Product Designer, AI - Commerce

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, AI - Commerce

Company: Toast

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / AI / Commerce Operations

Date Posted: April 23, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and drive end-to-end AI-powered product experiences within the Commerce R&D organization, with a focus on transforming restaurant operations.

• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Research teams to translate complex AI capabilities and operational challenges into intuitive, human-centered user journeys.

• Leverage customer research, workflow analysis, and data insights to inform design decisions and create impactful product solutions for restaurant owners and staff.

• Champion a Founder's Mentality, taking ownership of design domains and demonstrating a relentless commitment to customer success in the fast-paced hospitality industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly focused on AI within the Commerce domain, indicating a need for designers who can not only create excellent user experiences but also understand and translate complex AI functionalities into practical, user-friendly applications for the restaurant industry. The emphasis on "Commerce R&D" and "Vision AI" suggests a strategic importance for AI in Toast's product roadmap.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and drive the complete design process for AI-powered product experiences across Point of Sale (POS) and other restaurant management applications, from initial discovery and concept development through to high-fidelity execution with significant autonomy.

• Translate complex operational problems and emerging AI capabilities into seamless, intuitive product experiences by synthesizing customer research, detailed workflow analysis, usage data, and critical business context to shape clear and impactful design decisions.

• Design for the unique realities of restaurant operations, developing workflows that are optimized for speed, reliability, and trustworthiness in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and User Research peers to define and refine how Vision AI capabilities manifest within the product, adeptly balancing technical feasibility, nuanced AI model behavior, and evolving user needs.

• Produce polished, high-fidelity design artifacts that meticulously account for ambiguity, potential edge cases, and the dynamic nature of AI system behavior, while strategically leveraging and contributing to the Toast Design System to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across the product suite.

• Proactively make design work visible early and consistently through prototypes, compelling storytelling, and robust systems thinking to build cross-functional alignment, clarify critical tradeoffs, and effectively influence product direction.

• Act as a strong advocate for a human-centered approach to AI, designing experiences that proactively build customer confidence, communicate system status with clarity, and ensure complex automation feels transparent, genuinely helpful, and actionable.

• Contribute to raising the collective design bar through active participation in design critiques, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and mentorship, while also integrating emerging AI-first tools and innovative methods into personal practice to accelerate learning, exploration, and execution efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can manage ambiguity, work with evolving technology (AI), and translate complex technical concepts into user-friendly interfaces. The emphasis on "end-to-end design process" and "high-fidelity execution with strong autonomy" suggests this role requires a self-starter with strong ownership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for mid-level product design roles.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in product design, demonstrating a clear career trajectory from executing specific design tasks to owning broader product outcomes and strategic initiatives. Experience within SaaS, e-commerce, or complex workflow applications is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to leverage data and qualitative insights, including business metrics and comprehensive user research, to substantiate design decisions and demonstrably drive product impact.

• A high bar for design excellence, evidenced by a portfolio showcasing a disciplined, thorough design process that accounts for fine details, potential edge cases, and the constraints of complex, real-world operational environments.

• Innately collaborative and adept at proactive stakeholder management; a collaborative style that inspires peers and builds the necessary dependability to enact influence with cross-functional partners.

• Exceptional ability to untangle ambiguity and break down complex, multi-step workflows into intuitive, cohesive, and end-to-end user journeys.

• Comfort and proficiency in designing for emerging areas where the underlying technology (AI) is still evolving, with the capacity to translate this ambiguity into clear, usable, and trustworthy experiences for customers.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI/ML product design, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities associated with designing for intelligent systems.

• Familiarity with the hospitality or restaurant industry, including an understanding of common operational workflows, pain points, and user needs.

• Proficiency in utilizing and contributing to established design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Experience with rapid prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and a strong understanding of user-centered design principles.

• Ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3+ years" requirement, coupled with the emphasis on "owning broader product outcomes and strategy," positions this as a mid-level role. The explicit mention of a portfolio and the need to "substantiate design decisions" with data and research indicate a strong focus on measurable impact and a structured design process.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of 3-5 impactful product design case studies that demonstrate a clear progression from problem definition through to final solution and measured outcomes.

• Each case study should meticulously detail the design process, including how user research, data analysis, and business requirements were synthesized to inform decisions.

• Showcase the ability to handle complex workflows and ambiguity, with specific examples of how challenges were untangled and translated into intuitive user experiences.

