Senior Product Designer II (L6) - Agentic

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer II (L6) - Agentic Company: Instacart Location: United States - Remote Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design (AI/ML Focused) Date Posted: December 03, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and execution of cutting-edge AI-powered consumer and enterprise experiences, focusing on intelligent agents for shopping and meal planning.
• Develop and refine user interfaces for complex AI systems, including conversational AI, LLM-driven tools, and multimodal interfaces, ensuring trust, clarity, and habit-forming user journeys.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering, Machine Learning Engineers, and Data Scientists to seamlessly integrate advanced AI technologies into scalable and intuitive solutions.
• Drive the creation of design systems that emphasize AI transparency, explainability, ethical considerations, and robust user feedback mechanisms to foster responsible AI interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is "Product Designer," the emphasis on "Agentic," "AI-powered solutions," "intelligent agent," "LLMs," and "multimodal interfaces" strongly indicates a focus on AI/ML product development. Therefore, this description is tailored to highlight the intersection of Product Design and AI, framing it as a critical role within a technology-driven operations and user experience domain. The "L6" designation suggests a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on a consumer-facing AI agent to assist with weekly grocery shopping, personalized meal planning, and managing dietary needs, incorporating features like recipe recommendations, optimized shopping lists, and ingredient substitutions.
• Develop and implement connector agents that integrate Instacart's capabilities into external platforms, ensuring cohesive brand representation and seamless user experiences across partner ecosystems.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including usability studies and behavioral analysis, to gather actionable insights that inform design decisions and drive frictionless, habit-forming workflows.
• Champion the creation and evolution of scalable design systems specifically for AI interactions, prioritizing transparency, explainability, trust, and user feedback loops.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, ML, Data Science) to define product requirements, explore technical feasibility, and ensure the successful implementation of AI features.
• Solve complex design challenges related to multi-input/multimodal interfaces and design adaptive systems that build user trust and enhance efficiency in daily routines.
• Present and pitch compelling design strategies to diverse stakeholders, influencing strategic product decisions and aligning internal teams and external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are expanded to reflect the senior level (L6) and the specialized nature of AI/ML product design. Emphasis is placed on end-to-end ownership, strategic collaboration, and driving innovation in AI-driven user experiences, which are key expectations for senior roles in this domain.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Specific educational requirements are not detailed, but a strong portfolio and relevant experience are paramount. A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles.

Experience: 6-8+ years of progressive product design experience.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead end-to-end design projects from problem framing and user research through to delivering measurable results.
• AI System Design Specialization: Minimum of 2 years of dedicated experience designing for AI systems, specifically conversational AI, LLM-driven tools, or intelligent workflows.
• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing successful AI-specific case studies that clearly articulate problem-solving for conversational UI, commerce/retail, or enterprise tools, and demonstrate measurable impact.
• Prototyping & Validation: Proficiency with Figma and other rapid prototyping tools for quick iteration, user testing, and design concept validation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven success working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data/Machine Learning teams to ship complex, high-impact features.
• User Research & Insights: Fluency in conducting usability studies, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and translating findings into actionable design refinements.
• Stakeholder Management & Influence: Strong ability to influence diverse stakeholders, articulate compelling design strategies, and foster alignment with both internal teams and external partners.

Preferred Skills:

• Agency/Partner Management: Experience managing external agencies, enterprise partners, or leading collaborative co-development efforts.
• AI Ethics & Governance: Background in designing for AI transparency, ethics, and governance, including experience creating frameworks for explainability, feedback loops, and user control mechanisms.
• Advanced AI Familiarity: Familiarity with conversational AI frameworks, multimodal experience design, signal processing, or real-time recommendation systems.
• Design System Scalability: Experience in scaling design systems across enterprise-level or global platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "L6" designation and the nature of the role imply a need for strategic thinking and the ability to mentor or guide others, even if not directly managing. The AI-specific requirements are crucial and must be clearly demonstrated in the portfolio.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Design Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies detailing your role in the entire design process, from initial problem discovery and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.
• AI-Specific Project Focus: At least one case study must specifically highlight experience designing for AI systems (e.g., conversational AI, LLM-driven features, intelligent agents), detailing the unique challenges and solutions implemented.
• Problem Framing & User Insights: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, the target users, and the research methodologies used to gather insights. Demonstrate how these insights directly informed your design decisions.
• Iterative Design & Measurable Results: Illustrate your iterative design process, including user testing and feedback loops. Quantify the impact of your designs using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores, adoption rates).
• Collaboration & Influence: Briefly describe your collaboration process with Product, Engineering, and Data/ML teams, and how you influenced product direction or technical implementation.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate ability to map out complex user flows and identify areas for AI-driven optimization, enhancing efficiency and user experience.
• System Integration Principles: Show understanding of how designed AI features integrate with existing systems and data pipelines, particularly concerning LLMs and multimodal inputs.
• AI Transparency & Explainability Frameworks: If applicable, include examples or descriptions of how you've designed for AI transparency, explainability, and ethical considerations within a product.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, particularly in AI, the portfolio is the primary evaluation tool. It must go beyond visual design to demonstrate strategic thinking, research acumen, collaboration skills, and a data-driven approach to problem-solving, especially concerning complex AI systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Base Pay: The provided ranges are tiered by US state, reflecting Instacart's commitment to location-based compensation.
  • CA, NY, CT, NJ: $189,000 - $210,000 USD
  • WA: $182,000 - $202,000 USD
  • OR, DE, ME, MA, MD, NH, RI, VT, DC, PA, VA, CO, TX, IL, HI: $174,000 - $193,000 USD
  • All other states: $157,000 - $174,000 USD
• Total Compensation: This role is eligible for a new hire equity grant and annual refresh grants, significantly increasing the overall compensation package beyond base salary.

Benefits:

• Equity: New hire equity grant and annual refresh grants provide ownership in Instacart's growth.
• Market-Competitive Compensation: The base salary ranges are designed to be highly competitive within the US market for a senior product design role.
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: (Assumed, as standard for tech companies) Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible Work Policy: Instacart operates on a "Flex First" model, offering significant flexibility in choosing where to work (remote, office, or hybrid) with community-building events.
• Paid Time Off: (Assumed, as standard) Generous PTO, holidays, and sick leave.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth, including conferences, training, and advanced skill development.

Working Hours:

• The role is listed as full-time, typically implying around 40 hours per week. However, Instacart's "Flex First" approach suggests flexibility in daily scheduling to accommodate individual productivity and work-life balance, provided that collaboration and output expectations are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific and tiered by location, which is a critical piece of information for candidates. The mention of equity grants is a significant component of total compensation in the tech industry, especially for senior roles. The "Flex First" policy is a key differentiator for the work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Grocery Delivery, Technology, AI/ML. Instacart operates at the intersection of retail technology and AI, aiming to transform the grocery ecosystem. Company Size: Instacart is a large, publicly traded technology company with a significant employee base. This scale offers opportunities for impact and career advancement. Founded: Instacart was founded in 2012. Its growth trajectory has been rapid, driven by innovation and market demand, particularly accelerated by recent global events.

Team Structure:

