Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-02-27T20:09:33.141

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design of innovative connected B2B products, integrating software and hardware for smart security solutions within the connected home space.

• Drive end-to-end product design processes, from discovery and user research to final execution, ensuring seamless user experiences across digital (mobile, web) and physical interfaces.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and hardware development, to translate user needs and business objectives into elegant, functional designs.

• Leverage user-centered design principles, data-driven insights, and a deep understanding of user journeys to inform design decisions and advocate for user experience improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a blend of digital and physical product design, specifically within the IoT and connected home sector, requiring a strong understanding of both software interfaces and hardware integration. The B2B focus for products like Master Lock's cLOTO product suggests a need for design solutions that cater to business clients and their operational needs, potentially involving more complex workflows and administrative features than typical B2C applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Utilize a comprehensive skill set including UX design, design thinking, interaction design, prototyping, and visual design to craft intuitive user experiences for connected B2B products.

• Contribute to the entire product lifecycle, from initial problem exploration and idea generation to iterative flow and interaction design, working collaboratively with other designers and product teams.

• Employ quantitative and qualitative data analysis to inform design strategies, proactively identifying opportunities to gather additional user insights and validate design directions.

• Facilitate effective communication and alignment with software and hardware product managers, engineers, and other key stakeholders to ensure cohesive product development.

• Champion user experience enhancements by contributing innovative ideas and advocating for refinements grounded in user feedback, design principles, and measurable business impact.

• Plan, execute, and synthesize user research activities, including creating research plans, conducting user interviews, and translating findings into actionable design recommendations.

• Actively participate in workshops, cross-functional brainstorming sessions, and design sprints, contributing expertise and supporting facilitation to drive collective problem-solving.

• Collaborate with internal teams and external ecosystem partners to ensure a unified and seamless user experience across diverse digital and physical touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "elegant user experiences that span digital (mobile, web) and physical (devices) interfaces" highlights a need for a designer who can think holistically about the entire user journey, not just isolated digital touchpoints. The mention of specific B2B products like Master Lock's cLOTO suggests a focus on security, access control, or fleet management solutions, requiring an understanding of business workflows and security considerations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 4 years of overall design experience.

• At least 1 year of focused experience designing Interactive IoT (Internet of Things) products.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio is mandatory, showcasing B2B product design work for both web platforms and native mobile applications. Case studies should detail the complete design process from discovery and research through to execution, highlighting measurable impact on users and business outcomes.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma, including practical experience with variants, variables, and building design system components from scratch.

• Design Systems: Proven experience in designing, contributing to, and documenting design systems, including component creation and maintenance.

• User Research: Experience planning and conducting user research, including creating research plans, interviewing users, and synthesizing findings to inform design decisions.

• Visual Design: Strong visual design capabilities with a keen eye for creating polished, consistent, and aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

• User-Centered Design: Solid understanding of user-centered design principles and a commitment to growing expertise in designing for both digital interfaces and physical product interactions.

• Holistic Thinking: Mastery in thinking holistically about user experiences, demonstrating relentless attention to detail across all possible states and micro-interactions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with proven experience working effectively with cross-disciplinary teams.

• Proactive Mindset: A proactive approach with a strong drive to solve user problems and contribute thoughtful, innovative design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with interaction design and prototyping tools such as Protopie.

• Workflow Tools: Familiarity with Jira for collaborative workflows and project management.

• User Journey Mapping: Familiarity with user journeys, use cases, and understanding user mental models.

• Platform Guidelines: Understanding of Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.

• IoT Familiarity: Understanding of how connected devices communicate via the internet, with some familiarity with IoT platforms.

• AI Tools: Experience leveraging AI tools and techniques within the design process to enhance efficiency and innovation.

• Research Methodology: Familiarity with Indi Young's "Listening Deeply" research methodology.

