Senior Product Designer at Smartcat

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Smartcat
Location: Georgia - Remote (United States)
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)
Date Posted: February 19, 2026
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

Drive the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) strategy for a category-defining product in the Agentic AI and multilingual content space.
Act as a strategic partner within empowered product teams, contributing to problem discovery, solution delivery, and overall product strategy.
Champion user-centered design principles through in-depth user research, usability testing, and data-driven validation.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system and style guide to ensure platform-wide consistency and a seamless user journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, implying a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or influence junior designers. The emphasis on Agentic AI and multilingual content suggests a complex, B2B SaaS product requiring a deep understanding of enterprise user needs and workflows. The "Outcomes" section strongly indicates a hands-on role with significant ownership, rather than purely strategic oversight.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Partner deeply with Product Managers and Engineers from problem discovery to solution delivery, contributing to strategy, shaping outcomes, and ensuring exceptional user experience across the Smartcat platform.
Conduct in-depth user research, run usability tests, and gather qualitative and quantitative feedback to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.
Create detailed wireframes, low-fidelity drafts, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders and development teams.
Build, maintain, and evolve a robust design system and style guide, ensuring consistency, scalability, and a seamless, delightful user experience across all product touchpoints.
Deliver high-quality, pixel-perfect UI designs for both web and mobile interfaces, focusing on engagement, usability, and aesthetic appeal.
Iterate rapidly on designs based on user insights, A/B testing results, feedback from cross-functional teams, and evolving project requirements in a fast-paced environment.
Proactively explore, experiment with, and apply new tools and technologies, including AI, to enhance design quality, accelerate prototyping, and deepen user understanding.
Continuously evolve and refine design practices, introducing fresh, creative, and data-informed approaches to complex problem-solving within the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle product design role, emphasizing collaboration with Product Management and Engineering. The inclusion of "Outcomes" and "How You'll Ramp" suggests a structured approach to performance expectations, with clear milestones for learning and contribution within the first 90 days. The emphasis on AI tools indicates a forward-thinking design environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles and would be beneficial.

Experience: 5-10 years of proven experience as a Product Designer, with a strong track record of delivering exceptional user experiences for complex digital products, preferably in a B2B SaaS or enterprise software context.

Required Skills:

Expert-level proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.
Demonstrated expertise in conducting user research (interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry) and usability testing.
Proven ability to create comprehensive wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
Strong experience in building and maintaining design systems, style guides, and component libraries.
Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, heuristics, and best practices.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to diverse audiences (technical and non-technical).
Exceptional collaboration skills, with experience working effectively within cross-functional product teams.
A strong portfolio showcasing industry-standard work, demonstrating problem-solving skills and impact.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with UI animation principles and tools.
Understanding of HTML, CSS, and front-end development processes to facilitate collaboration with engineers.
Experience using AI tools to accelerate design, prototyping, or user research processes.
Data-driven mindset with the ability to leverage analytics, A/B testing results, and user metrics to support design decisions.
Experience in the AI, SaaS, or multilingual content/localization industries.
Curiosity and enthusiasm for experimenting with new tools and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert-level skills in Figma" is a critical filter. The emphasis on a "portfolio that sets the industry standard" suggests a high bar for quality and impact, requiring candidates to showcase not just design execution but also strategic thinking and measurable results. The "plus" skills related to AI and data are increasingly important for forward-thinking design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of the end-to-end product design process, from initial problem definition to final solution delivery.
Case studies that clearly articulate the user problem, your design process, key decisions made, and the measurable impact of your solutions (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user engagement, reduced task completion time).
Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs that showcase your design capabilities.
Demonstrations of your experience with design systems, style guides, and the ability to maintain visual and interactive consistency across complex platforms.
Evidence of user research and validation activities, illustrating how user feedback influenced design iterations.

Process Documentation:

Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, and prototyping workflows.
Illustrate how you have contributed to or maintained design system documentation, ensuring clarity and usability for development and design teams.
Provide examples of how you have used data and metrics to document the performance and impact of design changes, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond aesthetics and demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving, and a results-oriented approach. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their design process and defend their decisions with data and user insights. The emphasis on AI tools suggests that portfolios showcasing innovative uses of technology in the design process would be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and a fully remote US-based role for a Series C company (implying strong funding and growth), a competitive salary range can be estimated.

