Product Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Product Designer Company: Machinify Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2025-07-23T00:00:00 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- This role requires a Product Designer with extensive experience in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design to contribute to world-class user experiences for healthcare decision-making platforms.
- The Product Designer will be instrumental in applying design thinking methodologies to solve complex problems within the healthcare claims and payment operations sector.
- Key responsibilities include conducting user research, creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes, and ensuring seamless integration of designs with existing frameworks through close collaboration with development teams.
- The position emphasizes contributions to and maintenance of design systems and style guides to ensure design consistency across Machinify's AI-powered products.
📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the description indicates a strong focus on UX/UI principles and user-centric design within the complex domain of healthcare operations. This suggests the role requires not just aesthetic design skills but also a deep understanding of user workflows, problem-solving through design, and the ability to translate complex business requirements into intuitive user interfaces. The emphasis on "healthcare claims and payment operations" implies a need for domain adaptability and a capacity to learn complex business logic.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Leverage design thinking methodologies to conceptualize and develop innovative solutions for complex challenges within healthcare claims and payment operations, aligning design solutions with strategic business objectives.
- Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points, and translate these findings into actionable design improvements.
- Collaborate closely with Product Managers, domain experts, and software engineers to ideate, brainstorm, and generate creative design solutions that effectively address user requirements and business goals.
- Create detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for new features and product enhancements, ensuring a smooth, intuitive, and efficient user experience.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive design specifications, style guides, and documentation to clearly communicate design intent to the engineering team, ensuring accurate implementation and seamless integration with existing technology stacks.
- Provide ongoing support to development teams throughout the implementation phase, reviewing designs in context, addressing technical constraints, and ensuring the final product accurately reflects the intended user experience.
- Contribute to the development and evolution of Machinify's design system, ensuring consistency in UI elements, patterns, and interactions across all product offerings, and promoting design best practices.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle design ownership, from initial research and ideation through to detailed design, documentation, and developer collaboration. The mention of "healthcare claims and payment operations" and "AI-platform" suggests that the designer will need to navigate complex data and workflows, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills in addition to core UX/UI competencies. The emphasis on "orders of magnitude" improvements implies a focus on efficiency and significant process transformation through design.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is generally expected for roles requiring 6+ years of experience.
Experience:
- Minimum of 6 years of hands-on UX/UI design experience, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products in fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated experience in applying design thinking methodologies to solve complex user problems and translate business requirements into intuitive user interfaces.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and domain experts, to deliver cohesive product experiences.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet deadlines in a dynamic setting.
Required Skills:
- UX/UI Design: Expertise in creating wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes for web and/or mobile applications.
- Design Thinking: Proficient in applying design thinking principles to problem-solving and innovation.
- User Research: Skilled in conducting user research, analyzing data, and synthesizing insights to inform design decisions.
- Figma Proficiency: Advanced, expert-level proficiency with Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
- Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present work effectively to diverse audiences.
- Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to tackle complex design challenges.
- Adaptability: Proven ability to adapt to shifting priorities, incorporate feedback, and iterate on designs effectively.
Preferred Skills:
- Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, and contributing to design systems and platform design initiatives.
- Healthcare Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with the healthcare industry, particularly claims processing, payment operations, or related financial/administrative workflows.
- AI/ML Product Design: Experience designing products that incorporate or are powered by AI/ML technologies.
- Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with a variety of design and prototyping tools beyond Figma (e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "over 6 years of UX/UI experience" and "advanced proficiency with Figma" signals a need for a senior-level designer who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and contribute strategically. The emphasis on "learning new domains and a strong ability to grasp complex business requirements" is critical for this role, given Machinify's specialized focus on healthcare operations. A strong portfolio is essential to validate these skills.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 6 years of professional UX/UI design work, with a clear emphasis on real-world projects and demonstrable impact.
- Portfolio pieces should clearly articulate your personal contribution to each project, detailing your design process from problem identification and user research through to ideation, prototyping, and final implementation.
- Include case studies that highlight your ability to solve complex problems, manage user flows, and create intuitive interfaces, preferably in enterprise software or data-intensive environments.
- Demonstrate your proficiency with Figma, showcasing examples of complex prototypes, design system components, or collaborative design workflows.
