Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Solidroad Location: San Francisco, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Visual Design Date Posted: 2025-07-15T00:00:00 Experience Level: 5-10 Years (Senior Level) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design, from conceptualization to final implementation, with a focus on creating cohesive design systems across the entire product suite.
• Shape the visual identity and brand evolution across digital touchpoints, including product interfaces, marketing assets, and brand systems.
• Elevate user experience standards by designing intuitive, polished, and human-centric interfaces, particularly for complex AI interactions and customer support platforms.
• Provide design leadership and mentorship to junior designers, fostering a culture of high craft, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a blend of strategic design thinking, hands-on execution across product and brand, and leadership capabilities, typical of a senior individual contributor or team lead in a fast-paced startup environment. The emphasis on AI and customer support platforms indicates a need for designers comfortable with complex, data-intensive, and human-interaction-focused challenges.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect and build scalable design systems that span the entire product experience, from initial user onboarding to intricate AI interaction interfaces, ensuring consistency and polish.
• Craft user-centered designs for customer-facing products that handle thousands of daily customer conversations, prioritizing human elements like warmth, empathy, and intuition alongside AI capabilities.
• Lead the visual evolution of the company's website, marketing collateral, pitch decks, and product UI, ensuring brand consistency while identifying opportunities for delightful user engagement.
• Set and maintain exceptional user experience standards for intuitive, beautiful interfaces that make advanced AI technology feel approachable and powerful.
• Mentor and guide fellow designers on craft, attention to detail, and the execution of best-in-class design principles, particularly in complex multimodal interaction scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a broad scope of design work, encompassing product UI/UX, brand systems, and marketing collateral. The explicit mention of "thousands of customer conversations daily" and "complex multimodal interactions" points to a need for experience with high-volume, B2B SaaS, or customer support technology products where user experience is critical for adoption and satisfaction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design thinking, problem-solving, and execution across digital products is paramount. Candidates with degrees in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or related fields may have a foundational understanding. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of professional design experience is required, with a preference for candidates who have worked in startup environments (Series A to C) and shipped complex, customer-facing products.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in end-to-end product design, from user research and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final UI implementation.
• Deep expertise in modern design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) and proficiency in creating and maintaining robust design systems.
• Strong understanding of user experience principles, interaction design patterns, and visual design aesthetics.
• Demonstrated ability to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy and decisions.
• Experience crafting and evolving brand systems and visual assets for digital platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for AI-powered products, generative technology, or complex customer support/communication platforms.
• Familiarity with front-end development concepts and collaboration with engineering teams.
• A portfolio showcasing notable or challenging projects that highlight problem-solving capabilities and impact.
• Experience in a fast-paced, iterative startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement emphasizes practical application and impact in a startup setting, suggesting that candidates should be prepared to showcase how their work has directly contributed to product success and user adoption. The "bonus points" for challenging projects indicate an interest in designers who thrive on complexity and innovation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies demonstrating ownership of significant product areas from concept to launch.
• Present clear examples of how you've architected or contributed to design systems, highlighting scalability, consistency, and maintainability.
• Include examples of brand system evolution or marketing asset design that align with product UI and user journey.
• Demonstrate experience with complex user flows, particularly those involving data-heavy interfaces or AI-driven interactions, highlighting problem-solving approaches.

Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your design process with clear documentation of problem definition, user research methodologies, ideation techniques, and decision-making rationale.
• Provide examples of how you collaborate with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers) to iterate on designs and ensure successful implementation.
• Showcase how you measure the success of your designs, whether through user feedback, A/B testing, or engagement metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values "enthusiasm, ambition, and curiosity" alongside experience. Portfolios should not just display final outputs but also the thought process, challenges overcome, and the impact of the design decisions. A focus on "handling thousands of customer conversations daily" and "complex multimodal interactions" means showcasing designs for robust, scalable systems is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $210,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Stock options or equity grants, reflecting the startup environment and potential for growth.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays, fostering work-life balance.
• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and learning resources.