Estimated Salary Range: $130,000 - $180,000 USD per year.
Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in the US tech sector, considering roles at similar growth-stage SaaS companies. Factors such as company funding (Series C), remote work flexibility (which can sometimes command a premium or have regional adjustments), and the specific demands of designing for an AI-native platform were considered. Data from platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and industry-specific compensation reports for UX/UI roles in the US were referenced.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Stock Options/Equity: Potential for equity in a rapidly growing Series C company.
Remote Work Stipend: Support for home office setup and ongoing remote work expenses.
Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
Professional Development Budget: Funds for conferences, courses, and learning resources to support skill enhancement, particularly in AI and design tools.
401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan (availability may depend on specific US state regulations).
Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents.
Access to AI Tools: Opportunity to leverage and manage AI agents for personal and professional productivity.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to accommodate a globally distributed team. This may include occasional meetings outside of standard US Eastern Time hours to align with international colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate and can vary significantly based on the candidate's specific experience, the exact location within the US (though remote can standardize this), and negotiation. The benefits are typical for a well-funded tech startup and should be confirmed. The emphasis on AI tools in the company description suggests this might be a unique perk or focus area for employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focusing on AI-powered platforms, Agentic AI, and the Future of Work, with a strong presence in the multilingual content and localization market. Company Size: Smartcat is a Series C funded company with over 130% year-over-year growth and a global team of 200+ employees spread across 30+ countries. This indicates a dynamic, scaling organization that balances startup agility with growing operational maturity. Founded: Smartcat has been operating since 2015 and has been fully remote since 2020. This history suggests a stable foundation with a proven remote work model and significant experience in adapting to market needs, particularly the adoption of AI.

Team Structure:

The Product Design team is part of a larger product organization, working within "empowered product teams" alongside Product Managers and Engineers. This structure suggests a collaborative, agile, and cross-functional approach to product development.
Reporting lines are likely to be to a Head of Product Design or Design Lead, with direct collaboration across product pods.
Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, emphasizing close partnerships with Product Management for strategy and discovery, and with Engineering for implementation and feasibility.

Methodology:

Data Analysis & Insights: A strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, utilizing user research, usability testing, and product analytics to inform design strategy and validate outcomes.
Workflow Planning & Optimization: Focus on creating intuitive, intelligent, and scalable solutions that optimize the user experience for multilingual content creation and localization.
Automation & Efficiency: Leveraging AI and technology to drive productivity gains and efficiency for both internal teams and external users, a core part of Smartcat's mission.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Smartcat positions itself as an "AI Native Organization," indicating that AI is not just a feature but a foundational element of their culture and operations. This suggests an environment that values innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning, particularly around AI technologies. The company's focus on reshaping a $100B+ industry highlights ambitious goals and a significant market opportunity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a significant level of autonomy, strategic contribution, and ownership. A Senior Designer is expected to lead design initiatives, influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and act as a thought leader within their domain. They are responsible for tackling complex problems with minimal supervision.

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

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to shaping the user experience of Smartcat's AI-powered platform. This means influencing how enterprises manage multilingual content, localize products, and leverage AI agents for productivity. Success in this role will directly contribute to user adoption, customer satisfaction, product-market fit, and ultimately, revenue growth by making the platform more intuitive, efficient, and valuable.

Growth Opportunities:

Leadership Track: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, managing a team of designers, or transitioning into a Product Management role if desired, leveraging deep product understanding.
Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in AI-driven design, complex enterprise UX, or the specific challenges of the multilingual content industry.
Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping a new category (Agentic AI) and a $100B+ industry, gaining significant visibility and recognition.
Mentorship & Skill Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and lead design initiatives, while also benefiting from a budget for professional development, particularly in cutting-edge AI design tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title at a growing Series C company suggests significant opportunities for impact and career progression. The company's focus on AI and a large market opportunity provides a fertile ground for designers to develop specialized skills and gain prominence. Candidates should look for opportunities to demonstrate leadership and strategic thinking beyond pure execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. Smartcat operates as a globally distributed, remote-first organization. This means no central physical office requirement, allowing employees to work from their chosen location within approved regions (e.g., Georgia, USA).

