Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies

Location: Brooklyn, Ohio, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-13T20:18:30

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site (Brooklyn, Ohio)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead product design and creative direction for a new B2B consumer insights platform and an existing consumer app with 3 million users.

• Design end-to-end user experiences, from initial concept to post-launch iteration, focusing on both B2B and B2C interfaces.

• Develop and refine the company's design language, systems, and overall design culture.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into UX/UI design, system design, and a significant component of visual and interaction design. The role is situated within a technology company developing a consumer insights platform, indicating a need for strong B2B enterprise product design skills coupled with experience in consumer-facing applications. The emphasis on "full-stack designer" and "design nerd" suggests a hands-on role requiring both strategic thinking and meticulous execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design core product experiences for the B2B platform and consumer app, managing the entire design lifecycle from exploration and ideation through launch and ongoing iteration.

• Craft highly polished, user-centric interfaces that effectively communicate data, AI technology, and build trust with enterprise clients and consumers.

• Focus on meticulous details in layout, typography, spacing, color palettes, motion design, and micro-interactions to elevate the user experience.

• Contribute to defining the product roadmap by providing design insights and laying the groundwork for a robust design language, scalable design systems, and a strong design culture.

• Navigate ambiguity and fast-paced startup conditions by finding creative solutions and shipping high-quality, impactful work.

• Operate as one of two designers on the team, fostering strong cross-functional partnerships with engineering and GTM stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product input and hands-on design execution. The mention of "design language, systems, and culture" implies the need for a designer who can not only execute but also help build foundational design infrastructure. The "full-stack designer" requirement suggests an expectation for ownership across the entire design process, from user research synthesis to final visual polish and interaction design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is generally expected for this level of product design role.

Experience: 1-4 years of professional design experience, with a strong emphasis on software product design. Experience in a startup environment or designing AI interactions is considered a significant plus. Experience designing enterprise-grade B2B products is also highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma for rapid design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Demonstrated ability to design software products end-to-end, from discovery to iteration.

• Strong visual design skills, with a keen eye for typography, layout, color, and motion.

• Experience crafting intuitive and delightful user interfaces that build trust.

• Ability to make pragmatic design tradeoffs and take near-term shortcuts while maintaining a vision for long-term product improvement.

• Excellent product intuition, with a knack for simplicity and clarity in design solutions.

• Experience integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Claude into design workflows.

• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and GTM teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for AI interactions or products leveraging AI technology.

• Experience designing complex enterprise-grade B2B platforms.

• Familiarity with building or contributing to design systems.

• Experience conducting user research and synthesizing feedback to inform design decisions.

• Understanding of how to measure design impact and iterate based on user data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is explicitly stated as 1-4 years, but the "Mid-Level" AI inference reflects the expectation of impactful contributions and the ability to operate with significant autonomy in a small team. The emphasis on "full-stack designer" and "design nerd" suggests a need for a candidate who is not just proficient but passionate about design, capable of handling diverse design tasks. The mention of LLMs indicates a forward-thinking approach to design tools and workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end product design process across multiple projects, showcasing problem identification, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and iteration.

• Include case studies that highlight specific design challenges, your problem-solving approach, and the impact of your design decisions.

• Showcase strong visual design skills, with examples of polished interfaces, typography, color, and interaction design.

• Present examples of work that demonstrate an understanding of B2B enterprise products or complex software platforms.

• Highlight projects where you've contributed to or utilized design systems, showcasing consistency and scalability.

• Include examples of how you've leveraged tools like Figma effectively for rapid iteration and prototyping.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed, key decisions made, and the outcomes or impact achieved.

• Provide context on how user feedback and data were incorporated into the design process to drive improvements.

• If applicable, show how your designs contributed to efficiency gains or improved user workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "full-stack designer" and "escape velocity design" implies that the portfolio should not just be aesthetically pleasing but also demonstrate rapid iteration and pragmatic problem-solving. The inclusion of B2B and AI design examples will be highly advantageous. The focus on "shipping high-quality work in a fast-paced, often ambiguous, startup environment" means case studies should highlight adaptability and efficient execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Brooklyn, Ohio), mid-level experience (2-5 years), and the company's explicit statement of offering "above-market salaries & equity," a competitive range for a Product Designer in this region would typically fall between $90,000 - $130,000 USD annually.

📝 Enhancement Note: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in a lower cost-of-living area like Ohio, adjusted upwards significantly due to Pogo Technologies' stated commitment to "above-market salaries & equity" for top talent and their emphasis on rapid growth and impact. Research for similar roles in tech startups in comparable regions suggests this range. The equity component is a significant value driver not included in the base salary estimate.

