Product Designer, Notifications

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Notifications
Company: Discord
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / Growth Operations
Date Posted: 2026-01-05T17:31:07
Experience Level: 2-5 Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing and enhancing Discord's notification experience, a critical component for user engagement and retention within the Growth team.
• You will own end-to-end product design initiatives for notification systems, impacting millions of users across all platforms (iOS, Android, Desktop, Web).
• The position requires a strong blend of visual and interaction design craft, coupled with a systems-thinking approach to create intelligent, trusted, and effective notification strategies.
• Collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Data Science is key to balancing growth velocity with user value and ensuring a cohesive user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities strongly align with a "Growth Operations" focus due to the emphasis on user engagement, retention, notification systems, and data-driven iteration within the Growth team. This role requires a designer who understands the operational impact of their design decisions on user behavior and platform growth.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and own the end-to-end user experience for Discord's notification system, encompassing new notification types, settings redesigns, and delivery optimizations across all platforms.
• Develop production-ready specifications and high-fidelity prototypes, demonstrating a keen understanding of when to prioritize speed and when to refine for exceptional polish.
• Influence product strategy and scope by partnering closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other cross-functional teammates, ensuring a balance between aggressive growth targets and meaningful user value.
• Leverage data and user research insights to inform design decisions, collaborating with Research and Data Science teams to validate design concepts and deeply understand user behaviors related to notification engagement.
• Apply a systems-thinking approach to design, considering the interconnectedness of notification types, orchestration logic, and user settings to ensure a cohesive and intuitive overall experience.
• Effectively communicate design rationale, share work early and often, and build strong collaborative relationships across various teams at Discord.
• Drive projects autonomously by managing personal time and deliverables, proactively identifying and escalating blockers to ensure project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can operate with significant autonomy within a fast-paced environment. The emphasis on "owning end-to-end initiatives" and "influencing scope and strategy" suggests a role requiring strategic input beyond pure execution, typical of mid-level to senior product designers in growth-focused teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and proficiency in design principles is paramount. Experience: 2-5 years of dedicated product design experience, with a focus on consumer-facing digital products. Candidates with exceptional craft and potential may be considered with 2+ years of experience.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Proven ability to own and execute on product design initiatives from conception to launch.
• Visual Design Foundation: Strong aesthetic judgment, with expertise in typography, color theory, hierarchy, and composition to create delightful and visually appealing interfaces.
• Interaction Design Skills: Demonstrated ability to craft intuitive user flows, manage information architecture, and design for complex, multi-step user journeys.
• Systems Thinking: Capacity to design interconnected systems rather than isolated screens, understanding how different components of a product work together.
• Figma Proficiency: High level of skill in Figma for creating detailed designs, user flows, and production-ready specifications.
• Prototyping Expertise: Proficiency with prototyping tools (e.g., Protopie, Framer, Principle) to effectively communicate design vision, test concepts, and gain stakeholder alignment.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively within agile, cross-functional teams including Product Management, Engineering, User Research, and Data Science.
• Data-Informed Design: Ability to utilize data and research findings to guide design decisions and iterate on product features.
• Ownership & Bias for Action: Proactive approach to driving projects, managing deliverables, and contributing to product vision through design exploration and clear documentation.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale compellingly and build strong relationships.

Preferred Skills:

