Senior Product Designer - Bucharest, Romania

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Speechify
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design
Date Posted: December 30, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept and research through to prototyping, testing, and final delivery of consumer-facing features.
• Spearhead the refinement of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design patterns across Speechify's native iOS and Android applications.
• Lead strategic initiatives to re-evaluate and optimize critical user flows, including onboarding, to enhance user engagement and retention.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the product roadmap by contributing insights from user research and data analytics to identify key opportunities.
• Contribute to the evolution of the design organization by refining internal processes and advocating for best practices in design methodology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a full-stack design approach, requiring the candidate to be hands-on from ideation to execution. The focus on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" indicates a dynamic, fast-paced environment where designers are empowered to take ownership and drive impact across the entire product development spectrum. The emphasis on influencing the product roadmap suggests a strategic, rather than purely execution-focused, design role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and execute innovative features for Speechify's suite of text-to-speech products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web, Chrome Extension, Mac App).
• Conduct user research, including interviews and usability testing, to gather insights that inform design decisions and product strategy.
• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and interactive mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI Research Scientists to ensure seamless integration of design solutions with technical capabilities.
• Analyze product performance metrics and user feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on existing features.
• Define and maintain design systems, style guides, and UX/UI patterns to ensure consistency and scalability across all Speechify products.
• Champion a customer-centric design approach, ensuring that user needs and accessibility are prioritized throughout the design process.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the product by providing data-informed design recommendations and participating in roadmap planning sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep integration with product strategy and development teams, emphasizing influence beyond pure design execution. The expectation to "refine our process and help shape the design org" suggests a leadership or senior contributor role in defining how the design team operates, including collaboration models and tool adoption.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.
Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of proven experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing work on consumer-facing applications across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web). Demonstrated experience in a high-growth startup environment is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking: Ability to understand business objectives, articulate strategic rationale ('what' and 'why'), and translate them into effective design solutions. Proficiency in using analytics to identify user pain points and opportunities.
• UX/UI Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and engaging user interfaces and seamless user experiences, with a strong understanding of design principles, information architecture, and interaction design.
• Prototyping & User Research: Proficient in using prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to create interactive prototypes and experienced in conducting various user research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys).
• Customer-Centricity: Demonstrated ability to engage directly with customers, gather feedback, and integrate user insights effectively into the design process.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly, negotiate effectively, and collaborate productively with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers, Executives).
• Design Craft: Strong aesthetic sensibility and attention to detail in areas such as typography, information design, layout, and micro-interactions. Familiarity with current design trends and best practices.
• Platform Proficiency: Understanding of design constraints and possibilities within iOS, Android, and web browser environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Audio Technology Familiarity: Curiosity and a basic understanding of audio-related technologies and user experiences.
• Accessibility Design: Experience designing for inclusivity and accessibility, particularly for users with learning differences.
• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems.
• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with working in agile development environments.
• AI/ML Integration: Interest or experience in designing for products incorporating AI/ML features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level, combined with the responsibilities, indicates a Senior Product Designer role. The emphasis on "product thinking," "analytics," and "influencing the product roadmap" suggests a need for a candidate who can operate strategically and contribute to business outcomes, not just execute design tasks. The "customer-centricity" requirement implies direct customer interaction is expected.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in the complete product design lifecycle: problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, user testing, iteration, and final shipped product.
• Platform Diversity: Demonstrate experience designing for multiple platforms, ideally including native mobile (iOS/Android) and web/browser extensions, aligning with Speechify's product ecosystem.
• Problem-Solving & Impact: Clearly articulate the design challenges faced, your approach to solving them, and the measurable impact of your design solutions (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, engagement, user satisfaction).
• Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including how you utilize user research, data analytics, and customer feedback to inform your decisions.
• Collaboration Evidence: Highlight instances where you collaborated effectively with product managers and engineers, showcasing your ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of how you've mapped out and optimized user journeys and workflows to improve efficiency and user experience.
• System Implementation Standards: While not explicitly a system implementation role, your portfolio should reflect an understanding of how designs translate into functional code and adhere to platform-specific guidelines and design systems.
• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how you track and analyze the performance of your designs post-launch, using data to drive further iterations and improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine," the portfolio must clearly demonstrate a strong understanding of the entire product development lifecycle, not just UI design. The requirement to "influence the product roadmap" and "embrace analytics" means case studies should highlight strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated annual salary for a Senior Product Designer in Bucharest, Romania, with 5-10 years of experience, typically falls within the range of €35,000 to €60,000 (approximately $38,000 to $65,000 USD), depending on specific skills, experience, and the company's compensation philosophy. This range reflects local market rates for experienced tech professionals in a growing tech hub.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience and market standards.
• Performance-Based Bonuses: Potential for bonuses tied to individual and company performance.
• Stock Options/Equity: Opportunity to participate in the company's growth through equity grants.
• Flexible Asynchronous Work Culture: Speechify operates as a fully distributed, asynchronous team, offering significant autonomy and flexibility in managing work hours and location.
• Professional Development: Support for learning and development, including potential for attending industry conferences, workshops, and pursuing relevant certifications.
• Impactful Work: The opportunity to contribute to a product that genuinely improves lives, especially for individuals with learning differences.
• Cutting-Edge Technology: Work at the intersection of AI and audio technology, a rapidly evolving and exciting domain.
• Health and Wellness: While specific details aren't provided, competitive companies typically offer health insurance and wellness programs.