Benefits:

• Equity: Significant stock options or grants, reflecting the early-stage startup environment and the value placed on employee contribution.

• Unlimited PTO: Flexibility and trust in employees to manage their time effectively.

• Minimum 20 Days Vacation Policy: A guaranteed minimum period for rest and rejuvenation, ensuring work-life balance despite the startup's demanding pace.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Standard comprehensive medical benefits.

• Potential for other startup perks such as professional development budgets, team offsites, and flexible work arrangements within the on-site context.

Working Hours: While the company states "we expect more than 9 to 5 - raw hours make an impact at our current stage," they also emphasize trust in team members to create a flexible work schedule that allows for maximum productivity and accommodates outside priorities. The standard expectation is likely around 40-50 hours per week, with flexibility in daily scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package, particularly "above-market salaries & equity" and the generous PTO policy, are designed to attract high-caliber talent to an early-stage startup environment that requires significant dedication and faces inherent ambiguity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Consumer Insights, Data & AI, and B2B SaaS platforms. Pogo Technologies is building a platform that connects brands/retailers with purchase-verified consumers to gather insights.

Company Size: Small, early-stage startup (likely under 50 employees, given it's the second designer being hired). This implies a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: The exact founding date isn't provided, but the context of hiring early-stage roles suggests a company that is post-seed or Series A, focused on scaling its product and team. The mention of a co-founder's past dream job as a furniture designer hints at a founding team that values design and product aesthetics.

Team Structure:

• The design team is currently very small, with the Lead Product Designer and this role being the second designer.

• Designers work closely and cross-functionally with Engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: Strong emphasis on using user data, feedback, and experimentation to drive product decisions and design iterations.

• Calculated Speed: A core value emphasizing rapid iteration and weekly shipping cycles rather than lengthy, complex processes.

• Product Thinking: A company-wide obsession with product thinking, meaning everyone across departments is expected to contribute to product strategy and improvement.

Company Website: joinpogo.com (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by a strong emphasis on product, speed, data, and a deep appreciation for design. This environment is ideal for individuals who thrive in ambiguity, enjoy building from the ground up, and want to see their work launch and impact users quickly.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer. It requires independent contribution, ownership of significant product areas, and the ability to influence design direction, rather than solely executing tasks under close supervision.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to the Lead Product Designer, who is described as having experience from notable tech companies (Figma, Slack, Glean). This offers a strong mentorship opportunity.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the core product offering, shaping the user experience for both B2B clients and a large consumer base. Their work will be crucial for user acquisition, retention, and the overall success of Pogo's consumer insights platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Ownership: Opportunity to play a foundational role in building and evolving Pogo's design system, leading to potential specialization in design infrastructure.

• Product Strategy Influence: As one of the early designers, the individual can significantly influence product direction, feature prioritization, and the overall user experience strategy.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and impact, there's a clear path to senior or lead design roles as the company scales.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gaining deep experience working with engineering and GTM teams in a high-growth startup environment.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to gain expertise in AI-driven design, enterprise product challenges, and rapid iteration methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential due to the early-stage nature of the company and the limited size of the design team. The opportunity to "shape our design culture from the ground up" is a significant draw for ambitious designers looking to make a broad impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" with derived status "On-site (Brooklyn, Ohio)". This suggests the company is based in Brooklyn, Ohio, and while the job might be listed as remote in some systems, the actual expectation is for the designer to work from their Brooklyn office.

Office Location(s): Brooklyn, Ohio, USA.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes close cross-functional collaboration with engineering and GTM teams, suggesting a dynamic and interactive workspace.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma will be standard. The company's focus on AI implies potential exploration of AI-assisted design tools.

• Team Interaction: Being one of two designers and working closely with other departments means frequent interaction and knowledge sharing opportunities.

Work Schedule: While the company values "raw hours" and expects more than a standard 9-5, they also promote flexibility in scheduling to accommodate individual productivity and work-life balance. The expectation is a commitment to delivering results, but with significant autonomy over how and when that work is accomplished during the week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" listing combined with specific location derived from "locations_derived" is a common discrepancy in job aggregators. The explicit mention of Brooklyn, Ohio, and the emphasis on collaboration strongly indicate an on-site expectation. The flexibility in hours is a common startup perk to balance demanding work with employee well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A more in-depth session where candidates present their portfolio, discuss their design process, and potentially tackle a small, time-boxed design exercise or case study discussion. This will focus on their approach to problem-solving, speed, and design quality.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Conversations with engineering and GTM team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of product development cycles.

