Senior Product Designer - Amsterdam, Netherlands

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Speechify

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)

Date Posted: February 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for innovative text-to-speech features, from initial concept through to implementation and iteration.

• Elevate the user experience and interface design across Speechify's core platforms, including iOS, Android, and web applications.

• Contribute significantly to the product strategy and roadmap by leveraging user insights, market trends, and data analytics.

• Play a pivotal role in shaping the design organization's processes, standards, and collaborative methodologies.

• Focus on designing intuitive and impactful user flows, particularly for onboarding and core feature engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior Product Designer at Speechify, a company focused on making reading accessible through text-to-speech technology. The description emphasizes end-to-end product design responsibilities, cross-platform experience (iOS, Android, Web), and a significant influence on product strategy. The "remote" aspect is critical, as Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices, necessitating strong asynchronous collaboration skills. The target candidate should demonstrate a blend of strategic thinking, user advocacy, and strong design craft.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, prototype, test, build, ship, and iterate on new product features based on user needs and business objectives.

• Refine and enhance existing UX/UI patterns across Speechify's native mobile applications (iOS and Android) to ensure a cohesive and intuitive user experience.

• Reimagine and optimize user onboarding flows to improve user acquisition, activation, and retention rates.

• Conduct user research, including interviews and usability testing, to gather insights that inform design decisions and product strategy.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to define product requirements, explore design solutions, and ensure successful feature implementation.

• Champion user-centric design principles throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for the user's needs and experience.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of design systems, style guides, and best practices to ensure consistency and quality across all products.

• Analyze product usage data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for new feature development.

• Influence the product roadmap by presenting compelling design concepts and strategic recommendations backed by research and data.

• Actively participate in shaping the design organization's processes, workflows, and team culture within a distributed environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a full-cycle product design role that spans ideation to iteration. The emphasis on "refining our UX/UI patterns" and "rethinking our onboarding and core user flows" suggests a need for both tactical execution and strategic product improvement. The requirement to "influence the product roadmap" and "refine our process and help shape the design org" indicates a senior-level expectation for strategic contribution and team development, particularly within a remote-first context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Proven track record of successfully delivering consumer-facing digital products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web), with a portfolio showcasing research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery phases.

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking & Strategy: Ability to understand business objectives, market dynamics, and user needs to articulate product strategy and define "what" and "why" alongside "how."

• User Research & Discovery: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to uncover user pain points and opportunities.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Expertise in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

• UX/UI Design Craft: Strong skills in typography, information architecture, visual design, interaction design, and micro-interactions.

• Cross-Platform Design: Understanding of design principles and constraints for iOS, Android, and web interfaces.

• Data-Informed Design: Ability to interpret analytics, A/B test results, and user feedback to drive design decisions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, influence stakeholders (PMs, engineers, executives), and work effectively in a remote, asynchronous setting.

• Customer-Centricity: Demonstrated ability to engage with customers, gather feedback, and integrate it meaningfully into the design process.

• Focus & Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks effectively, and work with focus in a dynamic startup environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with audio-centric product design or a strong curiosity about audio interfaces.

• Familiarity with AI and its application in user experience.

• Experience working within a 100% distributed or remote-first company culture.

• Knowledge of design systems and their implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of strategic product thinking and strong design execution. The "5-7 years of experience" aligns with a Senior Product Designer level. The requirement for "consumer-facing products across multiple platforms" and "research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery" is crucial for portfolio assessment. The "focus" and "dynamic, remote team" aspects highlight the need for self-management and asynchronous collaboration skills, which are increasingly important in modern operations and product roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end product design process. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research and discovery phase, design solutions (wireframes, prototypes, final UI), user testing, and the impact of your work.

• Cross-Platform Examples: Include examples of designs for mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications to demonstrate versatility.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design decisions whenever possible, using metrics such as conversion rate improvements, user engagement increases, task completion times, or user satisfaction scores.

• Prototyping Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in creating interactive prototypes that effectively communicate user flows and interaction design.

• Visual Design & Craft: Showcase strong visual design skills, including typography, color theory, layout, and attention to detail in micro-interactions.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Definition: Clearly outline the user problem or business challenge addressed in each case study.

• User Research & Insights: Detail the methods used for user research (interviews, surveys, usability tests) and the key insights derived.

• Design Iteration: Illustrate the iterative nature of your design process, showing how feedback and testing led to refinements.

• Collaboration & Rationale: Explain how you collaborated with PMs and engineers, and articulate the rationale behind your design choices.

• Final Deliverables: Present polished UI designs and explain how they were implemented or handed off to development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to a senior product design role, emphasizing end-to-end process demonstration, cross-platform experience, and measurable impact. For operations professionals, understanding how to present data-driven design decisions and quantifiable outcomes is crucial. The emphasis on "problem definition," "user research," and "design iteration" aligns with process-oriented thinking common in operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: A competitive salary package commensurate with experience and market standards.

• Equity Options: Potential for stock options in a rapidly growing tech company.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits package (details to be confirmed with employer).

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and attending industry conferences.

• Remote Work Stipend: Support for home office setup and ongoing remote work expenses.

