Founding Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer

Company: Kernel

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-07

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

Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid flexibility with 2 weeks work-from-anywhere)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end user experience (UX) for Kernel's core product, encompassing user flows, information architecture, interaction design, and visual craft.

• Lead ground-truth discovery initiatives, including user interviews and rapid synthesis of insights to inform product development and shipped changes.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product management in rapid iteration cycles to ensure high-quality production releases and continuous improvement.

• Establish foundational design principles, patterns, and a lightweight design system to enable efficient scaling without hindering team velocity.

• Contribute to business objectives through occasional support on decks and narrative development, ensuring alignment with company strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is Product Design, this role has significant GTM Operations implications. The Founding Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping the user experience of a B2B SaaS product aimed at revenue, ops, and data teams. The ability to simplify complex data and workflows directly impacts the efficiency and adoption of Kernel's business identity layer, a critical component of GTM operations. The emphasis on "simplifying complexity" and "ground-truth discovery" points to a need for deep understanding of user workflows and data challenges, common in operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete UX lifecycle, from initial concept and user flow mapping to detailed interaction design and final visual execution.

• Conduct user research, including interviews and usability testing, to deeply understand customer needs and pain points within the business identity and agent enablement space.

• Rapidly prototype concepts using various tools (Figma, v0, code, etc.) to test hypotheses and gather high-signal feedback.

• Partner with engineers and product managers to translate designs into production-ready features, ensuring pixel-perfect implementation and seamless user experiences.

• Develop and maintain a scalable design system, including reusable components, design principles, and style guides, to ensure consistency and efficiency across the product.

• Articulate design decisions and their rationale to cross-functional teams and stakeholders, demonstrating how design choices support business objectives.

• Contribute to the company's narrative and strategic communications by providing design expertise for presentations and marketing materials as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to design, typical of a founding role. The emphasis on "simplifying complexity" and "ground-truth discovery" suggests a deep dive into user workflows, data challenges, and operational inefficiencies that Kernel aims to solve. This requires an understanding of how businesses manage identity, risk, and revenue, which is core to GTM and RevOps functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is required; demonstrated impact and experience are prioritized over formal education.

Experience: Proven experience in early-stage startup environments, with a strong portfolio showcasing the ability to transform businesses through design.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in end-to-end UX design, including user flows, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.

• Proficient in user research methodologies, including conducting interviews, synthesizing findings, and translating insights into actionable design improvements.

• Ability to prototype rapidly and effectively using tools such as Figma, v0, or even code.

• Strong collaboration skills with engineering and product management teams, fostering tight feedback loops and efficient iteration.

• Demonstrated ability to simplify complex problems and user interfaces into intuitive and effortless experiences.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating design decisions and their business impact.

• A keen eye for design aesthetics and execution, from initial prototype to final production details.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment. Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience as a founding designer in a startup.

• Familiarity with enterprise AI, business identity, data enrichment, CRM, or ERP systems.

• Experience building and maintaining design systems.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "impact > seniority" and "early-stage startup experience" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate tangible business transformation through design will be highly valued. The ability to "simplify complexity" is a key differentiator, pointing towards a need for strategic thinking beyond just UI polish, which is highly relevant for operations-focused product design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership, from discovery to shipped product.

• Case studies that clearly articulate design challenges, your process, and the tangible outcomes achieved, with a focus on simplifying complexity and improving user workflows.

• Examples of user research and how insights directly influenced design decisions and product improvements.

• Demonstrations of rapid prototyping capabilities and the tools used to achieve them.

• Evidence of close collaboration with engineering and product teams, showcasing successful product launches. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to conducting ground-truth discovery and synthesizing findings into actionable design strategies.

• Illustrate your process for building and scaling design foundations, including principles, patterns, and lightweight systems, without sacrificing speed.

• Provide examples of how you've iteratively improved workflows and user experiences in a production environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio is paramount. It must clearly articulate the candidate's ability to not just design, but to solve problems through design, especially in complex B2B contexts. The "simplifying complexity" mandate means case studies should highlight how the candidate translated intricate business processes or data challenges into elegant, usable solutions. This directly relates to operations efficiency and GTM effectiveness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £110,000 – £150,000 base per year.

Equity: Significant equity package offered.

Benefits:

• 24 days of holiday per year, plus bank holidays.