• Mobile Development Technologies: Awareness of SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose capabilities is considered a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a B2B portfolio is critical and should be tailored to demonstrate experience with business-centric design challenges, potentially including dashboards, enterprise applications, or complex workflow tools. The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and Protopie points to a need for a designer adept at modern design tooling and scalable design practices. Familiarity with IoT and connected devices is a core differentiator for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• B2B Case Studies: A comprehensive portfolio is required, featuring detailed case studies of B2B product design work. These should span both web platforms and native mobile applications.

• Complete Process Documentation: Each case study must clearly illustrate the entire design process, from initial discovery and user research through to final execution and implementation.

• Measurable Impact: Demonstrate the tangible impact of your design decisions on both users and business objectives, supported by data and metrics where possible.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Showcase examples of how you have effectively collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders in an Agile/Scrum environment.

Process Documentation:

• User Research Synthesis: Provide examples of how user research findings were synthesized and translated into actionable design requirements and solutions.

• Design System Contribution: Detail your experience in designing, building, and documenting components within a design system, illustrating its application in creating consistent user experiences.

• Prototyping for Validation: Include examples of prototypes created (e.g., using Protopie) to validate design concepts, test interactions, and gather user feedback.

• Iterative Design: Showcase how you have iterated on UI flows and interactions based on feedback, data, and evolving product requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio case studies, emphasizing their role, the problem they solved, their design process, the tools they used, the challenges they encountered, and the measurable outcomes achieved. Specific attention should be paid to demonstrating how their design work for B2B applications addressed business needs and user workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Hiring Pay Range: $100,000 USD - $150,000 USD per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is for the San Francisco, California location. Actual salaries may vary based on factors such as education, training, experience, professional achievement, business needs, and location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health plans covering various aspects of employee wellbeing.

• A market-leading 401(k) program with a generous company contribution.

• Exclusive employee discounts on company products.

• Flexible time off benefits designed to support work-life balance.

• Adoption benefits to support employees growing their families.

• Participation in an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based sales incentive plan.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment type.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is designed to be competitive and holistic, addressing physical, financial, and personal wellbeing. The inclusion of a bonus plan or sales incentive plan indicates a performance-driven culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Home, Security, and Digital Products Manufacturing & Innovation.

Company Size: Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. is a large, publicly traded company, indicated by its industry-leading position and focus on innovation across multiple product categories. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes and a significant impact on the market.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly stated, the company's evolution into "Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc." implies a history of growth, adaptation, and strategic focus on forward-thinking products.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will report to the Senior Principal Product Designer, indicating a clear reporting line within a design hierarchy.

• The role involves close collaboration with software and hardware product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, suggesting a matrixed, cross-functional team environment.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes an "industry-leading innovation company" approach, suggesting a culture that values forward-thinking solutions and embracing new technologies.

• A focus on "data-driven insights" and "user-centered design" points to rigorous design processes that prioritize user needs and measurable outcomes.

• The mention of an "Agile/Scrum environment" indicates a methodology that values iterative development, flexibility, and rapid response to feedback.

Company Website: https://fbin.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Fortune Brands Innovations positions itself as a forward-thinking organization focused on improving lives through smarter, safer, and more beautiful homes. The emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and empowering employees to "think big, learn fast and make bold decisions" sets a tone for a dynamic and growth-oriented work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, requiring 4+ years of experience with a specialization in IoT products. It involves significant autonomy in design execution and collaboration with senior leadership, offering a solid platform for career advancement within product design.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report directly to a Senior Principal Product Designer, providing mentorship and guidance. Collaboration will extend across product management, engineering, and potentially hardware development teams.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will play a crucial role in shaping the development of key B2B connected products, directly impacting user experience, product adoption, and ultimately, business success in the smart home and security markets. Their work will influence how users interact with critical security and access control systems.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in IoT product design, connected home technologies, and B2B user experience by working on cutting-edge products and collaborating with hardware teams.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to grow skills in advanced Figma features, design system development, user research methodologies (including specialized ones like "Listening Deeply"), and potentially AI design tools.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success, there are pathways to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially move into senior or lead product designer roles within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a specialized and high-demand field (IoT/connected products). The emphasis on both digital and physical design, coupled with B2B applications, provides a unique opportunity to develop a versatile design skillset that is highly valued in the market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is eligible for a hybrid schedule, requiring the candidate to be on-site 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in either San Francisco, CA, or Deerfield, IL. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and in-person interaction.

