Senior Product Designer - Bucharest, Romania

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Speechify
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)
Date Posted: January 29, 2026
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle for Speechify's innovative text-to-speech applications across multiple platforms.
• Lead the refinement of UX/UI patterns, user flows, and onboarding experiences for iOS and Android applications, directly impacting millions of users.
• Influence strategic product decisions by leveraging data analytics, customer feedback, and robust product thinking to shape the product roadmap.
• Contribute to the evolution of the design organization by refining processes and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Champion user-centric design principles, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are at the forefront of all design initiatives, particularly for users with learning differences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, the emphasis on consumer-facing products, cross-platform delivery (iOS, Android, Web, Chrome Extension), and the company's mission to remove reading barriers suggests a strong intersection with User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design principles. The role also implies a strategic involvement in product development, hinting at a Senior level with significant influence. The "Senior Product Designer" title combined with the responsibilities around influencing the roadmap and shaping the design org points to a need for strong leadership and strategic thinking beyond just execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and iteratively refine new features and product enhancements in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Conduct user research, gather customer feedback, and analyze usage data to identify key opportunities for UX/UI improvements on iOS and Android platforms.
• Design and iterate on intuitive and engaging user flows, focusing on optimizing the onboarding experience for new and existing users.
• Translate product strategy into compelling design solutions that align with Speechify's mission and business objectives.
• Develop and maintain a consistent design system and UI patterns across all Speechify products, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI Research Scientists to ensure design feasibility and successful implementation.
• Champion accessibility standards and inclusive design practices to ensure Speechify's products are usable by everyone, including individuals with dyslexia, ADD, and other learning differences.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and methodologies within the design organization.
• Present design concepts, user research findings, and product strategy to stakeholders, articulating design decisions and their rationale effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed strongly indicate a senior-level designer who is not just executing tasks but also contributing strategically. "Influence the product roadmap" and "Refine our process and help shape the design org" are key indicators of senior-level impact and strategic contribution, requiring a blend of design acumen and business understanding. The mention of AI Research Scientists suggests potential involvement in designing AI-driven features.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design, with a proven track record of delivering consumer-facing products across multiple platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in research, discovery, prototyping, and the end-to-end delivery of digital products.

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking: Ability to understand product strategy, articulate design rationale ("what" and "why"), and collaborate with Product Managers to identify and capitalize on key opportunities using analytics.
• Customer-Centricity: Proven ability to conduct user research, gather customer feedback, and integrate insights effectively into the design process.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Skill in working effectively with opinionated Product Managers, Engineers, and executives, inspiring and negotiating to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Design Craft: Strong proficiency in typography, information design, interaction design, and micro-interactions. Understanding of what is feasible in iOS, Android, and browser environments.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas clearly at various levels of detail and to ask insightful questions.
• Focus & Adaptability: Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment with a busy, remote team, knowing when to be heads-down and when to engage.
• Platform Expertise: Familiarity with designing for iOS, Android, and web/browser-based applications.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with audio-centric products or understanding of audio user experience.
• Familiarity with AI-driven features and their design implications.
• Experience in a fully distributed or asynchronous work environment.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices and inclusive design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Ideal Candidate" section directly translates into the required skills. The emphasis on "5-10 years" for experience level and the scope of responsibilities (influencing roadmap, shaping design org) necessitate strong product thinking, strategic collaboration, and communication skills beyond entry-level execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design work, including research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery of consumer-facing products.
• Case studies demonstrating a deep understanding of product strategy and how design decisions were informed by analytics and customer feedback.
• Examples of refined UX/UI patterns and user flows across mobile platforms (iOS and Android) and potentially web/browser extensions.
• Visuals and explanations of micro-interactions, typography, and information design that highlight attention to craft and detail.
• Demonstrations of how you have influenced product roadmaps or shaped design processes within previous roles.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolios should clearly articulate the design process followed for each project, including methodology for research, ideation, testing, and iteration.
• Evidence of collaboration with engineering and product management, detailing how design challenges were overcome.
• Examples of how data and customer insights were leveraged to drive design decisions and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly asks for links to a portfolio and emphasizes demonstrating work that includes "research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery of consumer-facing products." This directly translates into specific portfolio requirements, focusing on the process and outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Eastern Europe (specifically Bucharest, Romania) with 5-10 years of experience, and considering Speechify's fully remote and high-growth startup nature, the estimated salary range is €45,000 - €70,000 annually (gross). This estimate accounts for the cost of living in Bucharest and the competitive landscape for experienced design talent in the region.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.
• Dynamic and innovative work environment where contributions significantly shape products.
• Autonomy fostering focus and creativity.
• Opportunity to make a significant impact in a revolutionary industry (AI and Audio).
• Commitment to an exceptional asynchronous work culture.
• Privilege of working on a product that changes lives, particularly for individuals with learning differences.
• Active role at the intersection of artificial intelligence and audio.

Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate asynchronous work culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on the role, experience level, and location (Bucharest, Romania). This estimation uses general market data for senior design roles in similar European markets and adjusts for the specific context of a remote, high-growth tech company. The benefits are directly extracted from the provided text.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Text-to-Speech (TTS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Audio applications. Speechify operates within the EdTech and Accessibility sectors, aiming to remove reading barriers. Company Size: Approximately 200 employees. This indicates a mid-sized, rapidly growing startup environment where individual contributions have a significant impact. Founded: Speechify was founded with a mission to ensure reading is never a barrier to learning. While the exact founding year isn't provided, its current scale and product maturity suggest a solid history of development and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The company operates in a 100% distributed setting, meaning there are no physical offices.
• The team comprises engineers (frontend, backend), AI research scientists, and other professionals from diverse backgrounds, including those from major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
• The design organization is actively being shaped, indicating an opportunity for senior members to influence its structure and processes.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: The role emphasizes embracing analytics and working with PMs to pinpoint key opportunities, suggesting a strong reliance on data to inform product decisions.
• User-Centric Design: A core tenet is customer-centricity, with comfort in talking to customers and using their feedback throughout the design process.
• Agile & Iterative: The responsibilities outline a cycle of pitching, prototyping, testing, building, shipping, and refining, indicative of an agile and iterative development approach.
• Asynchronous Collaboration: Speechify is committed to an exceptional asynchronous work culture, requiring effective communication and documentation practices.

Company Website: speechify.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information is synthesized from the provided description, focusing on aspects relevant to a designer's work environment and potential impact. The "100% distributed setting" is a critical cultural aspect for remote candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level implies ownership of significant product areas, mentorship capabilities, and a strategic voice in product development and design team evolution. The role requires not just execution but also leadership and influence. Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Product Lead. In a 100% distributed company, clear communication channels and defined reporting lines are crucial for effective collaboration. Operations Impact: The designer's impact is directly tied to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible. By refining UX/UI, improving onboarding, and developing new features, they directly contribute to user engagement, retention, and the company's growth. The success of Speechify's text-to-speech products, especially for users with learning differences, is a direct measure of the designer's impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing specific product lines or the entire design team as the company scales.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, audio UX, or accessibility for learning differences.
• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to refine and optimize the design team's workflows, tools, and methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy, engineering practices, and company-wide design standards.
• Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior designers within the distributed team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis is based on the "Senior" title and the described responsibilities, inferring career trajectory and impact within a growing, remote-first tech company. The emphasis on influencing the roadmap and shaping the design org points to significant growth potential beyond individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical office. This means the work environment is entirely remote. Office Location(s): Globally distributed team members, with this specific role based in Bucharest, Romania, but functioning within a remote-first structure.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First Culture: The company is committed to an "exceptional asynchronous work culture," requiring strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and excellent documentation skills.
• Collaborative Tools: Expect to use a suite of digital collaboration tools for design, communication, and project management (e.g., Figma, Slack, Notion, Jira).
• Technology Stack: Access to Speechify's existing and evolving technology stack, including their iOS apps, Android apps, Mac App, Chrome Extension, and Web App.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (40 hours per week) are expected, but the emphasis on asynchronous work culture allows for flexibility in scheduling, provided communication and collaboration needs are met across different time zones. This necessitates clear communication of availability and responsiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "100% distributed setting" and "asynchronous work culture" are the defining characteristics of the work environment. This implies a need for candidates who are self-motivated, excellent communicators, and comfortable working independently.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit resume and links to portfolio and LinkedIn.
• Portfolio Review: The hiring team will review your portfolio for demonstrated experience in research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery of consumer-facing products, paying close attention to your product thinking and craft.
• Screening Call: Likely a brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss your background, motivations, and fit for the role and company culture.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on how you approach problems, articulate strategy, and collaborate. This will likely involve presenting to the design team or key stakeholders.
• Interviews with Team Members: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other Designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit within the distributed team.
• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, CEO) to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end product design, ideally including consumer-facing mobile or web applications.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), the challenges faced, your solutions, and the measurable impact of your work.
• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly demonstrate your product thinking, customer-centricity, collaboration with PMs/engineers, and craft (typography, micro-interactions).
• Showcase Platform Understanding: Include examples that demonstrate your understanding of designing for iOS, Android, and/or browser extensions.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process in detail, justifying your decisions with user research, data, and strategic alignment.
• Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when explaining complex design solutions or trade-offs.
• Research Speechify's products, mission, and target audience thoroughly to tailor your approach and demonstrate genuine interest.
• Understand the challenges of designing for a remote, asynchronous environment and how your communication and collaboration strategies align with this.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is built by inferring the typical interview process for a Senior Product Designer role in a tech startup, especially one that is remote-first and emphasizes product thinking and data. The specific emphasis on portfolio quality and case studies is directly drawn from the job description.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable for modern design teams, used for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration). Tools like Sketch or Adobe XD might also be relevant.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack (essential for a distributed team), Notion or Confluence (for documentation, process definition, and knowledge sharing), Jira or Asana (for project management and tracking tasks).
• User Research & Feedback: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to track user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.
• Data Visualization: Potentially tools like Tableau or Looker for more complex data analysis and dashboard creation, though direct product analytics tools are more common for designers.

