Product Designer / Product Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer / Product Manager

Company: Palazzo, Inc.

Location: United States (Fully Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management & Design Operations

Date Posted: September 16, 2025

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote (Work from anywhere in the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• This hybrid role requires a skilled individual to own the end-to-end product design process, encompassing user research, UX strategy, UI design, and prototyping, with a strong emphasis on creating intuitive experiences for complex AI-driven e-commerce products.

• The position also integrates Product Management responsibilities, including shaping the product roadmap, grooming the backlog, writing user stories, and prioritizing features to drive product strategy and execution.

• A key aspect of this role involves direct user engagement and feedback translation, ensuring user needs are central to product development and iteration cycles.

• Candidates will be expected to leverage their understanding of AI, LLMs, and Generative AI to explore and implement innovative product features and user experiences within the e-commerce domain.

• The role demands a proactive, self-driven individual capable of managing ambiguity, driving initiatives independently, and contributing to a fast-paced, scrappy startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title mentions both Product Designer and Product Manager, the description clearly indicates a blended role where design ownership is primary, augmented by significant product management duties. This is common in early-stage startups where individuals need to be versatile. The emphasis on "owning big pieces of the product" suggests a high degree of autonomy and impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, from initial user research and concept development through to detailed wireframing, high-fidelity UI design, and interactive prototyping for complex AI-driven e-commerce solutions.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and ongoing support throughout the development process to maintain design integrity and user experience quality.

• Actively participate in product management functions, including defining and refining the product roadmap, managing and prioritizing the product backlog, writing clear and actionable user stories, and defining feature requirements.

• Conduct direct user interviews, usability testing, and feedback sessions to gather critical insights, translating qualitative and quantitative user data into actionable product improvements and new feature concepts.

• Explore and integrate cutting-edge AI, LLM, and Generative AI technologies to unlock novel product experiences and enhance existing functionalities within the e-commerce platform.

• Drive clarity and structure in ambiguous environments, identifying key user pain points and business opportunities to inform product strategy and development priorities.

• Contribute to the overall product vision and strategy, balancing user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility to deliver impactful product outcomes.

• Meticulously manage the details of the product, ensuring a high standard of quality, consistency, and usability across all user touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant need for both creative design execution and strategic product thinking. The expectation to "roll up your sleeves as a Product Manager" implies a hands-on approach to backlog management and feature definition, which is crucial for driving agile development in a startup.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Proven track record of shipping real-world products, with a preference for experience gained in startup environments or fast-paced tech companies.

• Demonstrated experience in both product design (UX/UI, research, prototyping) and product management (roadmap, backlog, user stories, prioritization).

• Experience within the e-commerce or marketplace product space is considered a significant advantage, providing context for user behaviors and business models.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Proficiency in user research methodologies, information architecture, user flow mapping, wireframing, UI design principles, and interactive prototyping tools.

• Product Management Acumen: Ability to define product vision, develop roadmaps, manage backlogs, write user stories, prioritize features, and understand agile development processes.

• User-Centricity: Strong ability to conduct user research, synthesize feedback, and translate user needs into effective product solutions.

• Communication Proficiency: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders, including engineers, leadership, and users.

• Problem-Solving & Ambiguity Management: Proven ability to navigate and bring structure to ambiguous situations, identify core problems, and develop effective solutions.

• AI/LLM Curiosity: A keen interest and foundational understanding of AI, LLMs, and Generative AI, coupled with a desire to explore their application in product innovation.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to inform design and product decisions.

• Familiarity with specific e-commerce platforms or related technologies.

• Experience working in remote-first or distributed team environments.

• Basic understanding of front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level suggests that candidates should have moved beyond entry-level tasks and demonstrated ownership of significant product features or design initiatives. The blend of skills required means candidates with a strong design foundation who have naturally gravitated towards product management, or vice versa, will be well-suited.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, including research artifacts, user flows, wireframes, UI designs, and interactive prototypes.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, design process, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the resulting impact (e.g., user adoption, conversion rates, efficiency gains).

• Examples demonstrating your ability to think like a Product Manager, such as product strategy documents, prioritized roadmaps, user story examples, or backlog management artifacts.

• Evidence of integrating AI/LLM concepts or exploring innovative technologies within product development.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrations of your approach to user research, including methodologies used and how insights were translated into design decisions.

• Examples of how you've managed product backlogs, prioritized features, and documented user stories effectively.

