Product Designer (2nd)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (2nd) Company: Reducto Location: San Francisco, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Enablement Date Posted: 2025-11-06 Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in defining the foundational user experience and visual identity for Reducto's AI data ingestion platform, impacting how users (engineers, researchers, ops teams) interact with complex enterprise data.
• The Product Designer will be instrumental in translating user needs and business objectives into intuitive and engaging product interfaces, directly influencing adoption and customer satisfaction metrics.
• You will own the end-to-end design process, from initial user research and ideation through to high-fidelity mockups and the establishment of a comprehensive design system.
• This position requires a proactive individual with a strong sense of ownership, capable of driving design initiatives with high autonomy and a commitment to exceptional quality, directly impacting Go-To-Market (GTM) enablement through a superior user product.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, its impact on the user experience for engineers, researchers, and operations-heavy teams positions it as a critical GTM Operations Enablement function. A well-designed product simplifies adoption, reduces support overhead, and enhances the overall customer journey, directly contributing to operational efficiency and revenue growth. The emphasis on owning design end-to-end, including user research and defining workflows, suggests a strategic role that influences product-market fit and user adoption, key GTM considerations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle for Reducto, from conceptualization and user research to the delivery of polished, user-centric interfaces and experiences.
• Develop and iterate on user workflows for core product functionalities, ensuring seamless integration of AI-driven data extraction capabilities for enterprise clients.
• Build, maintain, and evolve Reducto's design system, ensuring brand consistency and scalability across all product touchpoints and GTM materials.
• Conduct in-depth user research, including interviews and usability testing, to deeply understand the needs of engineers, researchers, and operations professionals working with complex data.
• Translate user insights, technical constraints, and business requirements into compelling wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.
• Collaborate closely with the CEO and engineering team to define product strategy, prioritize features, and ensure design feasibility and technical implementation align with user needs and business goals.
• Champion a culture of design excellence within the company, obsessing over detail and craft to ensure a world-class user experience that drives product adoption and customer loyalty.
• Define and establish Reducto's visual brand identity, ensuring it is effectively communicated through the product and all external-facing GTM assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate an end-to-end ownership model, which is common in early-stage startups. The emphasis on owning the "design system, brand, and how we present ourselves to the world" directly links the design role to company-wide GTM strategy and brand positioning. The target audience of "engineers, researchers, or ops-heavy teams" means the design must be functional, efficient, and intuitive for users who prioritize productivity and data accuracy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles and user-centered design methodologies is essential. Formal education in Design, HCI, or a related field is beneficial but secondary to demonstrable skill and experience.

Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of professional product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping complex digital products. Experience designing for technical audiences (engineers, researchers, operations teams) is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Product Design: Proficiency in the full design process from user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user flows, and high-fidelity visual design.
• Design Systems: Experience building, maintaining, and scaling design systems for consistency and efficiency.
• User Research & Empathy: Ability to conduct user interviews, usability testing, and synthesize findings to inform design decisions for technical users.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma or similar industry-standard design and prototyping tools.
• Visual Design & Craft: A keen eye for detail, typography, color, and layout, with a strong commitment to polish and aesthetic quality.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and capability in defining structure and strategy in undefined or ambiguous product spaces.
• High Agency & Proactivity: Demonstrated ability to take initiative, identify problems, and propose/implement solutions independently.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Fast Iteration: Ability to move quickly and iterate on designs based on feedback and evolving requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Early-Stage Startup Experience: Prior experience working in fast-paced, early-stage startup environments, ideally involved in founding or building products from inception.
• Brand Development: Experience in defining and developing brand identity and visual language for a technology product.
• ML/AI Industry Exposure: Familiarity with or interest in Machine Learning, AI, and data processing technologies.
• Technical Acumen: Understanding of software development processes and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineers on technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "owning design end-to-end" and "defining structure where none exists" points towards a role that requires significant strategic thinking and the ability to build foundational design processes and assets from scratch. The "2+ years of experience shipping complex products, ideally for engineers, researchers, or ops-heavy teams" is a critical filter for candidates who can effectively design for Reducto's target audience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 of your strongest product design projects, with a clear emphasis on end-to-end ownership.
• For each project, detail your specific role, the problem you were solving, your design process, key decisions made, and the impact of your work.
• Clearly demonstrate your ability to translate complex user needs into intuitive and effective user interfaces, especially for technical or operations-focused products.
• Showcase your experience with user research methodologies and how you incorporated user feedback into your design iterations.
• Include examples of your work on design systems, demonstrating an understanding of scalability, consistency, and component-based design.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, including methods for gathering insights from technical users and translating these into actionable design requirements.
• Articulate your process for developing and maintaining design systems, including how you ensure consistency and facilitate collaboration with engineering.
• Be ready to walk through your wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design workflows, explaining the rationale behind your tool choices and iterative design practices.
• Demonstrate how you manage ambiguity and define product direction in the absence of formal product management structures.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "2nd Product Designer" role in an early-stage company without Product Managers, the portfolio must strongly highlight the candidate's ability to operate with high autonomy, define processes, and drive product vision from a design perspective. Demonstrating experience in building foundational elements like design systems and brand identity is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $300,000 USD per year. This range reflects the mid-level to senior experience requirement, the high impact and ownership of the role, the competitive San Francisco market, and the early-stage, high-growth nature of Reducto.

Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO: Encourages work-life balance and empowers employees to take necessary time off for rest and rejuvenation.
• Daily Free Lunch: Provided at the office, fostering team cohesion and a collaborative work environment.
• Reimbursed Transportation: Covers commuting costs, making the on-site role more accessible and affordable.
• Generous Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, and vision, ensuring employee well-being.
• Health and Wellness Budget: A monthly allowance ($150/mo) for gym memberships, fitness classes, or other wellness activities, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• Parental Leave: Flexible and supportive leave options to accommodate new parents.

Working Hours: While the standard is likely 40 hours per week, the description emphasizes "working hard and moving quickly," suggesting a dynamic environment where dedication and output are prioritized. Flexibility may be available, but a commitment to meeting ambitious goals is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, reflecting the potential for candidates with varying levels of experience within the 2-5 year bracket and their ability to demonstrate high impact and ownership. The benefits package is typical for a well-funded startup, focusing on employee well-being, convenience, and work-life integration support. The "working hard and moving quickly" note is a key indicator of startup culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI/Machine Learning, Enterprise Software, Data Extraction. Reducto operates at the intersection of AI innovation and enterprise data challenges, providing a critical solution for organizations struggling with unstructured data in documents like PDFs and spreadsheets. This positions them in a rapidly growing and highly competitive market. Company Size: Early-stage startup (implied by being the "2nd Product Designer" and having raised $100M+). This suggests a lean, agile team where individual contributions have a significant impact. Founded: The exact founding date is not specified, but the company's rapid growth (7x YOY revenue) and significant funding indicate a relatively recent but established and rapidly scaling operation.

Team Structure:

• Lean and Agile: The team is likely small, with highly collaborative and cross-functional dynamics.
• Direct Collaboration: The Product Designer will work directly with the CEO, engineers, and customers, bypassing traditional Product Management layers. This fosters direct communication and rapid decision-making.
• High Ownership: Roles are broad, and individuals are expected to take ownership of their domains and drive them forward.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: While design-focused, the emphasis on user research and direct customer interaction suggests a data-informed approach to product development and design.
• Iterative Design & Development: The "move fast" culture implies an agile, iterative process for both design and engineering.
• Focus on Accuracy & Scale: The core product addresses the need for accurate data extraction at enterprise scale, suggesting a company culture that values precision, reliability, and robust solutions.

