Sr. Product Designer, Khan Kids (12-month contract, $80/hour, 40 hours/week) at Khan Academy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Product Designer, Khan Kids (12-month contract, $80/hour, 40 hours/week)

Company: Khan Academy

Location: San Mateo, CA / Remote friendly (US + Canada Only)

Job Type: Contract (12 months)

Category: Product Design (EdTech, UI/UX, Visual Design)

Date Posted: 2025-06-16T21:02:14

Experience Level: Senior (6+ years)

Remote Status: Remote friendly (US + Canada Only)

🎨 Role Summary

Drive the end-to-end product design process for Khan Academy Kids, focusing on creating joyful and effective learning experiences for young children, parents, and teachers.
Translate user research insights and educational goals into intuitive wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished high-fidelity visual designs for mobile and web platforms.
Contribute to and maintain shared design patterns and systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across the Khan Academy Kids product suite.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, artists, animators, and developers to deliver impactful product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role summary emphasizes the unique context of designing for young children and the collaboration required within a multidisciplinary team, which is critical in EdTech product design. The focus on joyful experiences and educational efficacy highlights the specific design challenges and goals of this role within the Khan Academy Kids team.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Lead design projects from initial concept through final implementation, delivering production-ready design assets and specifications.
Conduct user research, synthesize findings, and translate insights into actionable design solutions that address the needs of children, parents, and educators.
Develop comprehensive wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and gather feedback.
Create high-fidelity visual designs that are engaging, accessible, and aligned with the Khan Academy Kids brand and educational objectives.
Iterate on designs based on user testing, feedback, and performance data to continuously improve the user experience and learning outcomes.
Work collaboratively with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs and smooth handoff of assets and specifications.
Actively participate in design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work across the team.
Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the Khan Academy Kids design system and style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are detailed to reflect the seniority of the role, emphasizing leadership in the design process, user research integration, high-fidelity design creation, and cross-functional collaboration. The inclusion of iteration based on data highlights a data-informed design approach, which is crucial in product design at this level.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is typically preferred for a Senior Product Designer role, although equivalent professional experience with a strong portfolio is often considered. Emphasis on design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and visual communication is expected.

Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of relevant experience working on an in-house product design team, with a strong portfolio showcasing experience designing digital products at scale, particularly mobile and web consumer applications. Prior experience in the e-learning or EdTech sector, especially designing reports for educators and administrators, is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

Proven expertise in the end-to-end product design process, from problem definition and research to delivery of final solutions.
Exceptional proficiency in interaction design, information architecture, and user interface (UI) design.
Outstanding visual design skills with a strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality digital product experiences.
Proficiency in industry-standard design tools including Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Figma.
Experience designing for mobile and web consumer products with a focus on scalability and performance.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present design concepts and rationale to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple design projects concurrently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

Prior experience conducting various forms of user research, such as focus groups, interviews, and usability testing.
Familiarity with front-end web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, understanding their impact on design implementation.
Skills in illustration, animation, and/or video production are a plus, particularly relevant for designing engaging content for young children.
A strong passion for early childhood education, children's media, and a deep understanding of what is engaging and effective for young learners and their families.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications section provides more context on typical educational backgrounds and clarifies the importance of a strong portfolio demonstrating experience at the required seniority level. Preferred skills are highlighted to give candidates a clearer picture of desirable complementary abilities, particularly those relevant to the EdTech and children's media space.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Submit a portfolio showcasing your best digital product design work, specifically highlighting projects where you led the design process from concept to completion.
Include detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process, key decisions made, challenges encountered, and the impact of your design solutions.
Demonstrate your proficiency in visual design through high-fidelity mockups and final designs, ensuring clarity and attention to detail.
If applicable, include examples of interaction design, prototyping, and technical specifications or handoff documentation.

Process Documentation:

For each case study, clearly document your research and discovery phase, including how you gathered user insights and defined the problem space.
Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showing sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and how your designs evolved based on feedback and testing.
Explain your approach to validation and testing, including any usability testing conducted and how the results informed your design refinements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific guidance on portfolio content is provided, emphasizing the need for detailed case studies that demonstrate the candidate's design process and impact. This goes beyond just showing final screens and helps candidates understand the level of depth expected for a Senior Product Designer role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: This is a contract position with a stated rate of $80 per hour for 40 hours per week, totaling approximately $166,400 annually. This rate aligns with competitive senior-level product design contractor rates in the San Francisco Bay Area and for remote roles within the US and Canada, considering the required experience, specialized domain (EdTech/Kids), and the contract nature of the role. The potential for conversion to a full-time position suggests a long-term opportunity with potential for a comprehensive benefits package in the future.

Benefits: As a contractor, standard employee benefits may not apply. However, contractors often have the flexibility to manage their own benefits (health, retirement, etc.). Specific benefits for this contract role would need to be confirmed with Khan Academy. Potential benefits if the role converts to full-time could include:

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
Retirement savings plan with employer contribution.
Paid time off and holidays.
Professional development opportunities relevant to design skills and EdTech.

