Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Foundry

Location: United Kingdom

Job Type: Permanent

Category: Product Design / GTM Technology

Date Posted: 2026-03-24

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with flexible working hours for US overlap)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is instrumental in shaping the user experience for Foundry's innovative Griptape and Reactor product initiative, which integrates advanced AI workflows with established creative and VFX software.

• The Senior Product Designer will translate complex client requirements into detailed, user-centric design specifications, ensuring the successful realization of product management visions.

• You will operate within a discovery-led product development environment, leveraging rapid experimentation, vertical-slice prototypes, and user validation to inform the product roadmap.

• Collaboration is key, working closely with Engineers, Product Managers, and Creative Directors to architect scalable and flexible design systems that support AI inference, media processing, distributed workloads, and interactive artist workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, the focus on "AI workflows," "emerging AI workflows," "AI inference," "media processing," and "distributed workloads" positions it within the broader GTM Technology and Operations landscape. The candidate will be instrumental in operationalizing new technologies for creative professionals, requiring an understanding of how these systems integrate into existing workflows and impact user efficiency. The emphasis on "user-focused design specifications" and "user validation" also aligns with operations' focus on process efficiency and user adoption.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, create, and manage workflows for Foundry products and their features, ensuring seamless integration of AI and creative tools.

• Synthesize multiple user stories into a cohesive "user voice," effectively resolving conflicting inputs and prioritizing design elements for specific product areas.

• Own the UX/UI design for key product features or entire products, ensuring alignment with strategic product direction.

• Conduct user research for feature areas and leverage findings to inform future design needs and product evolution.

• Mentor and develop junior designers in user-centered design principles and usability best practices.

• Maintain and curate a collection of valuable resources, articles, sites, and tools relevant to product design and creative technology.

• Collaborate effectively across different product teams to build upon existing ideas and adapt designs based on technical and workflow constraints.

• Shape the external perception of Foundry's products through user research and lead the execution of design visions.

• Facilitate and participate in regular design critiques with fellow product designers to provide and receive constructive feedback.

• Become a subject matter expert and a primary point of contact for specific feature sets, Foundry products, and product design practices.

• Manage personal time and projects effectively to meet critical project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of individual contribution and leadership, common for a Senior role. The focus on "mentoring," "subject matter expert," and "leading others to execute the vision" suggests a need for operational leadership within the design function, influencing how design processes are adopted and executed across teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 4+ years of design experience within the technology sector and/or experience in the VFX industry.

Required Skills:

• Strong design portfolio showcasing interaction design for DCC applications.

• Advanced working knowledge of prototyping tools such as Vibe Code, Cursor AI, and Figma Make.

• Advanced working knowledge of core design tools: Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop.

• Strong practical knowledge of compositing and Visual Effects (VFX).

• Practical knowledge of machine learning and generative AI workflows, including tools like ComfyUI, Griptape, Higgsfield, Claude, and ChatGPT.

• Advanced knowledge of relevant Foundry Products, such as Nuke and Griptape.

• Specialist skills and knowledge in at least one area of Product Design (UX, UI, or Research).

• Ability to clearly communicate design ideas and rationale to diverse stakeholders.

• Exceptional organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.

• Proven ability to prioritize and manage work effectively against critical project timelines.

• Familiarity with project management tools such as TargetProcess or Jira.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of similar products, e.g., ComfyUI, Figma Weave, Higgsfield, After Effects, Fusion, DaVinci Resolve.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for advanced knowledge of specific AI tools (ComfyUI, Griptape, Higgsfield, Claude, ChatGPT) and Foundry products (Nuke, Griptape) is critical. This indicates a need for the candidate to understand not just design principles but also the operational intricacies and technical underpinnings of these advanced creative technologies, particularly in the context of AI-driven workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong track record of designing intuitive and effective user interfaces for complex software, particularly within the VFX or creative technology sectors.

• Showcase examples of interaction design for Digital Content Creation (DCC) applications, highlighting problem-solving for artist workflows.

• Include case studies that detail the design process from initial concept and user research through to final implementation, emphasizing user validation and iterative improvements.

• Present designs that clearly articulate scalable and flexible systems, particularly those that support AI inference, media processing, or distributed workloads.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Provide examples of how you've contributed to or managed design system documentation, ensuring consistency and scalability across product features.

• Illustrate your approach to iterating on designs based on feedback from design critiques, user testing, and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially one focused on emerging technologies, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic design but also a deep understanding of user workflows, the ability to integrate complex technical requirements (like AI), and a structured approach to design problem-solving that can be translated into efficient operational processes for product development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Health Savings Account & 401K Plan

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

• Bonus scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Company's remote social events

• Anniversary day off

• Passion Days

• Flexible working arrangements

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week).

