Product Designer

Slant
Full_timeβ€’$120k-160k/year (USD)β€’Lehi, United States

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: Slant Location: Lehi, Utah, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2025-07-25 Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Spearhead product discovery and design for an AI-powered CRM tailored for financial advisors, focusing on reimagining user experiences with AI-native patterns.
  • Lead the end-to-end design process, from concept and interaction flows to visual design, microcopy, and final polish, owning the product's design future.
  • Collaborate closely with engineering and cross-functional teams to seamlessly implement innovative AI-driven workflows, ensuring a user-centric and intuitive product.
  • Drive the development and maintenance of a scalable design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the product, while also gathering direct customer feedback to inform design decisions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "zero-to-one" design opportunity, implying significant autonomy and the chance to establish foundational design principles for a new product within the AI and FinTech space. The emphasis on "designer / good parts of PM hybrid" suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond pure design execution.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead product discovery initiatives, including direct customer interviews and user research, to deeply understand the needs of financial advisors and identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.
  • Design intuitive and efficient user interfaces and interaction flows for an AI-native CRM, translating complex requirements into simple, elegant user experiences.
  • Develop and maintain a robust, scalable design system that ensures brand consistency, design coherence, and efficient product development across the platform.
  • Create high-fidelity prototypes, wireframes, and detailed visual designs, iterating based on feedback from stakeholders, engineering, and customer validation.
  • Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear specifications, assets, and ongoing support throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Define and craft microcopy and UX writing to enhance user understanding and guide users through AI-powered features and workflows.
  • Contribute to product strategy by making informed design decisions that align with business goals and user needs, prioritizing effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Conduct design reviews and present design solutions to stakeholders, articulating the rationale behind design choices and their potential impact on user experience and business objectives.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Given the "zero-to-one" nature and the focus on AI, a key responsibility will be defining new interaction paradigms that make AI feel "invisible and intuitive." This requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to experiment with novel design patterns, rather than relying solely on established UX heuristics.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field that demonstrates an absolute love and passion for product and design. Experience: 3–5 years of professional product design experience, with a strong preference for experience in a startup or fast-moving company environment.

Required Skills:

  • Product Design Expertise: Proven ability to lead the end-to-end product design process, from discovery to delivery, with a strong portfolio showcasing impactful design solutions.
  • UX/UI Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, and information architecture, with the ability to translate complex problems into intuitive user flows.
  • Design Systems: Experience designing, building, and maintaining scalable design systems, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and a cohesive user experience.
  • Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) for creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
  • AI-Native Design: Demonstrated creativity and passion for frontier technology, with an ability to conceptualize and design novel interactions for AI-powered products that feel intuitive and seamless.
  • Customer Interaction: Experience conducting user research, customer interviews, and usability testing to gather insights and validate design decisions.
  • Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, particularly engineering, to ensure successful product implementation.
  • Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present ideas clearly to stakeholders.
  • Problem-Solving: Aptitude for making difficult, 80/20 design decisions and simplifying complex workflows into elegant solutions.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to craft, including visual design, microcopy, and overall product polish.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in the FinTech or SaaS industry, particularly with CRM or financial advisor software.
  • Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their application in product design.
  • Experience with design tools like Attio, ChatGPT, Linear, or Clerk as sources of inspiration.
  • Knowledge of foundational design systems like "Shad."
  • Experience working in a zero-to-one product development environment.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Bachelor's degree in "any field that led you to an absolute love and passion for product and design" emphasizes passion and demonstrated capability over a specific academic major. The mention of specific inspirational products (Attio, ChatGPT, Linear, Clerk) suggests the company values a blend of modern, efficient interfaces and cutting-edge AI integration.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong grasp of the end-to-end product design process, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and interaction design.
  • Case studies that highlight your ability to solve complex user problems, particularly those involving the simplification of existing workflows or the creation of new AI-driven interactions.
  • Evidence of experience designing and utilizing design systems, showcasing your understanding of scalability, consistency, and component-based design.
  • Examples of your work with microcopy and UX writing, demonstrating an ability to craft clear, concise, and effective in-product communication.
  • Prototypes that effectively communicate interaction design and user flow logic, ideally showcasing innovative solutions for AI integration.

