StartGuides is hiring contract Technical Illustrators to produce precise, brand-consistent vector illustrations of real-world equipment from reference photography. Working from our templates and style guidelines, you’ll turn complex, often imperfect source photos into clean, clear technical art that blends seamlessly with our existing illustration library.

Responsibilities
•Create complex, accurate technical illustrations in Adobe Illustrator from reference photos and other visual material.
•Interpret real equipment, including parts that are partially obscured, foreshortened, or mechanically intricate, and reconstruct geometry that is correct and easy to read.
•Apply our color, line-weight, and style standards so your work blends seamlessly with the existing illustration library.
•Maintain consistent quality against defined deadlines as part of a project team.

Requirements
•3+ years producing technical, product, scientific, or medical-style vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator — not general marketing, layout, or logo work.
•Please submit a portfolio link or 3–5 work samples that include, at minimum: complex multi-part objects drawn from reference photographs; deliberate, consistent line-weight and stroke hierarchy; and work executed to an external style guide or brand standard. 
•Demonstrated ability to look at real, complex equipment and understand how it’s built and how the parts relate — then translate that into accurate art.
•You can sustain consistent quality across a steady, recurring workload and reliably meet deadlines.
•You follow templates, color systems, and style guidelines closely, so your work is indistinguishable from the team’s.
•You can work on a StartGuides-provided Windows-based PC, have familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, are comfortable reading/navigating Microsoft PowerPoint files, and are willing to collaborate with our team through Microsoft Teams.

Our Process
We respect your time and we want to see how you actually work. Shortlisted candidates are asked to complete two short, structured skills assessments:
•A live working session where you walk us through how you build an illustration in Illustrator — so we can see your process, speed, and command of the software firsthand 
•A paid take-home assignment that mirrors a real StartGuides task on a realistic timeline, so we can evaluate finished craft and accuracy.

Must be able to legally work in the United States and must hold a U.S. Citizenship. Verification will be required to process I-9. Must pass company-sponsored commercial background check and meet eligibility criteria to support U.S. Federal Government contracts. Security clearance beneficial but not required.

StartGuides is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability protected veteran status, or other legally protecte