Office Location(s):

• San Francisco, CA (500 Third Street, San Francisco, CALIFORNIA, 94107)

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The hybrid model indicates an office space designed for in-person collaboration, workshops, and team meetings, essential for design sprints and cross-functional alignment.

• Technology-Rich Environment: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and Protopie, along with project management software like Jira, will be integral to daily workflows.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The work environment will facilitate frequent interaction with product managers, engineers (software and hardware), and other designers, fostering a dynamic and communicative atmosphere.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule allows for a structured balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in key tech hubs like San Francisco suggests a modern work environment that values both flexibility and in-person collaboration. Candidates should be prepared for a structured schedule that balances independent work with team-based activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly the B2B and IoT focus.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, detailing specific case studies and their design process. A design challenge, potentially involving a problem relevant to connected B2B products, may be administered to evaluate problem-solving skills, design thinking, and tool proficiency.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and cultural fit within a cross-functional team.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership, potentially the Senior Principal Product Designer or a hiring manager, to evaluate strategic thinking, overall fit, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate strategically: Select 2-3 B2B product design case studies that best represent your experience with IoT, connected devices, and end-to-end design processes.

• Tell a story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions made, challenges overcome, and the measurable results achieved.

• Highlight B2B nuances: Emphasize how your designs addressed specific business needs, user workflows, and potential security considerations relevant to a B2B context.

• Showcase tool proficiency: Demonstrate your mastery of Figma, including design system components, and any experience with prototyping tools like Protopie.

• Explain your thought process: Be prepared to articulate why you made certain design decisions, referencing user data, design principles, and business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with IoT concepts, connected home technologies, and common B2B applications in security or access control.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to apply design thinking methodologies to solve ambiguous problems, generate ideas, and propose solutions.

• Figma Skills: Ensure you are comfortable using Figma for rapid ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design under timed conditions.

• Communication: Practice clearly articulating your thought process, design rationale, and proposed solutions to a panel.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to articulate the impact of design work. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design execution but also strategic thinking and collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system development. Proficiency with variants, variables, and component creation is critical.

• Protopie: Familiarity with this advanced prototyping tool is preferred for creating interactive and complex prototypes to validate user flows and device interactions.

• Jira: Expected familiarity for collaborative workflows, tracking tasks, and participating in an Agile/Scrum development process.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Relevant Technologies:

• IoT Platforms: General understanding of how connected devices communicate and function within IoT ecosystems.

• AI Tools: Experience leveraging AI tools in the design process is a plus.

• Mobile Development Frameworks: Awareness of SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose is a plus, indicating an interest in native mobile development technologies.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools and practices for building and maintaining robust design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack heavily emphasizes modern design tools, particularly Figma, and requires a strong foundation in design systems. Familiarity with prototyping tools and project management software like Jira is also key. The mention of IoT platforms and AI tools indicates a forward-looking approach to technology integration in design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to "thinking big, learning fast and making bold decisions" to drive innovation in smart home and security products.

• User-Centricity: A strong dedication to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that designs are not only functional but also delightful and solve real problems.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on "inclusive and diverse culture where everyone is encouraged and empowered to be their authentic selves," fostering teamwork across disciplines.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A pursuit of "elegant user experiences" and "polished, consistent interfaces," reflecting a high standard for design execution.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on delivering "positive impacts for not just our business and shareholders, but for people and the planet, too," suggesting a purpose-driven approach to product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with product managers, engineers (software and hardware), and other designers, requiring effective communication and shared ownership.

