Endear - Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Endear (via Eleve Talent)

Location: Remote, US-based

Job Type: Full-Time, Employee

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations (Design for Operations)

Date Posted: September 15, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the end-to-end design lifecycle for the "in real life" (IRL) product suite, focusing on in-store retail operations and clienteling workflows.

• Drive product strategy and execution for new, foundational features within the IRL roadmap, leveraging user research and data to inform design decisions.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering to translate complex, often ambiguous, problems into intuitive and accessible user experiences.

• Contribute to an AI-first product vision by exploring and integrating AI tools and capabilities into the design process and product offerings.

• Develop and maintain design standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all product states, including edge cases and error handling.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Product Designer," its focus on "in-store operations," "clienteling," and "workflow design" for retail teams positions it as a critical function within the broader Go-To-Market (GTM) and Revenue Operations ecosystem. The designer will be instrumental in shaping the tools that frontline retail staff use, directly impacting sales enablement, customer relationship management, and operational efficiency. The emphasis on "IRL" (In Real Life) team ownership signifies a deep dive into the practical, on-the-ground operational challenges faced by retail associates and managers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for features within the IRL product area, encompassing appointments, events, customer check-ins, and administrative workflows.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, from initial discovery and problem definition to usability testing and iterative refinement.

• Design complete and accessible product experiences, meticulously accounting for all states including loading, empty, error, and permission screens.

• Partner actively with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the product development lifecycle, from ideation to final implementation.

• Utilize customer insights, qualitative feedback, and quantitative data to validate design hypotheses and drive informed iteration.

• Contribute to the evolution of Endear's AI-first strategy by exploring and prototyping AI-driven features and functionalities.

• Champion design best practices, ensuring adherence to established design patterns while also identifying opportunities for innovation and evolution.

• Clearly articulate design decisions and their rationale to cross-functional teams and stakeholders, demonstrating a strong product thinking capability.

• Measure and communicate the impact of design solutions on user experience, operational efficiency, and business objectives, using data where available.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant degree of autonomy and ownership, typical of mid-level to senior product designers. The emphasis on "zero-to-one product work" and "defining problems through research before designing solutions" indicates a need for a proactive, strategic approach to design, rather than just executing predefined requirements. This aligns with operations roles that require problem-solving and process improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is often beneficial. Candidates are evaluated on demonstrated skills and portfolio more than formal education.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of independently owning and delivering features from discovery through implementation.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in the full product design lifecycle, from discovery and user research to UI design, prototyping, and production-ready asset creation.

• User Research & Testing: Proficient in conducting various forms of user research, including discovery interviews, contextual inquiries, and usability testing.

• Problem Solving & Ambiguity: Demonstrated ability to translate broad, ambiguous problems into clear, actionable product solutions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Design for Completeness: Ability to design for all product states, including loading, empty, error, permission, and complex workflow scenarios.

• Data-Informed Design: Skill in using qualitative and quantitative data, customer feedback, and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Design Systems & Evolution: Experience working within established design patterns and systems, with the judgment to know when and how to evolve them.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with using AI tools as part of the design workflow and applying critical judgment to AI-generated output.

• Portfolio Presentation: A strong portfolio showcasing product thinking, execution, and the impact of design work, supported by data where possible.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for retail, e-commerce, or B2B SaaS products, particularly those impacting frontline operations.

• Familiarity with AI-driven product features and their design implications.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices in UI/UX design.

• Experience in designing complex workflows and operational tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "2-5 years" suggests a mid-level role, requiring both execution capability and strategic input. The "AI tools" requirement is increasingly important in modern product design and operations, indicating a forward-thinking approach from Endear. The portfolio requirement is critical, as it will be the primary evidence of product thinking and execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Product Thinking: Demonstrate a clear understanding of user needs and business objectives, showcasing how design decisions address specific problems.

