Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Cedar

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: March 8, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and evolve the user experience for Cedar's core platform, which serves as the operating system for urban housing delivery.

• Transform complex, real-world workflows in architecture, zoning, and construction into intuitive and powerful software solutions.

• Develop and maintain Cedar's comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all product touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineers, product leaders, and architects, to drive features from concept to launch.

• Contribute to a fast-moving startup environment focused on innovation in the housing and construction technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the core responsibilities heavily involve designing complex workflows for architects, developers, and planners. This role bridges product design with GTM operations by creating tools that streamline the entire housing delivery process, from site evaluation to approved designs. The emphasis on "operating system for urban housing delivery" and "software systems to make great architecture scalable" indicates a strong tie to operational efficiency and GTM enablement within the construction and real estate tech space.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design end-to-end product experiences for Cedar's platform, covering critical functions like site evaluation, zoning navigation, building design, and project approval.

• Translate intricate architectural and regulatory processes into clear, user-friendly UX flows, interactions, and intuitive interfaces.

• Produce a range of design artifacts, including wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs, to effectively communicate design solutions.

• Partner with engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring seamless implementation of designs from idea conception to shipped product.

• Own the strategy, development, and ongoing evolution of Cedar's design system, defining components, patterns, and interaction standards for platform consistency.

• Establish and enforce consistent UX patterns and design principles across the entire Cedar platform as it scales.

• Rapidly prototype new product ideas and conduct user testing to validate concepts and gather actionable feedback for iterative improvement.

• Continuously identify opportunities to improve existing workflows utilized by architects, developers, and urban planners, enhancing their daily productivity and project success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep dive into the operational aspects of housing development. Designing for "evaluating development sites," "navigating zoning constraints," and "turning those decisions into real projects that get built" are core to the Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy of any company in the real estate or construction tech space. This role is crucial for operationalizing the Cedar platform.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-10 years of experience designing digital products, with a strong preference for experience in SaaS platforms, complex workflow tools, or industry-specific software (e.g., AEC, real estate tech).

Required Skills:

• Strong UX thinking and product instincts, with the ability to deeply understand user needs and translate them into effective design solutions.

• Excellent visual and interaction design skills, with a keen eye for detail, typography, color, and layout.

• Proficiency in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs using industry-standard tools.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining robust design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and pattern definitions.

• Comfort and experience working collaboratively and iteratively with product managers and software engineers.

• Expertise in design tools such as Figma, with a deep understanding of its capabilities for prototyping and design system management.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry or real estate technology sector.

• Familiarity with GIS tools, architectural software (e.g., Revit, AutoCAD), or other domain-specific applications.

• Experience conducting user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on SaaS and complex tools, along with specific tools like Figma, aligns with typical requirements for product designers in tech companies. The preferred skills hint at the domain-specific knowledge that would be highly valuable for understanding Cedar's unique operational challenges in the housing sector.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of case studies demonstrating your ability to tackle complex problems and design intuitive digital products.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem statement, your design process, key decisions, and the impact of your solutions.

• Showcase examples of designing for intricate workflows and transforming them into streamlined user experiences.

• Include examples of your contributions to or creation of design systems, highlighting component libraries, pattern definitions, and their impact on consistency and scalability.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly outline the steps taken, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final UI design.

• Detail how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (engineers, product managers, stakeholders) throughout the design process.

• Explain your approach to establishing and evolving design systems, including governance and adoption strategies.

• Show how you measured the success of your designs, ideally with data or user feedback that quantifies improvements in user efficiency or task completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on designing operational software, a portfolio must go beyond just showcasing polished UI. It needs to demonstrate a candidate's ability to understand and solve complex operational problems, build scalable systems (like design systems), and collaborate effectively within a tech-focused, cross-functional team. Quantifiable impact is key for operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package.

• Meaningful equity ownership in an early-stage company, providing a stake in Cedar's growth and success.