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company has pockets of employees in locations like Boston, Belgrade, Lisbon, Tbilisi, and Yerevan. The specific location requirement is "Georgia - Remote," indicating that candidates must be authorized to work remotely from within the state of Georgia, USA, and likely reside there.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the culture emphasizes strong collaboration through digital tools, regular virtual meetings, and cross-functional team structures.
Technology-Rich: As an AI-native company, employees are expected to be comfortable with and encouraged to use a variety of digital collaboration and AI tools to enhance productivity and communication.
Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction will be primarily through video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management platforms, fostering a connected remote experience.

Work Schedule:

While a standard 40-hour workweek is expected, the remote, global nature of the team necessitates flexibility. This may involve participating in meetings across different time zones. The company culture likely supports asynchronous work where possible, but real-time collaboration is key for product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Georgia - Remote" designation is crucial. It implies that the candidate must be legally able to work remotely from Georgia, USA, and may be subject to state-specific employment laws and tax implications. The fully remote model requires strong self-discipline, excellent digital communication skills, and comfort with asynchronous work practices.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios. Candidates with strong portfolio alignment to the role's requirements will be shortlisted.
Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess experience, cultural fit, and initial understanding of the role's strategic objectives.
Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, walks through 1-2 key case studies, and potentially tackles a small design exercise or problem-solving scenario relevant to Smartcat's product. This is where strategic thinking and process are heavily evaluated.
Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and technical understanding.
Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, VP of Engineering) to confirm alignment with company vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact relevant to a B2B SaaS/AI product.
Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process followed (research, ideation, iteration), key decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively.
Highlight Process: Emphasize how you used user research, data, and collaboration to inform your design decisions, especially how you leveraged or could leverage AI in the process.
Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, design system approach, and how you ensure consistency and scalability.
Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the potential impact and how you would measure it.
Address AI Integration: Since Smartcat is AI-native, be ready to discuss how you approach designing for AI-powered features or using AI tools in your workflow.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Problem Space: Research Smartcat's product, target users (enterprise content managers, localization specialists), and the challenges in the multilingual content industry.
Think Strategically: Be prepared to discuss product strategy, prioritization, and how design contributes to business goals.
Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining complex design decisions clearly and concisely, tailoring your language to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Embrace AI: Consider how AI could be applied to the problem presented in a challenge, showcasing your forward-thinking approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio that sets the industry standard" and the "How You'll Ramp" section suggests the interview process will be rigorous and focused on practical application and strategic contribution. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design skills but also business acumen and a proactive, growth-oriented mindset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: Core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Expert-level proficiency is mandatory.
Design System Tools: Likely integrated within Figma or separate tools for managing components, styles, and guidelines (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook - though less common for pure design).
Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities, potentially supplemented by specialized tools if needed for advanced interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

Product Analytics Platforms: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior, track feature adoption, and measure the impact of design changes.
User Feedback Tools: Platforms for collecting qualitative feedback (e.g., Hotjar, UserTesting.com, in-app feedback widgets).
Data Visualization Tools: Potentially Tableau or Looker for deeper data analysis, though primary reporting might be handled by Product Managers.

CRM & Automation:

While not directly a designer's tool, awareness of CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding sales and marketing workflows that might interact with the product.
AI Tools: Smartcat emphasizes AI. This could include internal AI agents for productivity, AI-assisted design tools (e.g., for generating variations, analyzing user data), or AI features within the product itself that designers will shape.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The role also requires a strong understanding of how to leverage data and analytics to inform design decisions. The explicit mention of AI suggests that candidates comfortable with and curious about AI integration in design workflows will have a distinct advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