• Execution & Impact: Present case studies that detail the design process from problem definition to final shipped product, quantifying impact with metrics (e.g., user adoption, efficiency gains, conversion rates) where possible.

• End-to-End Ownership: Showcase projects where you took ownership of features, including research, wireframing, prototyping, and final UI design, with clear articulation of your role and contributions.

• Problem Framing: Include examples of how you tackled ambiguous or complex problems, illustrating your ability to create clarity and define solutions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highlight projects where you successfully partnered with Product and Engineering, demonstrating your ability to integrate feedback and align on solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Research Methodology: Explain your approach to user research, including discovery techniques, participant recruitment, and analysis of findings.

• Design Process: Detail your typical design process, from ideation and wireframing to prototyping, user testing, and handoff to engineering.

• Iteration & Feedback: Show examples of how you iterated on designs based on user feedback, data, or technical constraints, demonstrating a learning-oriented approach.

• Handling All States: Provide examples of how you accounted for complete product experiences, including error states, empty states, loading indicators, and permission flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a product design role focused on operations, the portfolio should emphasize how the designer translates operational needs into functional, user-friendly interfaces. Demonstrating an understanding of workflow optimization and the ability to account for the intricacies of operational environments (e.g., busy store floors, varying user technical proficiency) will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $129,000 base salary per year. This range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer role in the US, particularly for a fully remote position in a growing SaaS company. Factors influencing placement within this range will likely include the candidate's specific experience, demonstrated impact, and alignment with the company's values and operational needs.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, vision).

• Co-working or home office stipend to support a productive remote work environment.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) and unlimited vacation policy, encouraging work-life balance.

• Robust education and learning support, including an education budget, to foster continuous professional development.

• Opportunity to shape foundational product work in the transformative retail industry.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility. The team has a required all-team standup every Monday at 8:00 AM Pacific Time, necessitating availability during that period.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits listed are standard for a remote tech company, with a notable emphasis on professional development and a positive remote work environment. The mention of the Monday standup is crucial for candidates to understand mandatory meeting times.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / SaaS (specifically CRM for retail frontline)

Company Size: Small, growing team (implied by "three-person design team" and dedicated product teams).

Founded: Information not directly provided, but the company is evolving into an "AI-first product," suggesting a modern, forward-thinking approach.

Team Structure:

• The product organization is divided into three distinct product teams: AI, IRL, and Core Flows.

• One designer is dedicated to each product team.

• The IRL Product Designer will work closely with a dedicated Product Manager and 2-3 Engineers.

• The Design team consists of three designers, reporting to the Head of Product Design.

• This structure allows for focused ownership while fostering collaboration across product areas. Methodology:

• Customer-Centric Approach: Strong emphasis on understanding and serving the needs of retail teams ("Customer First" value).

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing customer insight and data to inform design choices and measure impact.

• AI Integration: Actively exploring and integrating AI into the product and design workflow.

• Agile Development: Implied by close collaboration with Product and Engineering, and a focus on iterative delivery and learning.

• Iterative Design: Continuous learning and refinement based on feedback and data.

Company Website: https://www.elevetalent.com/ (Note: This is the recruiter's website; Endear's actual product website is likely to be found via a separate search or mentioned in the application process).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as collaborative, customer-obsessed, and excited about solving retail problems. The "IRL" team focus suggests a deep understanding of practical, on-the-ground operational challenges. The integration of AI is a key strategic direction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role (2-5 years of experience). The designer is expected to take ownership of features and projects, demonstrating strong product thinking and execution capabilities. While not a formal "operations" role title, the focus on designing operational tools for retail teams makes it an integral part of the GTM/Revenue Operations support structure.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report directly to the Head of Product Design. This provides clear mentorship, direction, and support for professional development.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of retail frontline staff, influencing customer relationships, sales processes, and overall store operations. Successful designs will drive measurable growth for Endear's clients by improving how retail teams manage clienteling and in-store workflows.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Product Ownership: Opportunity to build deeper ownership and expertise across the entire IRL product suite.

