Creative Technology Lead

In a nutshell:

IDEO Chicago is looking for a Creative Technology Lead who is passionate about using technology to imagine and create products, services, and experiences that people love.

You’ll sit at the intersection of design and technology, using software, AI, hardware, and emerging tools as a creative material for exploration, invention, and making. This is a hands-on role for someone who lets the challenge at hand guide the technology they use: a curious maker who learns quickly, experiments fearlessly, and is as interested in what a technology means as in how it works.

You might prototype an AI-powered product experience one week, build an interactive physical prototype the next, and explore an entirely new tool or medium after that. Through it all, you’ll stay focused on the humans involved — using technology in service of people’s needs rather than as an end in itself.

Once you are here, you will…

• Bring a technologist’s perspective to help clients and interdisciplinary teams navigate the intersection of what is desirable and newly possible. You may be leading a team and project or joining a team as a contributing member.
• Rapidly prototype products, services, and experiences using software, AI, hardware, physical computing, and whatever other tools the problem demands, or that you dream up!
• Explore emerging technologies and translate their capabilities, limitations, and implications into meaningful opportunities for people and organizations
• Inspire teams through making — introducing new tools, unconventional approaches, and experiments that expand how we design and what solutions are possible
• Contribute to the evolution of IDEO’s design practice, exploring how new technologies are changing the relationships between design, prototyping, development, and delivery
• Participate in IDEO’s broader emerging technology community alongside other designers, engineers, data scientists, and more.

We're looking for someone with:

• A strong track record of experimenting, prototyping, and building with a broad range of technologies, including products or experiences where AI plays a meaningful role
• Experience shipping real products and an understanding of what it takes to get technology-enabled ideas to market.
• Fluency in software and digital prototyping, with the ability to move from sketches and prototypes to proofs of concept and functioning experiences
• A demonstrated curiosity to acquire new skills, learn new tools, and explore emerging technologies
• The ability to hold rigor and imagination at the same time: enough technical understanding to recognize real constraints, and enough creative curiosity to explore things that have not been built before

It's a bonus if you:

• Work across both software and hardware, including electronics, sensors, physical computing, fabrication, robotics, or connected products
• Have experience in consulting, innovation, R&D, creative technology, or other environments where the problems and tools change frequently
• Have thoughtful perspectives about how AI is changing software design, based on hands-on experience
• Have a habit of building things simply because you are curious to find out whether they can be built

Some IDEO projects to check out:

• Duck, Duck, Duck
• American Express Pay it Plan it
• Moooi Piro
• Kooth Soluna
• Ethiqly

Why is this role important for IDEO's work?

The technology landscape is changing quickly. AI is a powerful force, but it is far from the only one changing what is possible, easy, and commercially viable. At the same time, the boundaries between design, prototyping, development, and delivery are shifting.

We believe Creative Technologists have an important role to play in that change: staying curious about what is becoming possible, making those possibilities tangible, and helping teams imagine better things to build.

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

As a Creative Technology Lead in Chicago, we provide the opportunity for you to:

• Work on breakthrough products, services and experiences across industries like health, financial services, and mobility.
• Collaborate with a studio of creative, curious, and deeply thoughtful people who challenge and inspire one another
• Shape end-to-end innovation, from early insight to market activation
• Strengthen and explore your craft within deeply multidisciplinary teams while growing as a human-centered creative leader

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and your portfolio. In particular, we would like to see your approach and process of your projects in addition to the final outputs.

Payscale & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.

The salary range for this role is $120,000-140,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full-time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.

In addition to base compensation, IDEO offers a rich benefits package including the following:

Hybrid Model: Team members based in Chicago are expected to work in the studio on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with flexibility based on client travel, project needs, and deliverables.

Health Benefits: Vision, Dental, Medical/Healthcare

Financial Benefits: 401K with Employer Contribution

Family & Caregiving: Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Assistance, Transgender Medical Assistance, Breastmilk shipment, Back-up/Dependent Care, Pet Insurance

Other Benefits: Flexible Work, Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays, Annual Education Stipend, Home Office Stipend, Commuter Reimbursement, and Phone & Internet Reimbursement