Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer
Company: Elicit
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: 2025-12-19
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote with time zone overlap, requires travel for in-person offsites)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead end-to-end product design for complex, information-rich software, focusing on research tools that empower scientists and researchers.
• Drive rapid prototyping and exploration to transform complex ideas into elegant, user-centered solutions, emphasizing learning through making.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with engineering and product management to shape product development and execution.
• Develop deep domain intuition by understanding researcher workflows and high-stakes decision-making processes to inform product strategy.
• Contribute to and elevate the team's design craft by participating in critiques and enhancing design systems for consistent, high-quality output.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level Product Designer, targeting individuals capable of operating at an L4/senior level or above, indicated by the compensation range and the expectation to "fly solo" and independently implement significant enhancements within the first quarter. The emphasis on "zero to one" product shipping and owning design end-to-end suggests a need for strong autonomy and proactive ownership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, from initial problem definition and user research to wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and post-launch iteration.
• Rapidly prototype and explore design concepts to validate ideas, gather feedback, and drive alignment and decision-making within the product team.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers daily to define product requirements, technical feasibility, and the optimal user experience.
• Conduct user research and build deep expertise in how researchers and scientists conduct systematic reviews, evaluate drug targets, and synthesize evidence, translating these insights into actionable product design.
• Actively participate in design critiques, contribute to the evolution of Elicit's design system, and advocate for best practices to elevate the overall quality of shipped products.
• Design and iterate on features that enhance Elicit's capabilities as an AI research assistant, specifically focusing on information organization, evidence synthesis, and reasoning through uncertainty.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "first month" and "first quarter" performance objectives provided in the original description offer specific, actionable insights into the immediate responsibilities and expected impact of this role. These should be treated as key performance indicators for evaluating candidates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is expected. Experience: 4+ years of experience designing complex, information-rich software, with a preference for products where users engage in substantive work (e.g., research, analysis, high-stakes decision-making).

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to take ambiguous problems from zero to one and deliver polished, functional products.
• Strong visual design skills complemented by a systems-thinking approach to ensure cohesive and interconnected design solutions.
• High degree of comfort with ambiguity and operating at a fast pace, using design and prototyping as tools for learning and decision acceleration.
• Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.
• Experience designing with or integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into a design canvas or code.
• Excellent communication and structured thinking abilities, allowing for clear articulation of design rationale, open reception of feedback, and facilitation of team consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within North American time zones to facilitate real-time collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for research tools, academic literature platforms, or AI-powered productivity applications.
• Familiarity with designing for data pipelines, information extraction, or complex data visualization.
• Understanding of Agile development methodologies and experience working within cross-functional, fast-paced teams.
• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "4+ years designing complex, information-rich software" and the "zero to one" shipping experience strongly indicate this role requires a seasoned designer capable of independent contribution and strategic product thinking, rather than an entry-level or junior position. The mention of LLM experience is a critical technical skill for this AI-focused company.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, visual design, and shipped product outcomes.
• Highlight projects involving complex information architecture, data-rich interfaces, or AI-driven features.
• Include case studies that detail the design process, rationale behind key decisions, and how user needs were met.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of visual design principles, user experience best practices, and systems thinking.
• Present examples of rapid prototyping and iterative design based on feedback and learning.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process, including how you approach problem definition, user research, ideation, and iteration.
• Showcase examples of how you've collaborated with engineering and product management to bring designs to life.
• Detail how you've incorporated user feedback and data to refine designs and improve product outcomes.
• Illustrate your approach to developing and utilizing design systems for consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "shipping from zero to one" and "prototyping to explore rapidly," a strong portfolio is crucial. Candidates should be ready to present detailed case studies that not only showcase final designs but also the iterative process, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration involved. The mention of "designing with LLMs on a canvas or in code" suggests portfolio pieces demonstrating AI integration would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $250,000 USD per year + Equity. This range targets a candidate capable of contributing at a L4/senior level or above.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Fully covered health, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with generous coverage for family members. Life insurance is also provided.
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible vacation policy with a minimum recommendation of 20 days per year, plus company holidays.
• Retirement Savings: 401K plan with a 6% employer match.
• Workstation Setup: A new Mac computer provided, plus a $1,000 budget for workstation setup in the first year, followed by a $500 annual budget thereafter.
• Professional Development: A $1,000 quarterly AI Experimentation & Learning budget for experimenting with AI tools, courses, educational resources, or AI-focused conferences.
• Support: Access to a team administrative assistant for personal and work-related tasks.
• Equity: Above-market equity with employee-friendly terms.

