Staff Product Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Staff Product Designer
Company: Suno
Location: New York, NY, USA
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-06
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: On-site
🎨 Role Summary
- Craft amazing user experiences across platforms for a music creation app
- Collaborate cross-functionally to define the future of music creation and listening
- Elevate design quality and craft, with a focus on pixel-perfection and microinteractions
- Innovate and push UI/UX boundaries while maintaining user-centered design principles
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Drive end-to-end designs for the web app on desktop and mobile
- Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Research, Data, and other teams
- Hold an incredibly high standard for quality and craft
- Innovate and push the boundaries of UI and UX without losing sight of the user
- Contribute to and maintain design systems and components
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: Proven experience (2-5 years) in crafting delightful consumer design, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design principles
Required Skills:
- Expertise in Figma and proficiency in animated prototyping
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
- Passion for music (listening, exploring, making)
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with design systems and component libraries
- Familiarity with user research and testing methodologies
- Background in music production or sound design
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Case studies demonstrating user-centered design processes and outcomes
- Visual presentation of design work, including high-fidelity mockups and prototypes
- Examples of design systems and component libraries, if applicable
- Demonstration of attention to detail, including microinteractions and motion design
Process Documentation:
- Research and discovery phases, including user interviews and competitive analysis
- Ideation and iteration methods, including sketching, wireframing, and prototyping
- Validation and testing approaches, including usability testing and A/B testing
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 USD per year, plus target equity and benefits
Benefits:
- Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance
- 401k with match
- Generous commuter benefit
- Flexible PTO
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours and a focus on work-life balance
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Music technology and AI
Company Size: Small (11-50 employees)
Founded: 2022
Team Structure:
- Small, collaborative design team working closely with product, engineering, and research
- Flat hierarchy with opportunities for growth and leadership
- Cross-functional collaboration and a focus on music and sound experimentation
Methodology:
- User-centered design approach, with a focus on user research and testing
- Iterative design process, with regular feedback and refinement
- Collaborative design critique and feedback culture
Company Website: Suno
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-5 years)
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Design, with close collaboration with product managers and engineers
Design Impact: Staff Product Designers at Suno have a significant impact on the product and user experience, with the opportunity to shape the future of music creation and listening
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to Senior Product Designer or Design Manager roles, with increased leadership and mentorship responsibilities
- Expansion of design skills and expertise, with opportunities to specialize in areas such as design systems, user research, or motion design
- Growth within the company, with potential opportunities in other departments or roles
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: On-site studio in New York, NY, with a focus on collaboration and creativity
Office Location(s): New York, NY, USA
Design Workspace Context:
- Open, collaborative workspace with dedicated design areas and tools
- Access to music production equipment and software for sound design and experimentation
- Regular team events and social gatherings, with a focus on music and sound
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and a focus on work-life balance
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Phone or video screen with the Head of Design (30 minutes)
- Design challenge and presentation, with feedback from the design team (60 minutes)
- Final interview with the CEO and other stakeholders (30 minutes)
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Highlight user-centered design processes and outcomes
- Showcase high-fidelity mockups and prototypes, with a focus on attention to detail
- Demonstrate your understanding of Suno's mission and design culture
- Include examples of design systems and component libraries, if applicable
Challenge Preparation:
- Familiarize yourself with Suno's product and design language
- Prepare a design challenge that demonstrates your understanding of the role and Suno's mission
- Practice presenting your design process and rationale
ATS Keywords:
- Design Skills: User-centered design, UI/UX design, product design, Figma, prototyping, design systems, collaboration, attention to detail, innovation
- Tools: Figma, animated prototyping, design systems, music production software (optional)
- Methodologies: user research, iterative design, design critique, design thinking
- Soft Skills: communication, collaboration, adaptability, problem-solving, creativity
- Industry Terms: music creation, music technology, AI, user experience, user interface, product design
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Figma: Expertise required for creating high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and design systems
- Animated Prototyping: Proficiency required for demonstrating design interactions and motion
- Design Systems: Experience preferred for creating and maintaining design systems and component libraries
- Music Production Software: Familiarity preferred for sound design and experimentation (e.g., Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio)
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Figma Collaboration: Proficiency required for collaborating with designers, product managers, and engineers
- Handoff Tools: Experience preferred for handing off designs to engineers and ensuring design system consistency (e.g., Zeplin, InVision, Figma plugins)
Research & Testing:
- User Research: Familiarity preferred for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing
- Analytics Tools: Experience preferred for measuring design performance and optimizing user experience (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude)
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- User-Centered Design: Prioritize user needs and feedback in all design decisions
- Craftsmanship: Hold an incredibly high standard for quality and attention to detail
- Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams to define the future of music creation and listening
- Innovation: Push the boundaries of UI and UX without losing sight of the user
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and data scientists to define and execute design solutions
- Design Critique: Participate in regular design critiques and feedback sessions to refine and improve design work
- Design System Contribution: Contribute to and maintain design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- User Research Challenges: Conducting user interviews and surveys in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
- Design System Challenges: Maintaining design system consistency and scalability in a rapidly evolving product
- Technical Challenges: Balancing creativity with technical proficiency and attention to detail in design execution
- Industry Challenges: Staying up-to-date with music technology and AI trends and integrating them into design solutions
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Design Skill Development: Expanding expertise in areas such as design systems, user research, motion design, or music production
- Industry Conferences & Workshops: Attending design and music technology conferences and workshops to stay current and network with industry professionals
- Design Mentorship & Leadership Development: Seeking mentorship opportunities and leadership roles to grow as a designer and contribute to Suno's design culture
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- User-Centered Design: Describe your approach to user research and incorporating user feedback into design solutions
- Design Collaboration: Explain your experience working with cross-functional teams and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders
- Design Innovation: Share examples of how you've pushed the boundaries of UI and UX while maintaining user-centered design principles
Company Culture Questions:
- Design Culture: Describe your understanding of Suno's design culture and how you would contribute to it as a Staff Product Designer
- Music & Sound Design: Explain your passion for music and sound design, and how you would apply it to your role at Suno
- Design Impact: Discuss your vision for the impact of your design work on Suno's product and users
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Case Study Structure: Organize your portfolio with clear, user-centered case studies that demonstrate your design process and outcomes
- Visual Presentation: Showcase high-fidelity mockups and prototypes, with a focus on attention to detail and microinteractions
- Design Rationale: Clearly articulate your design decisions and how they address user needs and business objectives
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:
- Submit your application through the Suno job portal
- Customize your portfolio to highlight user-centered design processes and outcomes, with a focus on attention to detail and high-fidelity mockups and prototypes
- Optimize your resume for design roles, with a focus on relevant design skills, tools, and methodologies
- Prepare for design interviews by familiarizing yourself with Suno's product, design language, and design culture, and practicing your design process and presentation skills
- Research Suno's company culture and design team, with a focus on collaboration, experimentation, and a passion for music and sound