- Provide evidence of how your design decisions led to measurable improvements, such as increased user efficiency, reduced error rates, or enhanced user satisfaction.
Process Documentation:
- Showcase examples of your process for conducting user research, including methodologies used, participant recruitment, and how insights were synthesized and applied to design iterations.
- Include documentation of your wireframing, user flow mapping, and prototyping processes, illustrating your approach to visualizing complex information and user journeys.
- Present examples of design specifications and style guides you have created, demonstrating your ability to communicate design intent clearly and thoroughly to development teams.
- If applicable, include examples of your contributions to or creation of design systems, detailing the components, guidelines, and their impact on product consistency and development efficiency.
📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's seniority and the complexity of Machinify's domain, expect the portfolio review to heavily scrutinize the designer's process, problem-solving capabilities, and ability to articulate the impact of their design decisions. The ability to demonstrate experience with design systems and potentially complex enterprise software will be a significant advantage.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: For a Product Designer with 6-10 years of experience in Palo Alto, California, a competitive salary range typically falls between $140,000 and $190,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX/UI professionals in the high-cost Bay Area tech market, considering the company's focus on AI and advanced technology.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and potential for equity/stock options.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan, potentially with employer matching.
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
- Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and access to learning resources.
- Flexible work arrangements and a supportive work environment.
- Potential for contributions to wellness programs or stipends.
Working Hours: The standard working hours for a full-time Product Designer are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often provided. Given the on-site requirement and the nature of cross-functional collaboration, adherence to core business hours is expected, with potential for occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges for this role in Palo Alto are high due to the cost of living and the competitive tech talent market. Equity can also play a significant role in the overall compensation package for experienced hires. Benefits are expected to be robust, aligning with typical Silicon Valley tech company offerings.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Healthcare Technology (HealthTech), FinTech (specifically healthcare payments). Machinify operates at the intersection of these fields, leveraging AI to disrupt inefficiencies in healthcare claims and payment operations. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of a "growing team" and seeking to fill a senior role suggests Machinify is likely a Series A or B funded startup, possibly between 50-200 employees. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact. Founded: The company was founded by experienced leaders in AI and healthcare, aiming to address a significant market problem ($200B+ in claims mispayments). This founding vision likely drives a culture of innovation, problem-solving, and a mission-oriented approach.
Team Structure:
- The Product Designer will be part of a cross-functional team, likely including Product Managers, Engineers (front-end, back-end, AI/ML), and potentially other designers or UX researchers.
- Reporting structure will likely be to a Head of Product, Director of Product Design, or a similar leadership role overseeing product development.
- Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect of this role, requiring close working relationships with product, engineering, and potentially subject matter experts in healthcare operations.
Methodology:
- Machinify's approach is driven by AI and data, aiming for "orders of magnitude" improvements. This suggests a data-informed design process, with a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes and efficiency gains.
- Design processes will likely integrate agile methodologies, with iterative development cycles, user feedback loops, and close collaboration between design and engineering.
- The company's focus on transforming complex operations implies a need for designers skilled in understanding intricate workflows and designing for clarity and efficiency.
Company Website: https://www.machinify.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: Machinify appears to be a technology-driven startup with a strong mission to solve a critical problem in healthcare. The culture is likely to be innovative, fast-paced, and collaborative, with a focus on leveraging AI and data. Designers are expected to be adaptable, good communicators, and capable of working within cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, requiring 6+ years of experience. It implies a level of autonomy, strategic input into product direction, and the ability to mentor more junior designers if the team grows. The designer is expected to drive significant aspects of the product's user experience. Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Product Lead or Design Lead, working within a product pod or cross-functional team. This structure emphasizes collaboration and shared ownership of product outcomes. Operations Impact: The designer's work will directly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare claims and payment operations. By creating intuitive and powerful user experiences, they will help reduce mispayments, streamline processes, and improve outcomes for patients, providers, and payers, directly contributing to the company's core value proposition and revenue generation.
Growth Opportunities:
- Technical Depth: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-powered products and the complex domain of healthcare operations, becoming a subject matter expert in user experience for this sector.
- Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role as the company scales, taking on more responsibility for team leadership, design strategy, and mentorship.
- System Design: Contribute to the evolution of Machinify's core AI platform and its associated product suite, influencing the overall user experience architecture.