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected in a startup environment to meet project deadlines and company goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in a high-cost-of-living area like San Diego, especially for an early-stage startup offering equity. The benefits are standard but attractive for the startup sector. The implied expectation of flexibility in working hours is common for on-site roles in fast-paced environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Real Estate Technology (PropTech) / Construction Technology (ConTech) / Software Development. Cedar operates at the intersection of these fields, aiming to revolutionize urban housing delivery.

Company Size: Early-stage startup (specific employee count not provided, but implied by "early-stage ownership and impact"). This suggests a lean, agile, and highly collaborative environment.

Founded: Cedar was founded with the mission to reinvent how housing is designed, permitted, and built. The company leverages architectural expertise alongside software, automation, and data systems to accelerate project timelines and improve quality.

Team Structure:

• The team is a blend of architectural experts, engineers, and product builders.

• Product Designers work closely with Product Leaders and Engineers to ideate, prototype, and ship features.

• Architects and other domain experts provide crucial context for the complex workflows being digitized.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Leveraging data and user feedback to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Development: Iterative product development cycles to quickly adapt to market needs and user feedback.

• Systems Thinking: Designing not just individual features but interconnected systems and a cohesive platform experience.

• User-Centricity: Deep focus on understanding and solving the real-world problems of architects, developers, and planners.

Company Website: https://www.cedar.build/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Cedar's mission and industry is crucial. The company is not just building software; it's building the operating system for a complex, traditionally slow-moving industry. This requires designers to think systemically and understand the operational nuances of construction and real estate development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a high level of autonomy, strategic input, and mentorship potential. The individual will be expected to lead design initiatives, influence product direction, and contribute significantly to the platform's foundational elements, including the design system.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or CTO, depending on the company's current structure. The role involves close collaboration with engineering and product management leads.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the efficiency, scalability, and quality of housing development projects. By creating intuitive software for complex workflows, they enable faster permitting, better design outcomes, and reduced risk for developers, directly influencing the company's GTM success and market disruption potential.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to own and evolve a critical design asset that scales across the company.

• Product Strategy Influence: Contribute to the strategic vision for the Cedar platform, shaping future product development.

• Domain Expertise: Develop deep knowledge in real estate technology, urban planning, and construction processes.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers as the team grows.

• Leadership Track: Path towards Design Lead or Head of Design roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential by allowing a designer to shape the foundational product and systems of a company aiming to disrupt a major industry. The blend of design leadership and domain expertise development is a strong career differentiator.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (Austin, TX or San Diego, CA). This indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, team building, and the ability to foster a strong company culture through direct interaction.

Office Location(s): San Diego, CA is the specified location in the job posting. Austin, TX is also mentioned as an alternative.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site nature promotes spontaneous idea sharing, whiteboarding sessions, and close teamwork with engineers and product managers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools (Figma is specified), and likely other collaborative software and hardware necessary for design and prototyping.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with architects, engineers, and product leaders, fostering a rich learning environment and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected, with the common startup flexibility for occasional extended hours to meet critical deadlines or project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration and quick iteration, which can be highly beneficial for complex design challenges. This environment is ideal for designers who thrive on direct team engagement and rapid feedback loops.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screen: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate their approach to complex problems, workflow design, and design system development. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or an on-site whiteboarding session to evaluate problem-solving skills and design thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, and potentially architects or domain experts to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work within the Cedar ecosystem.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., CTO, Head of Product) to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing how you approached complex problems, user needs, and business objectives.

• Highlight Workflow Transformation: Showcase how you turned messy, real-world workflows into clear, efficient digital experiences. Use before-and-after examples if possible.

• Design System Contributions: Detail your role in building or contributing to design systems. Explain the components, patterns, and guidelines you established and their impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or user feedback to demonstrate the positive outcomes of your designs (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced error rates, increased user adoption).

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio or presentation clearly demonstrates your skills in Figma, especially for prototyping and design system management.

