Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: Arketa Location: New York City, New York, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-07-17T00:00:00 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years) Remote Status: TELECOMMUTE (Remote for US-based candidates)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and implementation of Arketa's frontend design system, ensuring a cohesive and scalable user experience across all digital products.
• Own the end-to-end user interface (UI) design process, from initial wireframing and prototyping to high-fidelity visual design, focusing on intuitive and accessible user journeys.
• Collaborate intimately with product management and engineering teams to translate business objectives and user needs into effective design solutions, aligning frontend design with product strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement of design systems to enhance team efficiency, maintain visual consistency, and support rapid product iteration in a high-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the emphasis on "frontend design system," "user interface design," and collaboration with "frontend development" (React, Tailwind, Typescript) strongly indicates a focus on UI/UX design specialized for web applications and product interfaces, rather than broader product strategy or management. The role requires a deep understanding of how design translates into code and contributes to a scalable, user-friendly platform.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the creation, refinement, and governance of the frontend design system, establishing and enforcing design patterns, components, and guidelines to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Conduct user research, create user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions for new features and product enhancements.
• Develop high-fidelity visual designs and detailed UI specifications, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and accessibility standards for a polished and inclusive user experience.
• Partner with product managers to define product requirements, user stories, and design scope, ensuring design solutions directly address business goals and user pain points.
• Work closely with frontend engineers to facilitate the implementation of designs, providing assets, style guides, and ongoing support to ensure pixel-perfect execution and efficient development workflows.
• Iteratively refine existing product interfaces and design system components based on user feedback, analytics data, and evolving product requirements to optimize user engagement and satisfaction.
• Present design concepts, user testing insights, and completed features to cross-functional teams and stakeholders, articulating design rationale and impact on business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant focus on design systems, which is a key operational asset for scaling product development. The role requires not just creating designs but also establishing the frameworks and standards that enable faster, more consistent product delivery. Close collaboration with engineering on frontend implementation is critical, suggesting a need for designers who understand technical constraints and possibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for this level of responsibility.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record in UI/UX design, interaction design, and visual design for digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and developing comprehensive design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and usage documentation.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma (preferred), Sketch, or Adobe XD for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, usability best practices, and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
• Excellent visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout composition.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and marketing, to deliver cohesive product experiences.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to diverse audiences.
• Experience in organizing and managing design projects, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, agile environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with frontend development principles and technologies, particularly React, Tailwind CSS, and Typescript, enabling seamless collaboration with engineering teams.
• Experience working in a startup or high-growth technology company, particularly within the SaaS or wellness/fitness tech industry.
• Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and synthesizing user feedback to inform design decisions.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, highlighting design process, problem-solving skills, and impact on product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for familiarity with React, Tailwind, and Typescript is a significant differentiator, indicating that this role is not purely conceptual but requires a designer who can bridge the gap between design and frontend implementation, understanding how designs will be built and function in the actual product. This is increasingly common in modern product design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of the product design process, from user research and ideation to final UI execution and iteration.
• Specific case studies showcasing experience in building or significantly contributing to a design system, detailing its structure, evolution, and impact on product consistency and development velocity.
• Examples of complex UI challenges solved through intuitive and user-friendly design solutions, with a clear articulation of the problem, your approach, and the measurable outcomes.
• Demonstration of proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs using industry-standard tools (e.g., Figma).
• Evidence of collaboration with engineering teams, including how design assets and specifications were handed off and how feedback was incorporated.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you've documented design processes, user flows, and design system components to ensure clarity and maintainability for the team.
• Include examples of how you've used data (user research, analytics) to inform and validate design decisions, demonstrating a data-driven approach to product development.
• Highlight instances where you've improved design workflows, component reusability, or overall design efficiency through process optimization or system implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role emphasizing design systems and collaboration with frontend development, a portfolio that goes beyond static mockups is crucial. Demonstrating an understanding of system thinking, component-based design, and how designs translate into code will be highly valued. Case studies detailing the impact of design systems on efficiency and consistency are essential.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $180,000 USD, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and location. This range reflects the competitive compensation expected for a Product Designer with 5+ years of experience in a high-growth tech startup.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: Includes base salary, stock options, and performance-based bonuses, offering significant upside potential.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage to support employee well-being.
• Work-Life Balance: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) to encourage rejuvenation and personal time.
• Team Engagement: Annual company offsites to foster team cohesion and strategic alignment.
• Personal Development: Wellness reimbursements and opportunities for professional growth.
• Office Perks: Catered lunches and snacks are provided for employees.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for ownership and advancement within a rapidly scaling company.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. Given the "TELECOMMUTE" designation, flexibility in daily scheduling is likely, allowing remote employees to manage their time effectively while meeting project deadlines and collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a base salary estimate. The total compensation package, including stock options and performance bonuses, could significantly increase the overall earnings potential, especially in a high-growth startup environment like Arketa. The benefits package is robust and aligns with typical offerings for tech roles in competitive markets.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on the Fitness and Wellness sector, providing a SaaS platform for studios and entrepreneurs. Arketa operates at the intersection of technology and a rapidly growing consumer market, aiming to digitize and optimize wellness business operations. Company Size: Arketa is a venture-backed startup that has raised $15M in Series A funding. While specific employee count isn't provided, a Series A stage typically indicates a company that has moved beyond the initial seed stage and is in a growth phase, likely employing between 20-100 individuals. This size suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact. Founded: Arketa was founded with the mission to make wellness more accessible by empowering studios and wellness entrepreneurs. Its founding principles are centered on innovation, customer empowerment, and growth within the wellness industry.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design function likely sits within or closely collaborates with a Product Management team, with direct reporting lines to a Head of Product or Design Lead.