• Final Interview: Likely with a co-founder or senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process & Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes or learnings. Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Speed & Pragmatism: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to iterate quickly, make necessary tradeoffs, and ship work efficiently in a startup context.

• Visual Polish & Detail: Ensure your portfolio is visually stunning, with meticulous attention to typography, layout, and interaction design, reflecting your "design nerd" sensibilities.

• B2B & AI Focus: If you have experience with enterprise products or AI interactions, make these prominent.

• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow and advanced techniques within Figma.

Challenge Preparation:

• Think Aloud: For any design challenge, articulate your thought process, assumptions, and rationale clearly.

• Focus on Core Problem: Prioritize solving the most critical aspects of the challenge given the time constraints.

• Embrace Ambiguity: Be comfortable asking clarifying questions and making reasonable assumptions when information is limited.

• Demonstrate Iteration: Show how you would iterate on your initial solution based on new information or feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skill but also adaptability, speed, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment where design is highly valued. The portfolio is critical for demonstrating these attributes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a core tool for "super powers" and "escape velocity design." Expect advanced usage for wireframing, prototyping, design systems, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, potentially tools like Principle or After Effects for more complex motion design.

• Design Systems: Experience with building, contributing to, or utilizing design systems will be key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the designer, they will likely interact with data from analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) and reporting dashboards to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• The role is on the product side, so direct CRM/automation tool experience might be less critical than understanding how the product integrates with or serves users of such systems. However, understanding the B2B platform context is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The company's focus on AI and B2B platforms suggests an openness to exploring and integrating new technologies into the design workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A high bar for design quality, driven by a passion for great products and aesthetics.

• Product Obsession: A company-wide focus on product thinking, innovation, and user value.

• Calculated Speed: A commitment to rapid iteration, experimentation, and shipping frequently.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams in an open and transparent manner.

• User-Centricity: Designing with a deep understanding of user needs, leveraging data and feedback.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral members of product teams, working hand-in-hand with engineering and GTM.

• Feedback-Driven: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Empowered Autonomy: Designers are trusted to take ownership and drive their work forward with minimal oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is a blend of high performance, design appreciation, and a pragmatic approach to execution in a startup environment. It's for individuals who are proactive, enjoy building, and are excited by rapid progress.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity & Shifting Priorities: Navigating a startup environment where problems may not have clear answers and priorities can change quickly based on data and user feedback.

• Limited Design Resources: Operating as one of only two designers means a high degree of individual responsibility and potentially less specialized support (e.g., dedicated user researchers).

• Rapid Iteration Demands: The "Calculated Speed" value means designs may need to be produced and iterate very quickly, sometimes within a day, requiring efficient workflows.

• Building from Scratch: Establishing design systems, language, and culture requires foundational work and strategic thinking.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship from Senior Designer: Direct guidance and learning from an experienced Lead Product Designer with a strong background.

• Exposure to AI & LLMs: Gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies in a design context.

• Startup Growth Acumen: Developing skills in navigating rapid growth, product-market fit, and scaling a tech company.

• Strategic Product Input: Opportunity to contribute significantly to product strategy and roadmap development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The company actively encourages learning and development, particularly in areas that align with their innovative approach to product design and technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a B2B dashboard for enterprise clients that needs to balance rich data visualization with ease of use?" (Focus on process, user needs, and UI/UX considerations).

• "Describe a time you had to make a significant design tradeoff to meet a deadline. What was the outcome, and how did you plan to address it later?" (Focus on "Calculated Speed" and pragmatic problem-solving).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Pogo's mission and the consumer insights space?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the company's domain).

• "How do you stay current with design trends and best practices, especially concerning AI and LLMs?" (Demonstrate continuous learning and passion).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. Walk through your Figma files or prototypes to demonstrate your process and thinking in real-time if appropriate.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion, reduced task completion time, user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with engineers and other stakeholders, showcasing your cross-functional abilities.

• Be Prepared for "Why": Be ready to deeply explain the rationale behind every design decision you made.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate rapid iteration, strong product intuition, and a deep understanding of design principles, all within the context of a fast-paced, data-driven startup.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.gem.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your most relevant experience in software product design, B2B platforms, and any AI/LLM interaction design. Prioritize case studies that showcase rapid iteration and end-to-end ownership.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, proficiency with Figma, and key skills like UI/UX design, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and presenting your portfolio walkthrough. Be ready to discuss your approach to "Calculated Speed" and your passion for design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Pogo Technologies' product, mission, and the consumer insights industry. Understand their core values like "Calculated Speed" and "Product Obsession."

⚠️ 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.