The designer in this role will shape some of Vesta's most visible work in one of the most discerning design markets in the country. They will take complex residential projects from the first client conversation through installation, making the creative decisions that give each home a clear point of view while holding every detail to a high standard. Their impact will extend beyond any single project. The relationships they build will create future opportunities, the designers they mentor will strengthen the studio, and the body of work they produce will define what Vesta design means in Northern California.
Summary of Role

The Senior Interior Designer leads luxury residential projects in the San Francisco market. This person is both the creative lead and the accountable owner of each engagement, responsible for the design vision, client relationship, scope and fees, sourcing strategy, schedule, budget, and quality of execution. They lead a small team of junior and associate designers and work closely with sales, sourcing, operations, logistics, and custom production to turn ambitious concepts into exceptional finished spaces.

Success in this role requires a designer with a strong point of view, sound commercial judgment, and the confidence to guide discerning clients through complex decisions. The right person can move easily from developing concepts, plans, palettes, and custom pieces to presenting ideas, negotiating fees, resolving issues on site, and coaching a team.

The salary range for this role is $100,000-$120,000, with variable compensation and on-target earnings (OTE) of up to $160,000.

Key Responsibilities

• Creative Direction and Design Development:
  Own the design vision for your projects from concept through installation. Develop mood boards, space plans, furniture layouts, elevations, lighting plans, and full material and finish palettes. Direct the CAD drawing sets and installation documents that carry your intent into the field, and design custom pieces with Vesta's furniture production team, reviewing shop drawings for accuracy. Hold the finished work to a standard you would put your own name on.
• Client Leadership and Presentation:
  Serve as the trusted design advisor for every client on your projects. Establish goals early, translate them into a clear design direction, and present ideas with the reasoning behind them so clients can decide with confidence. Guide selections, revisions, and approvals, and manage expectations on budget, timeline, and scope from the first conversation through the final walkthrough.
• Scope, Fees, and Commercial Ownership:
  Qualify new and referred opportunities for fit, scope the work accurately, and prepare proposals with the Director of Interior Design and the sales team. Discuss and set fees with clients directly. Expand an engagement when the additional scope genuinely serves the project, and protect profitability through disciplined scope management and honest tracking of design hours.
• Sourcing, Specification, and Procurement:
  Specify furniture, lighting, textiles, rugs, art, accessories, and hard finishes that serve the design and respect the budget. Build relationships with vendors, showrooms, artisans, and galleries, and use Vesta's owned inventory and custom production capability where they strengthen the design. Own the accuracy of your specifications and stay ahead of lead times, working with sourcing and procurement on purchase orders and schedules.
• Project Management and Delivery:
  Hold the schedule, budget, and quality of every project you lead. Set the milestones for concept, presentation, procurement, production, and installation, and coordinate contractors, trades, and installation crews alongside operations and logistics. Lead installations on site and style the finished result. Detailed budget accounting, invoicing, purchase orders, and inventory records are completed in partnership with the operations, procurement, and finance teams.

Team Building and Leadership

Direct the daily work of one to three junior and associate designers. Set priorities, delegate drawings, specifications, and sourcing research, review what comes back for quality and accuracy, and give feedback people can act on. Develop their judgment as well as their output, and contribute to the standards and workflows the San Francisco studio works from.
What Success Looks Like

• Completed projects that meet Vesta's standard of design quality and that you would show as your best work.
• Clients who trust your judgment, stay engaged, and refer you to others.
• Projects that perform financially, through accurate scoping, fee discipline, and controlled hours.
• A growing body of photographed work that strengthens Vesta's reputation in Northern California.
• Junior and associate designers who visibly grow under your direction.

Requirements

• 5-8 years of professional interior design experience, concentrated in luxury residential work.
• Experience leading projects independently from programming and concept through procurement, installation, and closeout.
• A portfolio showing a clear point of view and command of layout, color, lighting, scale, and materiality.
• Direct ownership of client relationships, including private clients, and the ability to present and defend design decisions.
• Experience scoping and pricing work, setting fees, and managing a project to a budget.
• Experience directing or mentoring junior designers and reviewing their work.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD for drafting and documentation.
• Strong presentation and board building skills in Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Fluency in space planning, construction and millwork documentation, and the ability to read and comment on architectural drawings.
• Attention to detail and follow through across several concurrent projects.
• Based in the Bay Area, with the ability to travel to client sites, showrooms, and installations.

Preferred Experience

• SketchUp, Revit, or rendering software such as Enscape.
• Working knowledge of a design business platform such as Studio Designer, Design Manager, or Ivy.
• An established trade network in the Bay Area, including vendor, showroom, and artisan relationships.
• Experience developing custom furniture or millwork with a fabrication partner.
• A degree in interior design, interior architecture, or related field

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401k
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance