Senior Product Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer II

Company: Axon

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design, UI/UX Design, AI/ML Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-12T13:47:26

Experience Level: Senior (8+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead product design for Axon Assistant, focusing on AI-driven, multi-modal user experiences for public safety professionals.
• Design intuitive and trustworthy interactions across voice, mobile (iOS/Android), and web platforms.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and AI/ML teams to define and deliver cohesive user journeys.
• Translate deep user insights from research into impactful design solutions for high-stakes environments.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design processes from discovery to delivery for key Axon Assistant features.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, AI/ML) to ensure seamless integration of design into the product development lifecycle.
• Define and articulate the experience vision for your product area, ensuring a consistent and intuitive user journey across devices and interaction modalities.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including field observations (ride-alongs), interviews, and usability testing, to gather actionable insights.
• Develop and iterate on design solutions at various fidelity levels, including sketches, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed specifications.
• Manage design efforts across multiple concurrent projects, maintaining high standards of design quality and focusing on desired user outcomes.
• Champion ethical and responsible AI integration within the user interface, incorporating user feedback loops and thoughtful design patterns.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred, though equivalent practical experience with a strong portfolio is often accepted in the design industry.

Experience: 8+ years of professional product design experience, with a minimum of 4 years demonstrating leadership in complex digital product initiatives. A strong design portfolio showcasing end-to-end design processes, complex problem-solving, and tangible product impact is essential.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in Product Design methodologies and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience designing multi-modal systems involving voice, mobile (iOS/Android), and web interfaces.
• Proficiency in conducting user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.
• Strong Interaction Design skills with a focus on intuitive and efficient workflows.
• Excellent Systems Thinking ability to design scalable and cohesive experiences across platforms.
• Proven ability to prototype and iterate designs at various levels of fidelity.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, particularly when working with engineers, product managers, and researchers.
• Experience managing multiple design projects simultaneously.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing AI/ML-enabled tools or real-time systems.
• Background in designing for high-stakes environments (e.g., public safety, healthcare).
• Familiarity with ethical AI practices and inclusive design principles.
• Ability to contribute to and improve design team processes and methodologies.
• Experience with voice user interface (VUI) design principles.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should feature case studies that clearly articulate the design process from problem definition through research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.
• Include examples demonstrating your experience designing for multi-modal interactions, especially voice, mobile, and web, highlighting the unique challenges and solutions for each.
• Showcase your ability to design for complex systems and illustrate how your design decisions contributed to measurable product impact.
• Present high-fidelity prototypes and detailed specifications that demonstrate your attention to detail and readiness for developer handoff.

Process Documentation:

• Document your research and discovery phase, including user research methods (interviews, usability testing, field studies) and how insights informed design direction.
• Detail your ideation and iteration process, showing sketches, wireframes, and alternative design explorations.
• Explain your validation and testing approaches, including how you gathered and incorporated user feedback throughout the design cycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £65,000 - £85,000 per year (Estimated)

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), aligning compensation with company performance and growth.
• Comprehensive pension plan with matching contributions to support long-term financial planning.
• Private health insurance and cash plans providing access to private medical care and covering various healthcare expenses.
• 30 days of paid holiday plus UK public holidays, promoting work-life balance.
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave policies to support growing families.
• GymPass subscription providing access to a network of gyms and wellness facilities.
• Life assurance and income protection providing financial security in unforeseen circumstances.
• Career growth support and wellness resources, investing in employee development and well-being.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility to accommodate project needs and creative workflow.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Public Safety, Technology

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees globally, with a significant presence and focus in the UK for this role.

Founded: 1993

Team Structure:

• Designers likely work within product teams focused on specific areas like Axon Assistant, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI/ML specialists.
• The design team likely has a reporting structure that emphasizes collaboration and knowledge sharing among designers across different product areas.
• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with designers embedded within product teams to ensure design is integrated throughout the development process.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on human-centered design, with a strong focus on user research and understanding the unique needs of public safety professionals.
• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed, with designers working in sprints and continuously refining designs based on feedback.
• Testing and validation practices, including usability testing and potentially field testing with users (ride-alongs), are integral to the design process.

