Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Kajabi

Location: Irvine, CA, United States

Job Type: Salaried Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: On-site (5 days per week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design initiatives, from conceptualization to shipping polished experiences across web and mobile platforms.

• Leverage advanced technical literacy and AI tools to rapidly prototype and iterate on software solutions.

• Contribute to the growth and evolution of Kajabi's design system, ensuring platform-wide consistency and efficiency.

• Foster deep customer empathy through direct user research and engagement to inform design decisions.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams, understanding code and development processes to deliver working software effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a hands-on, craftsperson approach with a strong emphasis on shipping working software and leveraging AI tools for rapid prototyping. The "Senior" title, combined with the 5-10 year experience level inferred, suggests a need for demonstrated leadership in design thinking, system building, and cross-functional collaboration within an agile development environment. The requirement to be in-office 5 days a week highlights a preference for in-person collaboration and immediate team integration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle, from initial project scoping and pitch development to final implementation and shipping.

• Design and iterate on user interfaces and experiences for Kajabi's web and mobile platforms, ensuring clarity, stability, and intuitive interaction.

• Develop and maintain robust design system components and patterns, promoting consistency and efficiency across the product suite.

• Conduct user research, including customer interviews and empathy-building exercises, to deeply understand user needs and pain points.

• Translate complex problems into simple, elegant, and user-friendly solutions that enhance the user experience for Kajabi "Heroes."

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently, utilizing tools like Cursor and Claude Code for rapid prototyping.

• Determine appropriate levels of craft and detail for different design tasks, balancing system patterns with bespoke solutions when necessary.

• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of internal design processes and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking, hands-on execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "shipping working software" and using AI tools like Cursor and Claude Code suggests a modern, fast-paced development environment where rapid iteration and technical proficiency are paramount. The responsibility to "make complexity feel simple" is a core tenet of effective product design and a key indicator of the expected impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Formal education in Design, HCI, or a related field is not explicitly stated but implied by the nature of the role. A strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant focus on end-to-end ownership of digital products. Experience in a fast-paced, agile environment is expected.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in product design principles and best practices for web and mobile applications.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools, with specific mention of Figma.

• Strong understanding of design systems, including their creation, maintenance, and application.

• Technical literacy, including an understanding of how code works and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineers.

• Experience leveraging AI tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code) for prototyping and development acceleration.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct user research, gather insights, and translate them into actionable design solutions.

• Excellent problem-solving skills with a capacity to simplify complex user journeys.

• Strong judgment and decision-making abilities, particularly in making design tradeoffs.

• Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments and drive projects forward independently.

• Craftsmanship with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to high-quality execution.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the creator economy or SaaS platforms serving entrepreneurs is a plus.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working in 6-week cycles.

• Experience with user testing and iterating based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on technical literacy and AI tool proficiency is a significant differentiator for this role, indicating a forward-thinking design team. The "generalist with range" requirement suggests a need for adaptability and a broad skillset beyond core UI/UX. The implied experience level of 5-10 years suggests that candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in leading design initiatives and mentoring junior designers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of design projects that showcase end-to-end ownership, from problem definition to shipped product.

• Case studies demonstrating the ability to simplify complexity and create intuitive user experiences.

• Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, highlighting consistency and scalability.

• Projects that illustrate collaboration with engineering and the use of technical tools for prototyping or implementation.

• Demonstrations of how user research and empathy-building directly informed design decisions and outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate the design process followed for each project, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.

• Document the rationale behind key design decisions and tradeoffs made throughout the project lifecycle.

• Showcase how design systems were utilized or evolved to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Provide insights into how collaboration with engineering and other stakeholders was managed.

• Quantify the impact of design solutions where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, or business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "shipping working software" and using AI for prototyping, the portfolio should strongly feature examples of rapid iteration and technical execution. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process, highlighting how they leverage tools and collaborate to deliver tangible results quickly. Demonstrating an understanding of Kajabi's target audience ("Heroes") and their business needs will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 USD per year (base salary) + bonus.

Benefits:

• Competitive full-time salary and bonus eligibility.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, with company-paid premiums for employees and their families.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% company match.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Fitness and wellness perks.

• Access to mental health resources.

• In-office lunches provided on collaboration days.