Working Hours: Speechify operates on a 100% distributed, asynchronous model. This means there are no fixed working hours. Employees are expected to manage their time effectively to meet project deadlines and collaborate with colleagues across different time zones, prioritizing focus and productivity. A standard full-time commitment is approximately 40 hours per week, but the flexibility allows for adaptation to individual working styles and global team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of senior product designer roles in Bucharest, Romania, using data from industry salary aggregators and considering the current tech market. The "remote solely" and "asynchronous work culture" are key benefits for this role, offering significant flexibility. The company's mission and focus on AI/audio technology are also significant draws.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS, AI, EdTech, Accessibility) Speechify operates within the rapidly evolving technology sector, specifically focusing on Text-to-Speech (TTS) solutions. Its mission to remove reading barriers places it at the intersection of EdTech, Accessibility, and AI-driven audio technology. The company is a high-growth startup disrupting traditional reading and learning methods.

Company Size: Approximately 200 employees. This size indicates a stage where processes are maturing but still retain the agility and dynamism of a startup. It allows for significant individual impact and cross-functional collaboration without excessive bureaucracy.

Founded: Speechify was founded with a mission to ensure reading is never a barrier to learning. While the exact founding year isn't specified in the provided data, its recent accolades (Google Chrome Extension of the Year, Apple Design Award) suggest significant recent growth and product maturity.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Workforce: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices. This fosters a global talent pool and requires a strong emphasis on asynchronous communication and collaboration tools.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers work closely with engineers (frontend, backend), AI research scientists, product managers, and other stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (ex-Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Stripe, Vercel, Bolt).
• Lean & Agile: The team structure likely supports agile development methodologies, enabling rapid iteration and responsiveness to market changes.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company embraces analytics to pinpoint key opportunities and inform product roadmap decisions.
• Customer-Centric Design: A strong emphasis is placed on understanding and incorporating customer feedback into the design process.
• Asynchronous Collaboration: Processes are optimized for effective communication and collaboration across different time zones and working schedules, leveraging digital tools extensively.
• Iterative Development: The "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" ethos points to a highly iterative product development cycle.

Company Website: https://speechify.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's AI focus, combined with its mission for accessibility, suggests a culture that values innovation, social impact, and cutting-edge technology. The 100% distributed model is a defining cultural characteristic, requiring self-discipline and strong communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a role with significant autonomy and responsibility. A Senior Product Designer is expected to lead design efforts for key features or product areas, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic product decisions. They are seen as a critical partner in product development, capable of driving complex projects from conception to launch.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Product Designers typically report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product. In a distributed, lean organization, direct collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads is also a primary reporting and working dynamic.