• Agentic Team: This team is at the forefront of developing AI-powered solutions, indicating a high-caliber, technically proficient group focused on innovation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close partnership with Product Management, Engineering, Machine Learning, and Data Science, suggesting a highly collaborative and integrated team environment.
• Reporting: As an L6 Senior Product Designer, this role likely reports into a Design Lead or Director, with significant autonomy in day-to-day work and project execution.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role requires leveraging user research, behavioral analysis, and quantitative metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact, reflecting a data-centric approach.
• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, tech companies of Instacart's size typically operate within agile development frameworks, requiring iterative design, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback.
• AI-First Innovation: The Agentic team's mission centers on AI, suggesting a culture that encourages experimentation with new technologies and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Agentic" team name and its focus on AI/ML are crucial context. This suggests a team that is both innovative and highly technical, operating within a larger, established tech company. The "Flex First" policy is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: L6 Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a senior individual contributor role responsible for leading complex design initiatives, influencing product strategy, and mentoring junior designers. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and a proven track record of delivering impactful product solutions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director, with close collaboration across Product, Engineering, and Data Science leadership. This structure allows for both strategic guidance and operational independence.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts Instacart's core offerings by enhancing user experiences through AI. This includes driving customer engagement, improving shopping efficiency, increasing conversion rates, and potentially expanding Instacart's capabilities into new enterprise markets. The success of AI-driven features is critical to Instacart's competitive advantage and future growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI/ML product design, conversational interfaces, and multimodal experiences, becoming a go-to expert in these cutting-edge fields.
• Leadership Development: Transition into design leadership roles (e.g., Design Lead, Manager) or become a principal/staff designer, influencing broader product and design strategy across Instacart.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Gain exposure to advanced ML and data science methodologies, fostering a deeper understanding of the technical underpinnings of AI products.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to the evolving field of AI product design through thought leadership, presentations, or internal best practice development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "L6" designation is key here, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic influence and potential for mentorship, rather than direct management. The impact on AI-driven features is central to career growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. Instacart embraces a "Flex First" approach, allowing employees to choose their work location while emphasizing connection through in-person events. This offers significant autonomy and flexibility.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, Instacart has physical offices. The "Flex First" policy means employees can work from home, a co-working space, or a coffee shop, provided they can maintain productivity and connectivity. The company may host periodic in-person team events or offsites in various locations.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility & Autonomy: The remote setup empowers designers to create their ideal work environment, fostering personal productivity.
• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma), collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized AI development environments.
• Team Interaction: While remote, there's an expectation of strong virtual collaboration and engagement through regular virtual meetings, Slack, and company-wide events designed to build community.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility inherent in the "Flex First" remote model. While core hours for collaboration might exist, individual schedules can be adapted, provided deliverables are met and team needs are accommodated. This flexibility is beneficial for deep work sessions required for complex AI design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Flex First" policy is a defining characteristic of Instacart's work environment, offering significant autonomy. This is a major selling point for candidates who value flexibility, but also requires strong self-discipline and communication skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Recruiter Screen: Initial conversation to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your career trajectory and high-level interest in AI design.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into your experience, portfolio highlights, and approach to AI product design. Prepare to discuss specific case studies and your contributions.
• Design Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio. Focus on your process, problem-solving, collaboration, and the impact of your work, especially AI-related projects.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product, Engineering, and/or Data Science team members. Expect discussions on collaboration, technical understanding, and how you approach working with diverse teams on complex AI features.
• Final Round/Executive Interview: Potential interview with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with Instacart's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize AI Case Studies: Ensure your most compelling AI-specific projects are front and center. Clearly articulate the AI problem, your unique design contribution, and the resulting user and business impact.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to illustrate your design process. Walk through your decision-making rationale step-by-step.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved task completion, increased engagement, higher satisfaction scores).
• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you partnered with technical teams (ML, Engineering) and Product Managers. Discuss any challenges in translating complex AI concepts into user-friendly designs and how you overcame them.
• Focus on Ethics & Transparency: If your AI projects involved considerations for AI ethics, transparency, or explainability, highlight these aspects and your design approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Design Principles: Familiarize yourself with current best practices in conversational AI, LLM interfaces, and multimodal design.
• Instacart's Business: Understand Instacart's core business, its user base, and its strategic goals, particularly regarding AI integration.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Be prepared for hypothetical design challenges related to AI-powered shopping, meal planning, or enterprise integrations. Think about user needs, technical constraints, and ethical considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI-specific case studies and the ability to discuss collaboration with technical teams is critical for this role. The interview process is structured to assess both design craft and strategic thinking in an AI context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a must.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with tools like Principle, ProtoPie, or Adobe XD for creating interactive prototypes to test complex AI interactions.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting usability testing, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior, track feature adoption, and measure impact.