- Industry Influence: Develop a strong portfolio and reputation for designing impactful solutions in the HealthTech and AI space.
📝 Enhancement Note: This is a senior role offering significant opportunity for impact and growth within a rapidly evolving company and industry. The designer will have a chance to shape user experiences for critical, high-value business processes, making it an attractive position for those seeking to make a substantial contribution.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The role is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" with a primary location in Palo Alto, California, and the company is USA-based. However, the "remote_derived": true flag from the input data contradicts the "On-site" derived work arrangement. Given the Palo Alto location and the nature of a startup, it's probable this is either a hybrid role with significant on-site expectations or a predominantly on-site role with some remote flexibility. For the purpose of this enhancement, we'll assume a strong preference for on-site presence in Palo Alto due to the startup culture and collaborative needs. Office Location(s): Palo Alto, California, a hub for technology innovation in Silicon Valley. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem, talent pool, and networking opportunities.
Workspace Context:
- The workspace is likely to be modern, collaborative, and geared towards innovation, typical of a tech startup environment.
- Expect access to standard office amenities, high-speed internet, and potentially ergonomic workstations.
- Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional team members, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work atmosphere.
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, approximately 40 hours per week. However, startups often foster a culture where dedication and flexibility are valued, so occasional work outside of standard hours may be required to meet project milestones or respond to urgent business needs.
📝 Enhancement Note: There's a discrepancy between "TELECOMMUTE" and "On-site." Given the Palo Alto location and common startup practices, it's most likely a hybrid role or a preference for on-site work within Palo Alto. The enhancement assumes a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration, which is typical for product design roles in early-to-mid-stage startups. Candidates should clarify the exact remote/on-site expectations during the application process.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
- Portfolio Review & Discussion: A deeper dive into your portfolio with a hiring manager or senior designer, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and specific project contributions. Expect to walk through 1-2 key case studies.
- Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or present a detailed case study analysis related to a hypothetical or real-world problem Machinify faces. This assesses your ability to apply your skills to their domain.
- Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively within a team.
- Final Round: Potentially a discussion with a company leader or executive to assess strategic thinking and alignment with company vision.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your full design process, problem-solving, and impact. Prioritize projects that demonstrate complex problem-solving or work with data-intensive applications if possible.
- Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you encountered, the decisions you made, and the final outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively.
- Highlight Figma Mastery: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates advanced Figma skills, whether through complex interactive prototypes, component libraries, or collaborative workflows.
- Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced user errors, increased efficiency).
- Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, hiring managers will focus heavily on understanding how you arrived at your solutions. Be prepared to discuss your rationale and decision-making at each stage.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Domain: Research Machinify's mission, products, and the healthcare operations industry. Try to understand the core challenges they are addressing.
- Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to apply design thinking principles to a given problem, outlining your approach to research, ideation, and iteration.
- Prepare for Ambiguity: Expect design challenges to be somewhat ambiguous. Demonstrate your ability to ask clarifying questions and make reasoned assumptions.
- Focus on User Needs: Always anchor your solutions in user needs and business objectives.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on evaluating your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative skills. A well-prepared and insightful portfolio presentation is crucial for success.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Figma: This is explicitly stated as the preferred design and prototyping tool, indicating it's central to the designer's workflow. Expect advanced usage for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and potentially design system management.
- Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) may be beneficial for specific use cases or if the team utilizes a mixed toolset.
Analytics & Reporting:
- User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo for understanding user behavior and identifying areas for design improvement.
- A/B Testing Tools: Experience with tools that facilitate A/B testing of design variations to optimize user flows and conversion rates.
- Data Visualization Tools: Basic understanding of how to interpret data visualizations or work with tools that present user data in digestible formats.
CRM & Automation:
- While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how products integrate with or impact CRM systems (like Salesforce) or workflow automation platforms can provide valuable context for enterprise software design.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core tool proficiency expected is Figma. However, a strong product designer will also understand the importance of data in informing design decisions and will be familiar with analytics tools to measure the impact of their work.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Innovation & Problem-Solving: A core value is likely centered around using technology, particularly AI, to solve complex, real-world problems in healthcare. Designers are expected to be proactive problem-solvers.