• £450 Monthly Office Dinner Allowance.

• 2 weeks work-from-anywhere policy per year.

• Generous parental leave policy.

• Pension plan.

• Top-spec equipment provided.

• Access to a central London office.

• Regular team events and dinners.

• Visa sponsorship and relocation support for exceptional candidates moving to London.

Working Hours: The job description implies a standard full-time work week, likely around 40 hours, with an emphasis on fast-paced, in-person collaboration, though with some remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a senior-level product designer in London, especially for a founding role with equity. The benefits package is robust, with unique perks like a monthly office dinner allowance and work-from-anywhere weeks, suggesting a culture that values employee well-being and provides tools for efficient work. The emphasis on in-person collaboration indicates a preference for on-site work, but the "2 weeks work-from-anywhere" offers a degree of flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Enterprise AI / Data & Analytics / Business Identity Management. Kernel is building a foundational layer for agents to interact with businesses reliably, solving issues in data fragmentation, duplicates, and enrichment across CRMs, ERPs, and third-party datasets.

Company Size: Kernel is a growing startup, having raised $14M and experiencing 5x YoY growth. This suggests a team of approximately 20-50 employees, offering a dynamic and impactful environment.

Founded: Kernel was founded with a mission to provide a reliable business identity layer for agents, addressing the critical need for accurate company identification in sales, risk assessment, and finance operations.

Team Structure:

• The design team is nascent, with this role being the Founding Product Designer, implying a small, highly collaborative unit.

• The founding team includes key individuals like Anders (CEO), Marcus (co-founder), De-Vene, Stefan, and Sam, indicating a flat hierarchy and direct access to leadership.

• Close collaboration with engineering and product management is a core tenet of the team's operational methodology. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on "ground-truth discovery" and using "fast synthesis" to turn insights into shipped changes.

• Agile & Iterative Development: "Ship with engineering + PM," "tight loops," and "iterate fast" highlight an agile approach to product development.

• Efficiency & Speed: "Build the design foundation... without slowing the team down" and "shipping at pace" underscore a focus on rapid execution and lean processes.

• High-Autonomy, High-Trust: The environment fosters independence and confidence in team members.

Company Website: https://www.kernel.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kernel operates in a critical, yet often overlooked, area of B2B operations: business identity. The company's mission directly impacts sales, operations, and finance teams by providing a reliable data foundation. This context is crucial for a product designer, as it means understanding complex enterprise workflows and data challenges. The culture emphasizes speed, impact, and direct collaboration, typical of well-funded, high-growth startups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Founding Product Designer" role, indicating a senior-level position with significant strategic influence. It's a pivotal role where the individual will establish the design function and directly shape the product's user experience and its impact on GTM and operational efficiency.

Reporting Structure: The Founding Product Designer will report directly to or work very closely with the founding team, including the CEO and co-founder. This offers high visibility and direct access to leadership, facilitating rapid decision-making and strategic alignment.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the operational effectiveness of Kernel's customers by simplifying complex business identity data. A well-designed product will enable sales, ops, and finance teams to perform their roles more efficiently, reduce errors, and unlock revenue opportunities. The product's success is intrinsically tied to how well it integrates into and improves existing operational workflows.

Growth Opportunities:

• Establish Design Function: Opportunity to build and define the design practice, principles, and systems from the ground up.

• Strategic Influence: Directly contribute to product strategy and company vision, influencing the direction of the business.

• Skill Expansion: Deepen expertise in enterprise SaaS design, data visualization, and complex workflow simplification. Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role as the company scales.

• Industry Expertise: Gain deep knowledge in the burgeoning field of AI agents and business identity management, a high-demand area.

• Leadership Development: Work closely with founders, offering mentorship and learning opportunities in entrepreneurship and scaling a tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "Founding" role, the growth trajectory is tied to the company's success. The emphasis on "impact > seniority" means that demonstrating leadership and driving significant design outcomes will be key to career advancement within Kernel. The role offers a unique opportunity to shape not just a product, but the entire design function of a rapidly growing tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Kernel offers a central London office, suggesting a modern, well-equipped workspace designed to foster collaboration. The company explicitly states, "we move faster in-person," indicating a preference for on-site work.

Office Location(s): Central London, England, United Kingdom. This provides access to a vibrant ecosystem of talent, resources, and networking opportunities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on in-person interaction suggests a workspace designed for spontaneous brainstorming, team meetings, and close working relationships with engineers and product managers.

