Senior Design Lead

Happiness is good business.

We are Athlon Studio! We design and build products that work for people, so people can do their best work.

We design product experiences that bring purpose and delight to everyday tasks. Working side by side with our clients, we help rapidly build their internal design capabilities. And we’re dedicated to fostering happiness in our own culture and in every client relationship.

We believe happiness is good business. When people are happier at work, they perform better, think smarter, and achieve more. This belief powers our approach, which we call Happiness by Design.

Let’s build a happier way to work—together.

We’re seeking a Senior Design Lead with a proven ability to set design direction, manage project scope, craft clear product requirements, and confidently navigate ambiguity. The ideal candidate will excel in client management and leadership, with a strong understanding of team dynamics and the ability to guide teams through complex challenges and projects. Strong communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills are essential for success in this role.

Job Overview

• Clearly communicate the project vision and help team members connect their work to it.
• Ensure design deliverables meet client expectations using your expertise.
• Oversee and validate developer documentation.
• Provide strategic direction to ensure deliverables are on time and within scope.
• Proactively address potential blockers or risks and adjust timelines to ensure smooth execution.

Strategic Decision Making

• Use data, research, and analytics to inform complex, high-impact decisions.
• Define customer experience outcomes based on user journeys and pain points.
• Advocate for design excellence, ensuring that design decisions align with both user needs and business goals.
• Review sprint deliverables to maintain alignment with project objectives and manage expectations around scope.

Project & Timeline Management

• Develop and manage project timelines and milestones to ensure on-time delivery.
• Oversee sprint planning, review sprint deliverables, and ensure all tasks align with broader project goals.
• Monitor progress closely to identify and resolve potential blockers early.
• Push back on scope changes when necessary and manage scope creep, protecting the integrity of the project and team bandwidth.
• Evaluate resource needs and adjust allocations to ensure smooth execution across the project lifecycle.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Manage multiple stakeholders across various teams, ensuring alignment and clear communication.
• Maintain regular client communication to manage expectations, prevent misunderstandings, and provide clear updates on timelines, deliverables, and potential obstacles.
• Create feedback channels for clients, support the team in incorporating feedback, and know when to push back on requests.

Leadership & Team Management

• Motivate and lead teams confidently to foster a professional, collaborative, and happy work environment.
• Adapt to different team and client cultures to promote effective collaboration.
• Manage resources to maximize productivity and project success.

Managing Ambiguity & Complexity

• Guide teams confidently through ambiguous and changing requirements.
• Oversee scoping and resource allocation to ensure smooth execution and risk mitigation.

Requirements

• 7+ years of industry experience
• Strong leadership skills
• Experience managing timelines, sprint planning, and reviewing deliverables.
• Ability to manage scope creep and mitigate risks.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving  
• Excellent communication  / feedback skills
• Comfortable working on multiple projects in a fast ­paced environment
• Proactive and positive attitude
• Comfortable working with clients

Benefits

• Work from anywhere
• Competitive salary
• Paid time off (over 20 days)
• Health benefits
• Training & development opportunities