Offer guidance design challenges

Offer guidance experience strategy

Provide mentorship junior designers

Provide mentorship team members

Support growth interaction design

Support growth visual design

Support growth consulting fundamentals

Contribute internal knowledge-sharing

Contribute standards development

Contribute craft leadership

Participate business development

Align opportunities design capabilities

Lead discussions emerging technologies

Evaluate technology relevance

Evaluate relevance interface design

Evaluate relevance experience design

Evaluate project outcomes

Apply insights refine practices

Apply insights refine design quality

Support culture experimentation

Support culture learning

Mentor teams rapid iteration

Mentor teams user testing

Mentor teams design validation

Maintain awareness budget expectations

Maintain awareness timeline expectations

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Interdisciplinary teams; Design teams; Engineering teams; Research teams

Communication Scope

Client communication; Strategic direction; Technical terms translation

Process & Methodology

Project management, Timeline development, Milestone tracking

Full Job Description

Software Design Director, IDEO LLC (Cambridge, MA) 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 deliverabl

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