Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Baton (A Ryder Technology Lab)

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Design (GTM/Operations Technology Focus)

Date Posted: 2026-04-21T21:51:04

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial research and discovery through to successful implementation and iteration, within a dynamic technology lab environment.

• Craft user experiences for complex, data-dense, and AI-driven interfaces that directly impact the daily operations of freight planners, dispatchers, and logistics teams.

• Champion user-centered design principles while collaborating closely with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to translate intricate logistics challenges into intuitive and effective solutions.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of a robust design system, ensuring consistency and adoption across the product suite and fostering strong partnerships with engineering for seamless implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a technology lab ("Baton") that is an in-house product development group for a large logistics enterprise (Ryder). The focus on "freight technology" and "supply chain on autopilot" indicates a strong connection to GTM and operational efficiency, making it a prime role for designers interested in the intersection of technology and operational execution. The emphasis on "AI-driven" and "data-dense" interfaces suggests a need for designers who can handle complexity and translate sophisticated data into actionable insights for users.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete design lifecycle for new product features and enhancements, encompassing user research, concept development, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation oversight.

• Actively participate in strategic discussions with product management and engineering to define product roadmaps, prioritize features, and make informed design decisions that balance user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the logistics and supply chain domain, enabling the creation of highly relevant and impactful user experiences for high-frequency users.

• Design and iterate on interfaces for AI-powered recommendations and automation, focusing on user trust, clarity, and the ability to efficiently act on algorithmic outputs.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure the accurate and high-fidelity implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and acting as a design authority throughout the development process.

• Contribute to and advocate for the adoption of a unified design system, ensuring visual and interactive consistency across all Baton products.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis to gather insights that inform design decisions and drive product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, typical of a senior role in a product-focused organization. The explicit mention of "AI-driven and data-heavy interfaces" and "logistics problems" highlights the specialized nature of the design work, requiring a deep understanding of operational workflows and the ability to translate complex data into user-friendly experiences.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected, though equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional product design experience, with a proven track record of successfully shipping complex digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product design, from user research and discovery to high-fidelity UI design and implementation support.

• Strong proficiency in design and prototyping tools, with a specific requirement for Figma.

• Experience designing complex, information-dense products, such as operational tools, planning workflows, dashboards, or enterprise software where speed, accuracy, and clarity are paramount.

• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration skills, with a history of working effectively with Product Managers and Engineers to define scope, manage tradeoffs, and deliver iteratively.

• A proactive and self-directed approach, demonstrating a strong sense of ownership, initiative, and the ability to identify and solve problems independently.

• Proven ability in systems-level thinking, capable of defining coherent end-to-end user experiences and breaking them down into manageable, iterative releases.

• High level of design craft and technical fluency, with the ability to create elegant and usable interfaces for complex workflows while understanding engineering constraints.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in B2B SaaS environments, particularly in operational domains like logistics or supply chain.

• Prior experience designing for AI-assisted products, focusing on areas such as recommendations, automation, explainability, building user trust, and human-in-the-loop workflows.

• Ability to thrive in fast-moving environments with evolving priorities, demonstrating skill in creating clarity amidst ambiguity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of core design skills, domain-specific experience (logistics/B2B SaaS), and forward-thinking technical curiosity (AI tools). The portfolio requirement is particularly crucial, indicating that practical application and demonstrated impact are highly valued over theoretical knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end design case studies that detail the problem framing, exploration phases, decision-making processes, and key tradeoffs made.

• Clear articulation of your specific role and contributions within collaborative team settings, highlighting how you partnered with Product and Engineering.

• Demonstration of shipped outcomes and the tangible impact of your design work on users and business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should illustrate your approach to user research, including methodologies used and how insights were translated into design solutions.

• Documentation of your iterative design process, including prototyping, user testing, and how feedback was incorporated to refine designs.

• Examples of how you've maintained or evolved design systems, including contributions to consistency and adoption strategies.

• Evidence of systems-level thinking, showing how you've defined coherent end-to-end experiences and planned incremental releases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end case studies," "problem framing," "decisions/tradeoffs," "collaboration," and "shipped outcomes" is critical for operations-focused design roles. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process as a structured approach to solving business problems, demonstrating efficiency and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $190,000 USD. Compensation will be determined based on factors including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and overall experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive Base Salary

• Cash Bonus Structure

• Annual Company Bonus

• Long-Term Incentive Plan

• 401k with Matching contributions

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Health Coverage

• Employee Stock Purchase Program (offering a 15% discount to market value)

• Collaborative, Fun, and Tech Forward office environment

Working Hours: While specific hours are not detailed, the hybrid work model suggests a standard full-time commitment, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility for the designated remote and office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in San Francisco, a high cost-of-living area. The inclusion of a cash bonus, annual company bonus, and long-term incentive plan indicates a performance-driven compensation structure. The Employee Stock Purchase Program is a significant benefit, offering potential for long-term financial growth. The hybrid model implies a need for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Logistics, Transportation, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Software. Baton, as Ryder's in-house product development group, operates at the cutting edge of logistics technology, aiming to "enable supply chain on autopilot." This means a focus on efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

Company Size: Baton operates with "startup speed" within the framework of Ryder, a Fortune 500 company with over 43,000 employees and $10B in freight under management. This hybrid model offers the agility and innovation of a startup with the stability and reach of a large enterprise.

