Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, AI Foundations

Company: onX

Location: Missoula, Montana, United States (and various remote/hybrid options)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX Design (with a focus on AI and Emerging Technologies)

Date Posted: February 23, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years (Mid-Senior to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote Eligible (with specific location requirements/preferences)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and development of foundational AI-enabled user experiences within a digital outdoor navigation product ecosystem.

• Define and influence core interaction models, experience principles, and reusable design patterns for AI integration across products.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Research to translate emerging AI capabilities into intuitive, trustworthy, and customer-centric solutions.

• Drive innovation in ambiguous, 0-1 problem spaces by exploring, testing, and refining AI-driven workflows that address meaningful user needs.

• Elevate AI fluency within the design organization by modeling thoughtful adoption and sharing best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on "AI Foundations," indicating a strategic, forward-looking position aimed at establishing the core design principles and interaction models for AI within onX's product suite. This is distinct from a role that merely applies existing AI features. The emphasis on "ambiguous spaces" and "0-1 environments" suggests a need for strong strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to define new design paradigms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead design initiatives for early-stage AI-enabled problem spaces, establishing interaction models, defining experience boundaries, and translating complex AI capabilities into intuitive and usable customer interfaces.

• Drive iterative design cycles that prioritize rapid learning and signal in initial phases, while also contributing to durable UX foundations and reusable design patterns for broader AI adoption.

• Apply systems thinking to identify and mitigate downstream effects, edge cases, failure modes, and trust implications associated with AI-enhanced features.

• Collaborate with Product and Engineering to clarify trade-offs, constraints, and ensure responsible AI usage in customer-facing workflows.

• Conduct lightweight user research, including interviews and usability testing, and partner with dedicated UX Researchers for in-depth investigations.

• Actively contribute to the AI fluency of the design team by demonstrating practical AI tool usage in design workflows, articulating strengths/limitations, and modeling responsible adoption.

• Develop and document shared patterns, principles, and guidance that support the wider product organization's AI integration efforts.

• Influence the strategic direction of AI product development through clear articulation of user needs, design opportunities, and potential impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic foresight (defining foundations, systems thinking) and hands-on execution (designing, prototyping, light research). The emphasis on "durable UX foundations" and "shared patterns" suggests a need for a designer who can think holistically about the product ecosystem and contribute to scalable design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for senior-level roles and can demonstrate foundational knowledge.

Experience: Minimum of six (6) years of professional experience in digital product design, with a significant portion spent in ambiguous or "0-1" environments where strategic direction was not fully defined.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing complex digital products and systems.

• Hands-on experience designing AI-assisted, data-informed, or algorithmically driven user experiences.

• Working knowledge of generative AI capabilities, limitations, and their impact on interaction design.

• Strong interaction design and product thinking skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate technically complex capabilities into clear, usable, and trustworthy interfaces.

• Proficiency in applying systems thinking to anticipate consequences and edge cases in complex systems.

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

• Ability to make progress and deliver effectively amidst evolving constraints and imperfect information.

• Demonstrated ability to balance rapid experimentation with thoughtful long-term system design.

• Clear, pragmatic, and persuasive communication and storytelling skills to align cross-functional partners.

• Willingness to share knowledge and mentor others in developing AI design literacy.

• A strong portfolio demonstrating relevant work is mandatory.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience establishing foundational UX patterns, principles, or frameworks that influenced broader design practices within an organization.

• A well-articulated perspective on what constitutes trustworthy, transparent, or poorly executed AI-powered experiences.

• Experience designing systems where user control, reliability, or real-world consequences were critical considerations.

• Experience in map-based or spatially complex digital experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years and experience in "ambiguous or 0-1 environments" points to a senior individual contributor role that demands autonomy and strategic leadership. The emphasis on understanding AI constraints and applying systems thinking is crucial for this specific "AI Foundations" focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex digital product design case studies, with at least one heavily featuring AI-driven or algorithmically influenced experiences.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem space, user needs, and business objectives for each project.

