Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: Ever Location: San Francisco, CA Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2026-01-18T23:47:38 Experience Level: 5+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and iterate on user experiences for a cutting-edge AI-native auto retail platform, focusing on both customer-facing applications and internal operational tools.
• Translate complex business requirements and user needs into intuitive, elegant, and visually compelling user interfaces and workflows.
• Own the end-to-end design process, from initial concept and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and usability testing.
• Contribute to the evolution of Ever's design system, ensuring consistency and quality across all product touchpoints.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, product managers, and engineers to bring innovative product visions to life in a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Product Designer at a Series A funded startup, Ever, which is building an AI-native auto retail platform. The responsibilities and qualifications suggest a need for a designer experienced in foundational product development, user research, and strategic design thinking. The emphasis on working directly with founders and shaping design culture indicates a high-impact, ownership-driven role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the CTO, CEO, and product team to architect and refine exceptional customer experiences across the Ever platform.
• Design intuitive user flows and interfaces for both customer-facing applications and internal operational tools, ensuring seamless user journeys.
• Transform complex user problems and business requirements into simple, elegant, and effective UX solutions.
• Develop wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that clearly communicate design intent and functionality.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather direct user feedback to validate design decisions and drive iterative improvements.
• Play a key role in defining, expanding, and maintaining Ever's design system, setting the standard for product quality and visual consistency.
• Partner closely with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs and to provide ongoing design support throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to product design, including direct user interaction and contribution to design systems. This aligns with a mid-to-senior level Product Designer role in a startup environment where founders are actively involved in product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and UX/UI best practices is essential. Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of dedicated product design experience, with a proven track record in fast-paced environments, ideally within startups or companies building products from inception.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles.
• Proven ability to create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.
• Experience in conducting UX research and usability testing to inform design decisions.
• Proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Strong understanding of web product design principles and best practices.
• Experience designing for native mobile applications (iOS and Android).
• Ability to own projects end-to-end, from concept through implementation.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Passion for consumer products, marketplace platforms, or business tooling.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience building or significantly contributing to design systems.
• Familiarity with the automotive industry or e-commerce platforms.
• Understanding of AI-powered product features and their design implications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience, a strong portfolio, and experience building products from the ground up indicates a need for a seasoned designer capable of independent work and strategic input. The explicit mention of Figma and mobile/web design experience points to the core technical skills required.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing 5+ years of product design work, with a strong emphasis on UX and UI craft.
• Case studies demonstrating the ability to solve complex problems with elegant design solutions for both customer-facing and internal tools.
• Examples of end-to-end project ownership, illustrating the full design lifecycle from discovery to implementation.
• Prototypes and visual designs that highlight intuitive user flows and high-fidelity aesthetics.
• Evidence of user research and usability testing, detailing how feedback influenced design outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a clear process for user research and usability testing, including methodologies and tools used.
• Showcase experience in creating and maintaining design systems, including component libraries and style guides.
• Illustrate a systematic approach to translating complex requirements into simple, user-centered designs.
• Provide examples of collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, leadership) throughout the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is explicitly requested and considered a core requirement. The emphasis is on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, problem-solving skills, and a user-centered design process, which are critical for a designer joining an early-stage startup.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $190,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential equity options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible or Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Working Hours: The role is listed as Full-Time with an estimated 40 hours per week, offering a hybrid/remote work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on the job listing for a Product Designer with 5+ years of experience in San Francisco, CA. This range is competitive for the San Francisco Bay Area market for experienced design professionals in the tech industry, particularly within a well-funded startup environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Retail, Technology, E-commerce, AI-driven Platforms. Ever is at the forefront of innovating the automotive retail sector by leveraging AI and building a full-stack platform for electric vehicles. Company Size: Early-stage startup, rapidly growing. As a Series A funded company with $100M in funding, Ever is in a significant growth phase, implying a dynamic and often fast-paced work environment. Founded: The company was founded by former professionals from leading tech and automotive companies, indicating a strong foundation with experienced leadership. The exact founding date is not specified but implies recent establishment and rapid scaling.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely works closely with a dedicated product team, CTO, and CEO, indicating a flat or collaborative organizational structure typical of early-stage startups.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with designers working intimately with product management and engineering to define and build the product.
• The culture emphasizes high ownership and direct impact, with designers expected to contribute significantly to product strategy and design direction.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the "AI-native" platform and focus on user experience.
• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed, requiring designers to adapt quickly and respond to feedback.
• Emphasis on user-centered design principles, with direct user collaboration and testing integrated into the workflow.

Company Website: evercars.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by innovation, rapid growth, and a strong emphasis on leveraging AI. The team is composed of experienced professionals from top tech and automotive firms, suggesting a high-performance environment with a focus on building category-defining products.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level Product Designer position. The expectation of 5+ years of experience and the ability to own projects end-to-end signifies a level of autonomy and strategic input beyond junior roles. The designer will be instrumental in shaping the product's user experience from its early stages. Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report directly to the product team and work closely with the CTO and CEO, indicating a direct line of communication with executive leadership and a high level of visibility. Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a significant impact on the core product offering, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency through intuitive and effective design. Their work directly shapes the user's perception and interaction with Ever's AI-native platform, directly contributing to business growth and market differentiation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Strategy Contribution: Opportunity to influence product roadmap and strategy through design insights and user advocacy.
• Design System Leadership: Potential to lead the development and evolution of the company's design system, establishing design standards.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong collaboration and influencing skills by working closely with founders and cross-functional teams.