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

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Senior Product Designer II. This level typically signifies a designer with extensive experience, capable of leading complex design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and significantly influencing product strategy and design direction within their area of focus. Responsibility scope includes end-to-end design leadership and advocacy for user needs in complex domains.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Design Manager or Lead Product Designer within the Axon Assistant product team or a broader design organization. Collaboration with senior stakeholders in Product and Engineering is expected.

Design Impact: Design has a direct and critical impact on the usability, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of Axon's products, particularly in the high-stakes environment of public safety. This role specifically influences how AI is integrated and perceived by first responders, directly contributing to Axon's mission to protect life.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for advancement to Lead Product Designer or Design Manager roles, taking on more responsibility for team leadership and design strategy.
• Opportunities to specialize further in areas like AI/ML design, VUI design, or designing for specific high-stakes environments.
• Growth through leading larger, more complex product initiatives and mentoring other designers on the team.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site in London. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to facilitate in-person teamwork and communication.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. The specific address would be provided by Axon.

Design Workspace Context:

• The on-site environment likely provides dedicated design workspaces, meeting rooms for collaboration and critique sessions, and potentially access to prototyping labs or testing facilities.
• Opportunities for spontaneous collaboration and feedback with product managers, engineers, and other designers are enhanced in an on-site setting.
• Being on-site allows for easier participation in field research activities like ride-alongs with public safety professionals.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. Standard business hours are expected, though some flexibility may be possible depending on team needs and project deadlines.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening interview (likely with a recruiter or hiring manager) to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio review stage where you will be asked to present and discuss selected case studies, focusing on your process, problem-solving, and impact, particularly for complex and multi-modal projects.
• Design challenge or whiteboarding session to evaluate your on-the-spot problem-solving skills, design thinking process, and ability to articulate your design rationale.
• Interviews with key stakeholders, including members of the design team, product management, engineering, and potentially AI/ML specialists, to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.
• Final interviews focusing on leadership potential, cultural fit, and strategic thinking regarding the future of public safety technology and AI integration.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select case studies that highlight your experience with multi-modal design (voice, mobile, web) and complex system design.
• Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process, key decisions, challenges faced, and the measurable impact of your work.
• Be prepared to discuss the ethical considerations and user feedback loops you incorporated into your designs, especially for AI-enabled features.
• Practice presenting your work concisely and engagingly, focusing on storytelling and demonstrating your strategic thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the typical format (e.g., timed design exercise, take-home challenge, whiteboarding session) and expectations for design challenges at the senior level.
• Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly, explaining your assumptions, constraints, and trade-offs.
• Be prepared to demonstrate your understanding of designing for specific platforms (mobile, web) and interaction types (voice).
• Focus on solving the core problem effectively while also considering edge cases, scalability, and ethical implications relevant to public safety.

ATS Keywords: Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, Interaction Design, User Research, Usability Testing, Prototyping, Wireframing, Journey Mapping, Systems Thinking, Multi-modal Design, Voice Interaction, VUI, Mobile Design, iOS, Android, Web Design, AI/ML, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Ethical AI, Inclusive Design, Public Safety, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Agile, Design Thinking, Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Portfolio, Case Studies, Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, User-Centered Design, Problem Solving, Design Strategy, Information Architecture, Usability, Accessibility, Design Systems, Design Leadership.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma or Sketch: Highly likely for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to demonstrate proficiency in creating complex interfaces and interactive flows.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Likely used for visual design elements, iconography, and image editing.
• Prototyping Tools (e.g., InVision, Principle, ProtoPie): Essential for creating interactive prototypes to test and communicate design concepts, especially for multi-modal interactions.
• Whiteboarding Tools (e.g., Miro, FigJam): Used for collaborative brainstorming, journey mapping, and early-stage design exploration.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Collaboration Platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): For team communication and coordination.
• Handoff Tools (e.g., Zeplin, Abstract, or features within Figma/Sketch): For providing detailed design specifications to engineering teams.
• Documentation Tools (e.g., Confluence, Notion): For documenting design decisions, research findings, and design system guidelines.