• Skill Development: Access to mentorship, an education budget, and support around Endear's AI processes to enhance design craft and AI integration skills.

• Industry Transformation: Playing a key role in shaping foundational product work within a transformative industry (retail CRM).

• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, opportunities may arise for increased leadership within the design team or product organization.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Developing strong collaborative relationships and understanding across Product, Engineering, and potentially Sales/Customer Success teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed around deepening expertise in product design, specifically within the retail operations context, and leveraging AI. The reporting structure to the Head of Product Design is a significant advantage for mentorship and career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote, US-based. The company emphasizes a collaborative remote culture.

Office Location(s): No physical office is specified; the role is entirely remote within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First Culture: Designed to support effective collaboration and productivity for distributed teams.

• Collaborative Tools: Access to necessary tools and technology to facilitate seamless remote work and design processes.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and the broader design team through virtual channels and scheduled meetings.

• Focus on Results: Emphasis on delivering complete, production-ready work and demonstrating impact, regardless of physical location.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours are expected, with flexibility. A mandatory weekly all-team standup is scheduled for Monday at 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Candidates must be available to attend this meeting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring strong self-discipline and communication skills. The mandatory Monday standup is a non-negotiable requirement for team synchronization.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Recruiter Screen: Initial conversation to assess basic qualifications, role fit, and candidate interest.

2. Behavioral Interview with Hiring Manager: Deeper dive into experience, problem-solving approach, and alignment with company values.

3. Team Portfolio Review with Design, Product + Engineering: Presentation of portfolio work, focusing on product thinking, design process, and collaboration with cross-functional peers. Expect detailed questions about your contributions and impact.

4. Final Leadership Conversation: A discussion with senior leadership to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

5. Offer 🎉 Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your product thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver impact, especially those related to complex workflows or operational challenges.

• Focus on Process & Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your process (research, ideation, iteration), your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact of your work. Use data points where available.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that highlight your journey from understanding a problem to delivering a solution.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you approached unclear or ambiguous problems and how you created clarity.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you partnered with Product and Engineering, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and integrate feedback.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs made, and how you handled challenges or disagreements.

Challenge Preparation:

• While no explicit "challenge" is listed beyond the portfolio review, be prepared for hypothetical scenario questions during interviews that test your design thinking and problem-solving skills.

• For example, you might be asked to describe how you would approach designing a specific feature for retail associates or how you would research a new operational pain point.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, focusing on user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a significant component, emphasizing practical application and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just visual design skills but also strategic product thinking and an understanding of operational contexts. The mention of "AI processes" suggests potential questions around how they envision using AI in design or product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Expect to use industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar. Figma is a common choice for collaborative design.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting remote interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., Lookback, UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Project Management & Collaboration: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking tasks and collaborating with Engineering and Product.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for daily team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar will be beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

• Data Visualization: While not explicitly mentioned, experience with tools for creating dashboards or reports (e.g., Tableau, Looker) could be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Endear): The role is to design for Endear's CRM product, so direct experience with Endear itself is not required, but understanding CRM principles and retail clienteling is key.

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of how design can facilitate or integrate with workflow automation within a SaaS product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tool requirements are not detailed, but proficiency in standard product design tools (like Figma) and an understanding of how to leverage analytics for design decisions are expected. Familiarity with collaborative tools is essential for remote work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer First: Prioritize understanding the end-users (retail associates, managers) and their daily operational challenges, using research to drive empathetic and effective design solutions.

• Take Ownership: Demonstrate accountability for features, from initial concept to final delivery, caring deeply about the quality and completeness of the work shipped.

• Enable Autonomy: Foster clear communication and early collaboration with Product and Engineering, providing them with the necessary context to make informed decisions independently.

• Under Promise, Over Deliver: Set realistic expectations for timelines and deliverables, while ensuring comprehensive, high-quality solutions are provided.