• Impact on a Disruptive Industry: Contribute to building a category-defining product in the rapidly evolving EV and auto retail market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential, particularly for a designer eager to make a significant impact in an early-stage startup. The ability to shape design culture and contribute to product strategy is a key draw for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid/Remote model, with a physical presence in San Francisco, CA. This suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA. This location provides access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• The San Francisco location offers a dynamic tech hub environment.
• The hybrid model allows for focused individual work remotely and collaborative sessions in the office.
• Collaboration is key, with designers expected to engage actively with product, engineering, and leadership teams.
• Access to modern design tools, particularly Figma, is expected.

Work Schedule: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid/remote nature offers flexibility in how and where work is accomplished, while maintaining core collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote arrangement in San Francisco offers the best of both worlds: the collaborative energy of an in-office environment and the flexibility of remote work, catering to modern professional preferences.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on resume and portfolio. A strong portfolio is paramount.
• Hiring Manager/Product Lead Interview: Discussion focused on experience, design philosophy, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving approaches.
• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or in-depth review of portfolio case studies. This will assess your UX/UI craft, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate design decisions. Be prepared to discuss your process, trade-offs, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with CTO, CEO, and key members of the product and engineering teams to assess collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Potentially with founders or senior leadership to discuss overall fit and vision alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight End-to-End Ownership: Showcase projects where you managed the entire design process from discovery to launch.
• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your design process, and the rationale behind your decisions.
• Showcase UX and UI Craft: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time).
• Tailor to Ever: If possible, include examples relevant to marketplace platforms, consumer applications, or internal tooling.
• Focus on Figma: Ensure your portfolio effectively highlights your proficiency and best work done in Figma.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss your approach to designing for a complex, AI-native platform in the auto retail space.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.
• Prepare to discuss how you would approach user research and usability testing for new features or products.
• Understand Ever's mission and product to better frame your design thinking within their business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a deep dive into the candidate's practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative potential. A well-curated portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end ownership and a user-centered approach using Figma will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly listed as an expert requirement. This will be the core tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration.
• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency beyond Figma's capabilities might be beneficial, though Figma is the primary focus.
• Design Systems: Experience in building or contributing to design systems is a strong preference, indicating a need for structured design practices.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user engagement, task completion) is crucial. Familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to interpret user behavior data would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM or automation workflows could be a plus for internal tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool for this role. The emphasis on design systems suggests a need for disciplined and scalable design practices, likely supported by a design system library and documentation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user problems through design.
• Innovation: Driving the future of auto retail with cutting-edge AI and technology.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across teams to achieve common goals.
• Ownership: Taking responsibility for projects and driving them to successful completion.
• Quality & Craftsmanship: Maintaining a high bar for design execution and product polish.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with founders, product managers, and engineers.
• Open communication and feedback are encouraged to foster iterative design and development.
• Designers are expected to be proactive in seeking input and sharing their work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values reflect a typical high-growth startup environment focused on innovation, user impact, and team cohesion. The designer will be expected to be a proactive and collaborative team member.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Designing products and user experiences for a new, AI-native platform requires significant foundational work and strategic thinking.
• Rapid Iteration: The fast-paced startup environment demands agility and the ability to adapt designs quickly based on feedback and market changes.
• Balancing Innovation and Usability: Integrating advanced AI features while ensuring a simple and intuitive user experience for both consumers and internal users.
• Establishing Design Culture: As an early design hire, you'll play a key role in defining and shaping the overall design culture and processes at Ever.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Disruption: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in the rapidly evolving EV and auto retail sectors.
• Product Strategy Input: Contribute directly to product vision and strategy, gaining experience beyond pure design execution.
• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced founders and leaders in tech and automotive.
• Design System Development: Gain valuable experience in building and scaling design systems from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around building and iterating rapidly in a new product category, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a product from concept to launch. What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and process).
• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for car buyers? What are the key UX considerations?" (Assess understanding of AI in design, user needs, and potential complexities).
• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research and usability testing. How do you incorporate feedback into your designs?" (Demonstrate your user-centered methodology).
• "How do you collaborate with product managers and engineers? Describe a situation where you had to negotiate design decisions." (Highlight communication and collaboration skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Ever's mission and the future of auto retail?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with the company's vision).
• "How do you contribute to building a positive design culture?" (Reflect on your role in team dynamics and process improvement).
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies like AI?" (Demonstrate continuous learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key case studies that best represent your end-to-end design process and problem-solving skills.
• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, your solutions (showcasing wireframes, prototypes, UI), the outcomes, and your learnings.
• Figma Emphasis: Clearly show your work done in Figma, including interactive prototypes if possible.
• Quantifiable Results: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design decisions.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your work efficiently within the allotted interview time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on clearly articulating your design process, demonstrating problem-solving skills with concrete examples from your portfolio, and showing enthusiasm for Ever's mission and the challenges of building an AI-native platform.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.
• Customize your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of product design experience, proficiency in Figma, and experience in fast-paced environments or building products from scratch. Use keywords like UX, UI, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and design systems.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, strong UX/UI craft, and problem-solving skills, ideally showcasing work done in Figma. Tailor your presentation to highlight relevant experience for an AI-native auto retail platform.
• Prepare for Portfolio Review: Be ready to walk through your portfolio case studies, explaining your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Practice articulating your reasoning clearly and concisely.
• Research Ever: Familiarize yourself with Ever's mission, product, and the auto retail/EV market to better understand their context and articulate your 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.