Senior Product Designer - Manchester, United Kingdom

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Speechify Location: Manchester, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2026-01-09 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from ideation and research to prototyping, development, and iterative refinement of consumer-facing features.
• Elevate the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) patterns across Speechify's core platforms, including iOS and Android applications, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user journey.
• Lead the redesign and optimization of critical user flows, such as onboarding and core feature engagement, to enhance user adoption, retention, and overall satisfaction.
• Contribute significantly to the product roadmap, translating user insights and business objectives into actionable design strategies that align with Speechify's mission.
• Actively participate in shaping the design organization by refining existing processes and introducing innovative design methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a Senior Product Designer, implying a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or guide junior designers. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" indicates a hands-on approach expected at this level, moving beyond conceptualization to full execution. The distributed nature of the company suggests a strong requirement for asynchronous communication and self-management skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and deliver innovative features that directly support Speechify's mission to remove reading barriers.
• Conduct user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather deep insights into user needs and pain points across diverse user segments.
• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and interactive mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders and development teams.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to define product requirements, analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify opportunities for design-led growth.
• Partner with engineers to ensure seamless implementation of designs, providing clear specifications, assets, and ongoing support throughout the development sprints.
• Iterate on existing features based on user feedback, A/B testing results, and performance data to continuously improve user engagement and product efficacy.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all Speechify products.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in AI, audio technology, and accessibility to inform design decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are framed to emphasize impact and strategic contribution, aligning with a senior-level role. The focus on "influencing the product roadmap" and "shaping the design org" highlights the expectation for leadership and strategic thinking beyond day-to-day design tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience is highly valued.

Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing the successful delivery of consumer-facing digital products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web).

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in the full product design lifecycle: user research, discovery, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, usability testing, and iterative refinement.
• Proven ability to translate complex user needs and business objectives into intuitive and engaging user experiences.
• Strong understanding of product strategy and the ability to articulate design decisions with a clear "what" and "why," supported by data and user insights.
• Proficiency in using design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar.
• Experience working with product managers and engineers in an agile development environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to diverse stakeholders.
• A customer-centric mindset with a proven track record of incorporating user feedback effectively into the design process.
• Understanding of what is feasible in iOS, Android, and browser-based development environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in designing for accessibility, particularly for users with learning differences like dyslexia or ADHD.
• Familiarity with audio technology and its application in user interfaces.
• Experience working in a high-growth, distributed/remote startup environment.
• Knowledge of AI applications and their integration into user-facing products.
• Experience with developing or contributing to design systems.
• Familiarity with analytics tools to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is inferred from the "Senior" title and the described responsibilities. The emphasis on "5-10 years" provides a concrete benchmark. Preferred skills are included to highlight areas that would make a candidate particularly strong for Speechify's specific product and mission.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design experience for consumer-facing applications across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web).
• Case studies that clearly articulate a problem, your design process, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact of your solutions.
• Examples showcasing research methodologies, user flow mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.
• Evidence of collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, highlighting how you navigated trade-offs and influenced product decisions.
• Demonstrations of user-centricity, including how customer feedback was gathered, analyzed, and integrated into design iterations.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of structured design process, including how you approach problem definition, ideation, validation, and iteration.
• Examples of how you have used analytics and user data to inform design strategy and measure success.
• Documentation of how you have refined UX/UI patterns and improved user flows for complex applications.
• Examples of your contributions to design systems or style guides to ensure product consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are tailored to a senior product designer role, emphasizing end-to-end ownership and measurable impact. The focus aligns with the need to demonstrate strategic thinking and execution capabilities relevant to a high-growth tech company.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Manchester, United Kingdom, the estimated salary range is typically between £60,000 and £90,000 per year. This range can vary based on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the company's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for equity participation.
• Flexible and asynchronous work culture, enabling significant work-life balance.
• Opportunity to work on a product with a profound social impact, particularly for individuals with learning differences.
• Exposure to cutting-edge AI and audio technology in a rapidly evolving industry.
• Professional development opportunities, including learning resources and potential for growth within the design organization.
• A dynamic and innovative work environment that values individual contributions and autonomy.
• Collaborative team environment with colleagues from top tech companies and institutions.

Working Hours: Speechify operates on a 100% distributed, asynchronous model. While a standard full-time commitment is expected (approximately 40 hours per week), the exact timing is flexible to accommodate global time zones and individual working preferences, focusing on output and collaboration rather than strict hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer in Manchester, UK, considering the experience level and the tech sector. Benefits are drawn from the job description's "What we offer" section and augmented with typical offerings for remote, high-growth tech companies. The working hours are specifically tailored to Speechify's stated asynchronous model.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Software, AI, EdTech, Accessibility) Company Size: Approximately 200 employees globally. This size indicates a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful, yet structured enough to have established processes. Founded: Speechify was founded to address the critical need for accessible reading solutions, driven by a personal mission to help individuals overcome reading challenges.

