Lead Graphic Designer

Help reinvent how housing gets designed, permitted, and built in America. Cedar is building the operating system for urban housing delivery. We combine architectural expertise with software, automation, and data systems to dramatically accelerate how projects move from land acquisition to approved designs and construction. The result: faster timelines, higher quality, lower risk, and more housing in the cities that need it most. Our team blends architects, engineers, and product builders. We design beautiful, responsive housing — and we build the software systems that make great architecture scalable. The Role As Cedar grows, how we show up visually and culturally is a strategic priority — not an afterthought. We're building something that doesn't really exist yet: a national brand at the intersection of architecture, technology, and housing that carries real weight. Not a prop-tech company with a nice logo. A company with a genuine point of view on cities, design, and how people live — one that architects, developers, investors, and policymakers pay attention to. That brand doesn't happen by accident. It gets built — deliberately, carefully, across every single surface. That's this role. You’ll be the person responsible for how Cedar looks, feels, and communicates. Your first major project will be leading a brand evolution alongside an external agency, shaping a visual identity and positioning that can hold up on a national stage. From there, you own it: every deck, every publication, every pixel that goes out the door. The work is equal parts design craft and brand stewardship. You’ll make key materials yourself — investor presentations, research publications, marketing assets — and you’ll set the standard that ensures Cedar never shows up looking like anything less than what it is. The bar is premium, smart, and unmistakably intentional. We want Cedar’s brand to be the strongest in the built environment — the kind of presence where people pay attention when we publish something, where our materials get shared because they’re genuinely good, where the design signals that the thinking behind it is just as rigorous. This role is how we get there. What You’ll Do Lead Cedar’s brand evolution, partnering with an external agency to build a visual identity and positioning worthy of a national stage Define and maintain the design system and visual language that holds it all together Own the brand across every touchpoint — website, presentations, reports, product marketing, social, and events Design materials for developers, investors, and partners that feel sharp, confident, and distinctly Cedar Create visual storytelling for Cedar’s thought leadership — articles, research pieces, and housing insights that people actually want to read and share Work with the product team to make sure marketing and product visuals feel like one company, not two Raise the floor. Everything that leaves Cedar should look like it came from a company that cares deeply about design Build the kind of brand presence that earns Cedar a seat in the architecture, real estate, and technology conversations that matter Who You Are A strong graphic designer with sharp visual taste and real range You care deeply about typography, layout, and the details that separate good from excellent Comfortable working across formats — presentations, editorial layouts, web graphics, brand systems — and making all of them feel cohesive You can take a loosely defined idea and turn it into something clear, compelling, and polished Organized and disciplined — you keep brand systems tight and consistent because you understand that’s how quality scales You want to be close to the company’s identity, not just executing someone else’s vision Nice to Have Experience in architecture, design, real estate, or urban topics — you understand the audience Experience partnering with branding agencies or leading rebrand efforts Editorial design chops — reports, essays, publications Motion or lightweight animation skills Why This Role Is Interesting Cedar sits at the intersection of architecture, cities, and technology — three fields where design credibility and intellectual seriousness actually matter. This isn’t a production design job. It’s a chance to build one of the best brands in the built environment from the inside — to shape how a company looks, thinks, and communicates during the years when it matters most. You’ll work directly with the founders, you’ll have real ownership, and the ambition is high. Cedar intends to be a national voice in the future of housing. Your work is what makes that legible. Location This role is in office at our headquarters in Austin, TX. Compensation & Benefits Competitive salary Meaningful equity ownership Healthcare, dental, and vision Early-stage ownership and impact #J-18808-Ljbffr