Process Documentation:

  • Demonstrate how you approach product discovery, including methodologies for customer interviews, user journey mapping, and synthesizing research findings into actionable design insights.
  • Showcase your process for making critical design decisions, particularly in fast-paced, "0-to-1" environments, highlighting how you prioritize and make trade-offs (e.g., 80/20 rule).
  • Illustrate your collaboration process with engineering teams, detailing how you hand off designs, provide specifications, and ensure faithful implementation while remaining open to technical constraints and feedback.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Given the "zero-to-one" nature of the role and the focus on AI, the portfolio should emphasize creative problem-solving and the ability to define new interaction patterns. Demonstrating how you've influenced product direction and made strategic design decisions, rather than just executing visual designs, will be crucial.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 – $160,000 per year.

Benefits:

  • Health Insurance: 100% employer-covered health insurance, indicating a strong commitment to employee well-being.
  • 401(k): Company-sponsored 401(k) plan, providing a retirement savings benefit.
  • Equity: Stock options or equity grants, offering employees a stake in the company's success and growth.
  • Comprehensive Benefits Package: Includes health insurance and 401(k) sponsorship, alongside equity, suggesting a competitive total compensation strategy.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on "willing to work hard, in-person, 5 days/week" implies a full-time commitment, likely around 40 hours per week, with the expectation of dedicated effort.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Product Designer with 3-5 years of experience in the Lehi, Utah area, especially for a startup in the AI/FinTech space. The inclusion of equity is a significant draw for talent seeking ownership and potential upside in a growing company. The expectation of 5 days/week in-office suggests a very collaborative and focused work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Artificial Intelligence / Financial Services Technology (FinTech) Company Size: Startup (likely small to medium, as this is a key early hire for design) Founded: Pageport, Inc. (parent company) launched Slant, an AI-powered CRM, indicating a recent or in-progress product launch phase.

Team Structure:

  • The design function is currently led by the founder, Max, indicating this is a foundational hire to establish a dedicated design practice.
  • The designer will work closely with engineering and likely product management (or a founder fulfilling that role).
  • Cross-functional collaboration is expected to be very tight, with direct interaction with customers and engineers.

Methodology:

  • AI-First Product Development: The core mission is to reimagine CRM using AI, driving a methodology that embraces frontier technology and AI-native design patterns.
  • Agile & Fast-Paced: The company operates at a high velocity, with projects scoped in 2-3 days, requiring designers to make quick, informed decisions and iterate rapidly.
  • Customer-Centricity: Direct engagement with customers is a key part of the design process, ensuring products are built with real-world user needs in mind.
  • Design as Core Product: Design is viewed not as an add-on but as integral to the product's success and user perception.

Company Website: https://slant.app/

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company is clearly in a growth and product-building phase. The culture will likely be intense, innovative, and highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on execution and rapid iteration. The founder-led design approach suggests a lean and direct communication style.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a foundational "0-to-1" Product Designer role. While requiring 3-5 years of experience, it offers the opportunity to define and build the design function from its early stages. It's an opportunity to become a key player in shaping a new product's trajectory.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report directly to the founder (Max), who currently leads design. This provides direct access to leadership and significant influence on product strategy.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on the core product, user acquisition, retention, and overall customer satisfaction. By creating an intuitive and effective AI-powered CRM, they will directly contribute to the company's mission of increasing financial advisors' capacity and helping more Americans make better financial decisions.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Lead Design Function: Opportunity to grow into a Head of Design or Design Lead role as the company scales.
  • Product Ownership: Deep involvement in product strategy and discovery can lead to broader product management responsibilities or ownership of specific product areas.
  • Skill Specialization: Develop deep expertise in AI-driven UX design, FinTech product development, and building design systems in a startup environment.
  • Leadership Development: Experience in a founder-led startup offers significant exposure to business strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for rapid career growth and impact, particularly for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on startup environment. The ability to shape the design identity of a new product from inception is a significant career differentiator.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily an in-office role, with a requirement to work 5 days/week at the Lehi, Utah office. This suggests a traditional office setup designed for close collaboration.

