Principal Product Designer, AI Features

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Product Designer, AI Features

Company: Axon

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design (AI/ML Focus)

Date Posted: 2025-06-09T19:49:48

Experience Level: 12+ years (Principal Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Near R&D Hubs in Seattle, Scottsdale, Atlanta, or Boston)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead the design and user experience strategy for cutting-edge AI-driven solutions within Axon's public safety ecosystem.
• Define and execute a multi-year UX vision for generative AI products, integrating advanced AI/ML capabilities with human-centered design principles.
• Collaborate deeply with public safety professionals through field research and usability testing to ensure designs meet real-world needs and build trust in AI interfaces.
• Influence product strategy and align design goals with business objectives, ensuring Axon remains a leader in public safety innovation.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Set and drive the long-term (3-5 year) UX vision for AI-driven solutions, considering scalability, adaptability, and alignment across Axon’s product pillars.
• Own the end-to-end product design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, and implementation for complex, AI-enhanced workflows within the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS).
• Collaborate with senior leaders in Product, Engineering, and AI/ML teams to shape strategic decisions and maximize the value of AI for public safety professionals.
• Conduct field research, ride-alongs, and usability testing with customers to gain deep insights into user needs and validate design solutions based on real-world feedback.
• Design intuitive and ethical AI interfaces that promote transparency, trust, and explainability, considering cultural awareness and potential societal impacts.
• Champion responsible AI practices, balancing innovation with risk mitigation to create safe, effective, and equitable AI solutions for public safety.
• Guide the evolution of Axon’s design systems to support AI-driven products, ensuring consistency and scalability across platforms.
• Experiment with new design tools, methodologies, and technologies to advance UX practices and evangelize best practices across the organization.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and design critiques to align teams around user-centered goals and strategies.
• Mentor and develop design talent within the organization and contribute to recruiting efforts.
• Rapidly prototype and iterate on AI-driven interactions to simulate behaviors, gather feedback, and align with evolving technologies.
• Apply strong analytical skills to problem-solve, troubleshoot, and optimize AI models for specific business needs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Principal-level design role focusing on AI. Demonstrated expertise through a strong portfolio is often prioritized over a specific degree.

Experience: 12+ years of progressive product design experience, with significant leadership in designing for complex AI, ML, or enterprise-level systems. Proven expertise in owning end-to-end user experiences for multiple products and driving long-term UX strategy is essential. Experience in regulated or high-stakes industries is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in end-to-end Product Design lifecycle (Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing, Implementation).
• Deep understanding of User Experience (UX) principles and best practices, particularly for complex enterprise software and AI/ML interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to set and execute a long-term (3-5 year) UX Vision that aligns with organizational strategy and balances user needs with business goals.
• Experience conducting Customer Research, including field research, ride-alongs, usability testing, and gathering real-world feedback in high-stakes environments.
• Strong Technical Acumen in Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and advanced front-end technologies, with the ability to integrate AI/ML capabilities into user-friendly designs.
• Proven ability to thrive and problem-solve in environments with high Ambiguity, identifying opportunities and leading teams to deliver scalable solutions.
• Exceptional Communication, Presentation, and Influence skills to articulate design concepts, lead workshops, and advocate for user needs with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Experience in Mentorship and Leadership, with a track record of elevating the skill set of design teams.
• Expert knowledge of UX standards and best practices, with potential contributions to advancing the field.
• Proficiency in Prototyping advanced AI interactions to simulate behaviors and gather feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Data Management, data preprocessing, and feature engineering for training AI models.
• Familiarity with design systems and guiding their evolution to support complex, scalable products.
• Prior experience designing for public safety or other regulated industries with stringent requirements.
• Knowledge of ethical AI development principles and practices.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of complex product design projects, particularly those involving AI/ML integration, enterprise systems, or data-heavy applications.
• Present detailed Case Studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process (including research methods, ideation, iteration, and validation), your role, key decisions, and the impact of your design.
• Demonstrate expertise in designing intuitive user interfaces for complex workflows, emphasizing clarity, efficiency, and trust, especially in high-stakes contexts.
• Include examples of how you have tackled ambiguity, solved challenging design problems at scale, and delivered measurable results.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly document your Research and Discovery phase, including user interviews, field studies (like ride-alongs), usability testing methodologies, and how insights informed your design decisions.
• Illustrate your Ideation and Iteration methods, showing sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and how you explored different design solutions for AI interactions.
• Explain your Validation and Testing approaches, detailing how you tested designs with users, gathered feedback, and iterated based on findings.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD 147,000 - USD 235,200 per year. This range is based on the provided information, reflecting variations based on geographic market (lowest to highest). As this is a Principal-level role in a major US city (Boston, with other R&D hubs also likely high-cost-of-living areas) and involves specialized skills in AI/ML design, the actual compensation for candidates based in Boston is likely to be towards the higher end of this range, factoring in experience and expertise.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary and 401k with employer match, supporting financial planning.
• Discretionary Paid Time Off, offering flexibility for work-life balance.
• Robust Parental Leave Policy, providing support for growing families.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, ensuring health and wellness coverage.
• Access to an Award-Winning Office/Working Environment in Axon's R&D hubs, designed to foster collaboration and creativity.
• Fitness Programs and Emotional & Mental Wellness support resources.
• Learning & Development programs to support continuous skill enhancement in design, AI, and leadership.
• Office perks like snacks in the office locations.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid work model suggests flexibility, allowing designers to manage their creative flow and collaborative needs effectively between remote and in-office work.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Public Safety. Axon operates within a high-stakes industry focused on developing technology solutions to protect life, including devices and cloud software for law enforcement and public safety professionals. This context is crucial for design, requiring a deep understanding of user needs in critical situations and the ethical implications of technology.

