Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple.
For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention.
Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter.
We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft.
We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.
The Role
This is an opportunity to lead product design for one of the world's leading technology companies, partnering on a portfolio of ambitious digital product initiatives. Rather than balancing multiple client accounts, you'll have the opportunity to build deep relationships, develop meaningful product expertise, and help shape experiences over the course of a long-term partnership.
You'll lead multidisciplinary teams through complex product challenges—from defining product vision and experience strategy to delivering thoughtful, scalable solutions. Success in this role requires equal parts systems thinking, design craft, and collaboration, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, align stakeholders, and inspire teams around a shared vision.
We're looking for a hands-on design leader who enjoys staying close to the work. You'll mentor designers, facilitate workshops, present to senior stakeholders, and partner with strategists, researchers, producers, and engineers to create products that are intuitive, impactful, and built to scale.
What You'll Do
- Lead the design of complex digital products and experiences from early strategy through delivery, ensuring solutions are user-centered, scalable, and aligned with business goals.
- Partner with client stakeholders to shape product vision, facilitate workshops, define priorities, and navigate ambiguity with confidence.
- Guide multidisciplinary teams of designers, strategists, researchers, producers, and engineers through the design process, fostering collaboration and design excellence.
- Translate complex systems, workflows, and user needs into intuitive product experiences that balance customer value with technical feasibility.
- Champion high-quality UX, interaction, and visual design while maintaining a strong focus on accessibility, usability, and product craft.
- Mentor designers through thoughtful feedback, creative direction, and hands-on collaboration, helping elevate both individual growth and team performance.
- Present work and design rationale to stakeholders, building alignment through clear communication and strong storytelling.
- Contribute to the evolution of design systems, workflows, and best practices that improve quality, consistency, and efficiency across engagements.
- Stay curious about emerging technologies—including AI—and thoughtfully explore how they can improve the design process and the products we create.
What You'll Bring
- 10+ years of experience designing digital products, platforms, or services, with several years leading complex product initiatives.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams within an agency, consultancy, or in-house product organization.
- A portfolio demonstrating exceptional product thinking, UX strategy, systems thinking, and design craft.
- Deep expertise in product design, interaction design, information architecture, and user-centered design methodologies.
- Strong facilitation, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build trusted client relationships.
- Experience working closely with product managers, researchers, engineers, and cross-functional partners throughout the product development lifecycle.
- A collaborative leadership style with a passion for mentoring designers and creating an inclusive, feedback-driven team culture.
- Comfort navigating ambiguity, simplifying complex problems, and balancing user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.
- Curiosity about emerging technologies and a mindset of continuous learning, experimentation, and thoughtful innovation.
- Proficiency with modern design and collaboration tools, including Figma, Miro, and other industry-standard platforms.
Pay Range
- The expected pay range for this position is $125,000-$155,000. This range reflects the potential compensation across multiple levels and U.S. geographic pay regions. Final compensation is determined by the candidate's level and their work location. Instrument uses three regional pay ranges to account for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base). Learn more about our pay philosophy and regional pay structure.
What We Offer
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401k with employer matching
- Unlimited PTO + company wide closures
- Work From Home and Wellbeing monthly stipend
- HSA Employer Contribution
- Professional Development Stipend
- Paid Parental Leave
Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment
Great Compensation with Annual Reviews (Learn more about our Pay Philosophy)
401(k) Matching with Immediate Vesting
Robust Medical, Vision, and Accident Insurance
Generous Paid Holidays and unlimited PTO
Monthly Wellbeing Stipend
Career Management and Leadership Training
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
