Product Designer, Data Platform (Contract) at Benchling

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Data Platform (Contract)
Company: Benchling
Location: Remote, United States
Job Type: Contract
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Operations
Date Posted: August 07, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

This contract role focuses on designing user experiences for Benchling's Data Platform, specifically for Enterprise users, emphasizing data-centric products.
The position requires close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate complex customer needs into scalable and delightful user interfaces within an agile development framework.
The core of the role involves end-to-end design ownership, from initial research and problem definition through to the implementation and launch of features, with a strong emphasis on technical accuracy and user impact.
Successful candidates will contribute to the evolution of Benchling's design system for complex software products, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the focus on a "Data Platform" and the need to work with "Enterprise users" implies a strong connection to operational efficiency and data management within a scientific context. This role requires an understanding of how data influences user workflows and decision-making, aligning it with operational excellence principles, particularly in SaaS environments. The "Contract" nature suggests a project-based contribution, potentially involving specific feature development or system enhancements within the data platform.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering to define technical scope, interaction patterns, and information architecture for the Data Platform.
Drive the design process for high-impact initiatives, from initial opportunity identification and user research to the final implementation and release of features.
Create precise and technically accurate prototypes to validate product concepts and user flows for data-centric applications.
Actively participate in agile ceremonies, providing design expertise and ensuring user-centricity throughout the development lifecycle.
Contribute to and leverage Benchling's design system to ensure consistency, usability, and scalability of user interfaces across the Data Platform.
Gather feedback from customers and internal stakeholders to iterate on designs and improve the overall user experience of the data management tools.
Effectively communicate design decisions, rationale, and technical considerations to cross-functional teams in a hybrid work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only create intuitive interfaces but also understand the underlying data structures and scientific workflows. This suggests a focus on "data-driven design" and "workflow optimization" from a user experience perspective, which are critical components of effective operations in a B2B SaaS context. The emphasis on "technical scope" and "information architecture" points to the need for logical, structured thinking, akin to system design in operations.

🎓 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 is often preferred for roles requiring a strong understanding of software architecture and data. Equivalent practical experience is also highly valued.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in product design, with a focus on software products, preferably within a SaaS environment. Experience with data-centric products and complex application design is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

User Experience (UX) Design: Proven ability to design user-centered interfaces for complex software applications.
Prototyping: Proficiency in creating high-fidelity, interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to articulate design decisions and technical reasoning clearly to diverse audiences.
Agile Methodologies: Experience working effectively within agile development environments, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineers.
Data-Centric Products: Demonstrated ability to design for products that manage and visualize complex data sets and support data-driven workflows.
Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working with established design systems for large-scale software products.
Collaboration: Strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, and customer-facing teams.
Technical Scope Definition: Aptitude for understanding and contributing to the definition of technical requirements and interaction patterns.

Preferred Skills:

Data Modeling & Science: Familiarity with data modeling concepts, data science principles, or CRM development.
Scientific Software: Experience designing for scientific research, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), or other R&D technology platforms.
Enterprise Software: Experience designing for complex enterprise-level applications with robust feature sets.
User Research: Experience conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing research findings to inform design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3+ years of experience or equivalent" phrasing indicates Benchling values demonstrated skills and impact over strict tenure. For operations-minded candidates, highlighting experience in designing for efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in data-heavy applications will be crucial. The preference for "data-centric products" suggests that understanding how users interact with and derive value from data is a key requirement, aligning with operational analytics and reporting needs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Data-Centric Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process for designing data-intensive products or features. Focus on how you translated complex data requirements into intuitive user experiences.
Problem Definition & Solution: Clearly articulate the user or business problem, your design process, the solutions you proposed, and the impact of your work.
Workflow Visualization: Include examples of how you've designed for complex workflows, showing an understanding of process steps, data flow, and user task completion.
System Contribution: If applicable, include examples of contributions to design systems, showing how you ensured consistency and scalability across a product suite.
Technical Consideration: Demonstrate an understanding of technical constraints and how you collaborated with engineering to arrive at feasible and effective design solutions.

