Art Director

Darktrace is a global leader in AI-driven cybersecurity, helping organizations stay ahead of evolving threats. Built on the idea that Adaptive AI could detect and respond to novel, real-time cyber threats, Darktrace’s approach is critical in the era of AI. We work across teams, rally around shared goals, and own outcomes end-to-end with urgency, directness, and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

About the role

Darktrace’s internal creative agency is looking for an experienced and highly creative Art Director to shape and elevate a world-class Blue-Chip brand. This hands-on maker role is for someone with exceptional craft, strong conceptual thinking, and the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling visual storytelling across every touchpoint. You’ll lead creative from concept to completion, driving ideation, shaping brand expression, and delivering high-quality work yourself.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead creative projects from conceptualization through design, execution, and delivery, ensuring high-fidelity, thoughtful, and on-spec outcomes.
• Balance workload across multiple projects, understanding priorities and managing project requests from the production team and Creative Director.
• Create compelling and inventive solutions for integrated campaigns that uphold and evolve the Darktrace brand.
• Push Darktrace’s creative voice forward with a sharp art direction eye, exceptional craft, and a consistently high standard of visual excellence.
• Lead exploratory creative work to define new visual territories and expand the brand’s aesthetic boundaries.
• Execute high-fidelity creative across campaigns, events, web, social, digital, print, OOH, motion, video, multimedia, and interactive experiences.
• Own projects from early concept through final delivery, ensuring strategic alignment and flawless execution.
• Translate abstract ideas, strategic inputs, and complex concepts into elegant, clear, and compelling visual communication.
• Bring abstract concepts to life through typography, illustration, iconography, photography, storyboarding, and graphic development.
• Build, maintain, and evolve style guides, brand kits, design libraries, visual systems, and modular design frameworks for consistency and scalability.
• Rapidly ideate on creative, producing comps, concept executions, and presentations for the work.
• Provide visual direction and art direction across illustration, photography, motion, video, and storytelling, both hands-on and through internal teams and external partners.
• Art direct internal videographers, photographers, external agencies, freelancers, and production partners to meet Darktrace’s visual standards.
• Collaborate closely with the Creative Director, copywriters, designers, developers, videographers, photographers, and production team to deliver world-class creative solutions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Creative, Brand, Marketing, Product, Content, Account, and client stakeholders to deliver cohesive and impactful creative solutions.
• Effectively communicate conceptual ideas and design rationale to a wide range of creative and non-creative stakeholders.
• Ensure quality control through art direction, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
• Develop a deep understanding of Darktrace’s business strategies, goals, brand vision, systems, and documentation.
• Evangelize brand objectives, strategy, and art direction across projects, and advise other designers in collaboration with the Creative Director.
• Mentor designers and motion creatives, fostering growth, experimentation, feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Stay current on the competitive landscape, design trends, emerging platforms, and new tools to maintain relevance in advertising and design.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant design/art direction experience in a creative agency, studio, or in-house team.
• A BFA, BS, or MFA in Graphic Design or equivalent field is required.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional visual design, concept development, brand systems, campaigns, typography, layout, and high-quality multi-channel execution (required to apply).
• Proven ability to concept, develop, and deliver impactful visual storytelling aligned to strategic objectives.
• Self-starter attitude with excitement to work in a fast-paced, low-ego environment.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, with a strong understanding of digital, experiential, and multi-platform design.
• Proficiency with business software (MS Office, Google Slides, Keynote).
• Strong understanding of branding, visual systems, UX/UI principles, and user-centered design for digital platforms.
• Professional knowledge of web and social media standards and limitations.
• Deep knowledge of motion, animation, storyboarding, and social-first creative development.
• Experience using generative AI tools for rapid concepting, creative exploration, and mood boarding.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain creative decisions with clarity, confidence, and humility.
• Experience mentoring and elevating other creatives through thoughtful feedback and collaboration.
• Strong project management and design operations awareness, with the ability to help shape scalable ways of working.
• High level of curiosity, ambition, and creative integrity, with a desire to constantly push the work forward.
• Experience in technology or cybersecurity is a plus.

Outline of Success

Success in this role means consistently delivering world-class creative that is on brief, on time, and reflects the highest standards of craft, design strategy, and visual excellence. Your work will encapsulate the full requirements of the role in every project, combining strong concepting, clear communication, brand consistency, strategic alignment, and exceptional execution across all touchpoints.

Pay

$120,000–$140,000

Benefits

• 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Paid parental leave
• Pet insurance
• Discount
• Life insurance
• Commuter benefits
• 401(k)
• Employee Assistance Program