• A vibrant, collaborative office environment in San Francisco.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely aligning with the 40-hour work week typical in the US. However, the startup environment may necessitate flexibility and a commitment to project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in San Francisco. The mention of equity is a common incentive in early-stage startups, aligning with the "ambitious" nature of the role and the desire for team members to share in the company's success.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI and Customer Support solutions. Solidroad is building innovative tools to scale human-centric customer support using AI and generative technology. Company Size: Small, focused team. This implies a high degree of collaboration, direct impact, and the ability to influence company direction. Founded: The company's founding date is not specified, but the context suggests an early-stage startup (Series A to C implied by the job description) with experienced founders.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "tight-knit" and working closely together in the San Francisco office.
• The role involves direct collaboration with founders who have prior startup experience.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, working alongside product managers and engineers to bring designs to life.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on building something "genuinely new" and tackling "big, messy, exciting problems" related to AI and customer support.
• A culture that values "warmth, empathy, intuition" alongside technological advancement.
• Design processes likely involve rapid iteration, user feedback loops, and close alignment with product and engineering.

Company Website: https://solidroad.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is portrayed as ambitious, collaborative, and deeply invested in its mission. The description of "five days a week" collaboration and "spontaneous sharing of ideas" suggests a preference for in-person synergy and team building, which is a key aspect for candidates to consider.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a high degree of autonomy, responsibility for significant product areas, and the ability to mentor others. It's a crucial individual contributor role with potential to influence design direction. Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Design Manager, or potentially directly to a Product Lead or Founder in a smaller organization. The emphasis on "direct collaboration with founders" suggests a flat hierarchy. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the core product experience, user satisfaction, and brand perception. By shaping how users interact with AI and customer support tools, the designer influences customer retention, adoption rates, and the overall success of Solidroad's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Art Director role as the company scales.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI product design, complex interaction design, or scalable design systems.
• Impact: Contribute significantly to a groundbreaking product in the AI and customer support space, gaining experience in a high-growth startup environment.
• Mentorship: Develop leadership and mentorship skills by guiding junior designers and shaping team practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "job and a hobby" or "job and a triathlon" analogy underscores the expectation for passion and deep engagement. Growth is framed not just by title but by personal and professional development, skill expansion, and the satisfaction of building something impactful.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: In-person, full-time in San Francisco. This indicates a traditional office-based setup designed for close collaboration. Office Location(s): San Francisco, California. Specific office details are not provided, but it is implied to be a professional workspace conducive to focused work and team interaction.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster spontaneous idea-sharing and close collaboration among a small, focused team.
• It's a place where team members engage in shared activities beyond work, such as "padel matches, cold plunges, or karaoke evenings," suggesting a culture that values camaraderie and shared experiences.
• Access to modern design tools and technology is implied, given the nature of the role and the company's focus on AI.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expectation of being present in the San Francisco office five days a week. While specific working hours aren't detailed, startup environments often require flexibility to meet project deadlines and company goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a physical, collaborative office environment suggests that candidates who thrive in team settings and value in-person interaction will be a good fit. The mention of shared activities points to a desire for cultural alignment and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application materials, focusing on portfolio and resume for relevant experience and demonstrated skills.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: Likely a take-home assignment or a live exercise focused on a specific design problem relevant to Solidroad's product, requiring demonstration of process, problem-solving, and design thinking.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will present their portfolio, walking through key projects, explaining their design process, rationale, and the impact of their work. This is a critical stage for assessing leadership and communication skills.
• Team/Founder Interviews: Conversations with founders and potential teammates to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and alignment with company values.
• Final Evaluation: Assessment of overall fit, design capabilities, leadership potential, and enthusiasm for Solidroad's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, design decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes.
• Process Focus: Emphasize your design methodology, user research, iteration, and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and clear explanations to demonstrate your craft and problem-solving skills. Highlight your work on complex systems or AI interactions.
• Cultural Alignment: Use your note and presentation to convey your enthusiasm, ambition, and curiosity, aligning with the company's stated values.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Solidroad's mission: AI for customer support, focusing on human elements.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing for complex AI interactions and scaling design systems.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and their rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is geared towards assessing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaborative spirit, and cultural alignment. A strong portfolio that tells a compelling story about design impact and process is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects). Proficiency in modern, collaborative design tools is essential.
