Senior Visual Communications Designer

Sofar Ocean is a ocean intelligence company that operates the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world, delivering real-time data and analytics to maritime, government, defense, and research customers. Their two core platforms are Spotter, a global network of solar-powered buoys and sensing devices that measure waves, wind, weather, sound, currents, temperature, water quality, and water level, and Wayfinder, a voyage optimization software that helps shipping operators reduce fuel consumption and emissions by recommending optimal routes, speeds, and schedules based on live maritime weather data and vessel performance models. The company generates over 1.5 million real-time ocean observations per day from more than 2,500 deployed Spotters worldwide, providing ground-truth data trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and major commercial shipping fleets. Sofar Ocean's mission is centered on building a comprehensive data layer for the ocean to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship across maritime industries. Their Wayfinder platform delivers an average fuel reduction of 4 to 8 percent per voyage, directly translating into lower greenhouse gas emissions for commercial shipping, one of the world's largest industrial carbon emitters. By combining proprietary sensor infrastructure with advanced weather modeling, Sofar claims forecasts that are 50 percent more accurate than traditional models, enabling better preparation for extreme weather events and protection of maritime assets. What distinguishes Sofar Ocean is its vertically integrated approach: the company owns and operates its own sensor network, runs its own intelligence models, and delivers end-to-end solutions from raw ocean data collection to actionable voyage guidance. This positions them uniquely at the intersection of climate resilience, maritime efficiency, and ocean science, serving a diverse customer base that includes shipping companies, governments, coral reef researchers, and defense agencies seeking live, hyperlocal ocean intelligence at a global scale.

We’re looking for a highly creative and versatile Senior Visual Designer to bring complex concepts to life through compelling visuals. This role will own the look and feel of our corporate design assets—elevating everything from PowerPoint to digital campaigns—while also building a cohesive brand system that translates across print, digital, web, and motion.

This role is an opportunity to make a tangible impact on how our company communicates, positions itself, and inspires audiences. You’ll have the chance to build the creative foundation of our brand while working on diverse, high-visibility projects.

In this role you’ll be the go-to creative partner across the company, transforming theoretical ideas into visuals that inspire, persuade, and engage diverse audiences. This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced startup environment - ideal for someone with a strong design point of view, the ability to execute quickly, and the drive to shape a brand from the ground up.

What You’ll Own:

• The look and feel of our most important communication assets - presentations, campaigns, brand materials, and digital content

• Our visual identity: evolving and systematizing it across print, digital, web, and motion

• Concept visualization: turning abstract strategy and technical ideas into clear, compelling graphics

• Motion and animation for social, web, and content - from quick GIFs to polished motion pieces

• Web design contributions in Figma and Webflow, in close collaboration with product and marketing

• The creative bar - you'll set the standard and be the person others come to when the work needs to be great

What You’ll Bring:

• 7+ years of design experience, including hands-on work in startup environments.

• Expert in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects or similar) and Figma.

• Advanced PowerPoint and Google Slides design skills; proven ability to make presentations visually striking and clear.

• Proven experience designing for digital or SaaS products (B2B, not Consumer)

• Experience working with data-intensive products, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear user experiences

• Strong portfolio showcasing conceptual work, corporate communications design, and brand development.

• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with fast, hands-on execution; brings a clear creative point of view.

• Experience in web design (Webflow) and basic coding (HTML/CSS) is a must.

• Nice-to-have: photography and video editing skills to extend the brand across content formats.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities at once.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to interpret abstract concepts and translate them into visuals.

• Appreciation for data visualization and storytelling.

Estimated Salary Range:

• $120,000 - $170,000 + Equity & Benefits

• The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.

Our Approach to AI in the Hiring Process:

At Sofar, we use AI tools in our day-to-day work, and we don't expect our hiring process to be any different. Here's how we think about it:

Applying: Write your own first draft — we want to hear your voice and understand your real experience. AI is fine for refining and polishing, not for generating your story.

Take-home assessments: Complete these on your own unless we've explicitly said otherwise. We'll always be upfront about it when AI is allowed.

Interview prep: Go for it. Use AI to research Sofar, practice your responses, and sharpen your thinking before we meet.

During interviews: This is you. We're a small team and we move fast — live conversations are how we get to know you, and we're genuinely curious how you think in real time.

A note on transparency: We're a lean People team, and we use AI to help with things like drafting job descriptions, preparing interview questions, and candidate communications. We don't use it to make hiring decisions — those are always ours.

The through line: use AI to show more of yourself, not less :)

About Working at Sofar:

Hybrid work: We're a hands-on team building hardware and software that operates in the real world — so being together matters. We ask that most team members are in office at least 70% of the time, though some roles (like field technicians or hardware engineering) may require more. Fully remote roles are designated as such in the job posting.

Visa sponsorship: We do sponsor visas and retain an immigration lawyer to support the process. While we can't guarantee sponsorship for every role or situation, if we make you an offer, we'll make every reasonable effort to make it work.

A note on applying: We mean it when we say we want the strongest people — not the most credentialed ones. If you're excited about this work but don't check every box, please apply anyway. Research consistently shows that underrepresented candidates are more likely to self-select out, and that's a loss for everyone. Sofar operates at the intersection of ocean science, climate, and technology — the problems we're solving are consequential, and the perspectives we bring to them matter. We're actively working to build a team that reflects that.