Work Design Architect

About the role

You own the design and stewardship of the R&D Operating Blueprint, the core architectural layer that makes Upside's organizational decision-making faster, more coherent, and increasingly self-sustaining. You build the living system that makes the right behavior the easy default, rather than writing static playbooks that people ignore. You lead the operating rhythm work, including forum design, cadence changes, and post-mortems, to maintain a healthy drumbeat across the organization. You serve as the internal expert on AI-native process design, translating complex systems thinking into legible structures for skeptical, busy audiences. You coach the team members doing the implementation work and keep the vision tightly connected to real-world execution on the ground. This is a senior IC lead role where influence flows from craft and credibility, not from direct reports or career management. You ensure the R&D operating model scales by defining what decisions belong at which level, what information should be in which room, and what makes a good decision possible.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and steward the R&D Operating Blueprint, running periodic health checks and making redesign decisions when the model drifts or breaks.

Lead operating rhythm work by designing forums, changing cadence, redesigning structures, and running post-mortems to keep the system healthy.

Own the architecture of R&D processes so that AI agents can participate in surfacing information, running processes, and flagging stalled work.

Serve as the internal expert on AI-native process design, answering how to build systems instead of static documents.

Coach implementation teams on how to execute against the operating model without constant oversight from RISE.

Translate complex systems thinking into accessible language for busy, skeptical audiences who need clarity to act.

Design decision rights and information flows so that work moves forward without relying on a single person to hold context.

Maintain the living layer above individual productivity, ensuring the organization can steer faster as a whole, not just move faster at the task level.

Balance structure and flexibility, creating explicit rules that still allow for experimentation and continuous correction.

Champion the enablement layer so the operating model runs reliably even when RISE is not in the room.

Ensure that data inputs and decision criteria are explicit, machine-accessible, and aligned with measurable business outcomes.

Identify gaps in the current R&D processes and drive redesigns that close them before they become critical for AI adoption.

Own the relationship between forums, rhythms, and information rooms to create a coherent operating system.

Evaluate whether existing structures support or hinder the R&D Operating Blueprint and recommend changes accordingly.

Continuously test and refine the architecture to ensure it remains useful as the organization evolves and scales.

Requirements

You have deep experience in program management, organizational design, or operating model work, thinking in systems rather than projects.

You have a clear point of view on how AI changes organizational dynamics, where decision authority becomes the primary bottleneck.

You have a track record of designing and implementing operating models, not merely documenting what already exists.

You have worked across technical organizations without relying on formal authority, using craft and accessibility to drive influence.

You are comfortable making complex systems legible to skeptical, busy audiences who need clarity to act.

You have a first-hire mindset, building structure where none exists and initiating action without waiting for permission.

You understand that good work depends on the health of the system, not just the competence of individual heroes.

You are willing to operate in the ambiguity of building an operating model that is outlined at the architecture table but empty of cells.

Nice to have

There are no preferred items specified beyond the core requirements and responsibilities.

Practical notes

This hybrid role is based in one of the following office locations: Austin, Chicago, DC, or NYC. In-office attendance is required on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and this requirement may increase based on project needs. There are no specified hours, travel expectations, visa requirements, or application deadlines mentioned in the source.