Process Documentation:

Design Process Outline: Detail your typical design process from discovery and research through to final handoff and iteration, emphasizing how you integrate user feedback and technical input.
Collaboration Workflow: Describe how you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers, including how you define scope, share work-in-progress, and gather feedback.
Impact Measurement: Explain how you measure the success of your designs, focusing on user adoption, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or other relevant operational metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving a "Data Platform," a portfolio demonstrating the ability to structure information logically, design efficient data input and output mechanisms, and visualize complex datasets is paramount. Candidates should highlight projects that showcase their understanding of data integrity, workflow automation through design, and the impact of their designs on operational efficiency and data accuracy.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a contract Product Designer with 3+ years of experience in a high-cost-of-living, remote-first tech environment like the US, a competitive hourly rate would likely range from $50 to $85 USD per hour. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for contract UX/Product Designers in the US tech sector, considering the specialized nature of data platforms and SaaS environments.

Benefits: As this is a contract position, benefits are typically provided by the contracting agency or are self-managed by the individual. However, Benchling may offer:

Access to company-provided collaboration tools and platforms.
Opportunities to work on cutting-edge biotechnology software that impacts scientific innovation.
Potential for extension or conversion to a full-time role based on performance and business needs.
Direct collaboration with leading scientists and engineers in the biotech industry.
A flexible remote work environment.

Working Hours: This is a part-time contract role, likely requiring approximately 20-30 hours per week. The exact working hours can be flexible, allowing for coordination across different time zones, but will require consistent availability for team meetings and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for contract roles in the US. Actual compensation can vary significantly based on the specific contracting agency, the candidate's precise skill set and experience, and the negotiation process. Given the "part-time" nature, the total compensation will be prorated based on the hours worked.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Biotechnology / SaaS. Benchling operates at the intersection of life sciences and software technology, providing a cloud-based R&D platform for biotech companies. This unique position means the company culture values scientific rigor, innovation, and technological advancement.
Company Size: Benchling is a growing mid-to-large-sized tech company, indicated by its presence on Greenhouse and its mission-driven approach. This size suggests a structure with established processes but also room for individual impact and influence.
Founded: Benchling was founded in 2012. This relatively recent founding date means the company embodies a modern, agile, and forward-thinking approach to business and technology development, often seen in successful tech startups that have scaled rapidly.

Team Structure:

The Product Design team at Benchling is dedicated to supporting scientists by creating efficient and effective user experiences for their R&D workflows.
The Data Platform team is a specialized group within Benchling focused on enabling scientists to manage and analyze large volumes of scientific data, which is critical for research and development.
Designers on this team work closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers, forming agile pods or squads to deliver features and improvements. Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect of this structure.

Methodology:

User-Centric Design: Benchling emphasizes understanding the needs of scientists to build tools that genuinely improve their research processes.
Data-Driven Decisions: While design-focused, the team likely uses data analytics and user feedback to inform design choices and measure impact, aligning with operational best practices.
Agile Development: The company operates within an agile framework, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to evolving project requirements.