• Opportunities for leadership growth and professional development.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with an expectation of regular onsite presence in the Irvine, CA office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in the Irvine, CA area, especially for a well-funded SaaS company like Kajabi. The comprehensive benefits package, including family coverage and a strong 401(k) match, reflects a commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security. The expectation of 5 days a week onsite means candidates should factor in commute time and local cost of living when evaluating this offer.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: SaaS, Creator Economy, Online Education, Business Software. Kajabi provides an all-in-one platform for creators to build and monetize their online businesses, serving a significant market of entrepreneurs and educators.

Company Size: Kajabi is a well-established company, likely falling into the mid-to-large size range for tech companies (implied by competitive benefits and structured processes). The company description suggests a recent shift in leadership with renewed ambition.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the description implies a period of growth and evolution, with recent leadership changes indicating a dynamic and ambitious phase for the company.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a broader Product and Engineering organization.

• Designers collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Marketing and Sales teams.

• The structure supports agile development cycles (6-week sprints), suggesting a focus on cross-functional, empowered teams.

Methodology:

• Agile development with 6-week cycles is a core methodology.

• Emphasis on shipping working software and rapid iteration.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the focus on user feedback and business outcomes.

• Design system utilization promotes consistency and efficiency across the platform.

• AI tools are integrated into the workflow for faster prototyping and development.

Company Website: www.kajabi.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Kajabi's mission to empower creators ("Heroes") is central to its culture. The recent leadership change suggests a period of renewed strategic focus and ambition. The company operates in a competitive space, requiring a culture that values innovation, speed, and a deep understanding of customer needs. The "craftsperson" and "generalist" descriptors for the designer role indicate a desire for individuals who are both skilled and adaptable.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior Product Designer." This implies a level of expertise where individuals are expected to lead design efforts for significant product areas, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the strategic direction of the product's user experience. They are not just executing tasks but shaping solutions and processes.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their project teams.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts the user experience of Kajabi's "Heroes," influencing their ability to build and grow their businesses. This translates directly to customer retention, acquisition, and overall platform success. The design directly supports Kajabi's core value proposition: empowering creators.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design roles, overseeing teams and strategy.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, user research, or interaction design.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Experience gained in product strategy and execution can open doors to Product Management or GTM roles.

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

• Learning & Development: Access to industry conferences, workshops, and internal training to stay abreast of design trends and tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with the emphasis on end-to-end ownership and evolving the design system, suggests significant autonomy and influence. Growth opportunities likely involve taking on more complex projects, leading design initiatives, and potentially moving into management or specialized expert tracks within the design organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description implies a hybrid or collaborative office environment, with a strong emphasis on in-office presence. The mention of "In-office lunches, collaboration days" reinforces this.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Irvine, CA. Relocation support is offered for strong candidates.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment where designers work closely with engineering and product teams.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Figma, Cursor, and Claude Code.

• The office setting is designed to foster teamwork, ideation, and immediate feedback loops.

• Expectation of regular in-person interaction for brainstorming, design reviews, and day-to-day problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with the understanding that some flexibility might exist, but the primary expectation is 5 days per week in the Irvine office. The agile methodology suggests a structured cadence for work within the week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5 days a week in the Irvine office is a significant factor. This indicates a company culture that values face-to-face interaction, spontaneous collaboration, and a strong sense of team cohesion. Candidates should be prepared for a fully in-office experience and consider the implications for their daily routine and work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you'll present your work, detailing your process, decisions, and impact. Expect to discuss 2-3 key projects.

• Technical/Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and proficiency with tools.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: A final discussion focusing on your experience, career aspirations, and how you align with Kajabi's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, technical proficiency (especially with AI tools), and ability to drive impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the challenges, your process, the solutions you designed, the tradeoffs you made, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Technical Skills: Specifically call out your experience with Figma, Cursor, Claude Code, and how you leveraged these tools to prototype and ship.

• Showcase Design System Contributions: If applicable, detail your involvement in building or evolving design systems and how they contributed to consistency.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Describe how you worked with engineers and product managers, and how you incorporated their feedback.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).

Challenge Preparation:

• If a live challenge is given, focus on understanding the problem thoroughly before jumping into solutions.

• If a take-home challenge is provided, manage your time effectively to deliver a polished, well-reasoned response.

• Be prepared to articulate your design rationale clearly and concisely.

• Show how you would make complexity feel simple and how you would ensure consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping working software" and using AI tools means interviewers will likely probe deeply into how candidates leverage technology to accelerate their design and development cycles. The portfolio review is critical; candidates should be ready to demonstrate not just what they designed, but how they designed it, why they made certain decisions, and the impact it had, with a clear link to Kajabi's audience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (core tool), Cursor (AI-powered code editor for prototyping), Claude Code (AI assistant for code and design).