High Performance & Results: Smartcat emphasizes a high-performance culture focused on achieving ambitious growth targets (10x scale-up, exceeding $100M ARR). This means a drive for excellence and a focus on outcomes.
AI Native & Innovation: A core value is being an "AI Native Organization." This translates to a culture that embraces AI, encourages experimentation, and expects employees to leverage AI tools for productivity and strategic advantage.
Diversity & Inclusion: Commitment to building a culture of respect, appreciation for unique backgrounds, and fostering an inclusive environment where team members can be their authentic selves. Strong stance against discrimination.
Growth-Oriented & Product-Focused: Employees are expected to be curious, driven by product development, and focused on continuous learning and improvement.
Ownership & Agility: Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment with a strong sense of ownership over one's work and contributions.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Designed to work seamlessly within empowered product teams, fostering close partnerships with Product Management and Engineering.
Remote-First Communication: Emphasis on clear, proactive, and effective digital communication, utilizing various collaboration tools to bridge geographical distances.
Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, openness to diverse perspectives, and iterative improvement based on input from team members and users.
Agile & Iterative: Likely follows agile methodologies, emphasizing rapid iteration, continuous learning, and adaptation to new information and user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI Native" aspect is a significant cultural differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and enthusiasm for AI, both as a tool and as a product component. The blend of high performance and inclusivity suggests a demanding but supportive work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Designing for a New Category: Contributing to the definition and evolution of Agentic AI and hybrid workforces requires innovative thinking and the ability to design for entirely new user paradigms.
Balancing Complexity and Usability: Creating intuitive interfaces for enterprise-grade AI and multilingual content management platforms, which inherently involve complex workflows and technical considerations.
Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced, scaling nature of a Series C startup, where priorities can shift and processes are continuously evolving.
Global User Base: Designing for a diverse, global user base with varying cultural nuances, language requirements, and technical proficiencies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Pioneering AI Design: Gaining hands-on experience in designing for cutting-edge AI technologies and contributing to the future of human-AI collaboration.
Industry Leadership: Playing a key role in shaping a $100B+ industry and a category-defining product, offering significant professional visibility and impact.
Skill Enhancement: Access to professional development budgets for courses, conferences, and resources to deepen expertise in UX/UI, AI, and related technologies.
Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and learn from experienced product and engineering leaders within a rapidly growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are opportunities for significant professional growth. Candidates who thrive in ambiguity, are excited by innovation, and possess a strong desire to learn and adapt will be well-suited for this role. The company's focus on AI offers a unique avenue for career specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you significantly influenced product strategy based on user research and design insights. How did you present your findings and gain buy-in?" (Focus on strategic impact, communication, and data utilization.)
"How do you approach designing for complex enterprise workflows, especially those involving AI or advanced automation? Walk us through a relevant example." (Assess understanding of B2B UX, AI integration, and process mapping.)
"Imagine we want to introduce a new AI agent feature for content summarization. What would be your initial steps in defining and designing this feature?" (Evaluate problem-solving approach, user research strategy, and creative application of AI.)

Company & Culture Questions:

"What excites you most about Smartcat's mission, particularly our focus on Agentic AI and the future of work?" (Gauge genuine interest and alignment with company vision.)
"How do you see your role as a Senior Product Designer contributing to a 'high-performance' and 'AI-native' culture?" (Assess understanding of cultural values and how they translate to daily work.)
"Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, remote-first startup environment. How do you maintain productivity and collaboration?" (Evaluate adaptability, self-management, and remote work effectiveness.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, deep dive into 1-2 case studies, dedicating ample time to each.
Figma Demonstration: Be prepared to share your screen and navigate through key Figma files, showcasing your design system, prototyping skills, and workflow efficiency.
Process Emphasis: Clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and data. Highlight any AI tools or methodologies used.
Quantify Impact: For each project, present the results achieved. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the metrics you would track and the expected outcomes.
Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, collaboration process, and how you handle constructive criticism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize not just design execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, especially concerning AI and remote work. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their portfolio but also articulate their thought process and potential contributions to Smartcat's unique environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

Submit your application through the Smartcat careers portal at https://www.smartcat.com/career/?gh_jid=5807266004.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate end-to-end product design, user research, problem-solving, and quantifiable impact, especially any relevant to B2B SaaS, AI, or complex workflows.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, expertise in Figma, and specific achievements related to user-centered design, design systems, and driving product outcomes. Integrate keywords such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI," "Figma," "User Research," and "Design System."
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and how you leverage data and user feedback. Prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools and your approach to remote collaboration. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure a clear, concise, and impactful walkthrough.
Company Research: Deeply research Smartcat's mission, product, target market, and culture, paying particular attention to their "AI Native" philosophy and focus on the future of work. Understand how your design skills can directly contribute to their ambitious goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding salary, benefits, and specific interview processes, should be verified directly with Smartcat's hiring team. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the company's official career page for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Senior Product Designer