[Hiring] Head of Design @n8n

Role Description

n8n is the open workflow orchestration platform built for the new era of AI. We give technical teams the freedom of code with the speed of no-code, so they can automate faster, smarter, and without limits.

This is a foundational hire with a real mandate and direct exec partnership.

What you'll do

• Own the quality bar
  • Set a clear, consistent quality bar that the team can orient around and build toward.
  • Build review processes and critique rituals for shared language on quality.
  • Evolve the design system and QA practices as the team grows.
  • Lower the steep learning curve for new users without losing power for experienced builders.
• Drive design's strategic influence
  • Shape product strategy and surface user problems early.
  • Lead n8n's expansion toward a broader, less technical audience.
  • Build relationships with Product, Engineering, and leadership.
• Build and grow the team
  • Lead a team of around 14 designers, including Design Leads and ICs.
  • Shape team structure, career framework, and progression paths.
  • Create a culture of high standards and honest feedback.
  • Own hiring and headcount planning for the department.
• Build research into how we make decisions
  • Establish a pragmatic, continuous research practice.
  • Make customer insight, product data, and community feedback live inputs to product decisions.
  • Connect research to key decisions: activation, adoption, retention.
• Help the team work in new ways
  • Champion practical AI adoption inside the design org.
  • Help the team stay curious and current with evolving tools and patterns.
  • Model a thoughtful, adaptive working style.

Qualifications

• Product design leadership: Managed managers, coached senior designers, and built design teams.
• Complex product systems experience: Led design across complex or developer-facing products.
• Craft authority: Identified great work and held the line on standards.
• Strategic influence: Made design a co-equal in product conversations.
• Structured problem-solving: Created plans for unclear problems.
• AI-era product judgment: Understood the AI and automation landscape.
• Research literacy: Built research into product development.
• Data-informed decision making: Used analytics and research to guide decisions.
• Org design and performance management: Designed team structures and handled performance conversations.

Requirements

• Open-source or community product experience: Worked on community-led products.
• Design engineering credibility: Partnered on design system adoption.
• Remote-first operating systems: Built practices for distributed teams.
• Growth surface experience: Worked on activation, onboarding, or product-led growth.
• Rising Design Manager profile: Exceptional Design Manager ready for a Head-level role.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: Fair and attractive pay.
• Ownership: Equity in n8n.
• Work/life balance:
  • Europe: 30 days of vacation plus public holidays.
  • US: 20 vacation days, 8 sick days, plus public holidays.
• Health & wellness:
  • Europe: Benefits according to local country norms.
  • US: Multiple low-premium medical plans with family coverage.
• Future planning:
  • Europe: Pension contributions according to local country norms.
  • US: 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match.
• Financial security:
  • Europe: Benefits according to local country norms.
  • US: Company-paid disability and life insurance.
• Career growth: €1K per year for courses, books, or coaching.
• A passionate team: Regular hackathons to build cool things.
• Remote-first: Team works remotely with regular off-sites.
• Giving back: $100 per month to support open-source projects.
• AI enablement: Unlimited AI budget for productivity tools.
• Transparency: Open communication about projects and company status.