Director Of Design (AI)

TL;DR

Director of Design (AI): Leading the integration and evolution of design as a strategic force within a fast-scaling AI company, with an accent on defining a design vision for intuitive AI-powered products and scaling design operations. Focus on increasing design maturity across the organization and shaping product strategy through cross-functional leadership.

Location: Hybrid, willingness to work on-site in Berlin two days per week

Company

The client company is building the infrastructure behind the next generation of voice-first AI, redefining how people and machines interact in real time.

What you will do

• Lead the design function through a period of significant growth and transformation, scaling the team and its operating model.
• Define and champion a design vision that enables complex AI-powered products to feel intuitive, inclusive, and effortless.
• Increase design maturity across the organisation, influencing how design integrates with product, tech, and commercial teams.
• Serve as a strong design voice in cross-functional leadership, helping shape the product strategy and roadmap.
• Lead on stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration, and high-quality execution across teams.

Requirements

• Strong background in design, with several years in leadership roles within fast-scaling, product-led organisations.
• Demonstrated ability to scale design organisations, implement structure, and influence company-wide practices.
• Skilled in communicating the strategic value of design to senior stakeholders and securing buy-in for resources and priorities.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including product and service designers, with an appreciation for the value of voice design.
• Comfortable working in high-velocity product development environments, using tools like Cursor, Windsurf, Lovable or similar.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with AI or LLM-powered products, or a strong interest in integrating these into design workflows.