Office Location(s): Lehi, Utah. This places the designer within Utah's tech corridor, known for its growing startup scene.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hub: Expect a workspace designed for frequent interaction with engineering, product, and potentially other early team members.
  • Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software and potentially early-stage AI tools that the company is developing or utilizing.
  • Direct Customer Engagement: Opportunities to interact with customers will likely be facilitated through the office environment or company-provided tools for remote customer calls.

Work Schedule: The expectation of working 5 days/week in-office, coupled with the "willing to work hard" requirement, suggests a structured yet demanding work schedule, typical of early-stage startups focused on rapid product development.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The strict in-office requirement highlights the company's emphasis on in-person collaboration, rapid iteration, and a shared team dynamic. This is a key factor for candidates to consider regarding their preferred work environment.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on relevant experience and demonstrated design skills.
  • Portfolio Presentation/Discussion: Expect to present your portfolio, discussing specific case studies, your design process, and how you approach challenges, especially those related to AI and simplification.
  • Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise focused on a specific problem relevant to the Slant product, testing your problem-solving skills and design approach.
  • Founder/Team Interviews: Discussions with the founder (Max) and potentially key engineering or product team members to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and collaboration style.
  • Customer Interaction Simulation: You might be asked to demonstrate how you would approach customer discovery or present design concepts to a potential user.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing discovery, problem definition, ideation, iteration, and rationale.
  • Highlight AI & Simplification: Specifically call out projects or examples where you've tackled complex problems, simplified user experiences, or explored AI-driven interactions.
  • Design System Experience: Include examples of your work with design systems, detailing your contribution to their development or application.
  • Impact & Results: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced user errors, increased task completion times).
  • Conciseness & Clarity: Present your work clearly and concisely, focusing on the most relevant and impactful projects for this role.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Product: Thoroughly research Slant, its mission, target audience (financial advisors), and the challenges of CRM software.
  • AI-Centric Thinking: Prepare to think about how AI can fundamentally change user interactions and workflows, moving beyond traditional CRM paradigms.
  • Simplification Strategies: Be ready to discuss how you approach simplifying complex tasks and information architecture.
  • 80/20 Decision Making: Practice articulating how you would make strategic design decisions under time constraints.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "zero-to-one," AI, and simplification means interviewers will be looking for a proactive, strategic designer who can not only execute but also define and innovate. Demonstrating a passion for the problem space and a comfort with ambiguity will be key.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools is essential. Given the inspiration and current trends, likely candidates include:
    • Figma: For UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
    • Sketch: Another popular tool for UI design and prototyping.
    • Adobe XD: A comprehensive tool for design and prototyping.
  • Design System Tools: Familiarity with tools or methodologies for managing design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight) may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly stated for the designer, understanding how to interpret user analytics and data to inform design decisions is valuable. Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude might be used by the team.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Experience: As this is a CRM product, prior experience using or designing for CRMs (like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho) could provide valuable context.
  • AI Tools: Familiarity with AI tools like ChatGPT (mentioned as inspiration) and potentially others used for AI development or integration is a plus.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company's inspiration from tools like ChatGPT and Linear suggests a preference for modern, integrated, and efficient technology stacks. The designer will likely work closely with engineers who may be using modern front-end frameworks and cloud-based development environments.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Passion for Product & Design: A deep, intrinsic love for creating great products and beautiful, functional designs.
  • Relentless Simplification: A commitment to making complex systems easy to use and understand.
  • Frontier Technology Enthusiasm: Excitement about AI and its potential to transform industries.
  • Customer Obsession: A drive to deeply understand and serve customer needs through design.
  • Hard Work & Dedication: A willingness to put in the effort required to build a groundbreaking product in a fast-paced environment.
  • Craftsmanship: A high standard for quality in all aspects of design, from interaction flows to visual details and microcopy.