Operations Impact: Senior Product Designers at Speechify have a direct and substantial impact on the company's success. Their work influences user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall product-market fit. By improving the user experience and accessibility of Speechify's core text-to-speech technology, they directly contribute to the company's mission and its ability to serve millions of users, particularly those with learning differences. Their ability to influence the product roadmap ensures that design thinking is integrated into strategic business decisions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing a team and setting design strategy.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven product design, accessibility design, or advanced UX research methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead design initiatives that span multiple product areas or involve significant cross-functional collaboration.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide junior designers, contributing to the growth of the design team.
• Strategic Product Influence: Further develop the ability to influence product strategy and roadmap, becoming a key voice in product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with the potential for future leadership. The emphasis on influencing the product roadmap and shaping the design org points to significant growth opportunities beyond standard design execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: 100% Distributed. Speechify operates without any physical offices, meaning employees work remotely from their chosen locations. This fosters a unique work environment centered around digital collaboration and asynchronous communication.

Office Location(s): Global remote presence. While the specific job posting is for Bucharest, Romania, the company hires talent worldwide. This implies a diverse, international team working across various time zones.

Workspace Context:

• Asynchronous Collaboration Hub: The primary workspace is digital, relying heavily on communication platforms (e.g., Slack, email), project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana), and design collaboration software (e.g., Figma).
• Focus on Autonomy: The environment is designed for individuals who can self-manage, maintain focus, and be productive without direct supervision or fixed office hours.
• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction occur through scheduled virtual meetings, collaborative design sessions, and informal digital communication channels, fostering a sense of connection despite the physical distance.

Work Schedule: Asynchronous and flexible. Employees are expected to manage their own schedules to meet project deadlines and ensure collaboration with team members across different time zones. This requires strong organizational skills and proactive communication. A standard full-time workload is implied, but the "how" and "when" are largely up to the individual, provided deliverables are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote and asynchronous nature is a defining characteristic of Speechify's work environment. This requires candidates to be highly self-disciplined and adept at digital communication and collaboration tools.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Submission: Submit resume, portfolio link, and LinkedIn profile. Clearly articulate your interest in Speechify's mission and the role.
2. Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and alignment with the role's core requirements.
3. Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A more in-depth session where you present your portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. This is often followed by a design challenge (e.g., a take-home assignment or a live collaborative exercise) focused on a specific product problem.
4. Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and design thinking.
5. Final Interview: A conversation with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CEO) to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling is Key: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the challenges you overcame, and the quantifiable impact of your solutions.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – mockups, prototypes, user flow diagrams, research insights – to illustrate your points.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thought process, decision-making rationale, and how you leveraged user feedback and data. For Speechify, showcase how you approach refining UX/UI patterns and user flows.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rate improvements, engagement increases, user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to Speechify: Briefly explain why your experience and approach align with Speechify's mission, product (TTS, accessibility), and asynchronous work culture.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with Speechify's apps and Chrome extension. Identify potential areas for improvement or new feature opportunities.
• Focus on Core Skills: Design challenges will likely assess your ability to quickly understand a problem, ideate solutions, and articulate your design rationale, often within time constraints.
• Embrace Constraints: Be prepared to work with limited information or specific constraints, mimicking real-world project scenarios.
• Think Strategically: Articulate not just how you would design something, but why. Connect your design choices back to user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a portfolio review and potentially a design challenge, common for senior design roles. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process and strategic thinking, aligning it with Speechify's mission and product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and collaborative needs), Sketch, Adobe XD.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Asana/Jira (for project management and workflow tracking).
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or in-house methods for remote usability testing and feedback collection.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.
• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau or Looker might be used by the broader team, though direct use by designers may vary.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for Product Designers, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms might inform user segmentation or personalization could be beneficial.

