Senior Product Designer - Florence, Italy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Speechify

Location: Florence, Italy

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)

Date Posted: 2026-02-08

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with a focus on asynchronous work culture)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for innovative features within Speechify's suite of text-to-speech products, encompassing iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome Extension, and Web App.

• Drive significant improvements in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) patterns across mobile platforms, directly impacting user engagement and retention.

• Play a pivotal role in defining and influencing the product roadmap by leveraging data analytics, user research, and strategic product thinking.

• Contribute to the evolution of the design organization by refining processes, establishing best practices, and fostering a collaborative design culture.

• Champion customer-centricity by directly engaging with users, translating feedback into actionable design improvements, and ensuring inclusivity in product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a fully remote, high-growth startup environment, emphasizing asynchronous communication and a strong focus on product-led growth. The Senior Product Designer will have substantial autonomy and influence, working at the intersection of AI, audio technology, and accessibility. The "Florence, Italy" location is noted, but the company operates on a 100% distributed model with no physical offices, suggesting this designation might be for administrative or timezone alignment purposes rather than a physical workspace requirement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Feature Development Lifecycle: Lead the entire lifecycle of new features, from initial concept pitching and user research discovery through prototyping, user testing, development handoff, shipping, and iterative refinement based on performance metrics and user feedback.

• UX/UI Pattern Enhancement: Systematically audit, refine, and standardize UX/UI patterns across Speechify's iOS and Android applications, ensuring a cohesive, intuitive, and delightful user experience that aligns with Apple's Design Award for Inclusivity standards.

• User Flow Optimization: Rethink and redesign critical user journeys, including onboarding sequences, core feature flows, and engagement loops, to enhance user comprehension, reduce friction, and increase conversion and retention rates.

• Product Strategy Influence: Collaborate closely with Product Managers (PMs) and engineers to identify key growth opportunities through data analysis and user insights, translating these into compelling product strategies and contributing to the strategic product roadmap.

• Design Process Improvement: Actively participate in shaping the design organization by contributing to the refinement of design workflows, advocating for best practices in research, prototyping, and delivery, and mentoring junior designers where applicable.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Inspire, negotiate, and collaborate effectively with opinionated PMs, engineers, and executive stakeholders, ensuring alignment on design goals and product vision.

• Craftsmanship and Innovation: Apply expertise in typography, information design, and micro-interactions to elevate the overall product aesthetic and usability, with a specific curiosity and understanding of audio-centric user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level individual contributor role with significant strategic influence. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" indicates a hands-on approach. The mention of "Audio Understanding" and "learning differences" points to a specialized niche within product design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and mastery of product design principles is essential. A background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a proven track record of delivering successful consumer-facing products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web). Experience in a high-growth startup environment is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage the full product design lifecycle from research and discovery to prototyping, testing, and delivery.

• UX/UI Design Proficiency: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and information architecture.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Mastery of industry-standard tools for creating interactive prototypes, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• User Research & Analysis: Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, analyzing user feedback, and translating insights into actionable design decisions; comfort with leveraging product analytics.

• Customer-Centricity: Proven ability to engage directly with customers, gather feedback, and integrate user needs effectively into the design process.

• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills; ability to articulate design rationale clearly, negotiate design decisions, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers, Executives).

• Platform Familiarity: Understanding of design constraints and capabilities within iOS, Android, and web browser environments.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand business strategy, connect design decisions to business objectives, and influence product roadmaps.

Preferred Skills:

• Audio Product Design: Specific experience designing for audio-centric products or features.

• Accessibility Design: Demonstrated commitment to and experience with designing inclusive products for users with learning differences (dyslexia, ADD) or other disabilities.

• AI/ML Product Integration: Familiarity with designing user experiences for products incorporating AI or Machine Learning features.

• Asynchronous Workflow Proficiency: Experience working effectively within a fully remote, asynchronous team structure.

• Typography & Information Design: Advanced skills in visual hierarchy, layout, and the clear presentation of complex information.

• Micro-interactions: Skill in designing subtle yet impactful animations and interactive elements that enhance usability and delight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is inferred from the "Senior" title and the breadth of responsibilities, typically aligning with 5-10 years of focused product design experience. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" suggests a need for a hands-on designer comfortable with the entire product development cycle.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your product design process from initial problem definition and user research through ideation, prototyping, user testing, final design delivery, and post-launch iteration.

• Platform Diversity: Include examples of work across multiple platforms, specifically highlighting experience with mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications.

• Problem-Solving Focus: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design rationale, the trade-offs you made, and the impact of your design solutions using quantifiable metrics where possible.

• Process Documentation: Detail your research methodologies, user testing approaches, and how you incorporated feedback to iterate on designs.

• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually compelling, well-organized, and reflects a high standard of craft in typography, layout, and interaction design.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate how you've designed and optimized user workflows to improve efficiency, reduce friction, and enhance user satisfaction.

• System Integration: Show an understanding of how design fits within broader product development systems, including collaboration with engineering and product management.

• Performance Measurement: Illustrate how you've used data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the success of your design interventions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase visual design skills but, more importantly, the strategic thinking, problem-solving methodology, and process rigor behind each project, especially those involving consumer-facing applications and cross-platform experiences.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a high-growth tech company, operating remotely in Italy, the estimated annual salary range is €65,000 - €90,000. This range is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in Western Europe, considering the company's likely funding stage and the critical nature of design in a product-led organization.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: A strong base salary commensurate with experience and market value.

• Equity/Stock Options: Potential for stock options or equity, common in high-growth startups, offering significant upside potential.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance coverage, potentially including mental health support and wellness stipends.

• Professional Development: Generous budget for conferences, courses, books, and other learning opportunities to support continuous skill enhancement in design, AI, and audio technology.

• Remote Work Stipend: Support for setting up an optimal home office environment, covering equipment and connectivity costs.

• Flexible Asynchronous Work: The freedom to structure your workday to maximize focus and productivity, respecting global time zones and asynchronous communication principles.

• Impactful Work: The opportunity to work on a product with a profound social impact, enhancing education and accessibility for millions worldwide.

Working Hours: Speechify operates on a 100% distributed, asynchronous model. While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the emphasis is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to hours. This allows for significant flexibility in scheduling, provided work is completed efficiently and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on general European tech market data for senior design roles and adjusted for Italy's cost of living and the specific context of a well-funded, remote-first startup. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings in such companies, focusing on professional growth and remote work support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI-powered Text-to-Speech (TTS) software and educational technology. Speechify operates within the rapidly evolving intersection of AI, audio, and accessibility.

Company Size: ~200 employees. This indicates a growing startup environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful, but with established processes and a dedicated team.

Founded: Speechify was founded with a mission to remove reading as a barrier to learning, leveraging technology to make information more accessible. Its growth has been fueled by innovation and a strong user base, recognized by awards from Apple and Google.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Workforce: Speechify is a 100% distributed company with no physical offices, fostering an asynchronous work culture.

• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers work in close collaboration with product managers, engineers (frontend, backend), and AI research scientists.

• Talent Pool: The team comprises individuals from top tech companies (Amazon, Microsoft, Google), leading academic institutions (Stanford PhD programs), and successful startup backgrounds (Stripe, Vercel, Bolt).

Methodology:

• Product-Led Growth: Emphasis on user experience and product features driving adoption and retention.

• Data-Driven Design: Utilizing analytics and user feedback to inform product decisions and design iterations.

• Agile Development: Likely employing agile methodologies for rapid iteration and feature deployment.

• Asynchronous Communication: Prioritizing clear, written communication and documentation to facilitate collaboration across time zones.

Company Website: [Speechify Company URL - Placeholder, as not provided in input]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and recognition (Apple Design Award, Google Chrome Extension of the Year) underscore a commitment to quality, innovation, and inclusivity. The distributed, asynchronous nature is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor, expected to lead complex design initiatives, mentor others, and significantly influence product strategy. It's a critical role within the product development lifecycle, bridging user needs with business objectives.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product Design, or a similar leadership role within the product organization. They will work collaboratively within cross-functional product teams.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall product success. By improving the core reading experience and accessibility, they contribute significantly to Speechify's mission and its revenue growth through increased user adoption and satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design role as the company scales, overseeing larger teams and strategic design initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specialized areas such as AI-driven UX, audio design, accessibility, or specific platform optimization.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Exposure to product management, engineering leadership, and AI research can open doors to broader product strategy roles.

• Continuous Learning: Access to resources and a culture that encourages staying at the forefront of design trends, AI advancements, and audio technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title combined with responsibilities like "influence the product roadmap" and "shape the design org" indicates a high level of autonomy and potential for leadership growth within Speechify's expanding structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices. The work environment is entirely remote.

Office Location(s): While the job is listed for Florence, Italy, this designation likely pertains to administrative or timezone alignment. The company has employees globally, functioning without central physical locations.

Workspace Context:

• Asynchronous Collaboration: The primary mode of interaction is asynchronous, requiring strong written communication skills and self-discipline. Tools like Slack, email, and project management software are crucial.

• Technology Stack: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, Sketch), collaboration platforms, and potentially internal tools for user research and analytics.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings (stand-ups, design critiques, planning sessions) will occur, balanced with focused solo work. The culture encourages autonomy and deep work.