• Tailor to Cedar's Mission: Frame your experience and case studies in the context of Cedar's mission to revolutionize housing delivery.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Cedar's industry (PropTech, ConTech), common workflows in housing development, zoning, and architecture.

• Practice Problem Decomposition: Be ready to break down a complex problem into smaller, manageable parts.

• System Design Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would design a system of interconnected features or components.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would work with engineers, product managers, and subject matter experts to achieve design goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior Product Designer at a tech startup like Cedar will heavily scrutinize both design craft and strategic problem-solving. A strong portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end design thinking and an understanding of operational efficiency will be critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in capabilities, or potentially other tools for more complex interactions if needed.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) for communication and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the designer's day-to-day toolset, but understanding how the platform integrates with or functions within a broader CRM or automation context for customer success or sales enablement might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned, underscoring its importance. The role requires a designer who is not only proficient in design execution but also in building and managing scalable design systems within such tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to fundamentally change how a traditional industry operates.

• Problem-Solving: A commitment to tackling complex, real-world challenges with creative solutions.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork to achieve ambitious goals.

• User Focus: Deep empathy for the users (architects, developers, planners) and a dedication to creating tools that genuinely help them.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on building robust systems and processes that can scale effectively.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work hand-in-hand with engineering, product, and domain experts daily.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Openness to frequent design reviews, critiques, and iterative development based on feedback.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Cedar's culture is likely shaped by its mission to disrupt a major industry. This translates to a fast-paced, innovative environment where collaboration and problem-solving are paramount. Designers are expected to be integral to the product development process, not just executors.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Domain: Navigating the intricacies of urban planning, zoning laws, architectural design, and construction processes to translate them into user-friendly software.

• Systemic Design: Designing a cohesive platform experience across multiple complex workflows, requiring a holistic and systemic approach.

• Balancing Craft and Speed: In a fast-moving startup, balancing the need for high-quality design craft with rapid iteration and delivery timelines.

• Establishing Foundational Systems: Building a robust design system from the ground up for a growing platform requires careful planning and foresight.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Immersion: Gain unparalleled expertise in the real estate development and construction technology sectors.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to build and lead the evolution of a critical design asset.

• Product Strategy Contribution: Influence the direction of a platform poised for significant growth and market impact.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Work with modern design and development tools in a tech-forward company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but also represent major growth opportunities for a designer looking to make a substantial impact and develop specialized expertise in a high-growth sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly complex, regulated workflow. How did you approach understanding the constraints and translating them into a user-friendly solution?" (Focus on process, research, and problem decomposition).

• "How would you approach building or evolving a design system for a platform that serves diverse user roles like architects, developers, and city planners?" (Highlight system thinking, component strategy, and scalability).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Cedar's mission to reinvent housing delivery, and how does your design philosophy align with that?" (Connect your passion for design with their industry disruption).

• "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers throughout the design process?" (Provide specific examples of your collaborative methods).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives – problem, solution, outcome.

• Process Emphasis: Clearly show your thought process, iterations, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Operations Impact: For each case study, explain how your design solved a specific operational challenge or improved efficiency for the user.

• Design System Showcase: Dedicate time to explaining your design system contributions, its structure, and its benefits.

• Figma Demonstration: Be prepared to briefly showcase key aspects of your work within Figma, if relevant and time permits.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating both excellent design craft and a deep understanding of process, system design, and operational efficiency within the context of Cedar's mission.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.polymer.co.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience with complex workflows, design systems, and end-to-end product design. Tailor your case study descriptions to highlight how your work has improved operational efficiency or solved intricate user problems.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, key skills (especially Figma, UX thinking, design systems), and achievements relevant to SaaS or complex tool design. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on your process, the operational challenges you addressed, and the impact of your solutions. Be ready to discuss your approach to design systems and cross-functional collaboration.

• Research Cedar: Deeply understand Cedar's mission, the problems they are solving in the housing industry, and their target users. This will allow you to tailor your interview responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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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