Other Potential Tools:

• Design Systems Tools: Zeroheight, Storybook (for documentation and component libraries).
• Version Control: Potentially Git for design assets, though less common than for code.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools will align with a modern, remote-first, product-centric tech company. Proficiency in collaborative design tools like Figma and experience with user analytics platforms are crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission of making reading accessible and overcoming learning barriers. This value permeates decision-making and motivates the team.
• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new technologies (AI, audio) and approaches to problem-solving. A culture that values experimentation and pushing boundaries.
• Customer-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving user needs, particularly those with learning differences. Feedback is actively sought and integrated.
• Autonomy & Ownership: High degree of trust and empowerment given to team members to manage their work, drive projects, and make decisions. This fosters a sense of ownership.
• Efficiency & Focus: In a distributed, asynchronous environment, efficiency in communication and execution, along with the ability to maintain focus, are highly valued.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication and collaboration are designed to be effective across time zones, prioritizing clear documentation and thoughtful written communication over immediate synchronous responses.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with Product Management and Engineering are essential. Designers are expected to be active participants in product strategy and technical discussions.
• Constructive Feedback: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and exchanged to improve designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that encourage sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the distributed team, potentially through internal wikis, presentations, or dedicated channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "asynchronous work culture," "innovation," and "autonomy" are key cultural pillars. Candidates should demonstrate how they thrive in such an environment and align with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Rapidly Evolving Tech Landscape: Staying ahead of advancements in AI, audio technology, and UX best practices in a fast-paced industry.
• Balancing Global User Needs: Designing for a diverse, international user base with varying needs, technical literacy, and accessibility requirements.
• Maintaining Design Consistency in a Distributed Team: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience across all platforms and features when working remotely and asynchronously.
• Driving Impact with Data in an Emerging Field: Effectively using analytics and user feedback to guide design decisions in a relatively new application of technology (advanced TTS).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI & Audio Tech: Gain hands-on experience designing products at the cutting edge of AI and audio technology.
• Accessibility & Inclusive Design Expertise: Become a leader in designing for diverse user needs, particularly those with dyslexia, ADD, and other learning differences.
• Influence Product Strategy: Develop advanced product thinking and strategic skills by contributing to roadmap development and influencing business decisions.
• Remote Work & Asynchronous Collaboration Mastery: Hone skills in self-management, effective distributed communication, and asynchronous teamwork.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential to grow into leadership roles, mentor junior designers, and shape the future of Speechify's design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a fast-growing tech company in an innovative field, particularly within a distributed model. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep specialization and strategic influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap based on user research and data. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, data utilization, and impact.)
• "How do you approach balancing user needs with technical constraints and business objectives in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving and negotiation skills.)
• "Walk us through your process for refining UX/UI patterns across multiple platforms like iOS and Android. How do you ensure consistency while leveraging platform-specific best practices?" (Highlight your systematic approach to design systems and platform expertise.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Speechify's mission to make reading accessible, and how do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Show genuine interest in the mission.)
• "How do you thrive in a fully distributed, asynchronous work environment? What strategies do you use to stay productive and collaborate effectively?" (Address your self-management and communication skills.)
• "How do you incorporate customer feedback into your design process, especially when dealing with users who have learning differences?" (Emphasize your customer-centricity and empathy.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and impact on consumer-facing products, ideally with mobile or web app experience.
• Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your role and approach, the solutions, the challenges, and the measurable results.
• Highlight Process & Rationale: Clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, data, or business goals.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: Explain how you worked with PMs and engineers, and how you handled feedback or disagreements.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, alternative solutions, and the impact of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic product thinking, strong collaboration skills within a remote/asynchronous context, and a genuine connection to Speechify's mission. The portfolio presentation is critical for showcasing practical design skills and process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse portal linked by Speechify.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in consumer-facing products, multi-platform design (iOS, Android, Web), user research, prototyping, and collaboration. Use keywords found in the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and impact. Ensure it’s easily navigable and visually compelling. Specifically, showcase your ability to refine UX/UI patterns and user flows.
• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter (Optional but Recommended): Briefly explain why you are passionate about Speechify's mission and how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate for this senior, remote role.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, rationale, process, and impact. Be ready to discuss your experience with asynchronous collaboration and customer-centric design.
• Research Speechify: Understand their products, mission, target audience (especially users with learning differences), and recent achievements.

⚠️ 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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