• Portfolios should ideally showcase your ability to document design decisions and product requirements clearly for engineering implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the hybrid nature of the role, the portfolio must present a balanced view of design craft and product strategy execution. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not only the "what" and "how" of their design work but also the "why" from a product and business perspective.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Fully Remote Flexibility: Work from anywhere within the United States, offering significant autonomy and work-life integration.

• Ownership & Impact: Opportunity to own substantial parts of the product, leading to significant professional growth and direct contribution to company success.

• Frontier Technology: Work on cutting-edge AI and e-commerce technologies, positioning you at the forefront of industry innovation.

• Growth Potential: Ample opportunities for career advancement and skill development as the company scales.

• Startup Culture: Be part of a small, agile, and ambitious team where individual contributions are highly valued and impactful.

Working Hours:

• Palazzo, Inc. likely operates on a standard 40-hour work week, but given the startup environment and remote flexibility, there may be an expectation of adaptability and occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines or address urgent user needs. Core working hours may be established to ensure team collaboration across different time zones within the US.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on market data for similar roles in the US tech sector, adjusted for the specific experience level and the unique demands of a hybrid design/PM role in a startup. Benefits are inferred from common startup offerings and the explicit "Perks" mentioned.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, AI Technology, Startups

Company Size: Small (likely under 50 employees, given "small, scrappy, and ambitious" description)

Founded: Not specified, but described as a "fast-moving startup."

Team Structure:

• The team is small and cross-functional, with individuals expected to wear multiple hats and collaborate closely. The Product Designer/Product Manager will likely report to a founder or Head of Product/Technology.

• Collaboration is expected to be direct and frequent with engineering and potentially other early team members.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: User feedback and product metrics are crucial for informing roadmap and design decisions.

• Agile Development: The "fast-moving" nature suggests an agile or iterative development process.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on understanding and serving user needs through direct interaction and feedback.

• AI Integration: A strategic approach to exploring and implementing AI/LLM capabilities to create unique product value.

Company Website: https://jobs.workable.com/company/wSWFb5btXjC5Sy5BsNXBGc/jobs-at-palazzo%2C-inc. (Note: This is a Workable careers page link, not the direct company website, but indicates the company uses Workable for hiring.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is clearly defined as lean, ambitious, and hands-on. For operations professionals, this means a highly visible role with direct impact, but also a need for adaptability and a willingness to operate with less established processes than in larger organizations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level opportunity (2-5 years experience) that offers significant scope for growth into more senior or specialized Product Management or Design leadership roles as the company scales. It's a foundational role for someone looking to deeply influence product direction in a high-growth environment.

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Manager, Head of Product, or lead product design efforts as the company expands.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI/LLM product development or specific areas of e-commerce UX/UI.

• Technical Acumen: Enhance understanding of AI technologies and their application in creating scalable product solutions.

• Startup Scaling Experience: Gain invaluable experience in building and scaling a tech product from an early stage, which is highly marketable.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop strong collaborative skills across engineering, marketing, and business development functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory is tied directly to the company's success and expansion. Candidates who thrive in dynamic environments and can adapt to evolving needs will find significant opportunities for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote

Office Location(s): Not applicable, as the role is fully remote and location-independent within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration Tools: Expect heavy reliance on collaboration and project management tools (e.g., Slack, Figma, Jira, Notion, Google Workspace) to facilitate communication and workflow management across a distributed team.

• Autonomy & Proactivity: The remote environment requires a high degree of self-discipline, proactive communication, and the ability to manage one's own time and tasks effectively.

• Team Interaction: While remote, the "small, scrappy" nature suggests frequent, informal communication and opportunities for virtual team bonding or working sessions.

Work Schedule:

• While the core expectation is a 40-hour work week, flexibility is a key perk. However, candidates should be prepared for the demands of a startup, which may occasionally require adjusting schedules to meet critical deadlines or collaborate with team members in different time zones across the US.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature necessitates strong self-management skills. Candidates should be comfortable working autonomously and leveraging digital tools to maintain productivity and team connection.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter or founder to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, product thinking, and contributions. Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your decisions.

• Product/Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or a live collaborative challenge focused on a specific product problem relevant to Palazzo's e-commerce and AI focus.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interviews: Discussions focused on past experiences, problem-solving approaches, collaboration style, and how you handle ambiguity and fast-paced environments.

• Final Round: Potentially with founders or key leadership to discuss vision, strategy, and long-term fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 strong projects that best represent your skills in both design and product management, especially those showcasing AI or e-commerce experience.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the challenges, and the measured outcomes. Emphasize the "product thinking" behind your design choices.