• Designers will work in close collaboration with dedicated Product Managers who define roadmaps and user stories, and with Engineering teams (frontend and potentially backend) who build the product.
• Cross-functional collaboration is expected across marketing, sales, and customer success teams to ensure a holistic understanding of user needs and business objectives.

Methodology:

• Arketa likely employs agile development methodologies, emphasizing iterative design and development cycles, continuous feedback, and rapid deployment of features.
• Data analysis and user feedback are integral to its product development process, driving decisions and design refinements to ensure product-market fit and user satisfaction.
• The company culture values a "design-first mentality" and proactive problem-solving, encouraging team members to take ownership and drive initiatives.

Company Website: https://www.arketa.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Series A startup in the wellness tech space, Arketa likely offers a high-energy, collaborative environment where individuals can have a direct impact. The emphasis on building a "category-defining company" suggests a culture of innovation, ambition, and a strong focus on product excellence. Designers will be expected to be adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity as the company scales.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level Product Designer, likely requiring 5+ years of experience. It signifies a designer who can operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead design initiatives, and contribute strategically to product development and design system evolution. The "self-starter" description emphasizes the need for an individual who can define their own work within the broader product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report into a Head of Product or a more senior Design Lead. They will work closely with Product Managers on specific product areas and collaborate daily with frontend engineers. This structure facilitates clear product direction while fostering strong cross-functional partnerships.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer, the impact is directly tied to the usability, accessibility, and overall user experience of the Arketa platform. By creating intuitive interfaces and a robust design system, this role directly influences user adoption, customer satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, the company's ability to scale and achieve its business objectives in the competitive wellness market. Effective design can streamline user workflows, reduce support costs, and enhance the perceived value of the Arketa product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to become a key owner and leader in the evolution and expansion of Arketa's design system, potentially growing into a Design System Lead or Manager role.
• Product Ownership: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to take on design ownership for specific product verticals or features, leading the design strategy for those areas.
• Skill Specialization: Continued development in areas like UX research, interaction design, or even frontend implementation collaboration, depending on interests and company needs.
• Mentorship: As a senior member of the team, opportunities to mentor junior designers or contribute to design best practices within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: In a startup environment, career growth is often tied to the company's expansion and the individual's ability to adapt and take on increasing responsibility. This role offers a chance to build out significant design infrastructure (the design system) from a relatively early stage, which can be a valuable career differentiator.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job listing specifies "TELECOMMUTE" and "remote_derived": true, indicating that the role is fully remote for candidates located within the United States. This suggests a distributed workforce model. Office Location(s): While the primary location is listed as New York City, the remote nature means candidates from anywhere in the US can apply. The company may have a physical headquarters in New York City, but day-to-day work is conducted remotely.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative remote environment, relying heavily on digital tools for communication, design work, and team interaction.
• Technology Stack: Access to robust collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, project management software) will be essential for effective remote work and design execution.
• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design critiques, and company-wide check-ins will be the primary modes of interaction, fostering a sense of connection despite the remote setup.

Work Schedule: While core business hours and collaboration times will be important for cross-functional teamwork, the remote nature likely allows for some flexibility in daily scheduling. Employees are expected to manage their time effectively to meet deadlines and participate in scheduled meetings, particularly those involving design reviews or cross-team updates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" status is a key indicator. Candidates should be comfortable with remote work tools and communication practices. The company's commitment to collaboration through virtual means will be vital for success in this role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of resumes and portfolios to assess qualifications and design experience, with a strong emphasis on design system work and UI/UX proficiency.
• Initial Interview (Recruiter/Hiring Manager): A discussion to gauge overall fit, understand motivations, and review key experiences, including portfolio highlights. This stage will likely explore your approach to design systems and collaboration.
• Design Challenge / Portfolio Presentation: A practical exercise or a deep dive into your portfolio case studies. Expect to present your work, discuss your design process, explain your contributions to design systems, and articulate how you'd approach specific design problems relevant to Arketa's platform.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineering leads to assess collaboration skills, understanding of frontend development, and ability to integrate design within the product development lifecycle.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a co-founder or senior leadership to discuss company culture, strategic alignment, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to showcasing your experience with design systems. Detail your process for creating, maintaining, and scaling them.
• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process undertaken (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing), and the final outcome, emphasizing measurable results or impact.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked with engineers and product managers, illustrating your communication and handoff strategies.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible – e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased user engagement, faster development cycles due to the design system.