• Flexible Work Environment: A dynamic environment that values autonomy, creativity, and an exceptional asynchronous work culture.

• Impactful Work: The opportunity to work on a product that positively impacts millions of users, especially those with learning differences.

• Cutting-Edge Technology: Exposure to AI and audio technology in a rapidly evolving domain.

Working Hours:

• Speechify operates with a 100% distributed model, emphasizing asynchronous work. While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the focus is on results and flexibility rather than strict adherence to office hours. This allows for adaptability to different time zones and personal schedules, provided work is completed effectively and collaboratively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for Senior Product Designer roles in Amsterdam, considering the specified experience level and the tech industry context. Speechify's remote-first and distributed nature means benefits may lean towards remote work support and asynchronous collaboration tools. The "competitive compensation" and "equity options" are standard for growth-stage startups. The "working hours" are defined by the asynchronous nature of the company, which requires strong self-management and communication.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development / Technology (specifically Text-to-Speech and AI-driven assistive technology).

Company Size: Approximately 200 employees. This size indicates a growing startup environment where individual contributions are highly visible and can significantly influence direction.

Founded: Speechify was founded in 2016. Its mission is to remove reading as a barrier to learning, leveraging AI and text-to-speech technology.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Model: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no central office. This necessitates a culture built on trust, autonomy, and strong asynchronous communication practices.

• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers work closely with Product Managers, Engineers (frontend, backend, AI research), and other roles from diverse backgrounds (e.g., Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Stanford PhDs, startup founders).

• Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, senior roles typically report into departmental heads or VPs, with a clear line of communication for product strategy and design leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: The company emphasizes using analytics and customer feedback to guide product decisions and identify opportunities.

• Agile & Iterative Design: The "Pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" cycle points to an agile, iterative approach to feature development.

• Asynchronous Collaboration: Core to the culture, requiring clear documentation, proactive communication, and effective use of collaboration tools.

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving users, particularly those with learning differences like dyslexia and ADD.

Company Website: https://speechify.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is defined by its distributed nature and mission-driven approach. For operations professionals, understanding a remote-first culture is key – it implies a need for strong documentation, clear communication protocols, and self-sufficiency. The "200 employees" suggests a stage where processes are solidifying but still allow for significant individual impact. The industry context of assistive technology and AI is a significant differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior Product Designer," indicating a level of expertise, autonomy, and influence beyond junior or mid-level positions. Senior designers are expected to lead design initiatives, mentor junior team members, and contribute significantly to product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, VP of Product, or a similar leadership role. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The design team's work directly impacts Speechify's core value proposition – making reading accessible. Successful product designs lead to increased user adoption, engagement, and retention, directly contributing to revenue growth and market position. The role influences the product roadmap, ensuring design considerations are integral to strategic business decisions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing a team and strategic design initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven UX, audio interface design, or accessibility, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Product Strategy Influence: Continued growth in influencing product vision and strategy, potentially taking ownership of larger product areas.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team's capabilities.

• Industry Impact: Contributing to a product that has a profound positive impact on users' lives, offering significant personal and professional fulfillment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on career progression within a design track, highlighting leadership, specialization, and strategic influence. For operations professionals, understanding how product design contributes to business outcomes (revenue, retention) is crucial. The emphasis on mentorship and specialization aligns with how operations professionals can deepen their expertise in specific tools, processes, or business functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates on a 100% remote, distributed model. There are no physical offices. This means the "work environment" is wherever the employee chooses to work, typically from home.

Office Location(s): Globally distributed. The role is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, but the company has employees worldwide, operating asynchronously.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office Setup: Employees are expected to maintain a productive and professional home office environment conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.

• Asynchronous Tools: The environment relies heavily on digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Notion, Figma) for communication, project management, and design reviews.

• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities to collaborate with a diverse, international team, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives.

• Focus on Deep Work: The distributed, asynchronous model is designed to minimize distractions and allow for periods of focused, uninterrupted work.

Work Schedule:

• Highly flexible, centered around asynchronous collaboration. While core working hours might exist for specific cross-timezone meetings, the emphasis is on achieving deliverables and being available for communication within reasonable overlapping periods. This requires excellent time management and proactive communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is entirely remote and asynchronous. This is a critical differentiator for Speechify. For operations professionals, this implies a need for exceptional self-discipline, communication skills, and comfort with digital collaboration tools. The "Amsterdam, Netherlands" location likely pertains to tax/employment jurisdiction rather than a physical office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume, cover letter, and portfolio link via the Greenhouse portal.

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications to assess qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio with a focus on your design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. This may be conducted by a Senior Designer or Design Manager.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or a live design critique/whiteboarding session to assess practical skills and thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, CEO) to assess strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall candidacy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate the problem, your process, your decisions, and the outcome.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in team projects.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final designs) to illustrate your process and solutions.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your thinking, research methods, and iterative approach.

• Tailor to Speechify: Briefly explain why you're excited about Speechify's mission and how your skills align with their product (text-to-speech, accessibility).

• Accessibility Considerations: If applicable, highlight any experience or understanding of designing for accessibility.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Thoroughly familiarize yourself with Speechify's apps and Chrome extension. Identify potential areas for improvement or new feature opportunities.

