Senior Designer - Packaging, Retail, and Experiential

About ZBiotics

At ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. As a group of motivated, yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours – built to create benefits for people in their daily lives – are the future. As the first to market, we believe it’s our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.

In 2019, ZBiotics launched Pre-Alcohol™ – the world's first genetically engineered probiotic drink – designed to break down acetaldehyde, an unwanted alcohol byproduct. In 2024, we launched Sugar-to-Fiber™ – a genetically engineered probiotic drink mix – that creates fiber from the sugar you already eat, contributing to microbiome health.

With a full line of genetically engineered probiotics in development, our team is growing. We’re looking for people as excited as we are to build this new category of consumer products. ZBiotics is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by venture investors including Y Combinator and Khosla Ventures, among others.

About the Role

ZBiotics is scaling its omnichannel presence, growing rapidly in retail, and refreshing our packaging across the business. We're hiring a Senior Designer - Packaging, Retail, and Experiential  to own how ZBiotics shows up on shelf in store, and the packaging architectures as we scale. You'll build our first retail design system, lead execution of the packaging redesign, and tailor retail materials for each new account. You'll partner closely with our Retail Marketing Manager and the sales team, work within the design function, and collaborate with supply chain and outside vendors to take work from concept to production. This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Creative Director.

Your Responsibilities

The following are essential functions of this role:

Retail Design System

• Build and maintain a retail design system: a core library of on-brand assets, templates and guidelines the sales team can use in retailer conversations.
• Design sell-in materials such as sell sheets, line reviews, planogram visuals and presentation decks that help the sales team win new accounts.
• Experiential and events design for trade shows, event booths, pop-ups etc. 
• Develop in-store assets including shelf talkers, signage, displays, endcaps and fixture graphics.
• Create 2D and 3D mockups and renderings so stakeholders and retail partners can see concepts in place before production.
• Set standards that keep retail work consistent with the ZBiotics brand as the retail team and partner list grow.
• Visit retail partners’ stores to see how displays and packaging perform on shelf and bring back improvements. . 
• Direct freelance designers, agencies, and production vendors on packaging and retail work, and review their output.

Packaging Design

• Own design execution of the packaging system.
• Translate creative direction, business, work with Regulatory Affairs and Quality to make sure packaging meets labeling and claims requirements before production.
• Prepare dielines, mechanicals, artwork and production-ready files.
• Partner with packaging developers, suppliers, manufacturers and our supply chain team to resolve technical challenges, review proofs and samples, and approve final production.
• Present concepts and design rationale clearly to the design team and senior leadership, and support internal decisions with options and recommendations.

Retailer Customization

• Adapt the retail design system for each retail partner once an account is set up, covering signage, fixtures and custom in-store materials.
• Work with the Retail Marketing Manager and sales team to understand each retailer's requirements, specs, timelines and brand guidelines.
• Manage production and delivery of custom retail materials with printers and fabricators, on time and on budget.
• Juggle multiple accounts and launches at once, prioritizing in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

About You

You're a packaging and retail designer with a sharp eye and a builder's mindset. You can shape a big creative idea and then sweat the details of a dieline, a color proof or a fixture spec. You weigh creative ambition against cost, timing and manufacturing realities, and you enjoy working side by side with sales, supply chain and vendors to get great work onto shelves.

Desired Qualifications

• 6+ years of packaging design experience, ideally at a consumer brand in CPG, food and beverage, wellness or beauty.
• A strong portfolio showing sophisticated packaging design, concept development, structural thinking and production execution.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.
• A strong grasp of typography, color, composition, materials and physical product design.
• Experience partnering directly with packaging developers, suppliers, manufacturers and production teams, from sampling through final production.
• Experience designing retail and in-store materials such as signage, displays, fixtures or sell-in collateral.

Additional Helpful Experience

• Experience at a startup or small company where you’ve helped build new processes or policies from scratch
• Experience with 3D design, rendering or visualization software (e.g., Dimension, KeyShot, Esko, Blender, ArtiosCAD, SketchUp)
• Experience building or scaling a design system, brand guidelines or template library used by non-designers
• Experience preparing press-ready files and attending press checks
• Familiarity with retailer requirements and FDA labeling considerations for food, beverage or supplement packaging
• Working knowledge of Figma and Google Workspace

This Role is Perfect For You If…

• You're highly detail-oriented and hold an uncompromising bar for quality.
• You're a conceptual thinker who also loves technical execution.
• You're commercially minded and balance creative ambition with cost, timing, scalability and manufacturing realities.
• You thrive managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• You communicate clearly, explain your creative rationale and present confidently to senior leadership.
• You're collaborative and solutions-oriented, and comfortable working across creative and operational teams.
• You embody the ZBiotics values of People-first, Integrity, Citizenship, and Science

Benefits & Compensation

We believe in a life well-lived. ZBiotics offers competitive benefits for a life outside of work, including: health / dental, 401(k) matching, a flexible, unlimited paid time off policy, 16 weeks fully paid parental leave, a home office stipend, transit benefits for those in the San Francisco Bay Area, and access to co-working office space if located in or visiting San Francisco.

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $145,000  per year, and will include additional equity.  

Employment at ZBiotics is at-will.

We Encourage You to Apply…

At ZBiotics, we value our differences, and we encourage all—especially those whose identities are traditionally underrepresented in tech organizations—to apply.

ZBiotics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

ZBiotics will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in the application and employment process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact ZBiotics HR.