• Innovate & Deliver Value Quickly: Embrace experimentation, thoughtfully leverage AI and other tools, and maintain momentum to deliver value efficiently without compromising sound product judgment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close partnership with Product and Engineering is central to the design process, requiring active participation and clear communication.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values seeking and giving feedback to drive continuous improvement in both product and individual performance.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the design team and with other departments.

• AI Exploration: A shared curiosity and willingness to explore how AI can enhance products and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are directly tied to how the Product Designer is expected to operate, emphasizing user empathy, accountability, collaborative problem-solving, and a blend of speed and quality with a forward-looking approach to technology like AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity in Zero-to-One Work: Designing for new features where the problem space is not fully defined requires strong research and strategic thinking skills.

• Balancing Design Vision with Technical Constraints: Effectively collaborating with engineering to ensure feasibility while advocating for optimal user experiences.

• Designing for Diverse User Needs: Catering to the varied technical proficiencies and operational contexts of frontline retail staff and administrators.

• Measuring Impact in Early-Stage Products: Quantifying the success of designs when baseline data may be limited.

• Integrating AI Thoughtfully: Ensuring AI features genuinely add value and are seamlessly integrated into user workflows, rather than being a novelty.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of retail operations, clienteling, and the challenges faced by frontline teams.

• AI Design Applications: Developing skills in designing for AI-powered features and leveraging AI tools in the design process.

• Mentorship: Receiving guidance and support from the Head of Product Design to grow in craft and career.

• Educational Budget: Access to resources for formal learning, courses, conferences, or workshops to expand skill sets.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Contributing to foundational product decisions and shaping the direction of the IRL product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to early-stage product development and the specific domain of retail operations. The growth opportunities are well-defined, focusing on skill enhancement, domain expertise, and strategic involvement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for an ambiguous problem. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Tests problem-solving, research, and strategic thinking).

• "How do you incorporate user feedback and data into your design process, especially when dealing with conflicting input?" (Assesses data-informed decision-making and iteration).

• "Walk us through a complex workflow you designed. What were the key considerations, and how did you ensure it was user-friendly and efficient?" (Evaluates understanding of operational processes and design for complexity).

• "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure alignment and successful product delivery?" (Probes cross-functional collaboration skills).

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility and ensuring all users, regardless of technical skill, can use the product effectively?" (Tests user empathy and design for inclusivity). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Endear's mission and the retail CRM space?" (Assesses motivation and industry interest).

• "How do you align with our 'Customer First' and 'Take Ownership' values?" (Tests cultural fit and understanding of company principles).

• "What are your thoughts on the role of AI in product design and in retail operations?" (Gauges curiosity and strategic thinking regarding AI).

• "Describe your ideal remote work environment and how you ensure productivity and collaboration." (Evaluates remote work readiness and self-management). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), The Solution, and The Impact (Metrics/Outcomes).

• Focus on "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions at each stage. Why this research method? Why this UI element? Why this workflow?

• Be Specific: Detail your individual contributions, especially in team projects. Avoid vague statements.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present data showing how your designs improved user experience, efficiency, or business metrics. If direct data wasn't available, discuss how you would measure success.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready for detailed questions about your process, trade-offs, challenges, and how you collaborated with others.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth flow and clear communication within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, operational awareness, and strong collaboration abilities, especially in a remote context. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring a structured and impact-focused presentation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating product thinking, ownership of features from discovery to implementation, and experience with complex workflows or operational challenges. Emphasize your ability to handle ambiguity and create clarity.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 2-5 years of product design experience, key skills (user research, UI/UX, collaboration), and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords relevant to product design and SaaS.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the company's values and mission. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions, focusing on your experience with the required skills and your approach to collaboration and problem-solving. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Endear's product, target market (retail), and their stated vision (AI-first). Understand the challenges faced by retail frontline staff to better connect with the role's objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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