- User-Centricity: Despite the complex technology and business domain, a strong emphasis on understanding and serving the user will be paramount. Designs must be intuitive and efficient for users.
- Collaboration & Transparency: As a startup, open communication, collaboration across functions, and transparency in decision-making are likely key values. Designers need to be team players.
- Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are likely informed by data and measurable outcomes, requiring designers to be analytical and focused on quantifiable impact.
- Adaptability & Agility: The fast-paced startup environment demands flexibility, a willingness to learn, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and market needs.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Designers will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, participating actively in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and feedback sessions.
- Iterative Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback is expected, with regular design reviews and open channels for sharing insights and critiques.
- Knowledge Sharing: Employees are likely encouraged to share knowledge and best practices, contributing to a learning environment where everyone can grow.
📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Machinify is expected to be typical of a mission-driven, tech-focused startup: fast-paced, collaborative, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI to solve significant problems. Designers must be comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Domain Complexity: Navigating the intricacies of healthcare claims and payment operations, which can involve complex regulations, financial processes, and stakeholder needs. Designers will need to invest in understanding this domain.
- AI Integration: Designing user experiences for AI-powered products requires careful consideration of explainability, trust, and how users interact with intelligent systems.
- Balancing Innovation with Usability: Developing cutting-edge AI solutions while ensuring they remain user-friendly and accessible to a broad range of users with varying technical proficiencies.
- Startup Pace: Adapting to the rapid iteration cycles, evolving priorities, and sometimes undefined processes characteristic of a startup environment.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Domain Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in the HealthTech and FinTech sectors, specifically in healthcare operations, which is a valuable and in-demand specialization.
- AI Product Design: Developing expertise in designing for AI-driven applications, a rapidly growing field with significant future demand.
- Design System Development: Contributing to or leading the growth of a design system, which is a key skill for scaling product experiences.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhancing skills in working with diverse teams, understanding technical constraints, and communicating design effectively to non-design stakeholders.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present significant opportunities for professional growth. Mastering the healthcare domain and AI product design will make the designer a highly sought-after professional.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you used design thinking to solve a complex problem. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, user research, and impact.)
- "How do you approach designing for users in a domain they might find complex or intimidating, like healthcare operations?" (Emphasize user research, simplification, and clarity.)
- "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where you had to collaborate closely with engineers and product managers. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.)
- "How do you ensure design consistency and scalability across a growing product suite? Discuss your experience with design systems." (Showcase your understanding of design system principles and implementation.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you about Machinify and our mission to transform healthcare operations?" (Research the company and express genuine enthusiasm for their mission.)
- "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI trends and technologies, particularly in AI?" (Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning.)
- "Describe your ideal work environment and how you contribute to a collaborative team culture." (Align your response with startup values like agility, teamwork, and open communication.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure: For each portfolio piece, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Results.
- Figma Showcase: Be ready to demonstrate or discuss specific Figma features you utilized, such as complex auto-layout, interactive components, or collaborative prototyping.
- Quantifiable Impact: Clearly articulate the metrics or business impact achieved by your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the qualitative improvements and intended outcomes.
- Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Prepare to present your key projects efficiently, highlighting the most impactful aspects.
📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the design process, exceptional Figma skills, effective collaboration, and an ability to translate complex business needs into user-friendly solutions, particularly within a B2B/enterprise context.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Product Designer position:
- Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.
- Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your UX/UI experience, Figma proficiency, and any experience with complex enterprise software or data-driven products. Select portfolio pieces that best showcase your design thinking process and problem-solving skills in similar contexts.
- Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, key responsibilities, and achievements using action verbs and quantifiable results where possible. Ensure keywords like "UX Design," "UI Design," "Figma," "Design Thinking," and "Prototyping" are prominently featured.
- Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project case studies. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma in detail and how you approach user research and collaboration.
- Company Research: Thoroughly research Machinify's mission, its AI platform, and the healthcare operations industry to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm during interviews. Understand the specific problems they are solving.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding the exact work arrangement (remote vs. on-site) and specific benefits, should be verified directly with Machinify during the application process.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have over 6 years of UX/UI experience and a solid portfolio showcasing their design process. They must possess advanced proficiency with Figma and a deep understanding of UX principles and design thinking.