Founded: Baton was acquired by Ryder in 2022, indicating a relatively new, integrated initiative within a long-established company. This suggests a culture that values both established industry expertise and disruptive innovation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is growing, implying opportunities for influence and leadership as the team scales.

• Designers will work within cross-functional product teams, partnering closely with Product Managers and Engineers, which is standard for agile development environments.

• Collaboration is expected to be high, given the "startup speed" and the need to rapidly develop and iterate on complex technology solutions.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is paramount, given the nature of logistics and the emphasis on AI and complex interfaces.

• Agile development methodologies are implied, with an emphasis on iterative releases and continuous improvement.

• A strong focus on user research and testing will be essential to validate designs for operational users who rely on speed and accuracy.

• The design system will serve as a core methodology for ensuring consistency and efficiency in product development.

Company Website: https://www.baton.io/ and https://www.ryder.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is a unique blend of startup agility and enterprise stability. For operations-focused roles, this means an environment that values rapid iteration and innovation while being grounded in the real-world constraints and scale of a major logistics player. The mission of "supply chain on autopilot" underscores a drive towards automation and efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility and influence. Senior designers are expected to lead projects, mentor junior team members, and contribute to strategic design decisions. The role is pivotal in translating complex operational challenges into user-friendly digital solutions that drive efficiency and automation within the supply chain.

Reporting Structure: Senior Product Designers typically report to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or potentially a Director of Product. They work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within cross-functional teams, influencing product direction and design execution.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Ryder's vast logistics network and its 50,000+ customers. Designing intuitive interfaces for AI-driven freight technology means improving decision-making speed, accuracy, and overall workflow optimization for users in critical roles like freight planning and dispatch. This role is central to achieving the company's mission of "supply chain on autopilot."

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially grow into a Design Lead or Manager role as the Baton team expands.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex operational domains, AI-assisted products, and data-dense interfaces within the logistics and supply chain industry.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to product strategy and roadmap development, influencing the direction of innovative logistics technology solutions.

• Cross-functional Mastery: Enhance skills in collaborating with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to drive product success.

• Enterprise Impact: Gain experience within a Fortune 500 company, understanding the dynamics of scaling innovative technology solutions across a large organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly for a designer interested in the operational technology space. The combination of a startup environment within an enterprise offers a unique path for career advancement, from individual contribution to leadership and strategic impact within a critical industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a hybrid work model, with specific office days designated for collaboration. The office is described as "Collaborative, Fun, and Tech Forward," located in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. This suggests a modern workspace designed to foster interaction and innovation.

Office Location(s): Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA. This is a well-known cultural and business hub in San Francisco, offering good accessibility via public transport and proximity to various amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and description of the office point to a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, particularly for design brainstorming, workshops, and team syncs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

• Technology Stack: As a "Tech Forward" office, expect access to modern design tools, high-performance computing, and potentially specialized hardware or software for prototyping and user research. Proficiency with Figma is a strong indicator of the expected tools.

• Operations Team Interaction: Designers will be embedded within cross-functional product teams, working daily with product managers, engineers, and potentially data scientists or operations specialists to tackle complex logistics problems.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model specifies three days in the office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and two days remote (Monday, Friday). This structure aims to balance focused individual work with essential team collaboration. Standard full-time hours are implied.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Hayes Valley location is a prime spot in San Francisco, known for its vibrant atmosphere and accessibility. The hybrid model is clearly defined, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration for core design and product development activities, which is crucial for complex operational technology projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present selected case studies from your portfolio, discussing your design process, decision-making, and impact. Be prepared to articulate your role in collaborative efforts and the outcomes of your work.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate your collaboration skills, technical fluency, and ability to translate complex requirements into design solutions.

• Design Challenge (Potentially): You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or a live design critique/problem-solving session to assess your design thinking and problem-solving abilities in a relevant context.

• Hiring Manager/Team Lead Interview: A final conversation to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, and overall alignment with the team's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Highlight your problem-solving methodology, user research, ideation, iteration, and testing phases. Demonstrate how you arrived at the final solution.

• Showcase Collaboration: Clearly explain how you worked with stakeholders (PMs, Engineers) and the impact of those collaborations.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction). For this role, focus on operational efficiency and user actionability.

• Tailor to the Role: Select case studies that best represent your experience with complex, data-dense, or AI-assisted interfaces, particularly if they relate to operational tools or B2B SaaS.

• Be Ready to Defend Decisions: Articulate the rationale behind your design choices and your ability to make tradeoffs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with basic logistics and supply chain concepts, common workflows, and the challenges faced by freight planners and dispatchers.

• AI & Data Focus: Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing for AI recommendations, explainability, and data visualization in a high-stakes operational environment.