Working Hours: This is a full-time contract position requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The remote-friendly nature of the role (US + Canada Only) suggests flexibility in daily working hours, allowing designers to manage their creative flow and collaborate effectively with a distributed team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation section clearly states the provided hourly rate and calculates the potential annual equivalent, providing context within the market rate for senior design contractors in the specified regions. It also addresses the difference in benefits for contractors versus full-time employees, managing expectations and highlighting potential future benefits if the role converts.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Non-profit E-Learning Provider. Khan Academy operates in the EdTech industry, focused on providing free, high-quality supplemental learning content. The design team's work directly impacts educational outcomes and requires a deep understanding of user needs in diverse global contexts.

Company Size: While the provided LinkedIn data shows Khan Academy India with 11-50 employees, the parent Khan Academy organization is significantly larger, with over 181 million registered learners globally. This suggests a medium to large-sized organization where design operates within established processes and collaborates across various departments.

Founded: Khan Academy was founded in 2006. Its long history indicates a mature organization with a strong mission-driven culture focused on education and social impact.

Team Structure: The Khan Academy Kids team is described as "small but mighty," suggesting a lean, agile team environment. The Senior Product Designer will collaborate closely with product managers, other designers, artists, animators, and developers, indicating a multi-disciplinary team structure where designers are embedded within product teams.

Methodology: The emphasis on translating user research into design, iterating based on feedback, and collaborating with product managers and developers suggests an agile or lean product development methodology. The focus on user insights and educational efficacy points towards a user-centered design approach.

Company Website: https://www.khanacademy.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information is enhanced by contextualizing the provided LinkedIn data for Khan Academy India within the larger global Khan Academy organization. Assumptions about team structure and methodology are made based on the collaborative nature of the role and the focus on user research and iteration, which are common in EdTech product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility in leading design projects, mentoring less experienced designers (potentially), and influencing product strategy. Senior designers are expected to work autonomously, solve complex problems, and contribute to the overall design practice.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Design. They would likely work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives.

Design Impact: Design at Khan Academy, particularly within the Khan Kids team, has a direct and significant impact on the learning experiences of millions of children and the effectiveness of the platform for parents and teachers. Senior designers in this role will influence the core functionality and user engagement of a widely used educational product.

Growth Opportunities:

Design Leadership: Potential for growth into a Design Lead or Manager role, taking on more responsibility for team guidance and design strategy.
Specialization: Opportunities to specialize further in areas like educational design, interaction design for children, accessibility in EdTech, or design systems.
Cross-Functional Influence: Increased opportunity to influence product strategy, collaborate with research teams, and contribute to the broader educational mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis provides a detailed breakdown of the Senior Product Designer level within the design industry context. Assumptions about reporting structure and growth paths are based on typical design team structures and the responsibilities outlined for a senior role. The analysis highlights the significant impact designers can have in a mission-driven organization like Khan Academy.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Remote-friendly (US + Canada Only), with a physical presence in San Mateo, CA. This suggests a hybrid or distributed team environment where effective remote collaboration tools and practices are essential.

Office Location(s): San Mateo, CA serves as a central hub, but the remote-friendly nature means team members are likely distributed across the US and Canada.

Design Workspace Context:

Collaboration: Emphasis on effective remote collaboration tools and practices to work seamlessly with a distributed cross-functional team.
Creative Environment: While remote, the team likely fosters a creative environment through virtual design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and shared digital workspaces.
Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, stand-ups, and dedicated collaboration time with product managers, engineers, artists, and other designers are expected.

Work Schedule: A 40-hour per week contract, likely with flexibility to manage one's schedule within reasonable overlap for team collaboration across different time zones in the US and Canada.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment section focuses on the implications of a remote-friendly setup for design work, including the need for effective collaboration tools and practices. Assumptions are made about the nature of a distributed design team based on industry standards for remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial Screen: Likely a conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss your experience and fit for the role, with a focus on your background in product design and EdTech (if applicable).
Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will walk through selected case studies from your portfolio, explaining your process, decisions, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing for children and diverse audiences.
Design Challenge/Exercise: Could involve a take-home assignment or a live whiteboarding session to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply design principles to a relevant problem (potentially related to educational content or features for young children).
Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Conversations with potential team members, including other designers, product managers, engineers, and possibly researchers or content specialists, to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.
Final Interview: A discussion with a design leader or hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, leadership potential, and alignment with Khan Academy's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Select case studies that demonstrate your experience designing for complex products, particularly those with diverse user groups (children, parents, teachers).
Clearly articulate your role and impact in each project. Use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.
Highlight your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Showcase your visual design skills with polished mockups and attention to detail, particularly for mobile interfaces.
If you have experience designing for children or in EdTech, make sure those projects are prominently featured and explain your approach to designing engaging and educational experiences.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the target audience for Khan Academy Kids (children ages 2-8, parents, and teachers) and consider their unique needs and behaviors.
Familiarize yourself with Khan Academy's mission and the Khan Kids product.
Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly and concisely.
Be prepared to explain your design decisions and how they address the problem presented in the challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process section provides a likely interview structure and offers specific, actionable advice for portfolio review and design challenge preparation, tailored to the context of designing for children and the EdTech industry. This level of detail helps candidates prepare effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Figma: Required proficiency for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to work within a shared design system in Figma.
Adobe Illustrator: Required proficiency for creating vector graphics, illustrations, and potentially production-ready artwork for the Khan Kids characters and content.
Adobe Photoshop: Required proficiency for image editing and manipulation, potentially for creating assets for the product.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Collaboration tools like Slack or similar platforms for team communication.
Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for tracking tasks and collaborating with engineering.
Design handoff tools within Figma or potentially specialized tools for providing specifications to developers and animators.

