Senior Product Designer

OpenEye
Full-time$110k-130k/year (USD)Liberty Lake, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: OpenEye

Location: Liberty Lake, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: February 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the end-to-end design of complex user experiences for OpenEye's product suite, focusing on critical features and significant improvements.

  • Apply user-centered design principles and rigorous user research methodologies to solve challenging problems and deliver measurable usability enhancements.

  • Drive the creation of intuitive, accessible, and polished user interfaces from initial discovery and validation through detailed design and final delivery.

  • Contribute to the strategic development and evolution of OpenEye's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product touchpoints.

  • Foster strong partnerships with Product Management and Engineering teams to align design solutions with customer needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for leadership in design initiatives, independent project ownership, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The focus on "complex user experiences" and "challenging problems" suggests the need for a strategic thinker capable of tackling intricate design challenges within a technical product environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Spearhead the complete design lifecycle for key product features and enhancements, from initial concept and user research to final implementation and iteration.

  • Conduct comprehensive user research, including discovery interviews, usability testing sessions, and ongoing customer engagement to validate hypotheses and uncover deep user needs.

  • Develop detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs that meet engineering readiness standards and clearly communicate design intent.

  • Actively contribute to and help evolve OpenEye's design system, ensuring consistency, maintainability, and scalability of design patterns and components across the product portfolio.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Management to define product vision, requirements, and roadmaps, and partner with Engineering to ensure designs are technically feasible and effectively implemented.

  • Champion usability, accessibility, and overall design quality throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for user needs in all cross-functional discussions.

  • Articulate and defend design decisions to diverse stakeholders, clearly presenting rationale, user benefits, and alignment with business objectives.

  • Mentor and guide junior Product Designers, offering expertise in research methodologies, design approaches, and the pursuit of craft excellence.

  • Conduct thorough design reviews to ensure adherence to established design standards, usability principles, and accessibility guidelines.

  • Stay abreast of the latest UX trends, interaction patterns, and emerging technologies to infuse innovative thinking and best practices into product challenges.

  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the design team and product development efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The emphasis on "end-to-end design," "user research," and "design system evolution" points to a role that requires a holistic understanding of the product development process and a commitment to building scalable design solutions. Mentoring responsibilities suggest a need for strong leadership and communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

  • User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design methodologies throughout the product development lifecycle.

  • User Research: Proven experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, including study design, usability testing, interviews, and synthesizing findings into actionable design recommendations.

  • High-Fidelity Designs & Prototyping: Expertise in creating detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and polished high-fidelity UI designs using industry-standard tools.

  • Design System Contribution: Experience contributing to, maintaining, or evolving design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability of UI components and patterns.

  • Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate design rationale, present design solutions effectively, and collaborate productively with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders.

  • Agile Development: Familiarity and experience working within Agile or iterative software development environments.

  • Modern Design Tools: Proficiency with contemporary design and prototyping software such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

  • Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of accessibility principles and familiarity with WCAG guidelines to ensure inclusive design practices.

Preferred Skills:

  • Design System Leadership: Experience leading the development or strategic direction of a design system for enterprise software or complex SaaS products.

  • AI/ML Design: Experience designing user interfaces for AI-driven features, conversational interfaces, or intelligent systems.

  • Domain Expertise: Familiarity with IP video, physical security systems, business intelligence platforms, IoT technologies, or related technical domains.

  • Design Advocacy: A track record of influencing product strategy and decisions through compelling research insights and persuasive design advocacy.

  • Mentorship: Proven experience mentoring or coaching junior designers, fostering their professional growth and skill development.

  • Software Engineering Practices: Understanding of modern software engineering practices, development workflows, and the technical constraints involved in product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-7+ years" requirement, coupled with the "Senior" title, indicates a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy and provide design leadership. The extensive list of required skills, particularly in user research, design systems, and collaboration, suggests a comprehensive understanding of the product design process is paramount. Preferred skills in AI/ML and specific industry domains point towards potential future growth areas for the company.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • User-Centered Process Showcase: Demonstrate a clear and consistent user-centered design process across multiple projects, detailing discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration phases.

