Head of Design

About Hilo by Aktiia

High blood pressure is the world’s most common disease, causing 18M deaths each year. At Hilo by Aktiia, our vision is a world where no lives are lost or damaged from the effects of high blood pressure. Our mission is to make this a reality by developing tech to help people control their blood pressure.

We are a venture-backed scale-up company, having raised over $96M from investors in Europe and the United States. Our technology - rooted in 18 years of research at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) - is the world’s only medically accurate, continuous blood pressure monitor that is cuffless in daily life in the consumer space. Validated through extensive clinical trials and CE Marked as a Class IIa medical device, our solution is now available in 12 countries. We are a hybrid/remote-first company, with Headquarters in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, united by our passion for impact and innovation.

We are looking for a hands-on Head of Design who sets the quality bar for product experience across Hilo's mobile app, web, onboarding, and wider customer journey.

This is not a role for someone who has moved away from the tools. You should be deeply fluent in Figma, across design systems, motion, and modern AI workflows — and have a portfolio that stops us in our tracks.

Hilo is a wearable health product. Beyond the app, that means hardware, packaging, documentation, and every physical touchpoint a customer encounters. You don't need to be an industrial designer, but you should have strong opinions and genuine love for physical products and brand — and be someone the whole company turns to when we need to know if something looks and feels right.

You will lead the design team, grow it, and shape design culture at Hilo. But you will also remain close to the work, designing and critiquing the experiences that matter most.

The Role

We are looking for a hands-on Head of Design who sets the quality bar for product experience across Hilo's mobile app, web, onboarding, and wider customer journey.

This is not a role for someone who has moved away from the tools. You should be deeply fluent in Figma, across design systems, motion, and modern AI workflows — and have a portfolio that stops us in our tracks.

Hilo is a wearable health product. Beyond the app, that means hardware, packaging, documentation, and every physical touchpoint a customer encounters. You don't need to be an industrial designer, but you should have strong opinions and genuine love for physical products and brand — and be someone the whole company turns to when we need to know if something looks and feels right.

You will lead the design team, grow it, and shape design culture at Hilo. But you will also remain close to the work, designing and critiquing the experiences that matter most.

What you'll do

Own the craft
Work hands-on in Figma on the most important product flows. Design and refine mobile app, onboarding, calibration, subscription, insights, and retention experiences. Raise the standard of interaction design, visual design, motion, typography, and detail across everything we ship.

Lead design systems
Build, maintain, and evolve scalable Figma libraries, components, patterns, and documentation. Set standards for UI, motion, accessibility, and handoff. Use AI tools intelligently to accelerate ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

Work with designers, engineers, firmware / hardware and algo teams to deliver best in class UX and design across all our touchpoints and products.

Set the quality bar
Be the person who defines what good looks like. Give clear, high-judgement feedback. Bring conviction without ego. Protect the product from fragmented or inconsistent experiences. When people at the company think of design they will turn to you - be it product, hardware, a presentation or even our accessories. You’ll have a strong opinion based on your passion and years of experience.

Grow the team
Manage and coach the design team. Create strong rituals for critique, review, and design QA. Help designers improve their craft, speed, and confidence. Work closely with Product, Engineering, Brand, and Growth.

What we're looking for

• A genuinely hands-on senior product designer who also knows how to lead
• Exceptional Figma skills including variables, components, libraries, and prototyping
• Strong motion and interaction design sensibility
• Fluent in AI design workflows
• Experience building or evolving design systems in a fast-moving product environment
• A portfolio that demonstrates taste, craft, and range — across mobile, app flows, and visual design
• Strong opinions on what great design looks like — across digital product, brand, packaging, hardware, and documentation
• A genuine love for physical products, industrial design, and brand — not as a practitioner, but as someone who cares deeply and can lead with conviction across every Hilo touchpoint
• Someone the whole company looks to when we need to know if something looks and feels right

Requirements

What Makes You A Great Fit

At Hilo by Aktiia, our values guide everything we do:

Move the Needle

• You focus on what truly drives impact for our customers and company.
• You use data and clarity to guide your decisions and prioritize what matters most.
• You push boundaries with bold, thoughtful innovation and hold yourself accountable for results.

Move Fast, Learn, Refine

• You work with urgency and purpose, balancing speed with high quality.
• You treat mistakes as learning opportunities, experiment thoughtfully, and iterate quickly.
• You take ownership, act hands-on, and always look for smarter, faster ways to get things done - including leveraging AI and new tools.

Team First

• You put the team above individual interests, building trust through openness and respect.
• You encourage healthy debate, challenge directly while caring personally, and stand behind team decisions.
• You act as an owner, stepping in when needed and doing what’s necessary for the team’s success.

Benefits

Why Join Us?

• Hilo by Aktiia is becoming one of the most important med-tech companies, and you can be part of this exciting story
• Work on a mission that matters: transforming cardiovascular health at global scale
• Be part of a high-impact, fast-growing, and venture-backed scale-up company
• Collaborate with a diverse, passionate, and talented team
• Competitive compensation and other benefits (depending on location)