• Highlight your specific role and contributions, especially in defining foundational concepts or navigating ambiguity.

• Detail your design process, including user research, ideation, interaction design, prototyping, and iteration based on feedback.

• For AI-focused projects, explicitly explain how AI capabilities and constraints influenced your design decisions.

• Include examples of how you translated complex technical concepts into intuitive user interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process, from initial problem definition through to final solution and learnings.

• Demonstrate how you leveraged user feedback and data (qualitative and quantitative) to iterate on designs.

• For AI projects, show evidence of how you collaborated with engineering and product to align technical capabilities with user needs.

• Include artifacts such as user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs, with clear explanations of their purpose and evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is critical, especially for a role focused on AI Foundations. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate not just their aesthetic design skills but their strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities in ambiguous contexts, and their understanding of how AI impacts user experience. The emphasis on "foundational" work means showcasing projects where they helped define something new, rather than just executing on established requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $139,000 - $174,000 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 6+ years of experience, particularly those specializing in emerging technologies like AI. Factors influencing placement within the range include depth of AI design experience, proven ability to work in ambiguous environments, portfolio strength, and specific skill alignment. Location can also play a role, though with the remote options, a national benchmark is more applicable.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for an annual bonus (up to 10% based on company performance).

• Grant of common share options with a vesting schedule, offering long-term equity participation.

• Comprehensive health benefits, including a no-monthly-cost medical plan.

• Generous parental leave plan (5 or 13 weeks fully paid).

• 401k matching program (100% for the first 3% saved, 50% from 3-5%).

• Annual "Get Out, Get Active" funds to support an active lifestyle.

• Flexible time away package, including PTO, STO, VTO, quiet weeks, and floating holidays.

• Company-wide outdoor adventures and outdoor industry perks.

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the nature of remote/hybrid work and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation package is robust, including salary, equity, and a significant bonus potential, reflecting the senior level and specialized nature of this AI-focused role. The benefits are comprehensive and align with a company culture that values employee well-being and an active lifestyle.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Outdoor Navigation & Technology. onX is a pioneer in creating digital tools for outdoor enthusiasts, leveraging technology to enhance exploration and access to public lands.

Company Size: Over 400 employees, indicating a mid-to-large size tech company with established processes but still retaining an entrepreneurial spirit.

Founded: Founded in Montana, grounding the company in a passion for the outdoors and a drive for innovation.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the UX Design & Research team, reporting to the Head of UX Design & Research.

• You will be part of the "AI Foundations" team, a specialized group focused on developing core AI capabilities and design principles.

• Close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and UX Research teams is essential.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and a strong emphasis on user needs are core to onX's product development.

• An entrepreneurial ethos, with a focus on ownership, accountability, and teamwork.

• Embraces innovation and believes great ideas can come from anywhere.

• Values diversity and seeks different perspectives to drive growth.

• The AI practice is experimental, focused on learning, refining, and developing best practices.

Company Website: https://www.onxmaps.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: onX's culture is deeply rooted in its outdoor mission, which translates into a passionate, innovative, and team-oriented work environment. The distributed workforce model and the concept of "Basecamps" suggest a deliberate effort to maintain connection and culture across dispersed teams. The "AI Foundations" team implies a strategic investment in cutting-edge technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) role. It offers a significant opportunity to define and shape the future of AI integration within a leading outdoor technology company. The "foundations" aspect implies a strategic, high-impact contribution that can influence multiple product lines.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Head of UX Design & Research, a senior leadership position, indicating direct exposure to leadership and strategic discussions. You will also work closely with the AI Foundations team, suggesting a collaborative, cross-functional reporting dynamic.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly influence the core user experience of onX products, potentially impacting customer engagement, retention, and the acquisition of new users through innovative AI features. By defining foundational AI interaction models, your impact will be scalable across the entire product suite, driving significant business value and competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI/ML product design, becoming a go-to authority within the company and the industry.