Company Website: https://www.benchling.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on biotechnology and its role as a SaaS provider means that operational efficiency, data integrity, and scientific accuracy are paramount. For a designer, this translates to understanding complex workflows, designing for regulatory compliance (implicitly), and enabling data-driven decision-making for scientists. The culture likely balances technical depth with a mission-oriented purpose.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level (2-5 years of experience), suitable for designers who have moved beyond junior roles and can independently manage design projects from conception to completion. It offers the opportunity to gain specialized experience in designing for scientific data platforms, a niche but high-demand area.
Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Product Design team, and will work daily with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on the Data Platform team. This matrixed reporting structure is common in agile environments, ensuring alignment across product goals and design execution.
Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of scientific research by streamlining data management and analysis. By creating intuitive tools, they enable scientists to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on critical research, accelerating scientific breakthroughs. This has a direct ripple effect on the operational success of Benchling's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialized Skill Development: Deepen expertise in designing for complex data platforms, scientific workflows, and enterprise SaaS applications.
Portfolio Enhancement: Gain experience working on high-impact projects within a successful biotech SaaS company, significantly bolstering a professional portfolio.
Cross-Functional Exposure: Develop strong working relationships and communication skills with product management, engineering, and potentially customer success teams.
Design System Contribution: Contribute to and learn from an established design system, enhancing skills in creating scalable design solutions.
Potential for Future Roles: Successful contract performance could lead to opportunities for longer-term engagements or full-time positions within Benchling's design or product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role represents an opportunity to apply design thinking to solve complex operational challenges within the R&D lifecycle. The growth potential lies in understanding how efficient data management and user experience design directly contribute to scientific and business outcomes, offering insights into the operational levers of a successful SaaS company in the biotech sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility and autonomy associated with working from home or a remote co-working space.
Office Location(s): The role is advertised as "Remote, United States," indicating that candidates must be based within the United States. Benchling may have physical offices, but this specific contract role does not require presence in any of them.

Workspace Context:

Remote Collaboration: Expect to utilize digital collaboration tools extensively for communication, design reviews, and project management. This requires strong self-discipline and proactive communication.
Tooling: Access to Benchling's internal collaboration and design tools will be provided. Proficiency in common remote work tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro) is assumed.
Team Interaction: While remote, opportunities for virtual team building, design critiques, and knowledge-sharing sessions will be available to foster a connected team environment.

Work Schedule: The role is part-time and contract-based. This offers flexibility in structuring the workday, but requires careful time management to meet project deadlines and attend scheduled meetings. Candidates should be prepared to manage their time effectively to balance project demands with other commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote, part-time contract nature of this role requires a candidate who is highly self-motivated and adept at asynchronous communication and digital collaboration. For operations-focused individuals, this environment necessitates strong organizational skills and the ability to manage tasks and deliverables independently.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screen: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest, and alignment with the role and company.
Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies that demonstrate their process, problem-solving skills, and impact. This may be accompanied by a small design challenge or take-home exercise focused on a data-centric problem.
Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager, Product Manager, and potentially other designers or engineers on the Data Platform team. These will delve deeper into experience, design philosophy, collaboration style, and technical understanding.
Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader or cross-functional stakeholder.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing how you moved from understanding a problem to delivering a solution. Highlight research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.
Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs. For a data platform role, this could include improvements in user efficiency, data accuracy, task completion rates, or adoption of new features.
Showcase Data-Centricity: Select projects that specifically highlight your ability to design for complex data, information architecture, and data visualization.
Explain Technical Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with engineers to understand technical constraints and achieve feasible, high-quality designs.
Tailor to Benchling: Research Benchling's platform and mission. If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to address how your skills align with their specific needs in the biotech R&D space.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand Data Workflows: Be prepared to discuss how users interact with data, manage datasets, and derive insights in a scientific or enterprise context.
Design System Thinking: Refresh your knowledge on design system principles and how they contribute to scalability and consistency in complex software.
Problem-Solving: Practice articulating how you would approach a hypothetical design problem related to data management or scientific workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio of relevant design work that conveys an ability to ship successful data-centric products" means candidates must be prepared to deep-dive into their past projects. For an operations-minded candidate, this is an opportunity to frame their design work in terms of efficiency gains, process improvements, and data-driven outcomes, showcasing their understanding of business and operational impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, as it's an industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision.
Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Miro or Mural for whiteboarding and brainstorming.
Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello (likely used by the engineering and product teams).

Analytics & Reporting:

Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo, or similar tools for understanding user behavior and feature adoption.
Data Visualization: Tools used by scientists, such as Tableau, Power BI, or custom-built dashboards, may be relevant for understanding the output of the Data Platform.