• Highlight PM Skills: Explicitly point out elements in your portfolio that demonstrate roadmap involvement, backlog grooming, user story creation, or prioritization decisions.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making rationale.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research e-commerce trends, AI applications in retail, and common user pain points in online shopping.

• Focus on Process: If given a challenge, focus on demonstrating a structured approach, clear communication, and a user-centered mindset, even if you can't fully complete every aspect within the allotted time.

• Think Strategically: Frame your solutions not just as design outputs but as contributions to product goals and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your ability to demonstrate both design craft and strategic product thinking. Your portfolio is your primary tool to showcase this duality.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, ProtoPie, Framer (or similar modern design and prototyping tools).

• Product Management & Roadmapping: Jira, Asana, Trello, Productboard, Aha! (or similar tools for backlog management and roadmap visualization).

• User Research & Feedback: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Hotjar (or similar tools for user feedback collection and analysis).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel (for understanding user behavior and product performance).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker, Power BI (or internal dashboards for reporting and analysis).

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation tools might be beneficial for understanding the broader customer journey in e-commerce.

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is almost certainly a prerequisite. Experience with product management platforms and user analytics tools will significantly strengthen a candidate's profile.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for product areas and driving them to completion.

• Agility & Speed: Moving quickly, iterating, and adapting to market changes and user feedback.

• User-Centricity: Placing user needs and experiences at the forefront of all product decisions.

• Innovation: Actively exploring and implementing new technologies, especially AI, to create competitive advantages.

• Collaboration: Working closely and effectively with engineering and other team members in a distributed environment.

• Clarity & Simplicity: Distilling complex problems into simple, elegant solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative and communicative, leveraging digital tools to maintain transparency and alignment across the team.

• Expect a culture that encourages direct feedback, open discussion, and a shared commitment to product success.

• The small team size fosters a close-knit environment where mutual support and shared problem-solving are key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate a proactive, collaborative, and results-oriented approach, aligning with the "small, scrappy, and ambitious" ethos.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Ambiguity: Navigating the inherent uncertainties of a startup environment and bringing structure to undefined product areas.

• Balancing Design & PM: Effectively juggling the demands and skill sets required for both product design and product management responsibilities.

• Rapid Iteration: Keeping pace with fast-moving product development cycles and evolving market demands.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication, alignment, and team cohesion in a fully remote setting.

• AI Integration Complexity: Successfully identifying and implementing impactful AI features that provide real user value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/LLMs: Gain hands-on experience applying cutting-edge AI technologies to real-world product challenges.

• End-to-End Product Ownership: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the entire product lifecycle from ideation to launch and iteration.

• Startup Growth Dynamics: Learn firsthand how to build and scale a tech product and company.

• Mentorship: Potential for guidance from founders or experienced team members, depending on the existing team structure.

• Skill Expansion: Broaden skill sets by directly engaging in both design and product management activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but offer substantial opportunities for professional development and skill acquisition, making this role attractive for ambitious individuals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to bring structure to an ambiguous product problem. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving methodology and ability to define clarity.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when prioritizing features for a product roadmap?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and prioritization framework.)

• "Walk us through a complex product you designed. What were the key UX challenges, and how did you address them? What was your product management approach for this feature?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio.)

• "How do you incorporate user feedback into your design and product development process? Can you provide an example?" (Emphasize your user-centric approach and feedback loop.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working at a fast-moving startup like Palazzo, Inc.?" (Show genuine interest in the company's mission and environment.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with engineering teams, and what makes for a successful partnership?" (Highlight your cross-functional collaboration skills.)

• "Describe your ideal remote work environment and how you ensure productivity and connection with your team." (Address self-management and communication in a remote setting.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly state the problem you were solving and the business/user goals.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (flows, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design process and solutions.

• Articulate Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially in a hybrid role; differentiate between design and PM tasks.

• Quantify Results: Use data to demonstrate the impact of your work.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Practice articulating your thought process and demonstrating how your design decisions directly contribute to product and business goals. Be ready to discuss both your design craft and your product strategy acumen.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer / Product Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating both end-to-end product design expertise and product management capabilities, ideally within e-commerce or with AI components.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight key skills mentioned (Product Design, Product Management, AI/LLM, user research, roadmap, backlog management) and quantify your achievements with specific metrics.

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your problem-solving process, decision-making rationale, and quantifiable results. Prepare answers for behavioral questions related to startup environments and remote work.

• Company Research: Gain a deeper understanding of Palazzo, Inc.'s mission, the e-commerce landscape, and the potential applications of AI in this space to demonstrate your genuine interest and strategic thinking during interviews.

⚠️ 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.