• Leadership: Potentially transition into a design lead role for AI initiatives, mentoring junior designers and influencing broader product strategy.

• Influence: Shape the long-term product roadmap and design vision for AI integration at onX.

• Skill Development: Gain experience in cutting-edge AI technologies and user experience paradigms, staying at the forefront of design innovation.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Work closely with senior leaders in Product, Engineering, and Research, broadening strategic understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to be at the forefront of AI integration in a specific, passionate industry. The growth path leans towards deepening expertise and strategic influence rather than immediate management, aligning with a senior IC track.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: onX offers a hybrid work model. Employees can work from corporate offices (Missoula, Bozeman), established "Basecamps" (virtual communities with physical gathering points), or smaller "Connection Hubs." This provides flexibility while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s):

• Corporate Offices: Missoula, Montana; Bozeman, Montana.

• Basecamps (within 90-mile radius): Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Kalispell, MT; Minneapolis, MN; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA.

• Connection Hubs (within 60-mile radius): Boise, ID; Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Richmond, VA; Spokane, WA; Vermont.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The distributed model necessitates strong asynchronous communication skills but also provides opportunities for in-person connection through Basecamps and required travel. Expect collaboration with diverse teams across different geographies and time zones.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools and likely exposure to AI/ML development environments.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with colleagues through virtual channels, in-person Basecamp gatherings, and company-wide events.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is expected, the hybrid/remote nature allows for some flexibility in managing work hours, provided that collaboration with teams across different time zones is maintained. This flexibility is crucial for asynchronous communication and project continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed breakdown of "Basecamps" and "Connection Hubs" is a key differentiator. Candidates should consider their preferred work style and proximity to these established or emerging communities when evaluating the role. The bi-annual travel requirement is essential for maintaining team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess foundational qualifications and AI design experience.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion focused on your background, experience with ambiguous environments, AI design philosophy, and initial fit with the team.

• Portfolio Presentation: A deep dive into 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio. This is where you’ll demonstrate your process, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to translate complex AI concepts into user-friendly designs. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, trade-offs, and outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially UX Research leads to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate AI into product strategy.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, Head of Design) to discuss strategic vision and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on AI: Clearly articulate your understanding of AI's potential and limitations and how this informed your design decisions. For non-AI projects, highlight transferable skills like complex systems design or working in ambiguous spaces.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (flows, wireframes, prototypes, final UIs) to illustrate your thought process and solutions.

• Narrative Arc: Structure each case study with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, iteration, challenges), and end (solution, impact, learnings).

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., user engagement, task completion rates, efficiency gains).

• Explain Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss difficult decisions, compromises made, and why certain approaches were chosen over others.

• AI Fluency: Demonstrate how you used AI tools in your workflow or how you would approach designing with AI capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect design challenges that may involve exploring a new AI-enabled feature, defining interaction patterns for an ambiguous AI problem, or critiquing an existing AI experience.

• Practice articulating your design process concisely and clearly under time pressure.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would gather user feedback and iterate on designs in an AI context.

• Think about how you would ensure AI experiences are trustworthy, transparent, and user-controlled.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is likely the most critical stage. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but why and how, with a strong emphasis on their strategic thinking around AI and ambiguous problems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, as it's industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Framer, or Figma's native prototyping features.

• AI Design Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI tools for design assistance (e.g., Midjourney, Stable Diffusion for ideation, AI-powered wireframing/content generation tools) is a strong plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Understanding of how to work with product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Experience collaborating with data analysts.

CRM & Automation: While not a direct user of CRM/automation tools, understanding how product features integrate with backend systems or customer data platforms is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, Figma is the de facto standard for modern product design teams. Proficiency in AI tools that augment the design workflow is a significant advantage for this role. The emphasis is on understanding how design interacts with data and backend systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for the Outdoors: A genuine interest in outdoor activities and the mission of onX is likely a strong cultural driver.

• Entrepreneurial Ethos: Ownership, accountability, and a drive to win as a team.