Collaboration Style:

  • Direct & Transparent: Given the small team and founder-led structure, expect open communication and direct feedback loops.
  • Cross-Functional Integration: Designers will work intimately with engineering and product leadership, breaking down traditional silos.
  • Iterative & Experimental: The culture likely embraces rapid iteration, learning from failures, and continuously refining designs based on feedback and data.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely to be intense, driven, and focused on innovation. Candidates who thrive in environments where they can have a significant impact, work closely with leadership, and contribute to building something from the ground up will be well-suited.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Defining Novel AI Interactions: Creating intuitive user experiences for AI-powered features that don't have established patterns requires significant creativity and problem-solving.
  • Balancing Innovation with Usability: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI features are still accessible and easy for financial advisors to adopt and use effectively.
  • Fast-Paced Iteration: Adapting to a rapid development cycle where projects are scoped and executed quickly demands efficiency and agility.
  • Zero-to-One Ownership: Taking full ownership of design from concept to implementation in a new product can be demanding but also highly rewarding.
  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring alignment between design, engineering, and product vision in a rapidly evolving startup.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • AI UX Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.
  • FinTech Product Design: Gain valuable experience in the regulated and complex FinTech industry.
  • Design System Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale a design system from its initial stages, establishing best practices.
  • Startup Leadership Skills: Develop skills in product strategy, customer discovery, and contributing to the overall business vision.
  • Exposure to Entrepreneurship: Work directly with a founder and learn about building and scaling a tech company.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the innovative nature of the product and the startup environment. These challenges also represent significant growth opportunities for a designer eager to push boundaries and make a mark.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "How would you approach designing a new CRM feature that leverages AI to proactively suggest client follow-ups for financial advisors?" (Focus on process, user needs, AI integration).
  • "Describe a time you had to simplify a complex workflow or piece of software. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus on simplification, problem-solving, impact).
  • "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration in a startup with the importance of maintaining design quality and a cohesive design system?" (Focus on 80/20 thinking, trade-offs).
  • "Our inspiration includes Attio and ChatGPT. What do you admire about their design, and how might those principles influence your work here?" (Focus on design critique, inspiration application).

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you passionate about applying AI to financial advisory software?" (Focus on motivation, understanding of the domain).
  • "How do you approach working with engineers to ensure your designs are implemented accurately and efficiently?" (Focus on collaboration, process).
  • "What does 'working hard' mean to you in a startup environment, and how do you manage your energy and focus?" (Focus on work ethic, fit with culture).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solutions, and the results.
  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and clear explanations to demonstrate your design thinking and execution.
  • Highlight AI/Simplification Examples: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work that showcases your ability to handle complexity and innovate with AI.
  • Design System Contribution: If you have design system experience, dedicate a section or highlight specific examples where you've contributed to or utilized design systems.
  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making process, the rationale behind specific design choices, and how you handled challenges.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who is not only skilled but also strategic, adaptable, and genuinely excited about the company's mission and the challenges of AI-driven product design. Your ability to articulate your process and decision-making will be as important as the final designs.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.
  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating product discovery, UI/UX design, design system experience, and any work involving simplification or AI-related concepts. Emphasize case studies that show your process and impact.
  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 3-5 years of experience, focusing on achievements and responsibilities relevant to a fast-paced startup and product design. Use keywords from the job description like "Product Design," "UX/UI," "Design Systems," and "AI Integration."
  • Prepare for Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear communication of your design process, decision-making rationale, and how your skills align with Slant's needs. Be ready to discuss your approach to AI-native design and simplification.
  • Research Slant: Thoroughly understand Slant's mission, target audience (financial advisors), and the company's vision for AI in CRM. Familiarize yourself with their inspirations (Attio, ChatGPT, Linear).

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of professional product design experience, preferably in a startup environment. Experience in designing scalable design systems and a strong passion for product and design are essential.