Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Major League Baseball

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: April 21, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design strategy and execution for the Baseball Data and Gameday experiences, focusing on innovative data visualization for millions of fans.

• Drive the creation of new features and products that enhance the live game experience, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers.

• Champion a fan-focused approach to product design, contributing to the Basepath design system and ensuring delightful user interactions across the MLB digital ecosystem.

• Lead and mentor junior designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into product strategy, user experience research, and cross-functional leadership, indicating a role with significant impact beyond typical UI design. The focus on "Baseball Data and Gameday experiences" suggests a deep dive into sports analytics and real-time fan engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Reimagine and visualize scores, stats, and baseball data to create engaging and insightful experiences for millions of fans across digital platforms.

• Partner with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers to define problem spaces, shape product strategy, and deliver user-facing solutions that redefine fan interaction with baseball.

• Collaborate with the design systems team to evolve and expand the Basepath product design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across all MLB products.

• Conduct foundational and iterative user research, partnering with researchers or leading efforts, to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Drive the design process from ideation through delivery, leveraging a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and a "show, don't tell" approach through prototyping and visualization.

• Actively participate in design reviews, providing constructive feedback and receiving insights to continuously improve work quality.

• Lead and mentor other designers on the team, fostering a collaborative environment and sharing best practices in product design and user experience.

• Expand focus across the broader suite of MLB products to support business initiatives and identify new, creative ways to delight fans.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute but also strategize and lead. The emphasis on "Baseball Data and the Gameday experiences" and "reimagine how scores, stats, and data are visualized" points to a specialized role within sports analytics and real-time engagement design. The mention of leading and mentoring suggests a senior-level individual contributor role with leadership expectations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5+ years of experience in digital Product Design or User Experience Design, with a focus on consumer, gaming, or streaming media products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product design, from ideation through delivery, with a strong portfolio showcasing shipped products.

• Proficiency in both UX research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative insights) and visual design principles.

• Experience designing for complex data sets and creating effective data visualizations.

• Strong understanding of baseball, including its statistics, rules, and the nuances of the game.

• Ability to work independently from ideation to delivery, leveraging a design system.

• "Show, don't tell" mentality, with a strong inclination to prototype and visualize ideas to advance the work.

• Systems thinking capability, understanding how individual designs integrate into a larger digital ecosystem.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions to diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with content tooling and design systems (e.g., contributing to or expanding them).

• Familiarity with MLB products such as MLB.TV.

• Experience in interactive product design.

• A deep passion for baseball and a keen eye for detail in fan experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "good understanding of baseball and the numbers and insights behind the game" is a critical differentiator. The blend of UX research, visual design, and data visualization skills is essential, as is the ability to mentor. The portfolio must demonstrate data-centric and user-centric decision-making.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing shipped consumer, gaming, or streaming media products, with a strong emphasis on data-centric and user-centric decision-making.

• Demonstrate the ability to translate complex data and baseball statistics into intuitive and engaging user experiences.

• Include case studies that detail your design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, and final implementation.

• Highlight your contributions to design systems, specifically mentioning experience with Basepath or similar systems, and how you've driven consistency and efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of your workflow for taking a product from concept to launch, detailing research methodologies, design iterations, and user testing phases.

• Illustrate your approach to problem-solving, particularly for challenges involving data visualization and enhancing live game experiences.

• Demonstrate how you've used both qualitative and quantitative insights to inform and iterate on your designs.