• Tools & Technology: Candidates can expect access to "Top-spec equipment" and likely a modern tech stack, including Figma and potentially other tools for rapid prototyping and development.

• Team Interaction: The small team size and high-trust environment encourage frequent interaction and knowledge sharing, facilitating quick problem-solving and design iteration.

Work Schedule: While the core expectation is on-site presence for optimal collaboration, the company offers a "2 weeks work-from-anywhere" policy, providing flexibility for personal needs or extended travel. The overall work schedule is likely demanding, given the startup environment and pace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for in-person work is a key differentiator. While some companies offer fully remote options, Kernel's explicit statement about moving faster in person suggests a culture that values direct, face-to-face collaboration. This is important for operations-focused roles where cross-functional alignment and quick problem-solving are paramount.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Introductory Call with De-Vene (45 minutes): This is likely an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and overall enthusiasm for the role and company mission. Prepare to articulate your motivations for joining a founding team and your understanding of Kernel's business.

• Stage 2: Founding Team Conversation with Marcus (30 minutes): A deeper dive into your experience, design philosophy, and how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss specific projects and your contributions.

• Stage 3: Take-Home Assessment with Remote Working Session with Stefan & Sam (60 minutes): This stage will likely involve a design challenge related to simplifying complexity or improving a specific workflow. The remote working session is an opportunity to walk through your process, demonstrate your problem-solving approach, and collaborate on aspects of the assessment.

• Final Stage: Founders Interview - A conversation with Anders (CEO) and Marcus (co-founder) focused on values alignment and long-term vision (45 minutes): This is a crucial stage to assess your alignment with Kernel's mission, values, and long-term goals. Be prepared to discuss your career aspirations and how you see yourself contributing to the company's growth.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Showcase case studies that clearly demonstrate how your design work led to tangible business outcomes, such as improved user efficiency, reduced errors, or increased adoption – especially for operational workflows.

• Simplify Complexity: Highlight projects where you successfully simplified intricate problems or data sets, aligning with Kernel's core mission. Use before-and-after examples or clear problem/solution narratives.

• Process Transparency: Clearly articulate your design process, from initial discovery and research to prototyping, iteration, and collaboration with engineering.

• Tool Proficiency: Mention the tools you used (Figma, v0, etc.) and explain why they were appropriate for the task.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling stories that highlight your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

• Tailor to Kernel: If possible, tailor your portfolio presentation to show how your skills and experience are directly relevant to Kernel's mission of building a business identity layer for agents.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Problem: For the take-home assessment, thoroughly understand the problem statement and its implications for Kernel's users (sales, ops, finance teams).

• Focus on "Simplifying Complexity": Frame your solution around making a complex task or data set more manageable and intuitive.

• Show Your Process: Document your research, ideation, and iteration steps. Even if you don't have time for extensive user testing, outline how you would validate your design.

• Be Pragmatic: Given the startup environment, focus on delivering a high-signal solution that can be iterated upon. Demonstrate an understanding of trade-offs.

• Prepare to Present: Be ready to articulate your design decisions, rationale, and potential impact clearly and concisely during the remote working session.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess both design skills and cultural fit. The take-home assessment with a remote working session is a key opportunity to demonstrate your collaborative and problem-solving abilities in real-time. A portfolio that emphasizes operational impact and the ability to simplify complexity will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned for prototyping and likely the primary tool for UI/UX design and collaboration.

• v0: Mentioned as a rapid prototyping tool, suggesting an interest in modern, efficient design workflows, possibly involving AI-assisted design or code-based prototyping.

• Code (Implied): The mention of "code" as a prototyping tool suggests that familiarity with front-end development principles or the ability to work closely with developers on implementation is valued.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, a product designer in this role would likely interact with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and track the impact of design changes.

• Data from CRM and ERP systems (used by Kernel's customers) will be indirectly relevant to understanding user contexts. CRM & Automation:

• Kernel's product helps agents interact with business identity data that often resides in CRMs and ERPs. Understanding how these systems function and how Kernel integrates or complements them would be beneficial.