Working Hours: While specific daily hours are not detailed, the company operates with a flexible work environment and requires time zone overlap with the Bay Area (GMT to GMT-8) for remote employees. Quarterly team retreats necessitate in-person attendance. The standard full-time workweek is assumed to be 40 hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated and tied to a specific experience level (L4/senior). The benefits package is comprehensive, with unique perks like the AI Experimentation budget and a dedicated administrative assistant, which are significant differentiators. The remote work arrangement is hybrid, requiring periodic in-person travel, which is an important detail for candidates to consider.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Research Software. Elicit operates at the intersection of AI, machine learning, and scientific research, aiming to enhance how high-stakes decisions are made globally. Company Size: The exact current size is not specified, but the provided LinkedIn data suggests a growing startup environment. The emphasis on cross-functional teams and a "productive and positive team" hints at a collaborative and agile culture. Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the company's mission and the nature of its product suggest a relatively early-stage, innovative startup focused on cutting-edge AI applications.

Team Structure:

• Elicit emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, with Product Designers working daily alongside engineers and Product Managers.
• The team appears to be structured around product development cycles, valuing "real-time collaboration and rapid prototyping."
• The company aims to expand collective understanding of safe AGI architectures, suggesting a research-oriented mindset within the engineering and product teams.

Methodology:

• Elicit's core methodology revolves around "supervision of process, not outcomes," utilizing language models for task decomposition and human oversight of the reasoning steps.
• The company values "learning through making," encouraging rapid prototyping and iterative design based on exploration and feedback.
• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the mention of a "data-backed compensation framework" and the need to analyze user workflows and product performance.

Company Website: https://elicit.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Elicit's mission to "radically increase the amount of good reasoning in the world" and its focus on AI research assistants for scientists highlight a unique and intellectually stimulating company culture. The emphasis on process over outcomes in AI development is a key differentiator that will likely permeate the design and engineering approaches.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a mid-to-senior level Product Designer, expected to contribute at an L4/senior level or above. The responsibilities include owning projects end-to-end, independent implementation, and developing areas of expertise.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report into a Product or Design leadership role, working closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads. The emphasis is on close, daily collaboration rather than a strict hierarchical reporting structure for day-to-day work.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will directly influence the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of Elicit's AI research assistant. Their work will be critical in shaping how researchers interact with academic literature, synthesize evidence, and make critical decisions, thereby directly impacting the company's mission to enhance global reasoning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in designing for AI research tools, LLM-powered applications, and complex information retrieval systems.
• Leadership Potential: Through successful project ownership and cross-functional influence, there's potential for growth into lead design roles or mentorship opportunities within the team.
• Continuous Learning: The $1,000 quarterly AI Experimentation & Learning budget provides dedicated resources for skill development, staying current with AI advancements, and exploring new design methodologies.
• Impactful Projects: Work on "zero to one" initiatives and significant product enhancements that directly contribute to Elicit's core mission and competitive positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential beyond typical design responsibilities, particularly in the burgeoning field of AI research assistants. The dedicated learning budget and the focus on "developing an area of expertise" signal a strong commitment to employee development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Elicit offers a hybrid work environment, allowing for remote work with time zone overlap, alongside in-person team retreats. The primary office location is in Oakland, CA, suggesting a potential hub for collaboration and in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): Oakland, California, United States. Remote work is permitted within North American time zones (GMT to GMT-8).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "real-time collaboration and rapid prototyping" suggests an open and interactive workspace culture, whether in-person or virtual.
• Tools & Technology: Designers will have access to modern design tools like Figma and will be working with LLM technologies, providing a cutting-edge technical environment.
• Team Interaction: Daily partnerships with engineers and PMs foster a highly integrated and communicative team dynamic. The quarterly retreats are designed to strengthen these bonds and facilitate in-person strategic alignment.

Work Schedule: While not explicitly defined, a standard 40-hour workweek is implied for a full-time role. The flexible nature of the hybrid and remote options allows for some autonomy in structuring the workday, provided time zone overlap and meeting attendance requirements are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with mandatory in-person retreats is a key aspect of the work environment, balancing remote flexibility with the benefits of face-to-face collaboration. Candidates should be prepared for this travel requirement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application materials, focusing on resume and portfolio to assess alignment with required experience and skills.
• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, likely involving a presentation of 1-2 key projects. This will assess design thinking, process, problem-solving, and communication skills. Expect questions about specific design decisions, user research methodologies, and collaboration.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to integrate design with development.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a founder or senior leadership, focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, and long-term vision alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Showcase projects where your design work led to measurable improvements in user engagement, task completion, or business objectives. Quantify results whenever possible.
• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the outcomes. Highlight your decision-making rationale.
• Demonstrate Process: Show your iterative design process – sketches, wireframes, prototypes, user testing feedback, and how you incorporated that feedback.
• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you partnered effectively with engineers, PMs, and other stakeholders.
• AI/LLM Integration: If possible, include projects that demonstrate experience with AI-powered features or designing within LLM-based interfaces.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual design exercise.
• Focus on understanding Elicit's product and target users (researchers).
• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying them with user needs and business goals.
• Think about how to approach complex, information-rich interfaces and AI integrations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "first month" and "first quarter" descriptions in the job posting can be used to anticipate the types of challenges and projects they might present during the interview process or in the initial stages of employment. Candidates should be ready to discuss how they would tackle data pipeline optimization or academic paper processing workflows.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Proficiency is a requirement.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other rapid prototyping tools that facilitate quick iteration and user testing is beneficial.
• LLM Integration Tools/Platforms: Experience designing interfaces that interact with or are built upon Large Language Models. This could involve specific canvases, APIs, or custom-built solutions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for designers, familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) and how to interpret user data to inform design decisions is valuable.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but an understanding of how user data flows through CRM and automation systems can provide context for product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required skill. The integration with LLMs on a "canvas or in code" suggests a need for designers to understand the technical underpinnings of AI interfaces, possibly involving custom tooling beyond standard SaaS design platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on the mission to "radically increase the amount of good reasoning in the world" and empowering researchers.
• Learning & Iteration: Valuing "learning through making" and rapid prototyping to drive continuous improvement and product evolution.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Daily cross-functional collaboration and open feedback loops are essential.
• Intellectual Curiosity: A deep interest in AI, research methodologies, and complex problem-solving is likely a core cultural trait.
• Process-Oriented: Emphasis on "supervision of process, not outcomes" when developing AI systems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply embedded with engineering and product management teams, working collaboratively on a daily basis.
• Feedback Culture: Openness to critiques and feedback is actively encouraged to "raise quality across everything we ship."
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to design systems and documentation fosters a culture of shared knowledge and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's commitment to AI safety and ethical development, as hinted by their methodology, suggests a value system that prioritizes rigorous thinking and responsible innovation. This will likely influence how design decisions are made and debated.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Complexity: Translating the capabilities and nuances of LLMs into intuitive and effective user experiences for researchers.
• Information Overload: Designing interfaces that effectively manage and present vast amounts of academic literature and complex data.
• Balancing Speed and Quality: Rapid prototyping and iteration must be balanced with delivering high-quality, polished designs for critical research tools.
• Domain Expertise Development: Quickly gaining deep insight into researcher workflows and the scientific literature landscape.
• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong team cohesion and design quality across distributed teams and time zones, while still leveraging in-person retreats.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & LLM Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for cutting-edge AI applications.
• Product Strategy: Contribute to shaping product direction through user insights and design innovation.
• Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhance skills in collaborating with engineering and product management on complex technical products.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from and mentor other designers as the team grows.
• Industry Exposure: The AI Experimentation & Learning budget provides direct access to new tools, courses, and conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the company's mission and the nature of AI and research software. Addressing these challenges will require a combination of strong design skills, technical aptitude, and a proactive learning mindset.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you took an ambiguous problem and designed a solution from zero to one. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus on your end-to-end ownership and ability to drive clarity.)
• "How do you approach designing complex, information-rich software? Walk us through a specific example." (Highlight your systems thinking and ability to manage detail.)
• "How do you collaborate with engineers and PMs? Describe a situation where you had to balance design vision with technical constraints or product priorities." (Demonstrate your cross-functional partnership skills.)
• "Given Elicit's mission, how would you approach designing an AI feature that helps researchers synthesize evidence from multiple academic papers?" (Showcase your understanding of the product and your creative problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Elicit's mission and our approach to AI development (process over outcomes)?" (Research their mission and methodology thoroughly.)
• "How do you approach receiving and giving design feedback?" (Emphasize your openness and constructive approach.)
• "Describe your experience with rapid prototyping and iterative design." (Relate it to Elicit's value of 'learning through making'.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, particularly those involving complex software or AI.
• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role, your design process (including research, ideation, prototyping, iteration), key decisions and their rationale, and the final outcome/impact.
• Metrics: Quantify impact where possible (e.g., improved user engagement, task completion rates, efficiency gains).
• Collaboration: Highlight how you partnered with cross-functional teams.
• AI Experience: If applicable, explicitly discuss any experience designing with LLMs or AI-powered features. Be ready to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss the specific "first month" and "first quarter" objectives as potential examples of challenges they would tackle. Understanding Elicit's unique AI methodology (process over outcomes) is crucial for demonstrating cultural and intellectual fit.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in designing complex software, information-rich interfaces, and any work with AI or research tools. Emphasize projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership and shipping from zero to one.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 4+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in Figma, and any experience with LLMs or similar advanced technologies. Use keywords from the job description like "product design," "prototyping," "systems thinking," and "collaboration."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss how you would approach challenges related to Elicit's specific product and mission. Prepare questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your engagement and understanding of the role and company.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Elicit's mission, product, and unique AI methodology. Understand how your design skills can contribute to their goal of increasing "good reasoning in the world."

⚠️ 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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