Head of Design

Hotel Engine is a Denver-based travel tech company on a mission to radically simplify trip management for businesses. We’re not a cumbersome travel management company, nor an online price aggregator. We’re a powerful network that brings hotels and businesses together. Our members save time, money and effort in managing their lodging programs, and our partners get access to loyal, high-value business travelers. It’s a true win-win. Following a 2021 series B funding round at a $1.3 billion valuation, we achieved remarkable growth in 2022. We expect 2023 to be our best year yet.

Across our organization, we’re powered by exceptional talent. From our large Engineering and Product teams to Sales, Supplier Relations, Member Support, Data, Marketing and Operations, our team is forward-thinking, data-driven and customer-obsessed. We’re also a lot of fun — one of the many reasons we were named a Best Place to Work by Built In Colorado for the past four consecutive years.

We value our individuality, and we also understand that together, we thrive. Most importantly, we know we’re not for everyone! Complacency doesn’t live here. We’re focused on finding the right people who are energized by our culture and bring diverse experiences and backgrounds that will help us unlock our full potential. Click here to view our DNA, and if you like what you see, please read on!

We are looking for a passionate product leader to step in as  Head of Product Design as we continue to focus on building for scale and competitive advantage. In this role, you will lead a team of designers to create and deliver innovative products that meet the needs of our customers and drive business growth. You will scale the team through hyper-growth, reinforcing a culture of high performance, innovation, and collaboration. As a cross-functional partner to senior leaders around the company, you will dive into the business context and become an expert on our product as you participate in strategic planning and translate the big picture into a clear roadmap and goals to set your teams up to succeed.  You will report directly into the CTO and work closely with engineering, product managers, and other cross functional teams.  

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead the product design team in creating compelling user experiences for our platform

• Develop and execute a product design strategy that aligns with business goals and customer needs

• Working with cross-functional teams (developers, product managers, fellow designers) to drive design vision and strategy that meets the needs of our users.

• Manage full lifecycle product design process from ideation to launch, ensuring that designs are delivered on time and within budget

• Building positive, collaborative relationships with product management, development, and the design team, as well as continuously "raising the bar" as an effective leader of positive change.

• Manage a team of product designers, actively coaching your direct reports and building their leadership capabilities through continuous feedback, reviews, and mentorship 

Here's what we're looking for:

• 15 years of experience in product design, with at least 10 years in leadership roles.

• Expert knowledge of the end to end product design process, demonstrating a command of product strategy, distilling the jobs to be done for a given user, journey mapping, wireframing and prototyping, user testing, and high fidelity visuals.

• The ability to craft beautiful designs and delightful, useful, and usable experiences; you have strengths in visual design, interaction, and product design

• Deep experience with driving and applying user-centered design processes while working with cross-functional teams including development, product management, and product research.

• Proficient in product design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Origami, Principal.

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills; you have the ability to help your team and stakeholders understand the “why” behind your design rationale.

• Proven ability to manage and mentor a team of designers, with experience scaling a team through periods of rapid growth

Cash compensation:

• The base pay range for this role is $240,000-$260,000/year plus stock options, and a targeted annual bonus potential of up to 15% of base. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including prior experience, expertise & may vary from the amount above.

Hotel Engine Total Rewards Philosophy | We recognize that there is more to work than day-to-day responsibilities. Hotel Engine has been recognized on Built-in Colorado’s Best Places to Work list 3 years in a row (2020-2022) for our positive culture and robust growth opportunities. 

As a company, we’re also dedicated to giving back to our greater community, and have comprehensive corporate social responsibility programs supporting community, social justice and environmental causes. In addition to a collaborative, high-performing team environment, we’re pleased to offer benefits including:  

• Competitive base salaries 

• Annual performance bonuses

• Stock options for all associates + performance-based stock options 

• Insurance benefits including medical coverage (with a plan available at no cost to employees) + 100% paid dental and vision insurance 

• 401(k) plan with a match program

• Unlimited PTO + 2 paid days each year to volunteer with your favorite non-profit

• Paid parental leave and family medical leave

• Hotel discounts through our exclusive platform

• The ability to make a real impact in an incredibly fast-growing organization; you’ll never be just another cog in the wheel.