• Highlight the application of AI-first design principles and how AI capabilities were integrated into the user journey.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly articulate the design methodology employed, emphasizing iterative design, user testing, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrate how design decisions were validated and how feedback loops were integrated to refine solutions.

• Provide evidence of how the design system was utilized or contributed to, ensuring scalability and consistency.

• Detail the impact of the design, supported by quantifiable metrics (e.g., increased conversion, improved efficiency, reduced error rates, customer satisfaction improvements) and qualitative user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and the emphasis on "disciplined process that accounts for fine details, edge cases, and complex, real-world constraints" strongly suggest that candidates will be evaluated on their ability to showcase a rigorous and thorough design methodology. The "AI-first design approach" and "high-fidelity artifacts" points indicate a need for both conceptual and execution-level design skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Product Designer, AI - Commerce role with 3+ years of experience in Dublin, Ireland, the estimated annual salary range is €60,000 - €85,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Dublin, considering the tech sector, the specific focus on AI and commerce, and the hybrid work model. Factors such as specific skill sets, interview performance, and the exact scope of responsibilities can influence the final offer.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package, including base salary and potential equity.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.

• Flexible work model, including 2 days per week in the Dublin office.

• Opportunities for professional development, including access to AI tools and training.

• Generous paid time off and company holidays.

• Support for continuous learning and skill development.

• Access to a robust design system and collaborative tools.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid model offers flexibility, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the provided information and industry standards for a Product Designer role with 3+ years of experience in Dublin, a salary range of €60,000 to €85,000 is a reasonable estimate. The company's "Total Rewards Philosophy" and the explicit mention of competitive compensation, professional development, and a flexible work model suggest a comprehensive benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS), Hospitality, Food & Beverage. Toast operates within the critical intersection of technology and the restaurant industry, providing essential digital tools that empower local businesses. This industry context means the company operates in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment where operational efficiency directly impacts business success.

Company Size: Toast is a significant player in its market, indicated by its presence on greenhouse.io and the description of its "Total Rewards Philosophy" and global/regional work practices. While an exact number isn't provided, its operational scale suggests a well-established and growing organization with dedicated teams for product development, engineering, and design.

Founded: Toast was founded in 2012. This relatively young age for a company of its scale suggests a culture that is likely dynamic, innovative, and has evolved rapidly to meet market demands. The emphasis on "hungry to build and learn" and embracing change aligns with a company that has experienced significant growth and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Commerce R&D organization, specifically the Vision AI team. This indicates a specialized team focused on applying AI to enhance commercial operations within the restaurant sector.

• The team structure likely comprises Product Managers, AI/ML Engineers, User Researchers, and fellow Product Designers, fostering a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: A core methodology involves using customer research, workflow analysis, and usage data to inform design decisions. This is crucial for understanding the complexities of restaurant operations.

• Human-Centered AI: The team champions designing AI experiences that build customer confidence, ensure transparency, and make complex automation feel helpful and actionable.

• Iterative Development & Prototyping: Making work visible early and often through prototypes and storytelling is a key practice to build alignment and influence product direction.

• Design System Utilization: Leveraging and contributing to the Toast Design System ensures consistency, quality, and scalability of design solutions across products.

Company Website: https://careers.toasttab.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on technology for restaurants implies a culture that values efficiency, customer success, and innovation. The "Founder's Mentality" requirement for this role suggests an environment where initiative, ownership, and a drive for impact are highly prized. The explicit mention of "AI at Toast" and the company's values ("hungry to build and learn") point towards a forward-thinking and adaptive organizational culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (3+ years of experience) Product Designer level, specifically focusing on AI within the Commerce domain. It requires taking ownership of end-to-end design processes for complex, AI-driven features, moving beyond task execution to strategic product contribution. The role demands a high degree of autonomy and the ability to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, the role's placement within the "Commerce R&D organization" and "Vision AI team" suggests reporting to a Design Lead, Group Product Design Manager, or a similar design leadership role. Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads will be a significant aspect of daily work.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer, AI - Commerce plays a critical role in directly impacting the operational efficiency, sales, and customer engagement of restaurants using Toast's platform. By designing intuitive AI-powered tools, this role enables restaurant owners and staff to make smarter decisions, automate tasks, and grow their businesses, thereby driving Toast's overall mission and revenue growth. The impact is tangible, directly affecting the livelihoods of small business owners.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI Product Design: Deepen expertise in designing for AI/ML products, understanding model behavior, and creating user trust in intelligent systems.