• Innovation & Improvement: A hunger to improve, value new ideas, and embrace change.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Winning as a team is paramount; diverse perspectives are valued.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are guided by data and user insights.

• Customer-Centric: Focus on solving meaningful customer problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional: Highly collaborative with Product Management, Engineering, and Research, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Async-First (with sync opportunities): Given the distributed nature, effective asynchronous communication is key, supplemented by scheduled meetings and potential in-person gatherings.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values open feedback for continuous improvement and learning.

• Mentorship: Encouragement to share knowledge and help others grow, particularly in AI design literacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply intertwined with its mission. A candidate who can demonstrate passion for the outdoors, combined with a strong collaborative and innovative spirit, will likely be a good cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity & 0-1 Design: Navigating uncharted territory in AI product design where best practices are still forming. This requires comfort with uncertainty and the ability to define structure.

• Translating Complex AI: Effectively bridging the gap between sophisticated AI capabilities and intuitive user experiences that solve real problems.

• Building Trust in AI: Designing AI features that users find reliable, transparent, and trustworthy, especially in safety-critical contexts like outdoor navigation.

• Balancing Exploration & Foundation: Juggling rapid experimentation with the need to build scalable, durable design patterns and principles.

• AI Fluency Across Teams: Educating and guiding other teams on the effective and responsible use of AI in design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Become a leader in designing AI-powered products within the outdoor tech space.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the long-term product vision and AI strategy of a growing company.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of AI/ML technologies, product management frameworks, and user research methodologies.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending conferences or workshops related to AI, UX, and product design.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and grow leadership skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant intellectual challenges that are also key growth opportunities. The ability to thrive in ambiguity and shape new design paradigms is central to success and professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed for a highly ambiguous or 0-1 problem space. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio).

• "How do you approach designing AI-enabled experiences to ensure they are trustworthy and transparent for users?" (Focus on UI patterns, feedback mechanisms, and user control).

• "Explain the constraints of generative AI and how they might influence interaction design decisions. Provide an example." (Demonstrate technical understanding and design application).

• "How would you go about establishing foundational UX principles for AI integration across multiple products?" (Discuss process, collaboration, and documentation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about onX and our mission to awaken the adventurer in everyone?" (Research the company's values and products).

• "How do you see AI impacting the outdoor technology space?" (Connect your expertise to the company's domain).

• "Describe your experience working in a distributed or hybrid team environment. What are your strategies for effective collaboration?" (Highlight communication and teamwork skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Wisely: Choose 2-3 case studies that best showcase your experience with complex systems, AI (if possible), and navigating ambiguity.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define: the problem, your role, the process, key decisions/trade-offs, the solution, and the impact/learnings.

• Highlight AI Thought Process: If presenting an AI project, explicitly detail how AI capabilities and constraints shaped your design. If not, explain how your transferable skills (e.g., systems thinking, complex problem-solving) are relevant.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, your research methodology, collaboration challenges, and how you measured success.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Time yourself to stay within limits.

• Showcase Artifacts: Prepare to share your wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final designs, explaining the rationale behind each stage.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, AI design literacy, and the ability to translate complex concepts into user-centric solutions, especially within an ambiguous context. The portfolio presentation is the primary vehicle for this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link (via Greenhouse).

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific work in ambiguous/0-1 environments, and any direct experience with AI-assisted or algorithmically driven design. Emphasize skills like interaction design, systems thinking, and user research.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating your design process, problem-solving abilities, and ideally, experience with AI or complex digital systems. Prepare to articulate your role and impact clearly for each project.

• Prepare for AI Discussions: Research current trends in AI product design and be ready to discuss your perspective on trustworthy AI, generative AI capabilities, and their application in user experiences.

• Research onX: Understand their mission, products (especially their mapping technology), and company values. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and mission.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough and answers to common interview questions, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating strategic thinking around AI and complex design challenges.

⚠️ 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.