• Showcase your ability to articulate the "why" behind your design choices, supported by data and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It needs to clearly exhibit the candidate's ability to handle complex data, understand user needs in a sports context, and drive projects to completion with a strong emphasis on detailed execution. Case studies should explicitly detail the problem, your process, and the measurable impact of your design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,000 (Base Salary) + Bonus

Benefits:

• Competitive Benefits Package

• Company Contributed 401K Plan

• Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Paid Parental Leave

• Access to Free Tickets to Baseball Games & MLB.TV

• Discounts at MLB Store | MLBShop.com

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

• Onsite/Online Training & Development Programs

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)

• Life and Accidental Death Insurance

• Pet Insurance

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time)

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided for a base salary, with the potential for a bonus. The benefits package is extensive, including unique perks like MLB.TV access and game tickets, which are highly attractive for sports enthusiasts. The standard 40-hour work week is typical, though flexibility may be expected for project deadlines.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports & Entertainment, Media, Technology

Company Size: Large (Over 1,000 employees)

Founded: 1903 (Major League Baseball as an entity)

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is described as a "lean group that overlaps frequently," implying a highly collaborative and integrated structure.

• Designers are expected to collaborate broadly across product challenges, with permeable boundaries between teams, suggesting a cross-functional and agile environment.

Methodology:

• The team practices a "fan focused approach to Product Design," emphasizing user research and understanding fan needs.

• Investment in design systems (Basepath) and content tooling is a core part of their methodology, ensuring scalable and consistent design solutions.

• Designers are encouraged to conduct their own research and collaborate with researchers to support iterative solutions.

• A "show, don't tell" approach, through prototyping and visualization, is fundamental to pushing work forward and communicating ideas.

Company Website: https://www.mlb.com/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: MLB's culture emphasizes growth, teamwork, and professionalism. They seek initiative-takers who can identify problems and provide solutions, with a "Team first" mentality. The organization aims to empower its employees, referred to as "workforce athletes," by creating an environment where they can succeed. The design team's methodology is clearly user-centric, data-driven, and collaborative, with a strong reliance on design systems.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor with potential for leadership.

Reporting Structure: Reports to Design leadership, works closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The role has significant potential to impact fan engagement and the perception of baseball through innovative digital experiences. By shaping how fans interact with data and the live game, this role directly influences user satisfaction and potentially drives engagement with MLB's digital products and services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in data visualization, sports analytics design, and user research within the unique context of baseball. Potential to lead design initiatives for major product launches.

• Leadership Development: Direct experience in leading and mentoring junior designers, with potential for future management or principal designer roles.

• Industry Exposure: Work at the forefront of sports and media technology, contributing to a globally recognized brand and shaping the future of fan engagement. Potential to influence the broader Basepath design system.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gain deep insights into product management, engineering processes, and user research within a large, established organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth, moving from a senior individual contributor to a potential leadership role within the design team. The unique focus on baseball data and fan experience provides specialized growth opportunities not found in general product design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site

Office Location(s): New York, New York

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is described as collaborative, with permeable boundaries between teams, suggesting an open and integrated workspace.

• Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers, indicating a highly cross-functional and team-oriented setup.

• Access to MLB's digital ecosystem and design systems (Basepath) will be integral to the daily workspace.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for project-driven flexibility. The on-site nature facilitates spontaneous collaboration, design critiques, and team-building activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in New York suggests a dynamic office environment conducive to the collaborative and integrated work style described. This setting is ideal for the frequent design reviews and cross-functional interactions expected in this role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and fit with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies related to data visualization, user-centric design, and problem-solving.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise to evaluate design thinking, problem-solving skills, and approach to specific design challenges, potentially related to baseball data or fan experience.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking.

• Leadership/Final Interview: Meeting with senior design leadership to discuss vision, mentorship capabilities, and overall fit with the team and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your expertise in data visualization, user experience design for consumer products, and ideally, experience with sports or media.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Be ready to discuss your understanding of baseball statistics and how you would approach visualizing them for different fan segments.

• Highlight instances where you've contributed to or leveraged design systems like Basepath.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate challenges that might involve designing for real-time data, complex statistical information, or enhancing the live in-stadium/at-home viewing experience.

• Practice articulating your design thinking process clearly and concisely, focusing on user needs and business objectives.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach a design problem with limited information, or how you would validate assumptions through research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process and strategic thinking, especially concerning data and fan engagement in the context of baseball. Preparing specific examples of data visualization and user-centric problem-solving will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP (or similar prototyping tools).