Company Website: https://reducto.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on solving a fundamental enterprise data problem with cutting-edge AI positions them as a leader in a niche but critical market. The culture is clearly defined by speed, ownership, and direct impact, which is typical of well-funded, ambitious startups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level to senior designation (2-5 years experience) within the design function. It offers the opportunity to be a foundational member of the product team, shaping not just the product but also the design processes and culture. The "2nd Product Designer" title implies a significant step up in responsibility and impact compared to being one of many designers on a larger team.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report directly to a senior leader, likely the CEO, given the absence of Product Managers. This direct line of communication offers high visibility and influence.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on Reducto's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by creating a product experience that drives user adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue growth. A well-designed product for engineers and operations teams can reduce churn, improve customer advocacy, and streamline the sales process by presenting a clear, intuitive solution. The design system and brand identity will also directly support marketing and sales efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Team Member: Opportunity to build and scale the design function from the ground up, setting precedents and establishing best practices.
• Broad Impact: Influence product strategy, user experience, brand identity, and company culture.
• Leadership Potential: As the design function grows, there's potential to move into a Design Lead or Head of Design role.
• Skill Expansion: Deepen expertise in designing for AI/ML products, complex data workflows, and early-stage startup environments.
• Mentorship: Potential to mentor future hires as the team expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2nd Product Designer" title is a significant indicator of growth potential. It signifies a move from a contributor role to a foundational role with the opportunity to influence and build. This is particularly attractive for ambitious designers looking to make a substantial impact early in their careers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role in San Francisco. This indicates a collaborative, in-person work environment designed to foster team synergy and quick problem-solving. Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. Specific office details are not provided but can be assumed to be in a business district conducive to tech companies.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Setup: Expect an environment that encourages interaction between design, engineering, and leadership, facilitating rapid feedback loops.
• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software (Figma) and potentially other collaboration tools necessary for an AI/ML tech company.
• Team Interaction: Daily free lunch and an on-site requirement promote frequent, informal interactions with colleagues, fostering a strong team culture.