CRM & Automation:

CRM: While not directly designing for a CRM, understanding CRM principles and how data is managed within them could be beneficial, given the enterprise context.
Automation: Familiarity with how design can enable or simplify automated processes within scientific workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. For an operations-focused designer, understanding how design impacts data integrity, workflow automation, and the broader operational efficiency of scientific R&D is crucial. Familiarity with analytics tools will help in understanding the impact of design decisions on user behavior and platform adoption.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Scientific Rigor: A commitment to accuracy, detail, and thoroughness in design, mirroring the scientific process.
Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems in biotechnology and software.
User Empathy: Deeply understanding the needs and challenges of scientists to create truly valuable tools.
Collaboration: Working effectively across disciplines (product, engineering, research) to achieve shared goals.
Efficiency & Scalability: Designing solutions that are not only functional but also streamlined, robust, and capable of growing with the company and its users.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers are integral members of product teams, working hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the product development lifecycle.
Open Feedback Culture: Expect regular design critiques and collaborative sessions where constructive feedback is shared and incorporated.
Data-Informed Design: Decisions are often supported by user research, data analytics, and stakeholder input, fostering a culture of evidence-based design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of "Scientific Rigor" and "Efficiency & Scalability" are directly transferable to operations roles. A designer who can embody these values will be highly valued, as they will naturally think about how their designs streamline processes, ensure data accuracy, and contribute to the overall operational effectiveness of Benchling's platform.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Complexity of Scientific Data: Designing intuitive interfaces for highly complex and varied scientific data sets requires deep understanding and iterative refinement.
Balancing Enterprise Needs: Juggling the diverse and often demanding requirements of enterprise clients while maintaining a consistent and scalable design system.
Agile Iteration: Adapting to rapid changes and feedback cycles inherent in an agile development environment.
Remote Collaboration Nuances: Ensuring effective communication and design alignment across a distributed team.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deep Dive into Biotech: Gain significant exposure to the intricacies of the biotechnology industry and the R&D process.
Mastering Data Platform Design: Develop specialized expertise in designing for complex data management and analytics platforms.
Contributing to a Growing Design System: Play a role in evolving a mature design system for a rapidly scaling SaaS company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge for a designer in this role is translating scientific complexity into user-friendly operational tools. The growth opportunities lie in becoming an expert in a highly specialized and impactful domain, bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and effective software solutions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Portfolio Deep Dive: Be ready to walk through 2-3 projects in detail, explaining your role, process, challenges, and outcomes. Focus on how you approached data-centric problems and collaborated with technical teams.
Design Process: Articulate your end-to-end design process. How do you approach ambiguity? How do you incorporate user feedback and technical constraints?
Data Platform Design: Discuss your experience or approach to designing for data management, data visualization, or complex information architectures. What makes a good data platform UX?
Collaboration: How do you work with Product Managers and Engineers? How do you handle disagreements or conflicting priorities?
Benchling Context: Research Benchling's mission, its products, and its target users (scientists). Understand the importance of their R&D Cloud.

Company & Culture Questions:

Why Benchling? Why this role?
How do you align with Benchling's mission to "unlock the power of biotechnology"?
How do you contribute to a collaborative and user-centric team environment?
How do you handle feedback and constructive criticism?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling stories of problem-solving and impact.
Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is clean, well-organized, and visually appealing, showcasing your design skills.
Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Explain the "so what?" of your design decisions.
Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most relevant aspects of your projects that align with the role's requirements.
Interactive Elements: If presenting prototypes, be prepared to demonstrate key interactions smoothly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience through the lens of operational impact. How did their designs improve efficiency, reduce errors, or accelerate processes for users? This framing will resonate strongly with a company focused on scientific R&D acceleration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused design position:

Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.
Portfolio Preparation: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 case studies showcasing your experience with data-centric products, complex workflows, and collaboration with engineering teams. Ensure clear articulation of your design process and measurable impact.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills such as UX design, prototyping, agile methodologies, data platform experience, and communication. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, practice articulating your design process, and research Benchling's mission and products. Consider how your design work contributes to operational efficiency in scientific research.
Company Research: Gain a solid understanding of Benchling's role in the biotech industry, their R&D Cloud platform, and their focus on enabling scientific advancement.

⚠️ 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.

Product Designer, Data Platform (Contract)