CRM & Automation:

• While primarily a design role, understanding CRM systems (like Salesforce or HubSpot) can be beneficial for understanding the customer journey and data flow. Automation tools might be used for workflow optimization within design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the likely technology stack based on industry standards for product design teams in tech startups, especially those that are remote and focus on data-driven product development. Figma is a near-certainty for modern design collaboration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission of making reading accessible and removing barriers to learning, particularly for individuals with learning differences like dyslexia and ADD.
• Innovation & Drive: A culture that values new ideas, intuition, and a proactive approach to problem-solving and product development.
• Customer-Centricity: Deep focus on understanding and serving user needs, leveraging customer feedback as a core input for design and product strategy.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and effective negotiation across teams (Product, Engineering, AI) are key, especially within a remote, asynchronous environment.
• Focus & Autonomy: Providing individuals with the autonomy to focus on their work while maintaining a high level of productivity and accountability.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Emphasizes clear documentation, proactive communication, and respecting different time zones.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers are essential, involving regular feedback loops and joint problem-solving.
• Opinionated but Diplomatic: The description mentions negotiating with "opinionated PMs, engineers, and execs," suggesting a culture where strong viewpoints are expected but must be managed through constructive dialogue and data.
• Design Craft Emphasis: A shared appreciation for quality in design, from typography and information architecture to micro-interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred from the company's mission statement, the "Ideal Candidate" profile, and the emphasis on an asynchronous work culture. These points highlight how a designer can integrate into the existing team dynamics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Scale and Accessibility: Balancing the need for intuitive design with the complexity of features and ensuring accessibility for a diverse user base, including those with learning differences.
• Navigating a Fast-Paced Startup Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving priorities, rapid iteration cycles, and the inherent uncertainties of a high-growth startup.
• Effective Remote Collaboration: Maintaining seamless communication, collaboration, and design alignment within a fully distributed team across different time zones.
• Influencing Product Strategy: Translating design insights into actionable product roadmap items and effectively advocating for user needs among stakeholders.
• Designing for AI-Enhanced Features: Understanding and designing for emerging AI capabilities within the text-to-speech domain.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI and Audio UX: Gain specialized knowledge in cutting-edge AI applications and the nuances of audio-based user experiences.
• Inclusivity and Accessibility Expertise: Develop deep expertise in designing for users with learning differences and improving digital accessibility.
• Product Strategy and Roadmap Influence: Hone skills in strategic product thinking, roadmap development, and cross-functional leadership.
• Remote Work Best Practices: Master advanced techniques for effective communication, collaboration, and productivity in a remote-first setting.
• Mentorship and Design Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to shaping the design organization's future.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the role's context (senior, remote, AI focus, accessibility mission) and the company's stage (high-growth startup).

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap. How did you use data and user insights to advocate for your design recommendations?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data utilization, and stakeholder management).
• "Walk us through a complex consumer-facing product you designed from concept to launch. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Emphasize end-to-end process, problem-solving, and delivery).
• "How do you approach designing for accessibility, particularly for users with learning differences like dyslexia or ADD?" (Showcase customer-centricity, empathy, and knowledge of inclusive design).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission, and how does it align with your personal values or career goals?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit).
• "How do you thrive in a remote and asynchronous work environment? What strategies do you use to stay connected and productive?" (Assess adaptability to the work environment).
• "Describe your experience collaborating with product managers and engineers. How do you handle disagreements or differing opinions?" (Evaluate collaboration skills and negotiation abilities).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and user flow diagrams. Show, don't just tell.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your research methods, user testing, and iterative design approach. Explain why you made certain decisions.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your design solutions.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work. Be prepared to answer deep-dive questions on any part of your process.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions and strategies are tailored to the Senior Product Designer role at Speechify, focusing on their mission, remote culture, and emphasis on product thinking and data-driven design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse job board link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end consumer-facing product design, research, prototyping, and delivery across mobile and web platforms. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5-10 years of experience, specific skills in product thinking, customer-centricity, collaboration, and platform design. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX/UI," "consumer-facing products," "product roadmap," and "asynchronous work."
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your passion for Speechify's mission, your experience in remote/asynchronous environments, and how your design philosophy aligns with the company's values. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies clearly and concisely.
• Company Research: Deeply research Speechify's products, mission, target audience, and recent news. Understand their competitive landscape and how their text-to-speech technology addresses user needs, especially concerning accessibility.

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

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