Associate Director, Interior Design
Teague · Everett & Renton, WA
WHO WE ARE:
Teague is an independent design consultancy that combines technology expertise with a deep understanding of human behavior to design what’s next for companies in automotive, commercial aviation, smart cities and infrastructure, advanced mobility, technology, space, and defense. On any given day, you might be prototyping a new space station, designing cutting-edge technology, or traveling around the world conducting research. We are approaching our one-hundred-year anniversary and are proudly employee-owned. Our culture fosters collaboration, accountability, and stability—because when we succeed, we all win. Come be a part of something bigger than just a job—build your career with an employee-owned company that invests in you!
ABOUT THE ROLE:
As the Associate Director, Interior Design at Teague, you’ll lead a team of interior designers across Boeing aircraft programs and a diverse portfolio of commercial engagements, translating client goals and production realities into design outcomes that are both visionary and viable. You’ll guide teams through the full creative and technical process, from research and experience development through conceptual design, storytelling, manufacturability, documentation, and delivery, while bringing a strong creative point of view and deep technical fluency in aviation interiors.
You’ll champion creative and technical excellence, mentoring designers in both craft and production while fostering a strong team culture and high standards for quality. Partnering closely with clients, Program Management, cross disciplinary design teams, engineering, and manufacturing, you’ll help protect design intent through implementation and contribute your expertise to proposals, project planning, and new business opportunities.
TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS:
The Associate Director, Interior Design may be required to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time in support of client and/or vendor meetings.
WHO YOU ARE:
You are a hands-on design leader who brings a strong creative point of view, technical expertise, and a passion for developing people. You know how to balance big-picture design vision with the details that make a solution accurate, manufacturable, and ready for production. You are curious about materials, processes, and emerging approaches, and you’re always looking for ways to push the work forward while staying grounded in real-world constraints.
You are a thoughtful collaborator and confident communicator who can build trust across designers, clients, engineers, and manufacturing partners. You know when to lead, when to collaborate, and when to give your team space to own the work. You lead with clarity, accountability, and empathy, creating an environment where designers can grow, challenge themselves, and do their best work. Above all, you care deeply about the craft of interior design and are motivated by turning great ideas into meaningful, high-quality experiences.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
OWNING
- Lead with both creative vision and technical execution, driving innovation and design excellence across the interior design team’s Boeing aircraft programs and commercial engagements across Teague’s broader portfolio.
- Own the quality, accuracy, and on-time delivery of interior design documentation and deliverables across Boeing and other aviation programs as well as broader commercial client engagements.
- Build, mentor, and develop a team of interior designers—providing feedback, sharing technical and creative expertise, and fostering growth in both design and production skills.
- Manage the day-to-day employee experience of the discipline team, including regular one-on-ones, goal setting, performance feedback and reviews, development planning, workload awareness, hiring, and onboarding.
- Lead or contribute to a focused portfolio of concurrent engagements, operating at greater depth where discipline leadership, client continuity, or creative and technical complexity require it.
- Shape and guide the interior design function’s culture, tools, workflows, and team dynamics to align with Teague’s brand and strategic goals.
- Act as a liaison between design, engineering, cross-disciplinary project teams, and manufacturing partners, ensuring design intent, color, and material integrity carry through to implementation, production and certification.
- Serve as a creative and design point of contact for assigned Boeing and commercial engagements, helping clarify client needs, present the work, navigate feedback, and maintain alignment throughout delivery.
- Maintain accountability for timelines, budgets, and quality outcomes across the team’s projects, ensuring deliverables meet Boeing, client, production, and regulatory standards.
- Lead creative and technical reviews, offering clear direction and constructive feedback that strengthens the work.
- Partner with Business Development, Program Management, design leadership, and other relevant contributors to support opportunities across aviation and Teague’s broader commercial portfolio.
THINKING
- Synthesize design vision, Boeing and client requirements, and production realities into actionable creative and technical solutions.
- Champion a passion for interior design, sharing insights and fostering curiosity and inspiration across the team.
- Evaluate new materials, finishes, and production methods, identifying opportunities for innovation in aircraft interiors, built environments, and other physical experiences.
- Translate Boeing and client needs into smart, strategic design concepts and actionable solutions that support experience, brand, program, operational and certification goals.
- Partner with Program Managers to stay aligned on timelines, deliverables, and budgets—ensuring design solutions are both inspiring and technically feasible.
- Connect interior design with experience strategy, brand, other design disciplines, architecture, and technology to support cohesive, integrated design outcomes.
- Anticipate technical or aesthetic challenges and proactively propose alternative approaches or refinements.
- Contribute discipline expertise, client feedback, delivery insights, and awareness of evolving tools and methods to the continued development of Teague’s offers and ways of working.
- Elevate Teague’s presence in interior and experience design across aviation and adjacent industries through thought leadership and a strong, relevant point of view.
DOING
- Inspire and equip the team to deliver clear, compelling rationales to Boeing and other clients, elevating storytelling and strategic impact.
- Continuously raise the bar on creative and technical excellence—pushing for stronger ideas, better execution, and manufacturable results.
- Actively contribute to the creative process as a collaborator and maker—participating in experience narratives, sketches, renderings, 2D/3D assets, and presentations alongside the team.
- Facilitate technical reviews with cross-disciplinary teams, ensuring production and certification requirements are met without compromising creative quality.
- Set and uphold high standards—both creatively and technically—for yourself and the team, utilizing Adobe Creative Suite and CAD-based tools as needed.
- Track deliverables, communicate progress, and support on-time delivery through organized documentation and active project coordination across the team’s programs.
- Support and, when appropriate, lead pursuit activities within the discipline’s area of expertise—helping clarify client needs, translate opportunities into approaches and scopes of work, estimate effort, identify relevant case studies, articulate Teague’s value, and develop proposals, presentations, and sales materials.
WHAT YOU BRING:
- Bachelor’s degree in interior design, environmental design, interior architecture, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
- 8+