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SaaS, Software, Productivity, Low-code/No-code

Design Operations Lead

San Francisco, California, United StatesOnsiteFull Time$240,000–$339,900 /yrPosted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship available

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Role summary

Airtable is seeking a Design Operations Lead to enhance design operations across the organization. This role focuses on improving operational excellence, accelerating AI adoption, and building effective programs. The Lead will strengthen design rituals and processes, manage critical projects, integrate AI tools into design workflows, and develop educational programs. They will also build Airtable's external design presence and act as a communication bridge between design, product, engineering, and executive leadership. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in design operations or program management, a strong understanding of design craft, and experience with technology and AI tools.

Airtable is the no-code app platform that empowers people closest to the work to accelerate their most critical business processes. More than 500,000 organizations, including 80% of the Fortune 100, rely on Airtable to transform how work gets done.

Design Operations Lead
Airtable is seeking a Design Operations Lead to elevate how design works across our organization. This is a unique opportunity to shape the connective tissue between design, engineering, product, and executive leadership—driving operational excellence, accelerating AI adoption, and building programs that stick. If you’re a scrappy, deeply curious operator who thrives in fast-moving environments and wants to have a direct impact on the craft, culture, and velocity of a world-class design team, this is the role for you.

What you'll do

  • Strengthen design team rituals and processes to drive alignment and clarity across leadership and teams
  • Lead and execute critical projects, ensuring speed, quality, and strong cross-functional communication
  • Accelerate AI enablement by building fluency with emerging tools and integrating them into design workflows
  • Improve the quality and impact of product design sprints and team deliverables
  • Develop and scale design education programs that foster growth and craft excellence
  • Launch and iterate on an external presence strategy for Airtable Design, including content and thought leadership
  • Balance proactive, reactive, and supportive work to ensure a healthy, high-performing team environment
  • Serve as a connective communication layer between design, EPD, and executive leadership

    • Who you are

  • 8+ years in design operations, program management, or a hybrid role embedded in a product design organization
  • Deep appreciation for design craft and ability to engage meaningfully on quality, not just logistics
  • Strong working knowledge of technology and AI tools, with hands-on experience integrating them into design practice
  • Sharp cross-functional instincts; able to navigate and build trust with designers, PMs, engineers, and marketers
  • Excellent written communicator who can synthesize complexity into clear, compelling narratives
  • Experience building lightweight programs and rituals (education, critiques, sprints) that teams actually use
  • Proven ability to prioritize and execute in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
  • Active AI practitioner who uses tools like Claude in daily work
  • Familiarity with Airtable or similar tools for operational infrastructure
  • Experience developing an external design brand through content, thought leadership, or industry presence
  • Exposure to 0→1 product development and experimental operational demands
  • Background spanning both brand/creative and product design functions

    • Airtable is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and strive to create a workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any characteristic protected by applicable federal and state laws, regulations and ordinances. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.

    VEVRAA-Federal Contractor

    If you have a medical condition, disability, or religious belief/practice which inhibits your ability to participate in any part of the application or interview process, please complete our Accommodations Request Form and let us know how we may assist you. Airtable is committed to participating in the interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants.

    Compensation awarded to successful candidates will vary based on their work location, relevant skills, and experience.

    Our total compensation package also includes the opportunity to receive benefits, restricted stock units, and may include incentive compensation. To learn more about our comprehensive benefit offerings, please check out Life at Airtable.

    For work locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, New York City, and Los Angeles, the base salary range for this role is:
    $240,000—$339,900 USD

    Please see our Privacy Notice for details regarding Airtable’s collection and use of personal data relating to the application and recruitment process by clicking here.For applicants that live in or have a link to Australia, please see this Privacy Collection Statement for details regarding Airtable's collection and use of personal data relating to the application and recruitment process.

    🔒 Stay Safe from Job ScamsAll official Airtable communication will come from an @airtable.com email address. We will never ask you to share sensitive information or purchase equipment during the hiring process. If in doubt, contact us at hr@airtable.com. Learn more about avoiding job scams here.

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