Design Director

At Roto, we design immersive environments that bring museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, and cultural attractions to life. Our team blends storytelling, spatial design, technology, and fabrication to create experiences that connect people with ideas, and with each other.

We’re looking for a Design Director who thrives at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and execution. This role leads multidisciplinary teams to shape bold, visitor-centered environments, from early concept through detailed design, while mentoring designers and guiding projects toward exceptional outcomes.
 

What You’ll Do

You’ll guide the overall design vision for museums, exhibitions, attractions, and experiential environments. From master planning through detailed design, you’ll shape the spatial storytelling and experiential flow that define each project.

You will:

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams through concept, schematic, and detailed design
• Develop project visions through sketches, diagrams, floorplans, and visualizations
• Guide spatial planning, visitor flow, and interpretive storytelling
• Direct the creation of compelling design presentations for clients and internal reviews
• Ensure design solutions are both inspiring and feasible
   

Collaborate Across Disciplines

Roto’s work is highly collaborative. You’ll work closely with exhibit developers, graphic designers, producers, engineers, and fabrication specialists to bring ideas to life.

You will:

• Facilitate design charrettes and cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Present design concepts to clients and guide design discussions
• Translate feedback into clear next steps for the team
• Balance creative ambition with project budgets and schedules
   

Lead and Mentor Designers

As a Design Director, you’ll help shape the next generation of designers at Roto.

You will:

• Mentor early- and mid-career designers
• Provide thoughtful feedback and creative direction
• Foster a studio culture of curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration
• Help maintain and elevate Roto’s design standards

We’re looking for a design leader who is both creative and pragmatic—someone who can generate great ideas and guide teams through the realities of building them.

You likely have:

• 10 years of experience in exhibit design, environmental design, architecture, or related fields
• A strong portfolio demonstrating spatial storytelling and immersive environments
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly through sketches, diagrams, and presentations
• Experience presenting to clients and guiding design conversations
• Strong knowledge of materials, fabrication methods, and real-world implementation

Technical familiarity with tools such as SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and/or Revit is helpful.

Salary : $85,000 - $100,000