• Personal use of Discord and a demonstrated passion for gaming or community platforms.
• Experience designing products focused on growth, user engagement, or lifecycle marketing.
• Familiarity with notification system architecture, push delivery mechanisms, or messaging platform dynamics.
• Understanding of experimentation frameworks (A/B testing) and data-driven product iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is nuanced, explicitly stating openness to strong candidates with 2+ years if they demonstrate exceptional craft and potential, while requiring 3+ years for others. This suggests a focus on demonstrated skill and impact over strict tenure. The "Bonus Points" are highly indicative of desired domain expertise for this specific role within Discord's Growth team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects with a focus on consumer-facing digital products, illustrating your problem-solving process from initial concept to shipped product.
• Include detailed case studies that highlight your contributions to notification systems, growth initiatives, or engagement features, demonstrating how your designs drove measurable user behavior changes.
• Demonstrate strong visual and interaction design craft through high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and clear explanations of your design decisions.
• Provide examples of how you have utilized data and user research to inform design choices and iterate on solutions.
• Feature projects where you have designed for complex systems and considered the broader ecosystem of a product, particularly in areas like settings management or content delivery.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process for at least one significant project, detailing the phases of research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.
• Showcase how you collaborated with engineering and product management to define requirements, manage scope, and ensure successful product launches.
• Include examples of how you've documented design specifications, user flows, and system interactions to facilitate clear communication and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a product design role, especially in a growth-focused team, the portfolio is critical. It should not only display aesthetic skills but also demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a clear understanding of how design impacts user engagement and business objectives, particularly within the context of notifications.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $180,000 USD per year (base salary). Benefits:

• Equity: Stock options or grants, providing ownership in Discord's growth.
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• [Additional benefits likely include: Paid Time Off (PTO), parental leave, 401(k) matching, life insurance, disability insurance, professional development stipends, and potentially wellness programs.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with an expectation of standard business hours for the San Francisco Bay Area timezone. Flexibility may be available, but the role is on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is for base compensation only and does not include equity, which is a significant component of total compensation at tech companies like Discord. The mention of "Growth Velocity" and "high-velocity team" suggests a fast-paced work environment where efficiency and timely delivery are valued, though this doesn't necessarily mean overtime is mandatory.

💎 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Social Media / Gaming / Communication Platform) Company Size: Discord is a large, established tech company with a significant employee base, indicating a structured environment with established processes and resources, yet likely retaining a dynamic, fast-paced startup feel. Founded: Discord was founded in 2015, giving it a decade of experience in the market and a mature product that has evolved significantly.

Team Structure:

• The Notifications team is part of the broader "Growth" organization at Discord.
• This team likely comprises a Product Manager, Engineering Lead, several Engineers, a dedicated Product Designer (this role), and close collaboration with User Research and Data Science.
• Reporting structure typically involves reporting to a Design Lead or Director within the Product Design organization, with close partnership to the Product Manager for day-to-day project direction.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: The team heavily relies on data analysis and user research to inform strategy, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design changes.
• Systems Design: Emphasis on designing cohesive and scalable systems rather than isolated features, particularly crucial for notification orchestration and user control.
• Agile Development: Work is likely conducted in agile sprints, requiring rapid iteration, close collaboration, and continuous feedback loops.
• User-Centricity: Despite the focus on growth, a core principle is maintaining the user experience that makes Discord special, balancing engagement with user trust and control.