  • Problem-Solution Narrative: Present case studies that clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge, your role in addressing it, the design solutions developed, and the impact achieved.

  • Research & Validation Evidence: Include examples of user research conducted (e.g., usability testing plans and findings, interview summaries) and how these insights directly informed design decisions.

  • High-Fidelity Design Examples: Showcase polished, high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that exemplify strong UI craft, interaction design principles, and attention to detail.

  • System Thinking: If applicable, demonstrate contributions to or understanding of design systems, component libraries, and pattern applications for scalable product design.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you approach designing and optimizing complex user workflows, ensuring efficiency and intuitive navigation.

  • System Implementation & Integration: Be able to articulate your experience integrating designs into development workflows and collaborating with engineering on implementation details, including any experience with design system implementation.

  • Measurement & Performance Analysis: Discuss how you measure the success of your designs post-launch, referencing metrics related to usability, engagement, or conversion, and how you use data to inform future iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical and should go beyond just showcasing final designs. It needs to demonstrate a deep understanding of the process behind the design, including research, strategy, and collaboration. The emphasis on "complex software applications" implies a need for portfolios that tackle intricate problems, not just simple UI refreshes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

  • Opportunities for professional development, including training and conference attendance.

  • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

  • Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) with potential company match.

  • Access to and contribution towards OpenEye's evolving design system.

  • Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options.

Working Hours:

  • Standard 40-hour work week.

  • Potential for flexibility in daily scheduling, with core hours expected for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $110,000 - $130,000 USD aligns with a Senior Product Designer role in a location like Liberty Lake, Washington, considering the stated experience level (5-7+ years) and the nature of the company's industry (technology/SaaS). This range is competitive for experienced designers in mid-sized tech markets. The benefits listed are typical for a full-time role in the US tech sector, with a specific mention of design system access, which is a valuable perk for designers.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software (specifically, IP video and physical security solutions).

Company Size: OpenEye is a growing technology company, likely falling into the mid-size category based on typical Greenhouse ATS usage for roles like this. This size often means a balance between established processes and the agility to implement change.

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company's focus on IP video and security suggests a history of innovation in a specialized technological field.

Team Structure:

  • Product Design Team: The Senior Product Designer will likely be part of a dedicated Product Design or UX team, reporting to a Design Lead or Head of Product. This team will collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect close partnerships with Product Managers to define strategy and requirements, and with Software Engineers throughout the development lifecycle to ensure design feasibility and quality implementation. There may also be interaction with Marketing, Sales, and Customer Support teams for user insights and product understanding.

  • Agile Environment: The role operates within Agile or iterative development cycles, requiring designers to be adaptable, communicative, and responsive to feedback.

Methodology:

  • User-Centric Approach: OpenEye emphasizes solving real customer needs, driven by user research and validation.

  • Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated, a modern tech company like OpenEye likely uses data analytics to inform product decisions and measure design impact.

  • Iterative Development: Design work is integrated into iterative development sprints, allowing for continuous refinement and feedback loops.

  • Design System Utilization: The company invests in and utilizes a design system to ensure consistency and efficiency in product development.

Company Website: openeye.net

📝 Enhancement Note: OpenEye operates in the specialized field of IP video and physical security. This implies a need for designers to understand complex technical systems and potentially user interfaces that monitor and control physical environments. The "Senior" title suggests the company values experienced individuals who can lead by example and contribute to strategic product direction within this technical domain.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Senior Product Designer," indicating an individual contributor role with significant responsibility. It sits above entry-level or mid-level designer positions and requires a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and leadership potential. The scope involves leading design for complex features and potentially influencing product strategy.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Manager, Director of Product Design, or Head of Product. They would work within a product team structure, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's impact is measured by their ability to translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, effective, and scalable product experiences. This directly influences user adoption, customer satisfaction, product usability, and ultimately, the success and revenue generation of OpenEye's products in the competitive security technology market.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Track: Potential to advance to Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Product Design roles, managing teams and setting design strategy.

  • Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as AI/ML design, complex enterprise workflows, or leading design system initiatives.

  • Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic influence across Product Management and Engineering, becoming a key partner in product vision and roadmap development.

  • Skill Enhancement: Continuous learning through industry conferences, workshops, and internal mentorship programs focused on advanced UX research, interaction design, and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a path towards leadership or deep specialization. Candidates should look for opportunities to demonstrate strategic thinking and influence beyond individual design tasks. The company's industry also presents a unique growth area for designers interested in technical domains like IP video and security.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role, indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration, spontaneous discussions, and team building.

Office Location(s): Liberty Lake, Washington. This location is in the Spokane metropolitan area, offering a specific regional context for the work environment.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hub: The on-site nature fosters a collaborative atmosphere where designers can easily interact with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders, facilitating rapid feedback and problem-solving.

  • Tooling and Technology: Access to modern design and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) is expected, along with company-provided hardware and software necessary for design work.

  • Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities within the design and product development teams.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is indicated, typical for full-time roles. While on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start and end times, but core hours are likely expected to ensure team availability for collaboration and meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role suggests OpenEye values in-person collaboration and team synergy. Candidates should consider how they thrive in this type of environment and be prepared to discuss their experiences with collaborative on-site work, especially in the context of complex software development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience and qualifications.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through 1-3 key case studies. This is a critical step where you'll explain your design process, research methodologies, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your role and contributions in detail.

  • Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve a design exercise, a whiteboard challenge, or in-depth questions about UX principles, research methods, design systems, and your proficiency with design tools.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Management and Engineering representatives to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to work effectively within an Agile team.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic fit, leadership potential, and overall cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 projects that best showcase your skills in user-centered design, problem-solving, and delivering impact, particularly those involving complex software or similar domains.

  • Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the solution, and the measurable outcomes.

  • Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your responsibilities and contributions, especially in team projects. Use "I" when describing your actions and "we" when discussing team efforts.

  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) effectively to illustrate your process and solutions.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics, data, or user feedback that demonstrates the success and impact of your designs.

  • Address the "Why": Be ready to articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Design Exercise: If a take-home assignment is given, allocate sufficient time to thoroughly address the prompt, focusing on process and rationale. If it's a live exercise, practice thinking aloud and structuring your approach to problem-solving.

  • System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you'd approach designing for a complex system or contributing to an existing design system.

  • Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions and trade-offs clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions from Product and Engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "complex user experiences" and "challenging problems" in the job description suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate strategic thinking and a robust problem-solving process in their portfolio and during interviews. A strong understanding of how to integrate with Product Management and Engineering in an Agile setting will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Expected to be a primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration, given its industry prevalence.

  • Sketch: Another strong possibility for UI design and prototyping, often used in conjunction with other tools.

  • Adobe XD: May also be used for UI design and prototyping, especially if the team has existing workflows or expertise.

  • Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma/Sketch/XD, specific prototyping tools like InVision or Principle might be relevant for advanced interaction design.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics for tracking user behavior and design impact.

  • Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI could be beneficial for analyzing and presenting design-related data.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems: While not a direct design tool, understanding CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) can provide context for user workflows within business applications.

  • Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello are essential for working within Agile development teams.

  • Design System Management Tools: Platforms like Zeroheight or Abstract might be used for managing design system documentation and version control.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is a must. The mention of "design system" implies a need for candidates who understand how to work with, contribute to, or even help build and manage such systems, often involving specialized tools or platforms beyond core design software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User Advocacy: A core value is championing the user's needs and experience, ensuring that design decisions are always grounded in user research and empathy.

  • Craftsmanship & Quality: A commitment to high standards in design execution, attention to detail, and delivering polished, intuitive user interfaces.

  • Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships with Product Management and Engineering, fostering an environment of shared ownership and mutual respect.

  • Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging the exploration of new ideas, technologies, and design approaches to continuously enhance product value and user experience.

  • Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing data and research insights to guide design strategies and measure the effectiveness of solutions.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: The design team is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, participating in all stages of the product development lifecycle.

  • Iterative Feedback Loops: An open culture of providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs, design systems, and user research findings.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share best practices, learnings, and insights through design critiques, documentation, and informal discussions.

  • Problem-Solving Focus: A collective drive to tackle complex challenges with creative and effective design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user focus, technical execution, and collaborative teamwork. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values in their daily work, particularly in how they partner with engineers and product managers to deliver effective solutions in a technical domain.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for Complexity: The nature of IP video and security systems can present intricate technical challenges and user workflows that require deep understanding and elegant design solutions.

  • Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively navigating the trade-offs between ideal user experiences and the technical realities or business goals of a specialized software product.

  • Evolving Design System: Contributing to and evolving a design system in a growing company requires strategic thinking, scalability considerations, and strong stakeholder buy-in.

  • Mentoring and Leadership: Stepping into a senior role involves not only design execution but also guiding junior designers, which requires strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

  • Staying Current: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in UX design, AI, and the specific technology domain of security solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced UX/UI Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like interaction design, prototyping complex systems, or user research methodologies.

  • Design System Leadership: Potential to take on more responsibility in the strategy, governance, and expansion of the company's design system.

  • Domain Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in IP video, physical security, or IoT technologies, which can be a valuable niche skill.

  • Leadership and Mentorship: Developing coaching and leadership skills through mentoring junior designers, potentially leading design initiatives or feature teams.

  • Industry Exposure: Attending relevant design or technology conferences to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented highlight the need for a designer who is not only skilled in craft but also strategic, adaptable, and capable of leadership. The growth opportunities suggest a company that invests in its employees' development and offers clear paths for career advancement within the design and product functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex feature. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, autonomy, and impact.)

  • "How do you approach user research for a new product or feature? Walk us through your methodology and how you translate research into design decisions." (Highlight research rigor and user-centricity.)

  • "Tell us about your experience contributing to or managing a design system. What are the key principles, and how do you ensure its adoption and evolution?" (Demonstrate system thinking and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Based on what you know about OpenEye and the security technology industry, what do you see as the biggest design challenges or opportunities for our products?" (Demonstrate research and industry understanding.)

  • "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers in an Agile environment? Describe your ideal working relationship." (Assess collaboration and Agile experience.)

  • "What does 'design quality' mean to you, and how do you ensure it in your work and within a team?" (Understand your definition of excellence and leadership.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), the final solution, and the measurable impact/outcomes.

  • Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: While polished visuals are important, emphasize the why behind your decisions, the user insights that drove them, and the trade-offs you made.

  • Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs.

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and your problem-solving approach.

  • Showcase Your Seniority: Highlight instances where you took initiative, led projects, mentored others, or influenced product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice should focus on demonstrating senior-level capabilities: leadership, strategic thinking, deep understanding of process, and the ability to influence product direction. Candidates should be ready to articulate their value proposition beyond just design execution, emphasizing problem-solving and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex software, user-centered design processes, user research, and design system contributions. Focus on 2-3 strong case studies that align with OpenEye's industry and product focus.

  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-7+ years of relevant experience, using keywords from the job description such as "User-Centered Design," "User Research," "Design System," "Figma," and "Agile." Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, research findings, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, and be ready to present your portfolio confidently.

  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with OpenEye's products, target market (IP video, security), and any available information on their company culture and values. Understand the context of the industry you'd be designing for.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have 5-7+ years of professional UX/product design experience, supported by a strong portfolio demonstrating user-centered processes and high-quality UI for complex software. Essential requirements include proven user research capabilities, proficiency with modern design tools, and strong collaboration skills.