Brand & Web Designer (AI-Forward)

Company: FortressLocation: Irvine, CA — In-person (hybrid flexibility)Type: Full-timeCompensation: $60,000–$75,000 / year, commensurate with experienceExperience Required: 2+ years professionalAbout FortressFortress is a media company focused on advertising, strategy, and production for the world's best companies. Where creativity meets performance. With a full-service approach and a lean team of innovators, we deliver world-class content and brand experiences that drive real growth for our clients.We operate fast, we operate lean, and we ship great work. We're scaling the team — and design is one of the most important hires we'll make this year.The RoleWe're looking for a Brand & Web Designer who is genuinely multidisciplinary, deeply creative, and aggressively leveraging AI to do better work in less time. You'll own visual direction across a wide range of projects — from full brand identity systems to high-converting websites to campaign creative that runs across every channel.This is not a role for someone who waits for direction. You'll work directly with leadership, contribute strong opinions, and be trusted to execute end-to-end.What You'll Do•Develop and evolve brand identity systems (logos, guidelines, type, color, voice in visual form) for Fortress and our clients•Design responsive, conversion-focused websites and landing pages — from wireframe to launch-ready•Create campaign creative across digital ads, social, OOH, print, and motion•Produce content for our own brand: social, web, decks, sales collateral, recruitment materials•Use AI tools as a core part of your workflow — for ideation, generation, iteration, retouching, motion, and copy assist•Collaborate in person with our team in Irvine, participate in client strategy sessions, and own creative quality across every deliverable that leaves the studioRequired Skills•2+ years of professional design experience (agency, in-house, or freelance — what matters is the work)•Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects)•Strong proficiency in Figma for UI/web design and design systems•Demonstrated experience designing and shipping websites (Webflow, Framer, or Shopify proficiency a plus)•Demonstrable fluency with AI design tools — Midjourney, Figma AI, Runway, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, or equivalents. You should be able to walk us through how AI shortens your timelines and expands your creative range.•A strong portfolio with breadth — brand, web, and campaign work all represented•Excellent typography, layout, and visual hierarchy fundamentals•Sharp eye for detail and high standards for craftBonus Points•Video editing skills (DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro)•Motion design (After Effects, Runway)•Front-end fluency (HTML/CSS) or comfort working closely with developers•3D / Spline / Blender experience•Photography or art direction on shoots•Experience in fast-paced agency or production environmentsWho You Are•You're fast. You ship. You don't get precious about iterations.•You have taste, and you can defend it.•You see AI as an unlock, not a threat — and you've already integrated it into how you work.•You want to be in the room. In-person collaboration is a feature, not a bug, for you.•You're based in Orange County and want to grow with a lean, ambitious team.Logistics•Location: Our studio in Irvine, CA. Primarily in-person with hybrid flexibility for focused work.•Schedule: Full-time, standard business hours, occasional flexibility for shoots/deadlines.•Compensation: $60,000–$75,000 base salary. Final offer based on experience and portfolio.•Eligibility: Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. Must be local to Orange County or willing to relocate at own expense before start date.