• Think Strategically: Be prepared to discuss not just how you would design something, but why. Connect your design decisions to user needs and business goals.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your design process, from user research to final delivery.

• Practice Communication: Rehearse explaining complex ideas clearly and concisely, especially in a remote setting.

• Consider Asynchronous Workflow: If given a take-home challenge, plan your time effectively and ensure clear documentation of your process and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is standard for senior design roles, with a strong emphasis on portfolio review and practical application. For operations candidates, understanding the importance of demonstrating process, rationale, and measurable outcomes in a portfolio is key. The "design challenge" aspect often mirrors operations case studies or problem-solving exercises.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely given industry trends and collaborative nature), Sketch, Adobe XD.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, Google Forms, Typeform.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello, Notion, Confluence.

• Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Firebase Analytics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation principles can be beneficial for context on user journeys and customer lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is focused on design and collaboration tools essential for a remote, product-centric team. Figma is a dominant tool in modern product design. For operations professionals, understanding the data analytics and project management tools is crucial, as they often integrate with or rely on the outputs from these design and product development platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission of making reading accessible, which should resonate with the candidate's personal values.

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

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration of new ideas, technologies (AI, audio), and approaches to problem-solving.

• Drive & Focus: A high-performance culture that values initiative, dedication, and the ability to concentrate on key objectives.

• Collaboration & Trust: Essential for a distributed team, fostering an environment of mutual respect and open communication.

• Impact & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take ownership of their work and see the tangible impact it has on users and the company.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication and collaboration prioritize methods that don't require simultaneous presence, such as detailed documentation, clear Slack messages, and recorded Loom videos.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers, involving them early and often in the design process.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchange to improve designs and processes.

• Transparent Communication: Open sharing of information, decisions, and challenges across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture values align with a mission-driven, remote-first, and user-focused organization. For operations roles, understanding how to work within an asynchronous framework and contribute to a collaborative, feedback-rich environment is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling a Distributed Design Org: As the company grows, maintaining design quality, consistency, and team cohesion across a global, remote team presents ongoing challenges.

• Balancing Innovation with Execution: Continuously innovating while ensuring timely delivery of features in a fast-paced startup environment requires effective prioritization and resource management.

• Designing for Diverse User Needs: Catering to a wide range of users, including those with specific learning differences, demands a deep understanding of accessibility and inclusive design principles.

• Navigating Rapid Technological Change: Staying ahead in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and audio technology requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Maintaining Asynchronous Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless collaboration and efficient workflows without constant real-time interaction demands discipline and excellent communication tools/practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI & Audio UX: Opportunities to become a specialist in a cutting-edge domain where AI intersects with human interaction.

• Accessibility Design Expertise: Developing strong skills in designing for inclusivity and assistive technologies.

• Product Strategy Leadership: Gaining experience in shaping product roadmaps and influencing business strategy.

• Remote Work Best Practices: Mastering effective collaboration and productivity techniques in a distributed environment.

• Industry Exposure: Learning from experienced professionals from top tech companies and contributing to a product with significant real-world impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities reflect the dynamic nature of a growth-stage tech startup operating remotely. For operations professionals, these challenges often translate into opportunities to build scalable processes, improve cross-functional communication, and adapt to new technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your design insights. What was the outcome?" (Focus on data, user research, strategic thinking.)

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility, especially for users with learning differences like dyslexia or ADD?" (Demonstrate empathy and knowledge of inclusive design.)

• "Walk me through your process for identifying and solving a user problem, from initial research to final implementation." (Highlight your end-to-end design methodology.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission and our text-to-speech technology?" (Connect your passion to the company's purpose.)

• "How do you adapt your design process for a 100% remote, asynchronous work environment?" (Emphasize communication, documentation, and self-management.)

• "Describe your experience collaborating with engineers and product managers. How do you handle disagreements?" (Focus on collaborative problem-solving and communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of Speechify and the role, then present 2-3 key case studies in detail.

• Highlight Process: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your research, your design decisions, iterations, and the results. Use visuals effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Be ready to discuss the metrics and outcomes of your projects.

• Explain Your Role: Be explicit about your individual contributions.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, prepare to demonstrate interactive prototypes or walk through key user flows.

• Q&A Preparedness: Anticipate questions about your choices, challenges, and how you'd approach future Speechify projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview preparation tips are tailored for a Senior Product Designer role, focusing on demonstrating strategic thinking, user empathy, and process mastery. Operations candidates can adapt this by focusing on how they demonstrate process efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration in their own interview preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Speechify careers portal on Greenhouse.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with consumer-facing products, cross-platform design (iOS, Android, Web), and your involvement in the entire product development lifecycle (research, prototyping, delivery). Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your product thinking, design process, and measurable impact. Ensure they demonstrate experience with mobile and web platforms.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Briefly explain why you are passionate about Speechify's mission, how your skills align with the role requirements, and why you are suited for a remote, asynchronous work environment.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your case studies, focusing on storytelling, process, and impact. Be ready to discuss your design rationale and collaborative approach.

⚠️ 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.

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