• Data Visualization Tools: Understanding how to interpret data dashboards and potentially contribute to their creation (e.g., Tableau, Looker) to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from various touchpoints is important. Experience with systems that manage user profiles and interaction history will be beneficial.
• Familiarity with AI/ML development workflows and the tools used by ML Engineers and Data Scientists (e.g., JIRA, Git, basic understanding of ML model outputs) can enhance collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is strong proficiency in design and prototyping tools. Familiarity with analytics platforms is crucial for demonstrating data-driven design. Understanding the broader AI development ecosystem is a significant plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep understanding of user needs and a commitment to creating delightful and efficient experiences, especially within the context of AI-driven assistance.
• Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages exploring new AI technologies, testing bold ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in food tech.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, ML, Data Science) with open communication and shared goals.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on user research, analytics, and feedback to guide design choices and measure success.
• Bias for Action & Ownership: Taking initiative, driving projects forward, and owning the outcome of design solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Highly collaborative with a focus on building strong working relationships with technical teams to ensure feasibility and successful implementation of AI features.
• Iterative Feedback: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs, fostering continuous improvement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: Instacart's emphasis on "Flex First" and its mission to "share love through food" suggests a culture that values both flexibility and a deep connection to its purpose. The AI focus within the Agentic team implies a culture of high technical competence and forward-thinking.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in AI: Creating AI experiences that users trust, understand, and feel in control of, especially when dealing with complex algorithms and potential biases.
• Multimodal & Conversational Complexity: Designing intuitive interfaces that handle diverse inputs (text, voice, images) and complex conversational flows effectively and scalably.
• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of the fast-paced advancements in AI/ML and integrating new capabilities into user-friendly product designs.
• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively navigating the trade-offs between ideal user experiences and the practical limitations of AI models and engineering resources.
• Global Scalability: Designing solutions that can be adapted and localized for a broad, diverse user base across different regions and cultural contexts.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge AI Exposure: Direct involvement with LLMs, multimodal AI, and predictive algorithms, offering unparalleled learning in a high-demand field.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant AI and Design conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications.
• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior design and AI leaders within Instacart, as well as opportunities to mentor junior designers.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepened understanding of Machine Learning, Data Science, and Product Management methodologies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the cutting-edge nature of the role, requiring a blend of design expertise, AI understanding, and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities are significant due to the specialized and high-demand nature of AI product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex AI system you've designed. What was the core problem, your approach, the key challenges, and the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, AI-specific problem-solving, and impact.)
• "How do you approach designing for AI transparency and building user trust in AI-generated recommendations or actions?" (Prepare to discuss frameworks, ethical considerations, and user feedback mechanisms.)
• "Walk me through a time you collaborated with ML Engineers or Data Scientists. How did you ensure alignment and translate technical capabilities into a user-friendly experience?" (Highlight your communication skills and ability to bridge the gap between technical and user needs.)
• "How would you design an intelligent agent to help a user plan a week's worth of meals based on dietary restrictions, available ingredients, and past shopping habits?" (Be ready to outline your process, key features, and potential AI integrations.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Instacart's mission and the Agentic team's focus on AI?" (Show genuine interest and research into the company's goals.)
• "How do you envision your role contributing to Instacart's 'Flex First' culture?" (Reflect on how you maintain productivity and collaboration in a remote, flexible environment.)
• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders with competing priorities. How did you navigate that situation?" (Demonstrate your negotiation and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study (especially AI-focused ones), clearly define: Problem -> Your Role -> Research -> Design Process -> Solutions -> Impact/Results -> Learnings.
• Visual Storytelling: Use clear, concise visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) that illustrate your thought process and design evolution.
• Quantify Achievements: Emphasize metrics and data that prove the success and business value of your designs.
• Articulate AI Nuances: Be prepared to discuss the specific AI technologies involved, the challenges they presented, and how your design addressed them. Highlight any work on explainability or ethical AI.
• Engage with Questions: Be ready to answer deep-dive questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and future iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to design for AI, demonstrate impact, and collaborate effectively with technical teams. A strong portfolio presentation is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Instacart Careers portal via the provided URL.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest design case studies, ensuring at least one prominently features AI system design (conversational AI, LLMs, intelligent agents) with clear problem statements, your unique contributions, and measurable outcomes. Tailor the presentation to highlight collaboration with technical teams.
• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly lists your years of experience, specific AI design expertise, proficiency in Figma, and experience with user research and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, key achievements, and why you are passionate about AI and Instacart’s mission. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail during interviews.
• Research Instacart: Understand Instacart's business model, its AI initiatives (especially the Agentic team's focus), and its "Flex First" culture to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.

⚠️ 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.