Founding Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer

Company: Clark

Location: New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Enablement

Date Posted: July 16, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (3-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Define and own the end-to-end user experience for Clark's AI-powered audit and accounting platform, ensuring intuitive and trustworthy interactions.

• Translate complex AI workflows and business requirements into elegant, user-centered design solutions that drive adoption and efficiency.

• Establish and evolve Clark's design system, visual language, and interaction patterns as one of the first designers, shaping the product's aesthetic and usability.

• Collaborate deeply with Engineering, Product, Audit Engineers, and customers to conduct user research, gather insights, and iterate on designs for high-stakes, regulated environments.

• Drive product innovation by designing for clarity, trust, accessibility, and usability within complex enterprise workflows, directly impacting the reliability of AI in the financial sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the context of "trust infrastructure for the AI economy," "audit and accounting workflows," and "AI safely" strongly suggests this role will have significant GTM Operations enablement aspects. The designer will be instrumental in making complex operational processes (audit, accounting) usable and trustworthy when augmented by AI. This requires a deep understanding of GTM workflows, user pain points in regulated industries, and how design can build confidence in AI-driven operational tools. The emphasis on "trust," "reliability," and "accuracy" highlights the critical role design plays in operational efficiency and compliance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive, end-to-end product experiences across Clark's core platform, focusing on AI-driven audit and accounting workflows.

• Partner closely with Engineering, Product Management, Audit Engineers, and target customers to deeply understand existing workflows and translate them into thoughtful, user-centric product experiences.

• Own the entire design process from discovery, user research, and wireframing through high-fidelity mockups and production-ready design specifications.

• Develop intuitive and transparent workflows for AI-powered audit and accounting products, ensuring users understand system actions and their own judgment points.

• Conduct user research, gather qualitative and quantitative feedback, and iterate rapidly on designs based on customer insights and business objectives.

• Build, maintain, and evolve Clark's design system, interaction patterns, and visual language to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

• Design for clarity, trust, accessibility, and usability, specifically addressing the nuances of complex enterprise workflows in regulated industries.

• Collaborate closely with engineers throughout the implementation phase to ensure a high-quality, pixel-perfect execution of product designs.

• Help establish design best practices, mentor junior designers (as the team grows), and consistently raise the quality bar for design within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a "founding" role, implying a need for someone comfortable with ambiguity and a high degree of ownership. The emphasis on "AI-powered audit and accounting products," "regulated industries," and "trust" points to a focus on operational efficiency and compliance through design. The designer will be crucial in enabling sales and customer success by making complex operational tools accessible and reliable.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 3+ years of professional experience designing modern software products, with a strong emphasis on web applications and enterprise software.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in product thinking, interaction design, and visual design, demonstrated through a strong portfolio.

• Expert proficiency in Figma and modern product design workflows, including wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Experience designing complex web applications or enterprise software, preferably for B2B or regulated industries.

• Strong systems thinking capabilities with the ability to simplify complex user workflows into intuitive interfaces.

• Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness collaborating closely with engineers throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

• High degree of ownership and the ability to operate independently and drive projects forward in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Strong product intuition and a keen eye for detail, with a passion for crafting delightful and usable products. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing AI-native or agentic products, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of human-AI collaboration.

• Prior experience building enterprise workflow software or productivity tools, particularly in finance, accounting, or audit domains.

• Experience designing for highly regulated or trust-sensitive industries where accuracy, security, and compliance are paramount.

• Experience creating, maintaining, and scaling robust design systems.

• Proven experience conducting customer research, user interviews, and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Previous experience working in an early-stage startup environment, with a demonstrated ability to adapt and contribute across multiple functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding Product Designer" title and emphasis on "ambiguous environments" suggest a need for a candidate who is not just a skilled designer but also a strategic thinker capable of defining processes and vision. The preference for experience in regulated industries and AI-native products directly aligns with Clark's mission, making these highly valuable qualifications for operations-focused product design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects demonstrating strong product thinking, problem-solving, and user-centered design methodologies.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the impact of your solutions, ideally with quantifiable results.

• Highlight examples of designing complex workflows, enterprise applications, or products requiring a high degree of trust and reliability.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma and other relevant design tools, with clear visuals of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Present your contributions to or creation of design systems, illustrating your understanding of scalability, consistency, and component-based design. Process Documentation:

• Your portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate your ability to document design processes, including user research findings, design rationale, and collaboration with engineering.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, iterative design, and how you gather and incorporate feedback into your workflow.

• Showcase how you translate complex requirements into clear, actionable design specifications for engineering teams.

• Examples of how you've managed design projects from discovery through to launch, including any post-launch iteration, are highly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Founding" role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics and demonstrate strategic design thinking, process ownership, and the ability to build foundational design elements (like a design system) for a complex, regulated product. The emphasis on "trust" and "AI" means case studies should ideally touch upon how design can build confidence in automated systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $210,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO): Offers flexibility and promotes work-life balance, allowing employees to take time off as needed.

