Senior Product Designer, AI Builders

Cresta
Full-time$150k-205k/year (USD)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, AI Builders

Company: Cresta

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / AI / B2B SaaS

Date Posted: April 01, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

  • Design intuitive and self-serve builder experiences for AI-powered tools, catering to both technical (developers) and non-technical (business operators) users within contact center environments.

  • Drive the end-to-end design of tools that enable customers to build, evaluate, and deploy AI agents and workflows, focusing on the interplay between agentic and deterministic AI.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Machine Learning Engineers, and Customer Success to define problem spaces, establish north-star experiences, and plan iterative milestones.

  • Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, workflow walkthroughs, usability tests, and competitive analyses, to deeply understand user needs and identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for Cresta's "AI Builders" initiative, aiming to democratize AI deployment within contact centers. The Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in translating complex AI capabilities into accessible and scalable user experiences, directly impacting customer adoption and operational efficiency. This position requires a strong understanding of both user-centered design principles and the technical nuances of AI and workflow automation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Translate complex AI concepts and business logic into user-friendly, self-serve builder interfaces suitable for diverse user personas, including developers and business operators.

  • Partner with engineering and design counterparts to rapidly prototype, iterate, and refine builder concepts into polished, production-ready user experiences.

  • Collaborate with Product Managers and Technical Leads to meticulously define problem spaces, articulate overarching user experience goals, and establish measurable, iterative development milestones.

  • Lead and execute user discovery and evaluative research initiatives, such as in-depth user interviews, detailed workflow mapping sessions, rigorous usability testing, and comprehensive competitive landscape analysis.

  • Foster strong cross-functional relationships and communication channels with Product Management, Machine Learning Engineers (MLEs), Field Data Engineers/Product Managers (FDE/FDPMs), Customer Success Managers (CSMs), and Marketing teams.

  • Champion design quality and craft across the team, actively raising the standard for design excellence and cultivating a shared vision for exceptional user experiences.

  • Exercise sound product judgment to balance the pursuit of perfection with the imperative to ship effective solutions, understanding that "perfect is the enemy of good."

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic product thinking, hands-on design execution, and deep user advocacy. The expectation to "pair vibe coding/design" suggests a highly collaborative and iterative approach, leveraging AI-native tools alongside traditional design software. The focus on shipping "effective solutions" highlights a pragmatic approach to product development within a fast-paced AI environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience of 5+ years.

Experience: 5+ years of industry experience, with a significant focus on designing AI-driven workflows, no-code/low-code platforms, agentic builder tools, or intricate B2B enterprise applications.

Required Skills:

  • Product Design Expertise: Proven ability to design intuitive and scalable user experiences for complex B2B SaaS products.

  • AI Workflow Design: Experience designing interfaces for AI-powered systems, including understanding agentic and deterministic workflows.

  • No-Code/Low-Code Builder Design: Demonstrated skill in creating user-friendly platforms that empower non-technical users to build and configure solutions.

  • User Research Proficiency: Expertise in conducting user interviews, workflow analysis, usability testing, and competitive analysis to gather actionable insights.

  • Interaction Design: Strong capabilities in defining user flows, information architecture, and interaction patterns for complex applications.

  • Prototyping Skills: Ability to create interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, InVision, or similar, to test and communicate design concepts.

  • Visual Design Acumen: A keen eye for visual aesthetics, layout, typography, and branding to create polished and professional interfaces.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders in an agile environment.

  • AI-Native Working Style: Comfort and proficiency in leveraging AI-assisted design tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, MCP) to enhance design velocity and depth, going beyond traditional design software limitations.

Preferred Skills:

  • Enterprise B2B Application Design: Deep understanding of the challenges and best practices in designing for enterprise-level business applications.

  • Contact Center Operations Knowledge: Familiarity with contact center workflows, agent tools, and operational challenges.

  • Experience with LLM Capabilities: Understanding of Large Language Model functionalities and their application in user-facing products.

  • Agile Development Methodologies: Experience working within agile or scrum frameworks.

  • Design Systems: Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems for consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "AI-native working style" is a significant differentiator, indicating Cresta's forward-thinking approach to design tooling and processes. Candidates are expected to be comfortable integrating AI assistants into their design workflow to accelerate ideation and execution. The portfolio requirement highlights a need for demonstrating end-to-end flow design over isolated screens, indicative of a focus on holistic user journeys.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase simple, elegant, and effective design solutions that address complex problems, with a strong emphasis on demonstrating complete end-to-end user flows and journeys rather than isolated screens.

  • Include case studies that illustrate your thought process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your design decisions on user experience and business objectives.

  • Highlight experience in designing for AI-driven workflows, no-code/low-code platforms, agentic builders, or complex B2B enterprise applications.

Process Documentation:

  • Provide examples of how you have documented user research findings, design decisions, and iterative design processes.

  • Illustrate your approach to defining problem spaces, articulating north-star experiences, and setting iterative milestones in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

  • Showcase your methods for conducting and synthesizing user research (interviews, usability tests, workflow walkthroughs, competitive analysis) to inform design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to highlight the unique demands of designing AI builder tools. Candidates should focus on showcasing their ability to simplify complexity and demonstrate a deep understanding of user workflows, particularly within a B2B context involving AI. The emphasis on end-to-end flows signals a need for candidates who can think holistically about the user journey and the system's overall architecture.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000–$205,000 annually (plus equity).

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support individuals and families.

  • Work-Life Balance: Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) to allow employees to take time when needed, and paid parental leave for new parents.

  • Financial Future: Retirement savings plan to assist with long-term financial planning.

  • Remote Work Support: A dedicated budget for setting up a productive and comfortable home office environment.

  • Personal Well-being: Monthly stipends for wellness and communication to promote balance and connectivity.

  • On-site Perks (for local employees): In-office meal programs and commuter benefits are provided for those working from Cresta offices.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are assumed, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected given the remote nature and the collaborative demands of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in the US, particularly for a remote position at a well-funded AI company. The inclusion of equity signifies potential for significant long-term financial gain. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable emphasis on remote work support and employee well-being, aligning with modern tech company offerings. Salary estimations are based on the provided range and general market data for senior-level design roles in the US tech sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Contact Center Technology.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify Cresta's exact employee count, but typical Series B/C funded AI startups like Cresta often range from 100-500 employees.

Founded: Cresta was founded based on research from Stanford AI Lab, with key leadership from individuals associated with Google X, Waymo, Udacity, Google Contact Center AI, and Vertex AI. This indicates a strong foundation in cutting-edge AI research and commercialization.

Team Structure:

  • The AI Builders team likely consists of Product Managers, Product Designers, Machine Learning Engineers (MLEs), Field Data Engineers/Product Managers (FDE/FDPMs), and potentially software engineers focused on the builder platform.

  • The Senior Product Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, working closely with a designated Product Manager and Tech Lead for the AI Builders initiative.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and AI-native tools to inform and validate design decisions.

  • Agile & Iterative Development: Employing agile methodologies for rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration to deliver value quickly and adapt to user feedback.

  • AI Integration: A proactive approach to integrating AI tools into the design process itself, aiming to enhance efficiency, explore deeper design solutions, and push beyond traditional tooling limitations.

Company Website: https://www.cresta.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: Cresta appears to cultivate a culture that blends academic rigor (Stanford AI Lab roots) with entrepreneurial drive and a focus on practical AI application. The leadership team's backgrounds suggest a deep technical expertise and a vision for scaling AI solutions in enterprise environments. The "AI Builders" team is positioned at the forefront of this mission, requiring a collaborative and innovative mindset.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of experience where individuals are expected to take significant ownership, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy. The focus on "AI Builders" suggests this role is pivotal in a strategic growth area for Cresta.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. Within the AI Builders team, they would work closely with a Product Manager and Engineering Lead, forming a core product trio.

Operations Impact: The design of AI Builders directly impacts Cresta's ability to empower its customers to leverage AI effectively. Successful design will lead to increased customer adoption, higher satisfaction, greater operational efficiency for clients, and ultimately, revenue growth for Cresta. The designer's work is foundational to the product's success in the market.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, mentoring a team of designers and owning broader product design strategy.

  • Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI product design, no-code/low-code platforms, or specific aspects of contact center technology and AI workflows.

  • Cross-functional Advancement: Opportunities to move into related product management or strategy roles, leveraging deep product and user understanding.