• Agile & Iterative: Working within an Agile/Scrum environment means a collaborative style that embraces iterative feedback loops, regular check-ins, and adaptive planning.

• Design-Led Insights: Designers are expected to contribute insights and advocate for user experience improvements, working collaboratively to refine solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Fortune Brands Innovations appears to value a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and user advocacy. The emphasis on empowering employees and fostering a diverse environment suggests a workplace where individual contributions are valued and encouraged within a collaborative framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Digital & Physical: Integrating digital interfaces with physical hardware for connected products presents complex design challenges requiring a holistic approach.

• B2B User Needs: Designing for business clients involves understanding diverse user roles, complex workflows, and potentially stringent security requirements, which differ from B2C design.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying abreast of advancements in IoT, AI, and connected home technologies to ensure designs are innovative and future-proof.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing communication and alignment across software, hardware, product management, and engineering teams to deliver a cohesive product experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• IoT Specialization: Deepen expertise in the rapidly evolving field of Internet of Things (IoT) product design.

• B2B Design Mastery: Develop advanced skills in designing for enterprise-level solutions and complex business workflows.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to contribute significantly to and potentially lead the evolution of robust design systems.

• Emerging Technologies: Exposure to and potential application of AI tools in the design process.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for participation in relevant industry events and continuous learning opportunities to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth in a cutting-edge field. The challenges presented are inherent to working at the intersection of hardware, software, and B2B applications, providing valuable experience for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• B2B Design Approach: "Describe your process for designing a new connected product for a B2B market. How do you account for different user roles and business objectives?" (Prepare to discuss user research, workflow mapping, and feature prioritization specific to business clients.)

• IoT Product Lifecycle: "Walk us through a project where you designed an IoT product. What were the unique challenges of integrating software and hardware, and how did you ensure a seamless user experience?" (Focus on case studies that highlight your end-to-end process and problem-solving for connected devices.)

• Design System Contribution: "How have you contributed to or built a design system? What are the key components, and how do you ensure its adoption and maintenance within a team?" (Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma components, variants, and documentation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Alignment: "How do your design philosophies align with Fortune Brands' purpose of elevating every life by transforming spaces into havens?" (Research the company's mission, values, and recent innovations.)

• Collaboration Experience: "Describe a time you had to collaborate closely with engineers and product managers on a complex feature. How did you handle disagreements or differing technical constraints?" (Provide specific examples demonstrating your communication and teamwork skills.)

• Data-Driven Design: "How do you leverage quantitative and qualitative data to inform your design decisions, especially when dealing with B2B product requirements?" (Be prepared to discuss specific metrics or research methodologies you've used.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select B2B IoT Cases: Prioritize 2-3 strong case studies that showcase your experience with B2B, IoT, and end-to-end design.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role, the design process (discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration, implementation), key decisions, challenges, and measurable outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data (user metrics, business KPIs) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be ready to highlight your Figma skills, particularly your work with design systems, variants, and complex component structures.

• Articulate Rationale: Clearly explain the "why" behind your design choices, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of B2B product design, IoT product development, and proficiency with modern design tools and methodologies. Be ready to showcase your portfolio with detailed, data-backed case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor your Resume: Update your resume to highlight your 4+ years of design experience, specifically emphasizing your 1+ year of IoT product design and any B2B project experience. Integrate keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "Interaction Design," "Prototyping," "Figma," "Design Systems," and "IoT."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest B2B product design case studies that clearly demonstrate your end-to-end design process, user research capabilities, and measurable impact. Ensure these showcase your work on web platforms and native mobile apps, and ideally, connected devices.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the outcomes of your selected case studies. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, design systems, and user research methodologies in detail.

• Research Fortune Brands: Familiarize yourself with Fortune Brands Innovations' mission, values, products (especially in security and connected home), and recent news to better understand their market position and company culture.

⚠️ 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.