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees. This size suggests a well-established company with defined processes and teams, but likely still agile enough for individual contributions to have significant impact, especially at the Principal level.

Founded: 1993. Axon has a long history in public safety technology, evolving from TASER International. This history provides a foundation of industry knowledge and relationships, while the focus on AI and new technologies indicates a forward-looking culture.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Director of Product Design, DEMS & Devices, indicating integration within a larger design organization focused on digital evidence management and hardware.
• While there are no direct reports, the role includes opportunities to mentor and influence across teams, positioning the Principal Designer as a leader within the design function and across cross-functional teams.
• Collaboration is emphasized across Product, Engineering, and AI/ML teams, highlighting a cross-functional approach to product development.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes a customer-centric approach, including field research and usability testing, indicating a strong focus on understanding real-world user needs.
• The need to rapidly prototype and iterate on AI-driven interactions suggests an agile and experimental design methodology.
• There's a focus on evolving design systems, indicating a commitment to consistency and scalable design practices.

Company Website: http://www.axon.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Principal Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying deep expertise, strategic influence, and the ability to operate with significant autonomy. Responsibilities extend beyond execution to include defining vision, mentoring, and influencing product direction.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Product Design, DEMS & Devices. This suggests a reporting line within the core design leadership structure, allowing for strategic input and alignment with broader design organizational goals.

Design Impact: The role has significant impact, leading the design of cutting-edge AI features that will shape the future of Axon's products and directly affect how public safety professionals work. The emphasis on influencing senior leadership and driving long-term vision highlights the strategic importance of this design role.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for complex AI/ML systems, human-AI interaction patterns, and ethical AI considerations.
• Leadership & Influence: Potential for growth in informal leadership, mentoring, and influencing product strategy across the organization, potentially leading to future formal leadership roles or distinguished individual contributor paths.
• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge and become a subject matter expert in public safety workflows and the application of AI in this critical domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid work model with access to R&D Hubs in Boston, Seattle, Scottsdale, and Atlanta. This offers flexibility while providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and immersion in Axon's vibrant culture.

Office Location(s): Specifically mentioned R&D Hubs include Boston, MA; Seattle, WA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Atlanta, GA. Candidates are expected to live nearby one of these locations to facilitate in-person collaboration when needed.

Design Workspace Context:

• The "award-winning office/working environment" suggests dedicated spaces designed to support creative work and collaboration.
• Access to R&D hubs facilitates in-person collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, AI/ML) and fellow designers.
• The hybrid model allows for focused remote work while leveraging office spaces for workshops, critiques, and team building.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours. The hybrid model implies flexibility in daily or weekly scheduling, balancing remote work with required in-office presence for collaborative activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• The process likely begins with a portfolio review and initial screening call to assess experience and fit for a Principal-level role focused on AI.
• Subsequent rounds will likely involve interviews with design leadership, product managers, engineers, and AI/ML team members to evaluate strategic thinking, technical acumen, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Expect a Design Challenge or Case Study Presentation where you will walk through a complex project (ideally involving AI or complex systems) or tackle a hypothetical design problem relevant to Axon's domain.
• Interviews will assess your ability to articulate your design process, rationale, and impact, as well as your understanding of ethical considerations in AI design for public safety.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating experience with complex systems, AI/ML integration, and enterprise software design.
• Structure your Case Studies clearly, focusing on the problem, your end-to-end design process (research, ideation, iteration, validation), key decisions, and measurable outcomes. Emphasize your strategic thinking and ability to influence product direction.
• If possible, include projects where you conducted field research or worked directly with users in high-stakes or specialized environments.
• Clearly articulate the technical challenges and considerations related to AI/ML in your projects and how you designed for trust, transparency, and explainability.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare to discuss your approach to designing for complex, data-heavy workflows and integrating AI capabilities seamlessly and ethically.
• Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly, as if presenting to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Be ready to discuss the ethical implications of AI in public safety and how you would approach designing for trust and mitigating potential biases.