Research & Testing:

• User Research Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback): For conducting remote or in-person usability testing and interviews.
• Survey Tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms): For gathering quantitative user feedback.
• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel): Understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Customer-Obsessed: A deep commitment to understanding and addressing the critical needs of public safety professionals in high-stakes situations.
• Outcome-Driven: Focus on creating designs that deliver meaningful and measurable impact on user safety and operational effectiveness.
• Adaptable: Willingness to tailor design approaches based on the unique constraints and opportunities of different platforms and interaction modalities (voice, mobile, web).
• Collaborative: Emphasis on open communication, seeking feedback early and often, and co-creating solutions with cross-functional partners.
• Assertive: Ability to confidently advocate for design decisions and user needs based on research and expertise.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration is key, with designers working closely with product, engineering, and AI/ML teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Expect a culture of active feedback and critique, aimed at improving design quality and fostering a shared understanding of user needs.
• Collaboration likely extends to contributing to and utilizing a design system to ensure consistency and scalability across Axon's product ecosystem.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing intuitive and reliable multi-modal interactions (voice, mobile, web) in complex and often chaotic public safety environments presents significant usability challenges. Requires deep user empathy and robust testing.
• Integrating AI/ML capabilities responsibly and ethically into the user experience, ensuring transparency, control, and trust for users in critical situations.
• Balancing the need for innovation with the strict requirements and constraints of public safety workflows and regulations.
• Working across multiple platforms and devices while maintaining a cohesive and consistent user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to become an expert in designing for AI-enabled, multi-modal systems in a high-impact domain.
• Exposure to cutting-edge technology in AI/ML, IoT (body-worn cameras), and real-time communication systems.
• Potential for professional development through industry conferences, workshops, and access to learning resources focused on AI/ML design, VUI, and designing for critical systems.
• Mentorship opportunities both as a mentee and potentially as a mentor to more junior designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through a complex project from your portfolio, detailing your end-to-end design process, focusing on your approach to user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing, particularly for multi-modal or system-level challenges.
• Discuss how you approach designing for specific constraints, such as designing for voice interfaces on body-worn cameras or mobile workflows in the field.
• Explain how you gather and incorporate user feedback throughout your design cycle and how you measure the success of your designs.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Axon's mission ("Protect Life") and values. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with the company's mission and focus on public safety.
• Prepare questions about the design team structure, collaboration practices, and how design influences product strategy at Axon.
• Discuss your experience working in cross-functional teams and how you effectively collaborate with engineers, product managers, and researchers.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your portfolio presentation around compelling case studies that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex design problems, especially those involving multi-modal interactions and systemic thinking.
• Focus on storytelling, clearly articulating the user problem, your role, your process, key design decisions, and the impact of your work.
• Be prepared to show and discuss prototypes, particularly for voice or interactive mobile/web experiences, explaining your rationale for key interactions.
• Highlight examples where you used user research to inform your design decisions and where your designs led to measurable positive outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Customize your design portfolio to highlight projects that showcase your experience with multi-modal design (voice, mobile, web), complex systems, and designing for high-stakes environments. Select case studies that clearly demonstrate your end-to-end design process and the impact of your work.
• Optimize your resume for design roles by using relevant keywords from the ATS Keywords list provided above. Clearly articulate your experience in product design, user research, prototyping, and collaboration, tailoring your bullet points to the requirements of this Senior Product Designer II position.
• Prepare for the design interview process by practicing presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on explaining your design rationale and problem-solving approach. Anticipate questions about your experience with multi-modal design, AI integration, and working in cross-functional teams.
• Conduct thorough research on Axon, its mission, values, and products, particularly Axon Assistant. Understand the context of public safety and how technology is used in this domain to demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding during interviews.