Brand Designer

About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world’s first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human–machine interaction.

Subsense · Remote first, Bay Area hybrid or on-site later · Reports to Alex Karpman, Brand & Marketing Lead

Engagement: Independent contractor, starting with a 1-month project estimated at 30 hours per week. Project scope: advance and finalize the brandbook, build social templates, create marketing materials for conferences, add slides to the master deck and create a new creative brochure.

Path to in-house: Depending on fit and business needs, Subsense may offer a full-time, in-house (W-2) Brand Designer position after the project.

The role

Subsense is building an AI-native NanoBCI: a non-surgical brain-computer interface that uses nanoparticles instead of implants. We are a team of about 40 scientists and engineers across two Bay Area labs, starting with medical applications such as Parkinson's and ALS. Our brand has to feel human, calm and clinically credible while explaining deep science and vision to investors, clinicians, press and future patients.

You will be the in-house hand behind every Subsense visual. We have brand guidelines (palette, Sora and Inter type system, gradients, chart style, logo rules). Your job is to advance them, turn them into a working system and then use that system every week, fast and consistently.

The work moves between two modes, and you should feel native in both. One day it is structured, clear and readable pitch deck slides that help investors follow complex science. The next it is creative, catchy and sometimes bold marketing materials that stop people at a conference or in a feed. Switching between them easily is the job.

Today this work is spread across several agencies and freelancers. We are bringing all of it in-house with one designer who knows the brand deeply, keeps clean source files and can turn a request around in a day when an investor meeting is tomorrow.

What you will do

• Brand system: build and maintain our Figma library (templates, components, icons, chart styles) so every file starts on brand
• Pitch decks and investor materials: maintain the master pitch deck, make fast slide edits for fundraising, build one-pagers and data room documents
• Presentations: keynote and conference slides for our CEO and scientists, templates the whole team can use
• Social media: monthly static posts, carousels, infographics and simple motion for LinkedIn and X, built on reusable templates
• Event and conference materials: roll-up banners, booth graphics, sponsor assets, signage, badges, printed programs, ready for print vendors
• Out of home and campaigns: billboard and digital ad creative, from concept to print-ready files
• Merch: artwork and tech packs for caps, T-shirts and gifts
• File hygiene: every deliverable ships with an editable native file in our shared drive, named and versioned

You might be a fit if you

• Have a portfolio that shows brand systems, not just one-off pieces, ideally including decks and print
• Are fluent in Figma and Canva, and comfortable in Google Slides
• Use AI image and video tools as part of your workflow and know where they help and where they hurt quality
• Can take a messy request ("make slide 8 clearer, tomorrow") and ask the two right questions before you start
• Care about typography, spacing and restraint
• Are curious about neuroscience, biotech or deep tech
• Are reachable during California business hours (Pacific Time) and can turn quick adjustments around the same day
• Nice to have
• Experience with scientific or medical visuals
• Packaging, merch or environmental design
• How to Apply & What to Expect
  Submit your portfolio, weekly availability, and responses to four application questions, including why you’re interested in Subsense. Brief, thoughtful answers are welcome! We ask for more detail up front to keep the interview process focused and streamlined.
  Shortlisted candidates can expect:
  1. Recruiter screen — 30 minutes over Zoom to discuss your experience, interests, and the role.
  2. Test tasks + Loom walkthrough — Complete three short design tasks and present your approach in a recorded Loom video.
  3. Final hiring manager interview — 45 minutes over Zoom to discuss your work, collaboration style, and any remaining questions.
  
  Why You’ll Thrive
  You'd be joining a small team developing a non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. You’ll help translate early research into working technology, with the opportunity to influence both the platform and how we build it.
  A few things that make this different:
  • Own meaningful technical work: Take projects from early R&D through functional prototypes, with room to test ideas, solve complex problems, and shape design decisions.
  • Build across disciplines: Work hands-on with ultrasound, electronics, and instrumentation alongside scientists and engineers in neuroscience, nanotechnology, and AI.
  • Help shape a novel platform: Contribute to technology with the potential to restore neurological function and, over time, enable direct brain-to-AI communication.
  • Make a visible impact: Join a team where your contributions directly influence technical progress, with equity that lets you share in the company’s growth.
  Our work takes place across labs in Palo Alto and Mountain View. We offer a competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), commuter benefits, and paid time off. Subsense is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.