• Design Systems: Experience with building, maintaining, and scaling design systems using tools like Figma's component libraries, Storybook, or similar frameworks.
• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Google Workspace, Jira, Confluence (or similar project management and documentation tools).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Pendo) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Experience with A/B testing tools for validating design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct requirement for the designer, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and customer support platforms function can provide valuable context for designing integrated experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires mastery of industry-standard design tools, with a particular emphasis on collaborative platforms like Figma and the ability to work with or build design systems. Understanding user analytics tools is beneficial for data-informed design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ambition & Impact: A drive to build something great and solve challenging problems, with a focus on making a tangible impact.
• Collaboration & Support: A mature, supportive, and fun team environment where ideas are shared spontaneously and challenges are tackled together.
• Craft & Excellence: A commitment to high standards of design, attention to detail, and pushing creative boundaries.
• Curiosity & Learning: An eagerness to learn, grow, and explore new possibilities, particularly in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and generative technology.

Collaboration Style:

• Close, in-person collaboration five days a week to foster spontaneous idea-sharing and problem-solving.
• Mentorship and knowledge sharing are expected, particularly from the senior designer to their teammates.
• Cross-functional collaboration with product and engineering teams is integral to the design and development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly seeks individuals who see the role as more than just a job, emphasizing passion, ambition, and a desire for personal growth. The culture is built around camaraderie and shared purpose, valuing both professional excellence and a positive team dynamic.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in a fast-paced startup means facing evolving priorities and undefined problems, requiring adaptability and strong problem-solving skills.
• Moving Fast: Balancing speed with quality and detail in a dynamic environment.
• Tackling Tough Design Problems Solo: The expectation that senior designers can independently address complex design challenges, while also leveraging team support.
• Balancing AI with Human Touch: Designing AI interactions that are powerful yet maintain warmth, empathy, and intuition, a core challenge for Solidroad's mission.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/Generative Tech: Gain hands-on experience designing cutting-edge AI products.
• Scale a Product and Design System: Contribute to the growth of a product and its underlying design infrastructure from an early stage.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and shaping design practices.
• Startup Ecosystem Exposure: Experience the full lifecycle of a growing startup, from product development to market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on challenging, innovative problems at the intersection of AI and customer experience. The growth potential is tied to the company's success and the individual's willingness to embrace challenges and continuously learn.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Prepare to discuss your approach to designing complex, user-facing products, particularly those involving AI or high-volume interactions. How do you ensure empathy and intuition are present?
• Be ready to walk through your process for building or evolving a design system. What are the key considerations for scalability and consistency?
• How do you collaborate with product managers and engineers to bring designs to life? Describe a time you navigated a disagreement or challenge with a stakeholder.
• What are your thoughts on the future of AI in customer support, and how can design play a role in making it more human-centric?
• How do you approach mentoring junior designers and elevating the overall design craft within a team?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Solidroad's mission and the problem they are solving. Understand their unique approach to AI in customer support.
• Reflect on why a startup environment appeals to you, and how your values align with the company's emphasis on ambition, collaboration, and craftsmanship.
• Be prepared to discuss your preferred work environment and how you contribute to a positive team culture.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, leadership, and ability to solve complex problems.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific contribution, the design decisions you made and why, and the resulting impact (quantified if possible).
• Highlight any experience with design systems, AI, or customer support platforms.
• Be ready to discuss your process, how you handle feedback, and your approach to collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not only their design skills but also their strategic thinking, communication abilities, and cultural fit. The interview is a two-way street, so come prepared with thoughtful questions about the company, team, and role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link, ensuring your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and easily accessible.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex interfaces, AI, customer support, and design systems. Focus on case studies that showcase your end-to-end process and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, startup background, leadership contributions, and specific skills relevant to product and brand design. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Craft a Concise Note: In your application, include a short note expressing your enthusiasm for Solidroad's mission, why this role feels like a "job and a hobby," and what excites you about the challenges ahead.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Solidroad's website and any available public information to understand their product and market positioning. Be ready to discuss your insights during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.