Design Lead

Douro Labs

2d•Remote

About The Position

We’re looking for an experienced Design Lead to supercharge our design team. You’ll help shape how design operates across the organization bringing structure, clarity, and momentumwhile still rolling up your sleeves to create beautiful, high-impact work. You’ll partner closely with our Creative Lead, owning team operations, process, and communication, while contributing directly to product and brand execution. We’re a well-rounded team: half of us are tech whizzes, while the other half excel in building partnerships with data providers, developers, and the DeFi community. Communication is key to our network-driven approach. Remote Work: Our team is spread across the globe, from the US and South America to Europe and Asia, with an optional office in Porto, Portugal, and Singapore. Remote work is the norm here. Language Proficiency: English proficiency is essential, as it’s our primary language of communication. Startup-level speed: We thrive in the dynamic DeFi space and love adaptable problem solvers who are eager to meet the evolving needs of the market.

Requirements

Proven experience leading or managing designers in a growing organization.
The ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on creative execution.
Strong communication skills and confidence presenting design rationale to stakeholders.
Experience creating clarity in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
A structured, systems-oriented mindset someone who brings order to chaos.
A sharp eye for detail and visual excellence.

Nice To Haves

Experience scaling design teams in startup or high-growth environments.
Background in building or maintaining design systems.
Experience working with agencies or external vendors.
Adobe Creative Suite proficiency.
Experience aligning product design with brand systems across multiple touchpoints.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day design operations and team coordination.
Build and optimize processes for handling inbound requests.
Scope project requirements and allocate team bandwidth effectively.
Navigate uncertainty and translate business needs into clear design priorities.
Drive team structure, resourcing strategy, and future hiring.
Lead interviews and help scale the design organization.
Manage relationships with agencies, contractors, and external vendors.
Represent the design team across the organization—setting expectations, timelines, and navigating trade-offs when bandwidth is constrained.
Create and refine high-quality product, marketing, or web design deliverables.
Organize and maintain Figma files, shared libraries, and system structures.
Ensure design work is accessible, scalable, and easy to collaborate on.
Bring strong aesthetic judgment across typography, color, composition, and layout.
Contribute ideas for visual assets and execute them to a high standard.