Full-Time

Senior Designer

Brand & Motion

Highwire

Highwire

51-200 employees

Scholarly publishing platform and manuscript management

Compensation Overview

$90k - $105k/yr

+ 401(k) match + Referral bonuses

California, USA + 3 more

More locations: New York, NY, USA | Massachusetts, USA | New Jersey, USA

Hybrid

Remote candidates must reside in an approved state. Hybrid candidates near New York or San Francisco work in-office three days per week.

Bachelor's

Category
Art, Graphics & Animation (1)
Required Skills
Adobe InDesign
UI/UX Design
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Figma
Animation
Adobe Illustrator
Video Editing
Graphic Design
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides

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Requirements
  • A graphic design or visual effects degree or equivalent experience with an eye for brand.
  • At least 5 years of professional design experience, including at least 2 years focused specifically on motion graphics and video production.
  • A compelling portfolio showcasing motion graphics and video work at a campaign level, alongside a solid understanding of broader design principles and brand systems.
  • Expert knowledge of After Effects and Premiere, alongside strong working knowledge of Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
  • Experience working with and creating design systems.
  • A keen understanding of user experience design principles, including expert knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Ability to manage time independently, prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines, and proactively flag conflicts with account and creative teams.
  • Comfort operating in a high-volume, fast-turnaround production environment while balancing speed and scale with brand consistency and craft quality.
  • A current understanding of design, social, and digital trends.
Responsibilities
  • Conceptualize, design, and execute motion graphics, animated content, and video assets across high-volume campaigns while maintaining brand consistency and craft quality under fast-turnaround timelines.
  • Conceptualize and develop design solutions, including supporting static and digital design work, that adhere to client brand standards and meet business goals across presentations, landing pages, and digital collateral.
  • Present design work to Highwire account teams and external clients, communicating effectively with creatives and explaining design decisions in language appropriate for non-designers.
  • Collect and implement feedback within designated review cycles and navigate client feedback effectively.
  • Provide design support for Highwire marketing and new business initiatives, including pitch decks, marketing collateral, and agency website updates.
  • Brainstorm creative concepts independently and with account teams.
  • Ensure motion and video deliverables remain consistent with client brand systems and standards under high-volume production demands, while serving as a guardian of Highwire's visual brand across visual communications.
  • Work with the Creative Director to provide design mentorship to junior designers, the digital team, and the wider agency.
  • Adjust priorities independently according to deliverables across clients and internal teams.
Desired Qualifications
  • Agency experience is preferred.
  • Experience with AI-powered creative tools, such as generative design, motion, or video tools, is a plus.

HighWire provides a digital publishing platform and services for scholarly publishers to host journals and books, manage manuscript submission and peer review, and handle subscriptions. It offers an end-to-end, integrated workflow from author submission through editorial review to publication and monetization. By focusing on the scholarly publishing niche, HighWire differentiates itself with long-standing relationships and a full suite tailored to publishers’ needs rather than generic publishing tech. The goal is to streamline scholarly communication by delivering scalable technology-enabled tools that simplify content production, review workflows, and revenue management for publishers, societies, and university presses.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$1.2M

Headquarters

Princeton, New Jersey

Founded

2008

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 2026 CFO hire Kelly Losko signals expansion discipline after acquisition.
  • Highwire Health targets regulated healthcare budgets where crisis communications spend stays sticky.
  • Mergers with Bliss and Candor Content expand cross-sell into demand generation and executive visibility.

What critics are saying

  • AcroIntelligence competes against Cision, Meltwater, and Muck Rack with thinner software economics.
  • January 2026 Bliss integration risks culture clashes and client churn across North America.
  • Agency revenue depends on client retention; one lost enterprise can hit utilization quickly.

What makes Highwire unique

  • June 2026 AcroIntelligence and AcroAI give Highwire proprietary media-signal intelligence.
  • January 2026 Bliss Group acquisition gives Highwire 250-plus professionals and healthcare depth.
  • Highwire Health unifies life sciences, health tech, and business-of-health expertise after March 2026 launch.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Parental Leave

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Company Match

Home Office Stipend

Wellness Program

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-4%
GlobeNewswire
May 13th, 2025
Highwire Appoints Powerhouse Michael O'Brien As Ceo

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highwire, a strategic marketing communications agency partnering with brands at the intersection of innovation and industry, today announced the appointment of Michael O’Brien as its new chief executive officer, to further accelerate the agency’s growth and lead Highwire’s journey into a new era of integrated services and impactful client programs. O’Brien brings over 30 years of experience driving growth and excellence for some of the world’s most iconic brands. He served as chief client officer for over 10 years of his 23-year career at Ketchum. There, he transformed client service by focusing on growth, reducing revenue attrition, and creating a more purposeful approach to client management. O’Brien was also responsible for global business development and strategic planning. He will succeed Carol Carrubba, who is currently serving as interim CEO

ForexTV
Mar 20th, 2025
Highwire Achieves Double-Digit Growth in 2024, Elevates Michael Byrnes to Chief Growth Officer

To sustain and accelerate this momentum, Highwire has promoted Michael Byrnes to Chief Growth Officer.

The Robot Report
Dec 28th, 2024
Bay Area Events Note The Convergence Of Ai And Robotics

The San Francisco Bay Area is a nexus of AI and robotics. Source: Adobe Stock. The San Francisco Bay Area is the nexus of the artificial intelligence revolution in the U.S., anchored by San Francisco, with the renaissance of robotics investment and innovation in Silicon Valley. AI is merging with and embodied by robotics here. For instance, Waymo’s driverless cars are a common sight in San Francisco. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said the future of AI is physical AI, embodied by robotics including self-driving cars

GlobeNewswire
Dec 19th, 2024
Highwire Appoints Mike Steavenson As Executive Vice President Of Enterprise Technology Practice, Elevates Jason Mayde To Cto

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highwire, a high-impact communications and marketing partner for global technology and healthcare companies, is proud to announce the appointment of Mike Steavenson as Executive Vice President of its Enterprise Technology Practice and the elevation of Jason Mayde to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). By expanding its technology leadership team, Highwire bolsters its commitment to harness the transformative power of AI in every aspect of its business and to offer clients unparalleled expertise in both B2B technology and AI. Highwire is committed to leveraging AI in a way that ensures quality, safeguards ethics, and complies with all applicable regulations. This approach harnesses the power of AI responsibly to drive innovation, efficiency, and impactful results for clients. “AI is transforming every industry, including communications and marketing, so investment in enterprise and technology talent distinguishes Highwire as we guide our clients in this new era,” said Highwire interim CEO Carol Carrubba

PRWeek
Jul 30th, 2024
Highwire PR hires Real Chemistry's Chuck Hemann

At the start of the year, Real Chemistry named group president and managing partner Kevin Johnson to oversee capabilities, including social media planning and activation; starpower, its pop culture and influencer agency; paid media; and omnichannel practices.