Company Website: https://discord.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Discord's mission is deeply intertwined with gaming and community. The "Growth" team's objective is to enhance user connection and engagement, making the Notifications role pivotal. The company's size suggests access to robust tools and resources, while its history indicates a capacity for product evolution and adaptation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, indicated by the 2-5 years of experience requirement and the expectation of owning end-to-end initiatives and influencing strategy. It's a step beyond junior roles, requiring autonomy and strategic input. Reporting Structure: The Product Designer typically reports into a Design leadership structure (e.g., Design Manager, Director of Product Design) and works day-to-day in close partnership with a Product Manager and Engineering Lead within the Notifications squad. Operations Impact: The work directly impacts user retention, engagement, and overall platform growth by ensuring users receive timely, relevant, and trusted communications. This role has a significant influence on how users perceive and interact with Discord when they are not actively using the application, which is critical for sustained user activity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in growth design, notification systems, and the unique challenges of designing for large-scale consumer platforms.
• Leadership Potential: Develop skills in influencing product strategy, mentoring junior designers, and potentially leading design efforts on larger initiatives within the Growth organization.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gain extensive experience working with data science, research, and engineering to drive complex product outcomes.
• Platform Impact: Contribute to a product used by millions, gaining visibility and experience in designing for a global audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "influencing scope and strategy" and "owning end-to-end initiatives" points towards a growth trajectory that moves towards greater strategic impact and potentially leadership within the design organization, especially within a specialized area like Growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "On-site," indicating a preference for in-person collaboration within Discord's San Francisco Bay Area office. This suggests a vibrant, collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation. Office Location(s): San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States. This location is a major tech hub, offering access to talent, networking opportunities, and a dynamic industry ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect an environment that encourages open communication, brainstorming, and cross-functional teamwork, vital for a fast-paced growth team.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools, likely including advanced Figma capabilities, prototyping software, and internal analytics platforms.
• Team Interaction: Daily interaction with product managers, engineers, researchers, and fellow designers, fostering a culture of shared learning and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, likely with flexibility around start and end times, but with the expectation of presence in the office for core collaboration hours. The "high-velocity" nature of the team may require adaptability to project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is key. For a Product Designer, this implies a hands-on environment where spontaneous collaboration, whiteboarding sessions, and in-person feedback are integral to the design process. This contrasts with fully remote roles and suggests a company culture that values in-person synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application and portfolio, assessing your fit with the role and Discord's culture.
• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: Expect a session where you present your portfolio, discussing your process, decision-making, and impact on past projects. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual design exercise focused on a notification-related problem.
• Hiring Manager & Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager, Product Manager, Engineering Lead, and potentially other designers, focusing on your design skills, problem-solving approach, collaboration abilities, and understanding of growth principles.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with individuals from Research, Data Science, or other teams you would collaborate with, assessing your ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Discord's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Growth Impact: For this role, specifically showcase projects where your design decisions measurably influenced user engagement, retention, or other key growth metrics. Quantify your impact with data whenever possible.
• Showcase Notification Systems: Include any experience designing notification systems, managing delivery logic, or optimizing user settings related to communication.
• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Clearly explain how you approached designing interconnected elements and considered the broader system rather than just individual screens.
• Detail Your Process: Walk through your problem-solving methodology, from understanding the user and business needs to iterating based on feedback and data.
• Craft & Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, easy to navigate, and tells a compelling story about your design journey and outcomes. Use high-fidelity prototypes where appropriate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Notification Best Practices: Research current trends and best practices in notification design, including personalization, trust, and user control.
• Think about Discord's Context: Consider Discord's unique user base (gamers, communities) and how notification strategies might differ from other platforms.
• Focus on Data & Metrics: Be prepared to discuss how you would measure the success of notification designs and utilize data for iteration.
• Systems Thinking: Practice designing solutions that consider multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, web) and various user states.
• Communicate Clearly: Prepare to articulate your thought process, design rationale, and potential trade-offs concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, emphasizing not just design craft but also strategic thinking, data literacy, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative growth environment. A strong portfolio that directly addresses the nuances of notification design and growth objectives will be paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for all design and prototyping work, requiring advanced proficiency.
• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Protopie, Framer, or Principle for creating interactive prototypes to test and communicate complex interactions.
• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to established design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across the platform.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: While not a primary design tool, understanding how to interpret data from platforms like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or internal analytics dashboards is crucial for informing design decisions.