• UK-based candidates must be comfortable with flexible working hours to ensure a consistent daily overlap with the San Francisco team (GMT-8) for meetings and collaborative sessions. This typically means adjusting start and end times to accommodate the US West Coast workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical Senior Product Designer compensation in the UK tech market, with an uplift for specialized knowledge in VFX and AI. The flexible working hours requirement for US team overlap is a critical operational consideration for candidates to manage their workday effectively.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment Technology, Software Development (VFX, Animation, AI)

Company Size: Foundry has been operating for over 25 years, indicating a mature company with established processes, but the focus on "new product initiative" suggests a dynamic, potentially agile segment within the organization. The company size is not explicitly stated but its global presence and product portfolio suggest a medium to large enterprise.

Founded: Over 25 years ago, highlighting a deep heritage and expertise in creative software.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer reports to the Head of Product Design, indicating a clear reporting line within a dedicated design function.

• Collaboration is expected with Engineers, Product Managers, and Creative Directors, signifying a cross-functional team structure common in agile product development.

Methodology:

• Operates in a "discovery-led environment" characterized by rapid experimentation, vertical-slice prototypes, and user validation, which are core tenets of modern product development and user-centric design.

• Focuses on designing "scalable yet flexible systems" that support complex workflows, emphasizing robust and adaptable technical solutions.

• Encourages collaborative design critiques to foster continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the design team.

Company Website: www.foundry.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Foundry's long history in VFX combined with its current focus on AI and new product initiatives suggests a culture that values both deep domain expertise and forward-thinking innovation. The emphasis on inclusivity and diverse perspectives is also a key cultural pillar.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior position, implying a significant level of autonomy, responsibility, and the ability to influence product direction. It's a pivotal role for designers looking to deepen their expertise in complex creative technologies and AI workflows.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Product Design, with close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Creative Directors. This structure allows for both strategic direction and hands-on execution.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer directly impacts the usability and adoption of new AI-powered tools by creative professionals. Their work operationalizes complex technology into intuitive user experiences, which is critical for the success of new product initiatives and for maintaining Foundry's competitive edge in the market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design workflows, compositing, VFX, and specific Foundry products.

• Leadership: Develop mentoring and leadership skills by guiding junior designers and becoming a subject matter expert.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to product strategy and roadmap decisions through user research and design expertise.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by working across multiple product teams and collaborating with diverse engineering and product disciplines.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning products and potentially present work at industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for designers interested in the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and creative workflows. The emphasis on mentorship and subject matter expertise points towards a path for developing leadership within the design function, impacting how design processes are integrated into the broader product development lifecycle.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers flexible working, with candidates expected to be UK-based. While not explicitly stated as remote-first, the emphasis on flexible hours for US overlap suggests a hybrid or remote-friendly arrangement within the UK.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in the United Kingdom, with the understanding that daily overlap with the San Francisco team (GMT-8) is required, necessitating flexible working hours.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment where designers work closely with product managers, engineers, and creative directors.

• Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, Vibe Code, Cursor AI, Figma Make).

• Opportunities to work with advanced technologies, including emerging AI workflows and complex VFX software.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).

• Requires flexible working to accommodate a daily overlap with the San Francisco team. This means candidates must be prepared to adjust their working hours to facilitate real-time collaboration and meetings with colleagues in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for flexible working hours to overlap with the US team is a significant operational consideration. Candidates should consider how this impacts their daily routine and work-life balance, especially when managing complex design tasks and creative processes.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's technical requirements (VFX, AI, DCC applications).

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise to evaluate problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to translate requirements into user-focused solutions. This may involve designing a workflow or feature for a hypothetical AI-driven creative tool.

• Interviews with Hiring Team: Discussions with the Head of Product Design, Product Manager, and potentially Engineering leads to assess technical depth, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session to walk through selected case studies from the portfolio, explaining design decisions, process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI & VFX Expertise: Clearly showcase projects involving AI workflows, generative AI, machine learning, and complex VFX/compositing challenges.

• DCC Application Focus: Emphasize interaction design within Digital Content Creation (DCC) applications, demonstrating an understanding of artist workflows and specialized software.

• Process & Rationale: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, explaining the rationale behind your decisions, user research conducted, and how you addressed technical constraints.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Structure case studies around specific problems faced by users (especially artists in VFX) and how your design provided an effective, user-centric solution.

• Metrics & Impact: Where possible, include data or qualitative feedback demonstrating the impact of your designs on user efficiency, adoption, or satisfaction.

• Tool Proficiency: Implicitly or explicitly demonstrate proficiency with required tools like Figma, Vibe Code, Cursor AI, and familiarity with AI tools like ComfyUI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Foundry's Products: Research Foundry's existing product suite (Nuke, Griptape) and familiarize yourself with their use cases in VFX and animation.