• Automation tools may be relevant for design system management or workflow automation within the design process itself.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and the mention of v0 and "code" for prototyping indicate a modern, agile design stack. A candidate comfortable with these tools and willing to explore new methods for rapid iteration will be well-suited. Understanding the broader ecosystem of CRM and ERP systems is advantageous given Kernel's market.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Simplify Complexity: This is the core mission and a guiding principle for all work, especially design. It means distilling intricate business processes and data into intuitive user experiences.

• Impact-Driven: Focus is on tangible outcomes and transforming the business, not just on process for its own sake.

• Speed & Agility: A culture of moving fast, iterating quickly, and shipping with high velocity.

• Collaboration & Trust: High-autonomy, high-trust environment where close teamwork with engineering and product is essential.

• Ground-Truth Discovery: A commitment to understanding real user needs and challenges through direct research.

Collaboration Style:

• Tight Loops: Expect frequent, rapid communication and feedback cycles with engineers and product managers.

• In-Person First: A preference for face-to-face interaction to accelerate communication and problem-solving.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: The design role is deeply integrated with product and engineering, working as a unified team.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages direct feedback and open discussion to drive improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of Kernel are deeply intertwined with its operational goals and the nature of a startup environment. "Simplify complexity" is not just a product feature but a cultural imperative. This means designers must be comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and a strong focus on delivering practical, efficient solutions for business users.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a New Design Function: As the Founding Product Designer, you'll be the first dedicated designer, requiring you to build processes, principles, and a system from scratch.

• Simplifying Highly Complex Data: Kernel's core product deals with intricate business identity data, making the challenge of creating intuitive user experiences significant.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: In a fast-paced startup, maintaining high design quality while shipping rapidly can be a constant challenge.

• Driving In-Person Collaboration: The preference for in-person work might be a challenge for individuals accustomed to fully remote setups.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Leadership: Opportunity to define and lead the design strategy for a rapidly scaling company.

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of enterprise AI, business identity management, and the operational challenges faced by sales, ops, and finance teams.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Direct contribution to high-level product strategy and company vision.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance collaboration and communication skills by working intensely with founders, engineers, and product managers.

• Exposure to VC-Backed Growth: Experience the dynamics of scaling a venture-backed startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of a founding role in a high-growth startup. The opportunities for learning and development are significant, offering a unique chance to shape a company's design future and gain expertise in a critical emerging technology sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach simplifying complex business identity data for users like sales or operations teams?" (Prepare to discuss your process, potential UI paradigms, and how you'd validate solutions.)

• "Describe a time you had to build a design system or foundational design principles from scratch in a startup environment. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on pragmatism, speed, and scalability.)

• "How do you balance the need for thorough user research with the demand for rapid product iteration in a fast-paced startup?" (Highlight your ability to adapt research methods and prioritize.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Kernel's mission to build the business registry for agents?" (Connect your passion for design to Kernel's impact.)

• "How do you align with our core value of 'simplifying complexity'?" (Provide specific examples of how you've applied this in your past work.)

• "What are your expectations for collaboration with engineering and product management in a startup setting?" (Emphasize your experience with tight loops and iterative development.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or user need you addressed in each case study.

• Show Your Process, Not Just Pixels: Walk through your research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration steps. Explain your decision-making rationale.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions. For Kernel, focus on operational efficiency, data accuracy, or workflow simplification.

• Highlight "Simplifying Complexity": Make it evident how your designs made challenging tasks easier or more intuitive.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, challenges encountered, and alternative approaches you considered.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: If possible, show how you worked with engineers or product managers, and highlight successful outcomes of that collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for Kernel's interview process requires a strong understanding of their mission, a portfolio that showcases impact and the ability to simplify complexity, and clear communication of your design process and collaborative approach. The focus on "ground-truth discovery" and "simplifying complexity" should be central to your preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Founding Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience in end-to-end product design, particularly those involving complex B2B workflows or simplifying intricate data. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and the tangible outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in early-stage startups, your ability to drive business transformation through design, and your proficiency in the required skills (UX, interaction design, prototyping, user research). Use keywords like "simplifying complexity," "ground-truth discovery," and "enterprise AI."

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your passion for Kernel's mission, your understanding of their challenges, and how your skills align with the "Founding Product Designer" role. Practice walking through your portfolio and explaining your design decisions concisely.

• Research Kernel: Understand their product, their market, their funding, and their stated values. Be prepared to discuss how you see yourself contributing to their growth and culture.

⚠️ 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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