Head of Design

Kira; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Kira Learning is seeking a visionary Head of Design to lead its design function across product and brand. This role involves shaping user experiences and visual identity while mentoring a high-performing team, all within a company transforming the educational landscape through AI.

Benefits

Flexible PTO

Paid parental leave

Top-notch medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) plan

Qualifications

• 8+ years of product/UX design experience.
• At least 2 years leading design teams in high-growth environments.
• A portfolio showcasing end-to-end product thinking and elegant UX/UI.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve Kira’s design vision.
• Build, mentor, and scale a team of designers.
• Establish design processes and standards.

Skills

Product/UX design experience

Leadership

Communication skills

Design systems

User empathy

Job description

Join to apply for the Head of Design role at Kira.

About Kira Learning
We live in a world where technology is rapidly changing the educational experiences of students and teachers everywhere, and we have the opportunity to shape how this change takes place. Our mission is to harness transformative AI technologies to make world-class teaching and learning accessible to everyone.

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Type: Full-time, On-site

About This Role
We're looking for a visionary Head of Design to lead Kira Learning’s design function across product and brand. You’ll join as a key member of our leadership team and play a defining role in shaping how learners and educators experience Kira - from our platform’s core UX to the visual identity that represents us in the world.

This is an opportunity to set the creative direction at a company transforming the $32B LMS space through AI. You will play a crucial role in shaping the design of the product, grow and mentor a high-performing team, and collaborate closely with product, engineering, and content teams to ship experiences that are simple, powerful, and human-centered.

As AI rapidly reshapes both the tools we use and the expectations of our users, you’ll be expected to embrace and adapt to this changing design landscape—leveraging new AI capabilities while maintaining clarity, usability, and trust in the user experience.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on design execution with strategic thinking, thrives in fast-moving environments, and brings deep empathy for users—especially educators and students.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Lead and evolve Kira’s design vision, from product UI/UX to visual identity
• Build, mentor, and scale a team of product and visual designers
• Establish design processes and standards that raise the bar for craft and usability
• Create high-impact designs yourself for core product experiences and new features
• Provide detailed, constructive design feedback to ensure high craft quality across the board
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, content, and go-to-market teams to bring exceptional experiences to life
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure design is grounded in user insights and business goals
• Guide the evolution of our design system to support consistency and scalability
• Champion accessibility, inclusivity, and simplicity in everything we build

Experiences & Skills

• 8+ years of product/UX design experience, with at least 2 years leading design teams in high-growth environments
• A portfolio showcasing end-to-end product thinking, elegant UX/UI, and a high standard of craft
• Experience designing for web-based platforms and complex user journeys
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills—you can align stakeholders and articulate design decisions clearly
• A track record of building and evolving design systems
• Comfort in ambiguity and a bias toward action; you thrive in fast-paced, scrappy environments
• Passion for education and a deep belief in the potential of AI to improve learning outcomes

Salary: $180,000 - $220,000 per year, with equity in a well-funded, high-growth company. Compensation based on location, experience, and skills.

Benefits include flexible PTO, paid parental leave, top-notch medical/dental/vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan.

Background Check: Conditional offer followed by background checks as per law.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Committed to diversity and inclusion, providing equal opportunities regardless of background or characteristics.