• AI Workflow Familiarity: Brush up on current trends and tools in generative AI and ML for creative applications. Consider how these technologies can be integrated into existing DCC workflows.

• User-Centric Problem Solving: Prepare to tackle design challenges that focus on improving efficiency, usability, and creative output for artists working with complex software.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, explaining trade-offs and design rationale under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "discovery-led environment" and "rapid experimentation" suggests interviewers will look for candidates who are comfortable with ambiguity and can drive innovation through iterative design, not just execute predefined specifications.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping: Vibe Code, Cursor AI, Figma Make (advanced working knowledge required)

• Design: Figma (advanced working knowledge required), Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

• VFX & Compositing: Nuke, Griptape (advanced knowledge of Foundry products), practical knowledge of compositing techniques.

• AI & ML Workflows: ComfyUI, Griptape, Higgsfield, Claude, ChatGPT (strong practical knowledge)

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management: TargetProcess or Jira (familiarity required)

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Vibe Code, Cursor AI, and Figma Make as advanced prototyping tools, along with ComfyUI and Griptape for AI workflows, indicates a need for hands-on experience with cutting-edge design and AI implementation technologies. This is a significant differentiator for candidates.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Technology Advancement: A strong drive to explore and integrate emerging technologies like AI into creative workflows.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of creative professionals, ensuring designs are intuitive and effective.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and teamwork is essential for success.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished designs that meet the rigorous standards of the VFX and creative industries.

• Efficiency & Workflow Optimization: Designing solutions that streamline complex processes and enhance productivity for users.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Creative Directors to ensure a unified product vision and seamless execution.

• Design Critiques: Regular, constructive feedback sessions within the design team to refine work and share best practices.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the exchange of ideas, tools, and insights across teams to foster collective growth and innovation.

• Agile & Iterative: Working within a discovery-led framework that embraces experimentation and iterative design based on user feedback and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Foundry's stated commitment to inclusivity and diverse perspectives, combined with the technical focus on AI and creative tools, suggests a culture that values both individual contributions and collaborative problem-solving for complex technical challenges.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Integrating AI into Complex Workflows: Designing intuitive interfaces for emerging AI tools that can be seamlessly integrated into established, complex VFX and DCC pipelines.

• Balancing Innovation and Usability: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI features are accessible and beneficial to a wide range of users, not just early adopters.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with the fast-changing landscape of AI and creative software to ensure Foundry's products remain competitive and relevant.

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively collaborating with teams in different time zones (specifically San Francisco) while maintaining productivity and communication flow.

• Ambiguous Requirements: Navigating the inherent ambiguity in new product initiatives and translating nascent ideas into concrete design specifications.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized AI Tool Training: Gaining hands-on experience and deeper knowledge of leading AI tools relevant to creative industries.

• VFX Industry Insights: Deepening understanding of the VFX pipeline and artist workflows through direct collaboration and research.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and contribute to design strategy.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential for Foundry to support attendance at relevant industry events and training programs.

• Product Strategy Contribution: Influencing the direction of new, innovative products at the forefront of creative technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the cutting-edge nature of this role, requiring a proactive and adaptable mindset. The growth opportunities are substantial for designers eager to specialize in the intersection of AI and creative media production.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a complex workflow for a creative application. What were the key challenges, and how did your design address them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and user impact.)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for a VFX pipeline, considering both technical constraints and user adoption?" (Assesses AI integration, user-centricity, and technical understanding.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Foundry's mission to advance visual experience, especially with new AI initiatives?" (Demonstrate research into Foundry and alignment with its goals.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers, particularly when dealing with technical limitations or evolving requirements?" (Highlight your cross-functional collaboration skills and adaptability.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Case Study Structure: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions with rationale, challenges faced, and the outcome (quantifiable if possible).

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, and prototypes to effectively communicate your design solutions.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical considerations and constraints you addressed, especially concerning AI, DCC applications, and performance.

• User-Centricity: Emphasize how user research, testing, and feedback informed your design decisions.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; select 2-3 strong, relevant projects that best showcase your skills for this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the technical nature of the role, interviewers will likely probe for depth in understanding AI concepts, VFX workflows, and the practical application of design principles within these domains. The ability to articulate complex ideas clearly is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Foundry careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your experience with complex software design, particularly in VFX, AI-driven workflows, and DCC applications. Highlight your interaction design skills for creative professionals.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your 4+ years of relevant experience, specific technical skills (AI tools, design software, Foundry products), and any experience in the VFX industry. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through 2-3 key portfolio projects, focusing on your design process, problem-solving, and the impact of your solutions. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI and complex creative software.

• Research Foundry: Understand Foundry's products, mission, and recent developments, especially regarding their AI initiatives. Prepare to articulate your interest in their specific work and culture.

⚠️ 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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