Research & Testing:

Tools for conducting user interviews and usability testing (e.g., Zoom, lookback.io).
Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) for understanding user behavior and design impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

User-Centered Design: Deep commitment to understanding and empathizing with learners, parents, and teachers to build products they trust and love.
Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering designs that accelerate positive, measurable learning outcomes for students.
Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working closely with a diverse, cross-functional team, embracing different perspectives to achieve shared goals.
Joyful Learning: Dedication to making the learning process engaging, fun, and delightful for young children.

Collaboration Style:

Collaborative and iterative, with a focus on open communication and feedback within the design team and across disciplines.
Regular design critiques and brainstorming sessions to share work and gather input.
Close partnership with product managers to define requirements and strategy, and with engineers to ensure feasible and accurate implementation.
Collaboration with artists and animators to bring the Khan Kids characters and world to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values section is derived from the company values provided, specifically tailoring them to the design context. This helps designers understand the underlying principles that will guide their work and interactions within the team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Designing for Young Children: Creating engaging, intuitive, and age-appropriate experiences for users with limited cognitive abilities and motor skills requires specialized knowledge and creative problem-solving.
Balancing User Needs: Designing for multiple user groups (children, parents, teachers) with distinct needs and goals within a single product ecosystem.
Educational Efficacy: Ensuring that designs not only look good and are easy to use but also effectively support learning outcomes and pedagogical goals.
Working in a Non-profit: Operating within resource constraints and prioritizing design efforts to maximize impact while being mindful of sustainability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

EdTech Expertise: Deepen your understanding of educational principles, child development, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the EdTech space.
Designing for Diverse Audiences: Gain extensive experience designing for a global user base with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning needs.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with educators, researchers, artists, and animators, expanding your understanding of different disciplines involved in creating educational content.
Impact Measurement: Learn how to measure the impact of design on learning outcomes and user engagement, using data to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on the specific context of designing for young children and the EdTech industry, providing realistic expectations for candidates. Growth opportunities are linked to these challenges and the unique aspects of working at Khan Academy, highlighting areas for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to walk through a project from your portfolio where you faced a significant design challenge and how you approached solving it. Emphasize your problem definition, research methods, ideation process, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.
Discuss your experience designing for mobile and web platforms at scale. Be ready to talk about challenges related to performance, responsiveness, and accessibility.
Explain your approach to user research and how you translate user insights into design decisions. If you have experience conducting research with children or educators, highlight that.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Khan Academy's mission and values. Be prepared to discuss why you are passionate about their mission and how your values align with theirs.
Think about your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, artists, etc.) and be ready to provide examples of successful collaborations and how you handle disagreements or differing perspectives.
Discuss your understanding of designing for young children and what you believe makes an educational product engaging and effective for this age group.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure your portfolio presentation around 2-3 key case studies that best demonstrate your skills and experience relevant to this role, particularly any projects related to designing for children, education, or complex user interfaces.
For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your design process (including research, ideation, and iteration), your key design decisions and rationale, and the impact of your work (qualitative or quantitative).
Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Highlight your visual design skills through high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes where appropriate.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific requirements of the role and the company context, providing concrete examples of questions candidates should be prepared for and offering guidance on how to structure their portfolio presentation for maximum impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, highlights relevant experience (especially in EdTech or designing for children), and clearly showcases your design process and impact through detailed case studies.
Tailor your resume to highlight your senior product design experience, proficiency in the required design tools (Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop), and any relevant experience in e-learning, mobile/web product design, and user research.
Prepare for interviews by reviewing your portfolio case studies, practicing articulating your design process, and researching Khan Academy's mission, values, and the Khan Kids product.
If applicable, prepare to discuss your experience conducting user research, particularly with children, parents, or educators.

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

Sr. Product Designer, Khan Kids (12-month contract, $80/hour, 40 hours/week)