ATS Keywords: Product Design, UX Design, User Experience, AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, LLM, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Digital Evidence Management, Public Safety, Law Enforcement, Human-Centered Design, Design Strategy, UX Vision, Customer Research, Usability Testing, Field Research, Prototyping, Wireframing, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Design Systems, Cross-functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Mentorship, Leadership, Problem Solving, Ambiguity, Technical Acumen, Ethical AI, AI Ethics, Data Management, Case Study, Portfolio, Agile, SCRUM, Design Thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Expect proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar. Your ability to rapidly prototype complex AI interactions will be key.
• Experience with tools that support collaborative design and version control for design systems is likely required.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools for cross-functional collaboration with Product, Engineering, and AI/ML teams are essential. This could include Jira, Confluence, Slack, or Microsoft Teams.
• Experience with handoff tools or processes that facilitate seamless collaboration with developers, ensuring design specifications are clear and implemented accurately.

Research & Testing:

• Familiarity with tools and methodologies for conducting user research, usability testing, and gathering feedback, both remotely and potentially in field environments.
• While data management is listed as a preferred skill, basic understanding or experience with tools used for analyzing user data or product analytics might be beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Protect Life: Aligning design decisions with Axon's core mission of protecting life, ensuring solutions are safe, reliable, and effective for public safety professionals in critical situations.
• Customer-Centricity: Prioritizing the needs and experiences of public safety professionals, demonstrated through active engagement in field research and usability testing.
• Ethical Innovation: Championing responsible AI development, considering the societal impact and ethical implications of AI features, and designing for transparency and trust.
• Collaboration & Influence: Valuing cross-functional partnership and the ability to influence product strategy through design insights and advocacy for user needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI/ML experts throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Emphasis on facilitating cross-functional workshops and design critiques to align teams and gather diverse perspectives.
• Expect a culture that values sharing design process, rationale, and insights to build a shared understanding and drive user-centered outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing intuitive and trustworthy interfaces for complex AI features in a high-stakes domain where user errors can have significant consequences.
• Balancing rapid innovation in AI with the critical need for ethical considerations, transparency, and mitigating unintended consequences in public safety applications.
• Navigating ambiguity and defining clear design strategies for cutting-edge AI technologies that are constantly evolving.
• Integrating new AI features seamlessly into existing enterprise-level digital evidence management systems and workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Expertise in AI Design: Opportunity to become a leading expert in designing human-centered AI interfaces for critical applications.
• Public Safety Domain Knowledge: Gain invaluable experience and understanding of the unique needs and workflows of public safety professionals.
• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing product strategy at a senior level within a major technology company.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Grow as a mentor and informal leader, shaping the skills and practices of other designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end design process for a complex project, particularly one involving AI or enterprise systems. Highlight your approach to research, ideation, iteration, and validation. Use the STAR method to structure your responses.
• Walk through a case study from your portfolio, focusing on a project where you had to navigate ambiguity or solve a particularly challenging design problem. Explain your key decisions and the impact of your design.
• Discuss your experience with designing for trust and transparency in AI interfaces. How do you approach explaining AI decision-making to users?

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Axon's mission ("Protect Life"), values, and recent product announcements, especially those related to AI. Be ready to discuss how your skills and values align with Axon's focus on public safety and ethical innovation.
• Ask thoughtful questions about the design team's structure, collaboration patterns with engineering and AI teams, and the process for integrating design into product strategy.
• Discuss your experience working in cross-functional teams and how you effectively collaborate with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your experience designing for complex systems, AI/ML integration, user research in specialized domains, and strategic thinking.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, your design process (showing artifacts from each stage), key design decisions, and the impact of your work.
• Focus on storytelling – guide the interviewers through your thought process and how you arrived at your solution. Highlight the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Be prepared to discuss the technical constraints and opportunities related to AI/ML in your projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link.
• Customize your design Portfolio to specifically showcase projects related to complex systems, AI/ML integration, enterprise software, or work in high-stakes/regulated industries. Highlight case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process and strategic impact.
• Optimize your Resume for design roles by incorporating relevant ATS keywords from the list provided above. Clearly articulate your experience in product design, AI/ML design, user research, and leadership.
• Prepare thoroughly for the Design Interview process, including practicing walking through your portfolio case studies, articulating your design process, and preparing for a potential design challenge or presentation on a complex topic.
• Conduct in-depth research on Axon, its mission, values, and recent work in AI and public safety. Understand the challenges and opportunities in this domain to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.