• A/B Testing Frameworks: Familiarity with how to design for and interpret results from experimentation frameworks to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• (Less directly applicable for a Product Designer, but awareness of how notification systems integrate with user data and communication workflows is beneficial.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and associated prototyping tools is non-negotiable. The ability to leverage data and understand experimentation frameworks is increasingly important for designers in growth roles, as it bridges the gap between design and measurable business outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity & Trust: A core value is maintaining the user experience that makes Discord unique, ensuring notifications are helpful, not intrusive, and build trust.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions are informed by data and research, encouraging a culture of hypothesis testing and measurable impact.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, sharing work early and often, and fostering strong relationships across teams are essential.
• Bias for Action & Velocity: The team operates at a high pace, encouraging proactive problem-solving and efficient execution without sacrificing quality.
• Craft & Delight: A commitment to high-quality design, creating experiences that are not only functional but also delightful for users.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Data Science is fundamental to the team's workflow.
• Iterative Design: A culture of continuous feedback and iterative improvement, where designs are shared frequently and refined based on input.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and broader design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Discord's culture likely emphasizes a blend of the innovative, fast-paced spirit of a tech startup with the user-centricity and collaborative strengths of a mature product company. For a designer on the Growth team, understanding how to balance growth objectives with user trust and experience will be key to cultural alignment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Growth and User Experience: The primary challenge is designing notification strategies that drive engagement and retention without overwhelming or alienating users, preserving Discord's unique appeal.
• System Complexity: Designing a cohesive notification experience across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Desktop, Web) and diverse user contexts requires sophisticated systems thinking.
• High Velocity Environment: Working in a fast-paced team means adapting quickly to changing priorities, iterating rapidly, and making decisions with potentially incomplete information.
• Evolving User Behavior: Understanding and adapting to how users interact with notifications and the platform over time, especially as Discord expands beyond its gaming roots.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Growth Design: Develop deep expertise in growth loops, user engagement strategies, and the psychology behind effective communication design.
• Notification System Architecture: Gain a nuanced understanding of the technical and strategic aspects of notification delivery and orchestration.
• Data Science & Experimentation: Enhance skills in interpreting complex data, designing experiments, and leveraging A/B testing for product optimization.
• Platform Impact: Contribute to a product with a massive global audience, gaining experience in designing for diverse user segments and cultural contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities to tackle complex design challenges at scale, with a direct impact on user growth and engagement. The learning curve involves mastering the nuances of notification systems and growth strategies within the unique Discord ecosystem.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new notification type for Discord, considering our user base and the need to balance engagement with user trust?" (Focus on process, user research, system integration, and potential metrics.)
• "Describe a time you had to balance aggressive growth targets with maintaining a positive user experience. What was your design approach and what were the outcomes?" (Highlight your ability to advocate for the user while achieving business goals.)
• "Imagine we're seeing a drop in notification engagement. How would you, as a designer, approach diagnosing the problem and proposing solutions?" (Emphasize data analysis, user research, and systematic problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Discord's mission and the gaming/community space?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of Discord's core value proposition.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, especially in a fast-paced environment?" (Demonstrate strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability.)
• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible across a diverse user base?" (Show awareness of and commitment to inclusive design principles.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative, walking interviewers through the problem, your process, your decisions, and the impact of your work.
• Quantify Impact: For each relevant project, clearly state the goals, your role, the challenges, the solutions, and the quantifiable results (e.g., increase in engagement, reduction in uninstalls, improvement in conversion rates).
• Focus on Notification/Growth Projects: Prioritize showcasing projects that align with the core responsibilities of this role, especially those involving notifications, engagement, or user lifecycle.
• Showcase Systems Thinking: Highlight how you considered the interconnectedness of features, platforms, and user flows.
• Be Prepared for Design Challenges: Practice thinking aloud and articulating your design rationale for hypothetical scenarios related to notifications and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who can not only execute visually but also think strategically, leverage data, collaborate effectively, and understand the specific challenges and opportunities of designing for growth and user engagement within a platform like Discord.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through Discord's careers portal via the Greenhouse link provided.
• Tailor your resume and portfolio: Emphasize your experience in consumer-facing digital products, visual and interaction design, Figma proficiency, and any work related to notifications, growth, or engagement. Quantify your achievements with data.
• Prepare your portfolio for review: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and impact, with a strong preference for projects related to notifications or growth initiatives.
• Research Discord: Familiarize yourself with Discord's platform, its user base, and its mission. Understand the role of notifications in user engagement and retention for community-focused platforms.
• Practice your presentation skills: Be ready to articulate your design rationale, process, and project outcomes clearly and concisely, focusing on how your work drives user value and business goals.

⚠️ 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.