Work Schedule: The company emphasizes "working hard and moving quickly," suggesting a dynamic schedule. While likely adhering to standard business hours, the focus is on output and achieving ambitious goals, which may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in San Francisco signals a company that prioritizes in-person collaboration, typical for early-stage startups aiming for rapid innovation and tight-knit team dynamics. This environment is ideal for individuals who thrive on direct communication and shared problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience against the role requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your selected projects, detailing your process, decision-making, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your approach to user research, design systems, and handling ambiguity.
• Design Challenge: Likely a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard exercise focused on a specific product problem relevant to Reducto's domain (e.g., designing a new feature for data extraction or a workflow for analyzing document layouts).
• Team/Leadership Interviews: Conversations with the CEO and engineering team to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and your ability to collaborate effectively.
• Reference Checks: Standard background and professional reference checks.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight End-to-End Ownership: Clearly articulate your role and contributions on each project, emphasizing your ability to take initiative from problem definition to final delivery.
• Showcase Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens; explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, business goals, and technical constraints.
• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Include projects where you had to define requirements or structure in unclear situations, explaining your approach.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "increased user engagement by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y%").
• Tailor to Reducto: If possible, subtly weave in how your skills and experience align with Reducto's mission of solving complex enterprise data challenges with AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Reducto's Product: Thoroughly research Reducto's platform, target audience (AI teams, engineers, ops), and the problem they solve.
• Think Like a Founder/Owner: Approach any design challenge with a mindset of ownership, considering business impact, technical feasibility, and user needs holistically.
• Focus on User Flows & Core Functionality: For any challenge, prioritize defining clear user flows and addressing the most critical user pain points.
• Consider Scalability: Given Reducto's growth, think about how your design solutions can scale as the product and user base expand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not only design skills but also the candidate's autonomy, strategic thinking, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup environment. The portfolio review and design challenge are critical for demonstrating practical application of these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is expected.
• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma, but any additional specialized prototyping tools are a plus.
• Design System Management Tools: Potentially tools for organizing and documenting design system components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the designer, understanding how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude would be beneficial for user research and validating design impact.
• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools used by the company for internal reporting could be helpful for understanding product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Understanding how products integrate with or are used alongside CRM systems (like Salesforce) might be relevant, particularly for understanding enterprise customer workflows.
• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira or Asana for tracking design tasks and progress within the engineering workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Beyond that, familiarity with tools that support collaborative design processes, design system management, and an understanding of how design integrates with analytics and broader business tools will be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Bar for Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to shipping exceptional, polished work ("don’t rest until the job is done right—no settling for 90%"). This translates to a culture that values attention to detail and high standards in all outputs.
• High Agency & Proactivity: Expectation that individuals will not only identify problems but actively jump in to fix them, demonstrating a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Speed & Iteration: A culture that moves fast, balancing rapid execution with a deep care for design quality. This implies an agile approach to development and design.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and skill in defining structure and strategy in areas where there is no pre-existing framework.
• Customer Obsession: Working directly with customers to understand their needs and build products that solve real-world problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Transparent: With a lean team structure and direct reporting lines, expect open and frequent communication between design, engineering, and leadership.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is deeply integrated with engineering and the CEO, requiring close collaboration to ensure alignment on product vision and execution.
• Feedback-Driven: The iterative nature of the work suggests a culture that values constructive feedback and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values strongly reflect a typical early-stage, venture-backed startup environment focused on rapid growth, innovation, and impact. Candidates should be comfortable with a high-pressure, high-reward setting where individual initiative is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining Product Vision from Scratch: As the second designer, you'll be instrumental in shaping the product's direction and user experience without established product managers or extensive design processes.
• Balancing Speed and Polish: The need to "ship fast" while maintaining a "high bar for quality" requires excellent prioritization and efficient design execution.
• Designing for Complex Users: Creating intuitive experiences for engineers, researchers, and operations teams who deal with intricate AI and data challenges.
• Building a Design System: Establishing a comprehensive design system from the ground up for a rapidly evolving product.
• Limited Resources: In an early-stage company, you may need to be resourceful and adaptable with available tools and support.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale a design function, potentially leading to future leadership roles.
• Deep Technical Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of AI, machine learning, and enterprise data processing challenges.
• Startup Operations Acumen: Develop a keen understanding of how design contributes to GTM strategy, product-market fit, and overall business growth in a startup context.
• Direct Executive Interaction: Learn from and collaborate directly with the CEO on strategic product decisions.
• Industry Exposure: Stay at the forefront of AI technology and its application in enterprise solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to high growth and impact potential. The learning opportunities are geared towards developing a well-rounded product professional with strong strategic and leadership capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define a product's user experience or workflow with limited initial direction. What was your process?" (Assesses ambiguity navigation, strategic thinking)
• "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration with maintaining a high standard of design quality and polish?" (Assesses speed vs. quality trade-offs)
• "Walk me through a complex product you designed for a technical audience. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you address them?" (Assesses technical design, problem-solving)
• "Imagine Reducto needs to design a new feature for summarizing complex PDF documents. How would you approach this from a user research and design perspective?" (Assesses product thinking, design process)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Reducto's mission and the problem we're solving?" (Assesses alignment with company goals)
• "How do you contribute to a culture that values design and attention to detail?" (Assesses cultural fit, advocacy for design)
• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with engineers and executive leadership in a fast-paced environment." (Assesses collaboration, adaptability)
• "What does 'high agency' mean to you in a professional context, and can you provide an example?" (Assesses proactivity, ownership)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative for each project, focusing on the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and the outcome/impact.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your slides are clean, well-designed, and visually engaging, reflecting your design skills.
• Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your step-by-step approach, highlighting user research, ideation, iteration, and final execution.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs whenever possible.
• Be Prepared for In-Depth Questions: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design proficiency but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a strong cultural fit for a high-growth startup that values ownership and speed.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, experience with complex products (ideally for technical users), and your ability to navigate ambiguity. Ensure each project clearly outlines your role, process, rationale, and impact.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords such as "Product Design," "User Research," "Design Systems," "Figma," "UX Flows," "Wireframing," "High-Fidelity Mocks," "Startup," "AI/ML," and "Technical Audiences." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, your approach to working with limited direction, and how you balance speed with quality. Practice articulating your thought process for solving design challenges.
• Research Reducto: Understand their product, target market, funding, and mission. Show genuine interest and how your skills align with their goals.

⚠️ 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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