• Leadership in Design: Progress to Senior Product Designer, Staff Designer, or Design Lead roles, taking on more strategic product ownership and mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop stronger skills in influencing product strategy and collaborating with leadership across Product, Engineering, and Research.

• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in AI applications within the hospitality and commerce sectors.

• Contribution to Design System: Play a key role in evolving and expanding Toast's design system for AI-driven features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3+ years" experience requirement and the expectation to "own broader product outcomes and strategy" clearly define this as a mid-level role with significant scope. The emphasis on "Founder's Mentality" and "uncompromising ownership" suggests that career growth will be tied to demonstrated initiative and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid, requiring in-office collaboration two days per week at Toast's Dublin office. This model aims to balance focused remote work with the benefits of in-person collaboration, team building, and spontaneous idea generation.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is Dublin, Ireland. The job description includes a link to the Dublin office location, suggesting a well-equipped and accessible workplace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model is designed to foster strong team connections and facilitate effective collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Research peers. Expect a dynamic workspace that encourages interaction and knowledge sharing.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools, AI-first tools, and potentially advanced hardware for prototyping and user testing. Toast is committed to providing "AI tools across all disciplines."

• Cross-functional Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with diverse teams, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and potentially sales or customer success representatives, to gain a holistic understanding of the user and business needs.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely aligned with typical business hours in Dublin (Europe/Dublin timezone), approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature provides flexibility in structuring the work week, with two designated days for in-office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "in-office collaboration two days per week" clearly defines the hybrid nature of the role. This blend of remote and in-office work is common in tech companies aiming to optimize both productivity and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio link and relevant experience.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through selected case studies from the portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making rationale, the impact of your work, and how you handled challenges, particularly those involving AI or complex workflows.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be given a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual exercise to assess their problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply Toast's design principles. This might involve designing for a specific AI-driven feature or optimizing an existing workflow.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with potential peers (Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers) to assess collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and deeper insights into the role and team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in AI product design, complex workflow solutions, and end-to-end ownership. Prioritize projects that demonstrate impact and a clear design process.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes. Emphasize the "why" behind your design choices.

• Highlight AI Nuances: Clearly explain how you approached designing for AI, including considerations for user trust, transparency, ambiguity, and model behavior. Show how you translated AI capabilities into user value.

• Showcase Process & Data: Detail your research methods, how you used data (business metrics, user research) to inform decisions, and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate. High-fidelity mockups and prototypes are essential.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design rationale, trade-offs, collaboration experiences, and how you handle ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Toast's Business: Research Toast's products, target audience (restaurants), and its mission. Familiarize yourself with the hospitality industry's operational challenges.

• AI Design Principles: Review best practices for designing AI-powered products, focusing on user control, explainability, and managing expectations.

• Workflow Optimization: Practice breaking down complex processes into simple, intuitive steps. Think about how AI can enhance efficiency.

• Communication: Prepare to clearly articulate your thought process, design choices, and recommendations concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and the potential for a design challenge strongly indicate that practical design skills and process are key evaluation criteria. The focus on AI and complex workflows means candidates should be ready to discuss how they approach these specific challenges.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable, given industry trends and Toast's likely use of a design system), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Figma's prototyping features, or other specialized tools for creating interactive prototypes to demonstrate AI interactions and complex workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Zoom, Jira, Confluence for communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker, or internal dashboards for analyzing user data and presenting findings.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how customer data is managed (e.g., Salesforce, internal CRM) can provide context for user journeys and business impact.

• AI/ML Platforms: Familiarity with concepts or platforms used for AI model development and deployment (though direct hands-on experience may not be required, understanding the possibilities is beneficial).

Design Systems:

• Toast Design System: Proficiency in using and contributing to established design systems is crucial for ensuring consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on AI and the need for high-fidelity execution, proficiency in leading design and prototyping tools like Figma is almost certainly expected. The emphasis on data-driven decisions implies familiarity with product analytics platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Hungry to Build and Learn: A core Toast value that translates to a proactive, growth-oriented mindset. For this role, it means embracing new AI technologies, continuously improving design skills, and being eager to tackle complex challenges.

• Founder's Mentality: Taking uncompromising ownership of one's domain, demonstrating initiative, and having a relentless commitment to customer success and product outcomes.

