Design Lead - CORE

What we’re building

Hard Rock Digital is a team focused on becoming the best online sportsbook, casino, and social gaming company in the world. We’re building a team passionate about learning, operating, and creating innovative products and technologies for millions of consumers. We care about each customer interaction, experience, behavior, and insight and strive to ensure we always act authentically.

Rooted in the kindred spirits of Hard Rock and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Hard Rock Digital taps into a brand known worldwide as a leader in gaming, entertainment, and hospitality. We’re bringing that legacy into the digital space—ready to join us?

The Path of the Design Lead

As the Design Lead for our Core team, you’ll be responsible for leading the design and delivery of essential user experiences, including Know Your Customer (KYC) and signup, payments and deposits, player engagement, player success, promotions & rewards.

You'll lead the design and delivery of these experiences, ensuring they meet the highest standards of usability and enhance the features our customers already love. From defining product features and presenting to stakeholders, to delivering detailed designs and prototypes, you'll be involved in every stage of the process. You’ll exemplify cross-functional team collaboration (product & engineering), guide and mentor junior designers, and model a growth mindset.

This role is perfect for a strategic thinker and problem solver who has a willingness to take creative risks and push the boundaries but also to follow and interpret creative direction when needed.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about working on all facets of design and who can work fluidly and efficiently in a fast-paced, start-up environment while maintaining the integrity of design.

Are you ready to weave your magic and conjure delightful user experiences? Do you possess the strategic mind of a master architect and the artistic flair of an elven artisan? Then read on and discover if you possess the qualities we seek.

The Deeds You Shall Perform

You'll be part of a rapidly growing team, reporting to the Product Design Director, and will work collaboratively with our multi-talented team requiring a mix of creative direction, strategic leadership, and high-level execution.

• Optimize core user flows and drive significant improvements in key areas such as signup, cashier, promotions and reward systems, and account management, focusing on enhancing usability and user engagement.
• Drive design projects from initial concept through to final execution, ensuring a seamless and user-centered experience that aligns with business objectives.
• Partner closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to define design strategies that directly contribute to achieving business goals.
• Utilize user research, testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and champion user needs throughout the product development process.
• Encourage a collaborative team dynamic, and effectively manage resources, workloads, and project timelines.
• Offer clear, actionable feedback and direction to the core design team, ensuring high-quality output and fostering a culture of continuous improvement through regular design reviews.
• Guide and mentor product designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous professional growth.
• Continuously explore and implement innovative visual and interaction design approaches, setting new standards for quality and user engagement for core.
• Engage in hands-on creative leadership by actively participating in the creative process alongside the team, providing both strategic and practical input to ensure the delivery of exceptional design solutions
• Leverage strong business acumen, including executive presence and project management skills, to translate complex business problems into inspiring creative opportunities.
• Craft high-quality wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to communicate design solutions effectively.
• Advocate for and contribute to the design system, ensuring consistent and scalable user experiences across core services.

Your Domain of Influence

A general overview of how your time and talents will be invested. However, proportions may ebb and flow depending on the masterpiece you’re creating.

• Team Management & Development - (40%)
• Design Delivery & Execution - (30%)
• Cross-Collaboration & Influence - (20%)
• Strategic Leadership - (10%)

The Mark of a Master Craftsperson

• 10+ years in product design, UX/UI, or a related field, including experience in UX design management.
• Proven track record of leading design projects with measurable impact.
• Expertise in Figma, or other industry-standard design tools.
• Strong understanding of user research, usability testing, and other mixed method testing.
• Familiarity with the value of design systems, understand reuse and scale, and know when to contribute to make them better.
• Use storytelling to articulate design decisions, inspire teams, synthesize complex findings, and present compelling concepts to diverse audiences.
• Seamlessly combines strategic insight with hands-on execution to solve complex design challenges and deliver exceptional design solutions.
• Experience mentoring and growing design talent.
• Experience leading design teams while remaining hands-on.
• A positive, flexible, and committed problem-solver, passionate about creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences that are both elegant and accessible.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Excellent time management skills: you know how to manage multiple priorities and break large projects into manageable pieces and utilize Jira or similar to communicate that level of effort.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail ensuring your work communicates clearly and is always on brand.
• Impeccable execution and care for all aspects of design, from conceptual thinking to motion and visual design.
• Experience working in a highly iterative, collaborative environment where people share work daily.

The Treasures You Shall Reap

We offer our employees more than just competitive compensation and benefits. Our team benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Flexible vacation allowance.
• Remote or Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy the flexibility of remote work, with opportunities for in-person collaboration at our Austin headquarters at least twice a year, or a hybrid arrangement.
• Innovative Environment: Join a team that thrives on pushing boundaries
• Growth Opportunities: As we scale, your role will evolve, providing you with unlimited opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Diverse and Inclusive: Join a team that values diversity, inclusivity, and embraces varied perspectives.

Roster of Uniques

We care deeply about every interaction our customers have with us, and trust and empower our staff to own and drive their experience. Our vision for our business and customers is built on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where, regardless of background or beliefs, you feel able to be authentic and bring all your talent into play. We want to celebrate you being you (we are an equal opportunity employer).