• Design Systems: Experience with creating, maintaining, and utilizing design systems.

• Collaboration Tools: Likely includes tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, or similar for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While this role is in Product Design, an understanding of the Kajabi platform's CRM and automation features would be advantageous for designing features that effectively serve creators' business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Cursor and Claude Code alongside Figma is a strong indicator of Kajabi's commitment to leveraging AI for rapid prototyping and development. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and enthusiasm for using these tools to bridge the gap between design and code.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship: A deep commitment to quality, detail, and creating exceptional user experiences.

• Customer Focus: An obsession with understanding and serving the needs of Kajabi's "Heroes" (creators).

• Innovation & Speed: A drive to take "big swings," ship fast, and iterate quickly, leveraging modern tools like AI.

• Simplicity: The ability to distill complexity into intuitive and elegant solutions.

• Collaboration: Working closely and effectively with engineering, product, and other teams.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering tangible results and building products that matter.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, working in agile sprints.

• Open Communication: Regular interaction, feedback loops, and a willingness to discuss and debate design decisions respectfully.

• Empathy-Driven: A culture that values understanding the customer's perspective and advocating for their needs.

• Iterative Process: Embracing feedback and continuous improvement as core to the design and development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be ambitious, fast-paced, and deeply rooted in empowering its users. The emphasis on "craftsmanship" alongside "shipping fast" suggests a balance between quality and velocity. Candidates who thrive in environments that value both detail and rapid execution will be a good fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Craftsmanship and Speed: Meeting Kajabi's ambition to "ship fast" while maintaining a high level of design polish and detail.

• Simplifying Complexity: Translating the multifaceted needs of online entrepreneurs into intuitive and manageable user experiences.

• Evolving Design System: Continuously developing and scaling the design system to support new features and maintain platform consistency across web and mobile.

• Technical Integration: Effectively collaborating with engineers and leveraging AI tools to ensure designs are feasible and efficiently implemented.

• Ambiguity: Navigating loosely defined problems and driving clear outcomes without constant direction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Deepening expertise in using AI tools like Cursor and Claude Code to enhance design and prototyping workflows.

• Design System Leadership: Taking on greater responsibility in defining and evolving Kajabi's design system.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product strategy, engineering processes, and the business needs of creators.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of design innovation, particularly in areas of AI-assisted design and creator economy platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a growing tech company focused on innovation. The opportunities for learning are particularly strong in the area of AI-assisted design, which is a key differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach these challenges and leverage growth opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to make significant tradeoffs between design quality and development speed. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Kajabi that needs to feel both powerful and simple to use for a creator who isn't highly technical?"

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or building a design system. What are the key considerations for scalability and adoption?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Kajabi's mission to empower creators, and how does that resonate with your own design philosophy?"

• "How do you see yourself contributing to Kajabi's culture of innovation and shipping fast?"

• "Describe your experience working in an agile environment with 6-week sprints. What are the key elements of successful collaboration in such a setting?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of the project, clearly state the problem and your role, detail your process step-by-step, showcase key design decisions and iterations (especially those involving AI tools), highlight collaboration, and conclude with the measurable impact.

• Highlight AI Integration: For relevant projects, explicitly demonstrate how tools like Cursor and Claude Code were used to accelerate prototyping, refine code, or explore design variations.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If exact metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impact or qualitative feedback.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific design choices, the tradeoffs you made, and how you would iterate further.

• Showcase Craftsmanship: Ensure your presentation materials themselves are polished and well-designed, reflecting your attention to detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate not only strong design skills but also a strategic mindset, technical aptitude, and a cultural fit with Kajabi's fast-paced, creator-focused environment. Be prepared to articulate your thought process, defend your design decisions, and showcase your ability to deliver results efficiently using modern tools.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on rippling.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, AI tool proficiency (Cursor, Claude Code), design system experience, and impact on user experience. Focus on case studies that show how you simplified complexity.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-10 years of relevant experience, highlighting achievements in product design, collaboration with engineering, and any experience with creator economy platforms or SaaS. Use keywords like "Product Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Prototyping," "AI Tools," and "User Research."

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, quantifying impact, and explaining your design rationale for key decisions. Prepare for behavioral questions about collaboration, problem-solving, and working in agile environments.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kajabi's platform, its target audience ("Heroes"), recent company news, and its mission. Understand how your design skills can directly contribute to empowering creators and the company's growth objectives.

⚠️ 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.