• Systems Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing an end-to-end experience that can be broken down into iterative releases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily scrutinize your portfolio for evidence of practical application and impact in complex operational environments. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process not just as a series of steps, but as a strategic approach to solving business problems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is a mandatory requirement, indicating it's the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration within the team. Expect to use it extensively for creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has strong prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other specialized tools for more complex or interactive prototypes might be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, SurveyMonkey) will likely be part of the workflow.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Proficiency in understanding and potentially designing for data visualization dashboards. Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker could be advantageous, though not explicitly required. The team will likely use these to track product performance and user behavior.

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user engagement and product performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation platforms integrate with user-facing applications can be beneficial for context. The focus here is on tools that support the operational workflows being designed.

• AI & ML Tools: A "practical curiosity" about emerging AI tools like LLMs and generative workflows suggests an openness to exploring and potentially integrating new technologies into the design process itself or the products being built.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on Figma highlights its central role in the design workflow. The mention of AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach, suggesting that designers who are exploring or have experience with AI-assisted design workflows will be highly valued. Understanding how data and analytics inform design decisions is also crucial for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible results that improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and achieve the company's mission of "supply chain on autopilot."

• Data-Informed: Decisions and designs are expected to be grounded in data and user insights, with a clear understanding of how to measure the success and impact of design solutions.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A culture that emphasizes working closely with Product and Engineering to achieve shared goals, fostering open communication and mutual respect.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing a "startup speed" mentality to rapidly develop and iterate on new technologies and solutions for the logistics industry.

• Ownership & Initiative: Encouraging team members to take responsibility, proactively identify opportunities, and drive projects forward with minimal oversight.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral members of product teams, working daily with PMs and Engineers to shape product direction and ensure design quality.

• Open Feedback Culture: Expect a dynamic environment where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged to refine designs and improve processes.

• Agile & Iterative: The team likely operates using agile methodologies, involving frequent check-ins, rapid prototyping, and iterative development cycles.

• Shared Problem-Solving: A collective approach to tackling complex challenges, leveraging the diverse expertise of team members to find the best solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values practical problem-solving, data-backed decisions, and proactive collaboration, all critical for success in operational technology roles. The "startup speed" within an enterprise context means a fast-paced, iterative environment where individual initiative and strong teamwork are highly prized.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Logistics Domain: Understanding and effectively designing for the intricate, often decades-old, workflows and constraints within the logistics and supply chain industry.

• Data-Dense & AI Interfaces: Creating intuitive and trustworthy user experiences for complex, data-heavy interfaces that incorporate AI-driven recommendations and automation, where user errors can have significant consequences.

• Balancing Startup Speed with Enterprise Scale: Navigating the dynamics of operating with agility while being part of a large, established enterprise like Ryder, which can involve different paces and processes.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying current with rapidly advancing AI technologies and integrating them effectively into design workflows and product offerings.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the logistics and supply chain sector, a critical and complex industry.

• AI Design Specialization: Developing advanced skills in designing for AI-powered products, including areas like explainability, human-in-the-loop systems, and trust-building.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the growth of the design function within Baton.

• Cross-functional Skill Enhancement: Refining collaboration and communication skills by working closely with product, engineering, and business stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Exposure to Enterprise Technology: Learning how to scale innovative technology solutions within a Fortune 500 organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to growth. Navigating complex operational domains and AI/data-heavy interfaces offers a unique opportunity to develop specialized expertise highly valued in the current tech landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a complex, data-dense interface for operational users. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Focus on user needs, data interpretation, and clarity.)

• "How do you approach designing for AI-driven recommendations? What are the critical factors for building user trust and ensuring effective action?" (Discuss explainability, human-in-the-loop, and feedback mechanisms.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the logistics industry and Baton's mission to enable 'supply chain on autopilot'?" (Show research and genuine interest in the domain and company goals.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid setting with cross-functional partners?" (Emphasize communication, feedback, and proactive engagement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem/Opportunity, Your Role, Research & Discovery, Ideation & Exploration, Design Decisions & Tradeoffs, Solution & Implementation, Outcomes & Impact.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you partnered with Product Managers and Engineers at each stage.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: Demonstrate your thinking, problem-solving approach, and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to show the success of your designs, especially in terms of operational efficiency or user productivity.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design choices, the challenges you faced, and what you learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a structured, analytical approach to design that aligns with operational efficiency and a deep understanding of complex systems and AI. Showcase your ability to collaborate and translate business needs into user-centric solutions.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience with complex, data-dense interfaces, AI-driven products, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description such as "end-to-end design," "Figma," "systems thinking," and "logistics."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best showcase your ability to solve complex problems, your design process, your collaboration skills, and the measurable impact of your work. Ensure they highlight experience with operational tools or B2B SaaS if possible.

• Practice Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse walking through your case studies, focusing on articulating your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and the outcomes achieved. Be prepared to answer questions about your decisions and contributions.

• Research Baton and Ryder: Understand their mission, the challenges in the logistics industry, and the company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.

⚠️ 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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