Work Schedule: The company promotes an asynchronous work culture, allowing significant flexibility in structuring the workday. The focus is on delivering high-quality work and meeting project deadlines rather than adhering to rigid 9-to-5 schedules. This requires strong time management and self-motivation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote and asynchronous nature is the defining characteristic of Speechify's work environment. This requires candidates to be highly self-directed and proficient in remote collaboration tools and practices.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, detailing your process, rationale, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your decision-making.

• Skills-Based Interview: Discussions focused on specific design skills, including UX/UI principles, research methodologies, prototyping techniques, and platform considerations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview: Interviews with PMs and Engineers to assess your ability to collaborate, communicate, and negotiate effectively within a team.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Design, CEO) to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall alignment with Speechify's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose projects that best showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those involving consumer-facing mobile or web applications.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Inclusivity & Accessibility: Given Speechify's mission, emphasize any work related to accessibility, inclusivity, or designing for users with learning differences.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Show how you worked with cross-functional teams and incorporated feedback.

• Visual Polish: Ensure your presentation is clean, professional, and visually consistent with your design aesthetic.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge that simulates a real-world problem Speechify might face. This will likely involve user research, ideation, wireframing, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Focus on Process: The evaluation will heavily weigh your design process, rationale, and ability to articulate your thinking, not just the final visual output.

• Time Management: Practice managing your time effectively during the design exercise, as deadlines are common in startup environments.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your design exercise solution clearly and concisely, ready to answer detailed questions about your approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and a potential design exercise suggests that practical application and demonstrated process are critical evaluation criteria for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or internal methods for qualitative and quantitative feedback collection.

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Zoom, Asana or Jira (for project management).

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 (if integrated into the product stack) for analyzing and presenting data insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot) might inform user segmentation or feature prioritization can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product design roles. Familiarity with user research platforms and product analytics tools is crucial for a data-informed designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible and overcoming learning barriers. This translates into a passion for building impactful products.

• Customer-Centricity: A core belief in understanding and serving user needs, with a direct line from customer feedback to product development.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration of new technologies (AI, audio) and creative problem-solving.

• Bias for Action & Focus: High-growth startup mentality, emphasizing execution, efficiency, and the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Inclusivity & Empathy: A commitment to designing for all users and fostering a diverse and supportive workplace.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Prioritizing clear, concise written communication and documentation for seamless collaboration across time zones.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely and respectfully with PMs, engineers, and researchers, valuing diverse perspectives.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture of open, honest feedback during design critiques and team discussions to elevate the quality of work.

• Autonomy & Accountability: Empowering individuals to take ownership of their work while being accountable for results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values align strongly with its mission and its operational model (remote, asynchronous). Empathy for users and a drive for impact are central themes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Systems: As Speechify grows, maintaining consistency and scalability across multiple platforms and features will be an ongoing challenge.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: The rapid pace of development requires balancing the introduction of new features with the need for a stable, reliable user experience.

• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Mastering effective asynchronous communication and building strong team cohesion without physical proximity requires continuous effort.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying ahead of advancements in AI, TTS, and audio technology requires ongoing learning and adaptation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Workshops and resources focused on emerging design patterns, accessibility standards, and advanced UX research techniques.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend leading UX, AI, or accessibility conferences (virtually or in-person if available).

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior design leaders or leaders from other disciplines within Speechify.

• Leadership Development: Training and opportunities to hone leadership skills, particularly in managing design projects and influencing product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a rapidly growing, remote-first tech company, offering opportunities for the designer to develop resilience, strategic thinking, and advanced collaboration skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap based on user research or data insights. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on data analysis, product thinking, and articulation of impact).

• "How would you approach designing a new onboarding flow for a user unfamiliar with text-to-speech technology? Walk us through your process from initial concept to testing." (Emphasize user-centricity, iterative design, and platform considerations).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Speechify's mission, and how does it align with your personal values and career goals?" (Prepare to speak genuinely about the mission and your passion for accessibility/education).

• "How do you thrive in a fully remote, asynchronous work environment? Describe your preferred communication and collaboration methods." (Showcase self-discipline, strong written communication, and proactive engagement).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, have a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, solutions, challenges), and end (outcome, learnings).

• Focus on the "Why": Be prepared to deeply explain the rationale behind every significant design decision you made.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your design work.

• Highlight Collaboration: Briefly explain how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your research methods, testing procedures, and trade-offs made.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also strategic thinking, a deep understanding of the company's mission, and proficiency in remote, asynchronous collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in consumer-facing products, cross-platform design (iOS, Android, Web), user research, and collaboration with engineering/product teams. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end case studies that demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it's easily navigable and visually polished.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on your rationale, process, and outcomes. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions.

• Research Speechify: Understand their mission, products, target audience, and recent achievements (like design awards). Consider how your skills and values align with theirs.

⚠️ 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.