• Wellhub Platinum Membership: Provides access to a wide range of fitness and wellness activities and facilities.

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Robust medical benefits package to ensure employee well-being.

• Free Company Dinner Every Day: A unique perk that fosters team camaraderie and provides a valuable daily benefit, especially for an on-site role.

Working Hours: Startup hours and pace; this is not a 9-to-5 role, implying a need for dedication and flexibility, common in early-stage GTM and product development environments. Expected to be on-site 5 days a week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-senior level Product Designer in New York City, especially for a founding role at a startup with significant funding potential. The "startup hours" note is crucial for operations professionals, indicating a demanding but potentially rewarding environment with high impact. The daily free dinner is a significant perk that supports the on-site requirement and fosters team cohesion, which is vital for operational alignment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / AI / Fintech / SaaS (specifically focused on audit and accounting workflows). Clark operates at the intersection of AI, enterprise software, and highly regulated financial services, aiming to build trust infrastructure for the AI economy.

Company Size: Early-stage startup (specific number not provided, but implied by "Founding Product Designer" and "first designers"). This means a lean, agile team with high individual impact.

Founded: Company was founded with the mission to build trust infrastructure for the AI economy. This mission drives product development and company culture, emphasizing reliability, accuracy, and security.

Team Structure:

• The design team is nascent, with this role being one of the first designers.

• Close collaboration with Engineering and Product teams is paramount.

• Direct interaction with "Audit Engineers" and customers is expected, indicating a cross-functional, user-centric approach.

• The structure is described as "flat" with "no hierarchy," meaning open communication and shared ownership are key. Methodology:

• Emphasis on user research and direct customer feedback to inform product direction and design.

• Agile and iterative development processes, common in startups, to quickly respond to market needs and user insights.

• Designing for high-trust environments requires a rigorous approach to accuracy, transparency, and reliability in AI-driven workflows.

• Focus on building a scalable design system to support rapid product expansion.

Company Website: https://getclark.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is defined by its mission to build trust in AI for critical financial operations. This implies a culture that values rigor, accuracy, user-centricity, and innovation. As a founding designer, you'll be instrumental in shaping this culture through your design process and output, directly influencing how operations professionals perceive and adopt AI tools.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Founding Product Designer" role, signifying a mid-to-senior level position with significant autonomy and foundational impact. It's an opportunity to establish design practices and directly influence product strategy from the ground up.

Reporting Structure: As one of the first designers, you will likely report directly to a Head of Product or a co-founder. The "flat structure" suggests direct access to leadership and cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is substantial. By making complex AI-driven audit and accounting workflows trustworthy and intuitive, the designer will directly enable operational efficiency, compliance, and adoption of new technologies within financial institutions. This role is key to de-risking AI adoption for businesses.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to build and lead the design function as the company scales, potentially growing into a Design Lead or Head of Design role.

• Product Strategy Influence: Directly shape the product roadmap and strategic direction through design insights and user advocacy.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-native product design, enterprise workflow optimization, and designing for regulated industries.

• Skill Development: Gain experience in establishing design systems, user research methodologies, and working in a high-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for significant career acceleration, moving beyond execution to strategic influence. The "Founding" aspect means building the design function from scratch, which is invaluable experience for aspiring design leaders in operations-focused tech.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: 5 days a week on-site in New York City. This indicates a highly collaborative, in-person work environment designed for intense teamwork and rapid iteration.

Office Location(s): New York City, New York. Specific office details are not provided, but a vibrant tech hub location is implied.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement and "flat structure" suggest an open, collaborative workspace where spontaneous discussions and rapid problem-solving are encouraged.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Expect access to industry-standard design software (Figma) and collaboration tools necessary for a fast-paced startup. The company's product itself is an AI/SaaS platform, so familiarity with such environments is beneficial.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with Engineering, Product, Audit Engineers, and potentially customers, fostering a deep understanding of operational challenges and user needs.

Work Schedule: Described as "Startup hours and pace – this isn't a 9-to-5." This implies a demanding schedule that requires dedication and flexibility, typical for early-stage companies focused on rapid growth and product development, especially in operations-critical software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strict on-site policy and "startup hours" signal an environment that prioritizes intense collaboration and rapid execution. For operations professionals, this means being comfortable with a high-energy, hands-on setting where direct team interaction is key to achieving operational excellence and product delivery milestones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Exercise: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, discussing your process, and likely completing a design exercise or case study related to Clark's domain (AI, audit, accounting, trust).

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Engineering, Product, and potentially Audit Engineers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and problem-solving approach.

• Leadership/Founder Interview: A final discussion with company leadership to evaluate cultural fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Clark's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problems you solved, your specific contributions, and the outcomes (quantifiable if possible) of your design work.