  • Impactful Projects: Lead design for critical, high-visibility product initiatives that have a direct impact on Cresta's market position and customer success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title combined with a focus on a strategic product area like "AI Builders" suggests significant growth potential. Cresta's emphasis on AI leadership implies opportunities for designers to become experts in a rapidly evolving field, which is highly valuable in the current tech landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Cresta offers a fully remote work environment for this position within the United States. While they have onsite employees and offer related benefits, this specific role is designated as remote.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, Cresta may have physical office locations. The description doesn't specify these, but typically companies of this nature might have hubs in tech-centric areas. However, for this role, the primary workspace will be remote.

Workspace Context:

  • Remote Collaboration Tools: Expect heavy reliance on digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, Notion, Jira) to maintain connection and productivity with distributed teams.

  • AI-Enhanced Design Environment: The role explicitly encourages the use of AI-native tools, suggesting an environment that embraces cutting-edge technology to augment creative workflows.

  • Distributed Team Dynamics: Emphasis on asynchronous communication, clear documentation, and proactive engagement to ensure seamless teamwork across different time zones and locations.

Work Schedule: While generally aligned with standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), the remote nature and collaborative requirements suggest a degree of flexibility. However, availability for key meetings, design reviews, and collaborative sessions with US-based teams will be essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role necessitates strong self-discipline, excellent communication skills, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools. The company's investment in remote work setup and wellness stipends indicates a commitment to supporting its distributed workforce effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

  • Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: Candidates will present their portfolio, focusing on end-to-end design flows and complex problem-solving. A design exercise or take-home challenge may be assigned to evaluate practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and approach to AI-related design problems.

  • Team Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and fellow Designers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and design thinking.

  • Executive/Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, CEO) to gauge strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Cresta's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight AI Builder Experience: Specifically showcase projects involving AI-driven workflows, no-code/low-code builders, or complex B2B enterprise applications. If direct experience is limited, demonstrate transferable skills through analogous projects.

  • Focus on End-to-End Flows: Structure your presentation around complete user journeys, detailing the problem, your process, design decisions, trade-offs considered, and the resulting impact. Avoid presenting isolated screens.

  • Demonstrate AI-Native Tool Usage: If possible, describe how you've leveraged AI tools (like Cursor, Claude Code) to enhance your design process, prototype faster, or explore more complex solutions. Be ready to discuss the benefits and limitations.

  • Showcase Problem-Solving: Clearly articulate the complex problems you tackled, your analytical approach, and how your design solutions directly addressed user needs and business objectives. Quantify impact where possible.

  • Craft a Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project, emphasizing your role, the challenges faced, the creative solutions you devised, and the outcomes achieved.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand Cresta's Product: Research Cresta's platform, focusing on their AI capabilities and how "AI Builders" fit into their overall strategy.

  • Prepare for AI Design Scenarios: Anticipate design challenges related to simplifying complex AI logic, managing user expectations with AI, or designing for both technical and non-technical users interacting with AI.

  • Practice Explaining Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss design decisions, including why certain features were prioritized, what trade-offs were made (e.g., speed vs. perfection, agentic vs. deterministic AI), and how you arrived at those decisions.

  • Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your design methodology, from discovery and research to iteration and final delivery, emphasizing collaboration and user feedback integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration capabilities, and adaptability to an AI-centric environment. The portfolio review is paramount, requiring candidates to present a curated set of projects that directly align with the role's specific demands.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary), potentially others like Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

  • AI-Assisted Design Tools: Cursor, Claude Code, MCP, or similar AI coding/design assistants for rapid prototyping and exploration.

  • User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

  • Collaboration & Documentation: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Notion, Jira, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo to track user behavior, feature adoption, and identify areas for improvement.

  • Data Visualization: Potentially Tableau or similar tools used by the broader team for understanding product performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM: Likely Salesforce or similar, used by Sales and Customer Success teams, with designers needing to understand how their work impacts CRM data and workflows.

  • Workflow Automation: Understanding concepts related to workflow automation relevant to AI Builders, even if not directly using automation tools daily.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-native working style" and tools like Cursor and Claude Code is a key differentiator. Candidates are expected to be comfortable integrating these advanced tools into their workflow, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to design and development. Proficiency in standard design tools like Figma is, of course, a baseline expectation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving customer problems, particularly within the contact center domain, using AI as a powerful enabler.