• User Research: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Google Analytics, Amplitude, Hotjar (or similar analytics and heat-mapping tools).

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

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with tools for analyzing user behavior, A/B testing results, and performance metrics (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).

• Familiarity with data visualization libraries or tools that might integrate with front-end development.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data feeds into broader systems and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools is a given. The key here is the understanding and application of data visualization tools and user analytics platforms to inform design decisions, especially for data-heavy products. Familiarity with design systems is also a strong plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Fan-Centricity: A core value driving all design decisions, aiming to delight and engage fans in every touchpoint.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasized through "permeable boundaries" and a "team first mentality." Designers are expected to work closely and support each other.

• Excellence & Detail Obsession: A drive for high-quality work, with a focus on ensuring all details are thought through for realized ideas.

• Innovation & Vision: Encouraging new and creative ways to enhance the baseball experience and shape its future.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights from research and analytics to inform and validate design strategies.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative and integrated, with frequent overlap and cross-functional partnerships.

• Open to feedback and iterative improvements, with regular design reviews and knowledge sharing.

• Emphasis on shared ownership and collective success in delivering exceptional fan experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values individuals who are passionate about baseball, detail-oriented, and collaborative. The "team first" mentality is paramount, suggesting that individual contribution is viewed within the context of team success and overall organizational goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Data Complexity: Designing intuitive interfaces for complex baseball statistics and data visualizations that appeal to both novice and expert fans.

• Balancing Fan Needs: Accommodating diverse fan preferences and levels of engagement across different digital products and experiences.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring design vision is effectively communicated and aligned with Product, Engineering, and business objectives across a large organization.

• Evolving Technology: Staying ahead of trends in digital media, streaming, and interactive experiences to continuously innovate fan engagement.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Deepen expertise in designing for sports analytics, live-event experiences, and fan engagement platforms.

• Leadership Growth: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially grow into management or principal designer roles.

• Industry Exposure: Work with cutting-edge technology and design practices in the sports and entertainment industry.

• Design System Contribution: Play a key role in evolving and expanding the Basepath design system, impacting numerous products and teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a unique opportunity to tackle complex data visualization challenges within a beloved sport. The growth potential is significant, particularly for those looking to combine design leadership with a passion for baseball.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to visualize complex data for a non-technical audience. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on data visualization, user empathy, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for the live Gameday experience that leverages real-time player statistics to enhance fan engagement?" (Focus on problem-solving, ideation, and understanding of baseball.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Major League Baseball's mission to change how fans interact with the game?" (Show passion for baseball and the company's vision.)

• "How do you embody a 'team first' mentality in your design work and collaborations?" (Focus on collaboration, mentorship, and shared success.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation around 2-3 key projects that best showcase your data visualization skills, user-centric approach, and ability to drive projects from concept to completion.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, the key decisions made, and the measurable results or impact.

• Be prepared to discuss your understanding of baseball statistics and how your design choices cater to different fan segments.

• If possible, include examples of how you've contributed to or utilized design systems.

• Practice your narrative to be concise, engaging, and confident, ensuring you clearly communicate the "why" behind your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate a deep understanding of baseball data and fan engagement, alongside strong product design fundamentals. The interview will assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and cultural fit.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the MLB Careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in data visualization, consumer/media product design, and any experience with sports or gaming. Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating user-centric decision-making and a strong grasp of baseball statistics.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 5+ years of experience in product design and UX, emphasizing achievements related to data visualization, user research, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear articulation of your design process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work. Prepare for behavioral questions related to collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving. Familiarize yourself with common baseball statistics and fan engagement concepts.

• Company Research: Understand MLB's mission, values, and current digital products. Research the Basepath design system if possible. This will help in articulating your alignment with the company culture and role 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.

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