• Showcase Process: Walk through your design thinking, from user research and ideation to iteration and final implementation. Explain your rationale behind key decisions.

• Highlight Trust & AI: If possible, include projects that demonstrate your understanding of designing for trust, complex workflows, or AI-driven systems, particularly in business or enterprise contexts.

• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, design systems, and collaboration features.

• Tailor to Clark: Emphasize how your skills and experience align with Clark's mission of building trust infrastructure for the AI economy, especially in audit and accounting.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research AI in finance, audit and accounting workflows, and the importance of trust and reliability in these sectors.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to tackle a design challenge that involves simplifying a complex AI-driven operational process. Think about how to build user confidence.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Prepare to discuss design trade-offs and how you balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready about the product vision, design challenges, team dynamics, and company culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes practical design skills, strategic thinking, and domain relevance. The portfolio review will be critical, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design chops but also an understanding of the operational and trust-related challenges in AI-driven financial services.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required skill; this will be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma, but familiarity with other prototyping methods might be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for designers, understanding how product analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) are used to track user behavior and inform design decisions is advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the designer's core tools, but understanding the context of enterprise software and workflow automation is crucial for designing effective solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The role also implies a need to understand the broader product development ecosystem, including user research and potentially product analytics, to design impactful operational tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Trust & Reliability: Central to Clark's mission; designs must instill confidence in AI-driven processes for critical financial operations.

• User-Centricity: Deep understanding of customer workflows and pain points in audit and accounting is essential.

• Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of AI application in high-trust environments.

• Ownership & Accountability: High degree of personal responsibility for outcomes, as expected in a founding role.

• Collaboration: Working closely with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency: Designing workflows that optimize productivity and accuracy for users.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work hand-in-hand with Engineering and Product, with direct customer interaction.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces constructive feedback to iterate and improve designs.

• Transparent Communication: Open dialogue across teams is critical in a flat structure to ensure alignment and rapid problem-solving.

• Action-Oriented: Emphasis on shipping and iterating, reflecting the fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is deeply rooted in the mission of building trust in AI for critical operations. Designers are expected to embody these values, ensuring their work directly contributes to reliability, accuracy, and user confidence in a demanding industry.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in AI: Creating interfaces that make users feel confident and in control when using complex, AI-powered financial tools.

• Balancing Ambiguity and Structure: Establishing design foundations (design system, processes) in a rapidly evolving startup environment.

• High-Stakes Industry: Designing for regulated industries (audit, accounting) where errors have significant consequences.

• Pace and Ownership: Adapting to "startup hours and pace" while taking full ownership of the product experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Leadership: Opportunity to define and build the design function and its processes from the ground up.

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in AI, financial technology, audit/accounting workflows, and enterprise SaaS design.

• Product Strategy Influence: Directly contribute to strategic product decisions and roadmap planning.

• Mentorship: Learn from experienced founders and engineers in a high-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the inherent complexity of designing for trust in AI for critical operational functions. The growth opportunities are immense for someone looking to make a significant impact and grow into a leadership role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an interface for an AI audit assistant that needs to clearly communicate its confidence level and the rationale behind its suggestions?"

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly regulated or trust-sensitive industry. What were the key considerations, and how did you address them?"

• "Imagine you need to design a workflow for an AI system that automates parts of financial statement reconciliation. What are the critical elements to consider for user trust and accuracy?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "How does your design philosophy align with building 'trust infrastructure for the AI economy'?"

• "Given our flat structure and 'startup hours,' how do you envision collaborating with engineering and product teams to ensure rapid iteration and high-quality execution?"

• "What are your expectations for measuring the impact of your design work on user adoption and operational efficiency?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your specific contributions, the solutions, and the outcomes.

• Emphasize Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, focus on explaining your thought process, user research insights, and design decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased task completion speed).

• Tailor to Clark: Highlight experiences relevant to AI, enterprise software, complex workflows, and building trust.

• Be Ready for a Live Exercise: Prepare to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design challenge related to Clark's product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills within Clark's specific domain (AI, trust, finance ops), and a clear understanding of how design directly enables operational effectiveness and user confidence.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your product thinking, interaction design, and experience with complex workflows or trust-sensitive applications. Tailor your case studies to highlight your process and impact, especially if you have experience with AI or enterprise software.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly lists your years of experience, proficiency in Figma, and any relevant experience with enterprise software, AI, or regulated industries. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, your approach to user research, and how you collaborate with engineering. Practice presenting your portfolio and explaining your design decisions concisely and persuasively.

• Research Clark: Thoroughly understand Clark's mission, product, and the challenges of building trust infrastructure for the AI economy. Prepare thoughtful questions about their product vision and the future of AI in audit and accounting.

⚠️ 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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