  • Innovation & AI Leadership: A drive to push the boundaries of AI technology and its practical applications, fostering an environment where experimentation and cutting-edge solutions are encouraged.

  • Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, shared ownership, and a willingness to work closely across teams (Product, Engineering, CS) to achieve common goals.

  • Impact & Execution: A focus on delivering tangible results and driving business impact through thoughtful design and efficient execution, understanding the balance between perfection and shipping.

  • Continuous Learning: Embracing a growth mindset, staying curious about new technologies (especially in AI), and adapting quickly to evolving user needs and market trends.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Partnership: A highly integrated approach where designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers from ideation through launch and iteration.

  • Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging constructive feedback loops among designers and with other departments to elevate craft and identify potential issues early.

  • Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing insights, best practices, and learnings, potentially through design critiques, internal documentation, or informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Cresta's culture appears to be deeply rooted in AI innovation, customer impact, and collaborative execution. The emphasis on "AI Builders" suggests a team that is passionate about empowering users with advanced technology. Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with these values, particularly in their approach to problem-solving and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Simplifying AI Complexity: The primary challenge will be translating the intricate capabilities of LLMs and AI agents into intuitive, self-serve builder experiences for users with varying technical expertise.

  • Balancing Agentic vs. Deterministic AI: Designing workflows that effectively integrate the predictive power of agentic AI with the controlled predictability of deterministic logic requires careful consideration of user control and system reliability.

  • Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of the fast-paced advancements in AI technology and integrating new capabilities seamlessly into the builder platform will be an ongoing challenge.

  • Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across Product, Engineering, and other departments, especially in a fast-growing, remote environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep AI Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs), agentic AI, and workflow automation, becoming a specialist in AI product design.

  • Cutting-Edge Tooling: Master and contribute to the adoption of AI-native design and development tools, staying at the forefront of design technology.

  • Strategic Product Influence: Influence the direction of a key strategic product area ("AI Builders") with significant potential for company growth and market impact.

  • Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and potentially grow into leadership roles within a rapidly scaling organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working at the cutting edge of AI product development. Cresta offers a unique environment to tackle these challenges, providing significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development in a high-demand field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you designed a complex workflow or builder experience. What were the key challenges, how did you approach them, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on end-to-end flows, problem-solving, and impact).

  • "How would you approach designing a feature that allows users to define and manage AI agent behavior, considering both technical and non-technical users?" (Assess understanding of AI concepts, user segmentation, and intuitive design).

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Based on your research, what do you see as Cresta's biggest opportunity in the AI and contact center space, and how does the AI Builders product fit into that?" (Gauge understanding of Cresta's market position and product strategy).

  • "How do you incorporate feedback from engineering and product management into your design process, especially when there are differing opinions?" (Assess collaboration style and ability to navigate constructive conflict).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Start with the 'Why': For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement and business objective before diving into your design solution.

  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flow diagrams) to illustrate your design process and final solutions.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased task completion rates, reduced error rates, improved user satisfaction scores).

  • Discuss Trade-offs: Be prepared to explain the design decisions you made, the constraints you worked under, and the trade-offs you consciously accepted (e.g., scope vs. time, complexity vs. simplicity).

  • Tailor to AI Builders: Frame your experience and examples in a way that directly relates to the challenges of designing AI builder tools, no-code/low-code platforms, and complex B2B applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design principles applied to complex AI systems, strong collaborative skills, and a proactive, AI-native approach to design. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring a clear narrative of problem-solving and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer, AI Builders position:

  • Submit Your Application: Navigate to the provided application link on Greenhouse.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that showcase your experience in designing complex B2B applications, AI-driven workflows, or no-code/low-code builders. Ensure these projects highlight your end-to-end design process and demonstrate quantifiable impact.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to the job description, such as "AI-driven workflows," "no-code/low-code," "B2B SaaS," "user research," "interaction design," and any experience with AI-native design tools. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

  • Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work, specifically in the context of Cresta's mission and the AI Builders initiative. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and collaboration.

  • Research Cresta: Thoroughly understand Cresta's product, mission, leadership, and the competitive landscape of AI in the contact center industry. This will enable you to ask insightful questions and demonstrate genuine interest 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have a background in Design, HCI, or equivalent experience, with a focus on AI-driven workflows and B2B applications. A strong portfolio showcasing design solutions and a blend of UX disciplines is essential.