• Embrace Change: A willingness to adapt to evolving technologies and market needs, particularly with the rapid advancements in AI.

• Build for Customers: A deep focus on understanding and solving real-world problems for restaurant owners and staff, ensuring that technology serves their needs effectively.

• Data-Driven: Relying on data, research, and metrics to guide decisions and measure the impact of design solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: A highly collaborative approach, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers to co-create solutions. Strong communication and the ability to build consensus are vital.

• Visible Work & Storytelling: Proactively sharing design progress, prototypes, and rationale to foster alignment and gather feedback early and often.

• Design Critiques: Engaging in constructive feedback sessions to elevate the quality of design work across the team.

• Mentorship and Collective Growth: Contributing to the team's overall skill development through sharing knowledge and providing mentorship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founder's Mentality" and "Hungry to Build and Learn" values are central to Toast's culture and will be key for candidates to demonstrate. The collaborative nature of the role, working within a cross-functional team, is also a critical aspect of the team's culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Ambiguity in AI: Translating the inherent uncertainty and evolving nature of AI capabilities into clear, trustworthy, and user-friendly experiences for restaurant operators.

• Balancing Technical Constraints with User Needs: Effectively integrating complex AI model behaviors and technical feasibility with the practical demands of fast-paced restaurant operations.

• Driving Adoption of New AI Features: Educating users and building confidence in AI-powered tools that may represent a significant shift in how they manage their businesses.

• Maintaining Design System Scalability for AI: Ensuring the design system can accommodate the unique needs and evolving nature of AI-driven features while maintaining consistency.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Thriving in a dynamic, agile environment where product development cycles can be rapid, requiring quick iteration and decision-making.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI Product Design: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI applications and learn best practices for designing intelligent systems.

• Specialization in Hospitality Tech: Become an expert in the unique challenges and opportunities within the restaurant technology sector.

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Develop skills in complex workflow optimization, systems thinking, and strategic product design.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and grow into leadership roles within the design team.

• Access to AI Tools & Training: Toast actively provides AI tools and learning resources, encouraging continuous skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the novel aspects of designing for AI and the specific operational context of the restaurant industry. The growth opportunities are directly tied to developing expertise in these niche areas and progressing within a product design career path.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex, evolving technology like AI. How did you approach managing ambiguity and ensuring user trust?" (Focus on your process, risk mitigation, and user-centricity).

• "Walk me through a project where you used data and user research to significantly influence product direction or design decisions. What was the outcome?" (Highlight your analytical skills and impact).

• "How do you ensure your designs address the operational realities and high-pressure environments of a business like a restaurant?" (Emphasize your understanding of user context and practical constraints).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Toast's mission and the opportunity to design AI-powered products for the restaurant industry?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and alignment with the company's purpose).

• "How do you embody a 'Founder's Mentality' in your work?" (Provide specific examples of taking ownership and driving initiatives).

• "How do you approach learning new tools and technologies, especially AI-first tools?" (Relate to Toast's value of being "hungry to build and learn").

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, lead with the problem, your role, and the key outcome. Then, dive into your process, methodologies, and specific design decisions.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your design solutions (e.g., efficiency gains, conversion improvements, user satisfaction).

• Explain Your "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design choices, referencing user research, data, and business goals.

• Highlight AI Considerations: Be prepared to discuss how you considered AI-specific factors like transparency, user control, and managing model behavior in your designs.

• Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you worked with cross-functional partners throughout the design process.

• Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it’s clear, concise, engaging, and fits within the allotted time. Be ready for follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions will likely focus on assessing a candidate's ability to handle AI-specific design challenges, their understanding of operational contexts, their collaborative skills, and their alignment with Toast's core values. A strong portfolio presentation is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer, AI - Commerce position:

• Submit your application through the Toast Careers portal, ensuring your resume and a link to your portfolio are included.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating AI product design, complex workflow solutions, and impact on business operations. Prioritize case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process and ability to handle ambiguity.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 3+ years of product design experience, emphasizing skills in AI, user research, data analysis, stakeholder management, and your ability to drive product outcomes. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and project outcomes. Prepare specific examples that showcase your "Founder's Mentality" and collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing for AI in the restaurant industry.

• Company Research: Deeply understand Toast's mission, products, target market (restaurants), and core values. Familiarize yourself with their design system and their approach to AI. This will enable you to ask insightful questions and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.