• Tailor to Arketa: Research Arketa's current product and user base. Consider how your skills and portfolio projects can directly address their needs and contribute to their mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you approach building or evolving a design system for a growing product.
• Prepare to articulate your understanding of React, Tailwind CSS, and Typescript from a design perspective and how you'd collaborate with developers using these technologies.
• Practice presenting your portfolio clearly and concisely, focusing on the "why" behind your design decisions and the impact of your work.
• Familiarize yourself with the fitness and wellness technology space to better understand Arketa's market and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, focusing heavily on practical design skills, system thinking, and collaborative ability. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their contributions to design systems in detail and demonstrate an understanding of how their designs integrate with modern frontend development practices.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred), Sketch, Adobe XD. Proficiency in at least one is essential, with Figma being the current industry standard and likely preferred by Arketa.
• Design System Management: Tools or methodologies for organizing and maintaining design system components and guidelines (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration, internal documentation).
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (docs, sheets, slides), potentially project management tools like Jira or Asana.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Ability to interpret data to identify user pain points and opportunities for design improvement.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct responsibility, understanding how product design impacts customer journeys managed via CRM or marketing automation tools can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a prerequisite for modern design roles, especially those emphasizing design systems. An understanding of how design systems integrate with development workflows (like React component libraries) is a significant plus and suggests the company values designers who are technically aware.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design-First Mentality: A core value that prioritizes user experience and aesthetic quality in product development.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Ownership & Proactiveness: Encouraging team members to take initiative, drive projects forward, and be accountable for outcomes.
• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving user needs through thoughtful and empathetic design.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on building robust systems and processes that support the company's rapid growth and product evolution.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The design team is expected to be tightly integrated with product and engineering, participating in planning, development sprints, and review cycles.
• Open Communication: Encouragement of transparent feedback, constructive critiques, and active participation in team discussions to foster continuous improvement.
• Shared Knowledge: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the team and the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values, particularly "design-first mentality" and "self-starter," point to a culture that values high-quality output, autonomy, and proactive contribution. The emphasis on collaboration suggests a team-oriented environment where designers are integral to the product development process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling a Design System: As Arketa grows, ensuring the design system remains maintainable, scalable, and inclusive for new features and product areas will be an ongoing challenge.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse user needs and complex business requirements into elegant and functional design solutions.
• Rapid Iteration in a Startup: Adapting to fast-paced product development cycles, frequent changes, and the need to iterate designs quickly based on feedback and market shifts.
• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong design cohesion and effective communication within a fully remote team environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in design system architecture, governance, and implementation, potentially becoming a recognized specialist.
• Product Strategy Influence: Gain exposure to product strategy discussions and contribute to shaping the product roadmap through design insights.
• Cross-functional Skill Development: Enhance collaboration and communication skills by working closely with engineering and product management on complex features.
• Industry Exposure: Contribute to a product in the booming wellness tech sector, gaining insights into market trends and user behavior in this space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary growth opportunity lies in building out and owning a critical design asset – the design system – for a rapidly scaling company. This experience is highly valuable and can lead to specialized career paths in design operations or lead design roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Systems: "Describe your experience building or contributing to a design system. What are the key components, and how do you ensure scalability and adoption?" Prepare to discuss your philosophy on design system governance and maintenance.
• Collaboration: "How do you collaborate with product managers and engineers? Can you provide an example of a time you had to navigate conflicting priorities or feedback between these teams?" Be ready to share specific examples of your communication and negotiation skills.
• Problem-Solving: "Walk us through a challenging UI problem you solved. What was the problem, what was your process, and what was the outcome?" Focus on demonstrating your design thinking process and ability to articulate your decisions.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Arketa's Mission: "What excites you about Arketa's mission to make wellness more accessible?" Prepare to articulate how your design work aligns with this mission.
• Startup Environment: "How do you approach working in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment?" Be ready to discuss your adaptability, proactivity, and ability to handle ambiguity.
• Design Impact: "How do you measure the success of your designs? What metrics do you typically track?" Prepare to discuss how you tie design work to business outcomes.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio with 2-3 strong case studies, prioritizing those showcasing design system work or complex UI challenges. Start with a brief overview of your background and then dive into each case study.
• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project. Clearly define the problem, your role and process, key decisions made, challenges overcome, and the final impact or learnings.
• Visuals: Ensure your visuals are clean, professional, and effectively communicate your design solutions. Include wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes (if possible), and high-fidelity mockups.
• Technical Context: Be prepared to discuss how your designs would be implemented, especially in relation to React, Tailwind CSS, and Typescript. Highlight any experience you have in bridging design and development.
• Conciseness: Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate a strong understanding of the practical application of design principles in a real-world product context, particularly within a startup environment. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and showcase the measurable impact of their work will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and easily accessible.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating design system experience, UI/UX problem-solving, and collaboration with engineering. Prioritize case studies that show your process and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your years of experience, proficiency in design tools (especially Figma), and any experience with React, Tailwind CSS, or Typescript. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design system philosophy, and how you approach collaboration. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Arketa's product, mission, and company values. Understand their target audience (fitness and wellness studios) to better align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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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