Team Structure:

• The company is 100% distributed, meaning there are no physical offices. Teams are geographically dispersed.
• The design organization likely consists of product designers, UX researchers, and UI designers who collaborate remotely.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with designers working closely with Product Managers, Engineers (frontend, backend, AI), and potentially Marketing and Operations teams.
• Reporting lines are likely to be clear within the design team, with a Design Lead or Head of Design, and potentially reporting into a VP of Product or CTO.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using analytics and customer feedback to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Agile Development: Iterative approach to product development, with close collaboration between design and engineering.
• Asynchronous Collaboration: Reliance on tools and processes that facilitate effective communication and workflow without requiring simultaneous presence.
• User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, especially those with learning differences.

Company Website: [Speechify's official website would be linked here, e.g., speechify.com]

📝 Enhancement Note: Company culture details are derived from the "Mission" and "What we offer" sections, emphasizing a mission-driven, remote-first, and innovative environment. The distributed nature heavily influences team structure and methodology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as "Senior Product Designer," indicating a significant level of responsibility and autonomy. It's a key individual contributor role with the potential to influence product strategy and design direction. It sits above junior or mid-level designers and below design leadership roles (e.g., Design Lead, Head of Design).

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Manager, or potentially a VP of Product. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers and Engineering teams, acting as a primary design point person for specific product areas or features.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work has a direct and substantial impact on user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall product success. By improving the reading experience and making information more accessible, their contributions directly advance Speechify's mission and drive business growth. They are instrumental in translating the company's vision into tangible, user-friendly products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team of designers and setting design strategy for specific product verticals.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven UX, accessibility design, or specific platform optimization (e.g., mobile, web).
• Product Strategy Influence: Increased involvement in strategic product planning and roadmap development, contributing to the long-term vision of Speechify.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Opportunity to gain broader experience by working closely with various departments, potentially leading to roles in product management or strategy.
• Mentorship: Guiding and mentoring junior designers, sharing best practices and fostering a strong design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis interprets the "Senior" title and the company's growth-stage context to outline typical career progression and impact for such a role within a tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates with a 100% distributed model, meaning there are no physical offices. The work environment is entirely remote.

Office Location(s): While the role is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, this designation likely refers to the candidate's location for administrative or legal purposes, not a physical office. Speechify's team is global.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office: Employees are expected to maintain a productive and ergonomic home office setup conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.
• Digital Collaboration Tools: The environment relies heavily on digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, Notion) for communication, design reviews, and project management.
• Asynchronous Workflow: The workspace is designed to support individuals working across different time zones, emphasizing clear documentation, thoughtful communication, and respect for varied schedules.
• Focus and Autonomy: The environment fosters deep work and requires self-discipline and effective time management to balance individual tasks with collaborative efforts.

Work Schedule: The company promotes an asynchronous work culture. While a full-time commitment (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected, employees have flexibility in structuring their workday. The focus is on delivering results and being available for essential synchronous touchpoints (e.g., critical meetings) rather than adhering to fixed office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the implications of Speechify's fully distributed and asynchronous work model on the day-to-day working environment and schedule.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in Speechify's mission.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A detailed review of the candidate's portfolio, followed by a design challenge or case study presentation. This will assess problem-solving skills, design methodology, and ability to articulate design rationale.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and alignment with team dynamics.
• Final Interview: A conversation with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, CTO, or CEO) to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight End-to-End Process: Showcase case studies that clearly demonstrate your involvement from initial research and ideation through to final delivery and iteration.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics and data that illustrate the positive outcomes of your design work (e.g., increased conversion, improved user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).
• Showcase Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Emphasize Problem-Solving: Clearly articulate the challenges you faced in each project and your strategic approach to solving them.
• Tailor to Speechify: If possible, include a project or case study that touches upon accessibility, education, or audio technology, or demonstrate how your existing work relates to Speechify's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Mission: Be prepared to discuss how your design approach aligns with Speechify's mission to make reading accessible.
• Focus on User-Centricity: Demonstrate how you would approach understanding the needs of users, especially those with learning differences.
• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your design process step-by-step, explaining your rationale for each decision.
• Prepare for Ambiguity: As a startup, challenges may be ill-defined. Show how you can define problems and move forward with incomplete information.
• Consider Asynchronous Collaboration: Think about how you would communicate and collaborate effectively in a remote, asynchronous environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and preparation tips are structured based on typical senior-level design roles in tech startups, with specific considerations for Speechify's mission and remote work model.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and collaborative needs), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Hotjar, Maze, or internal survey tools.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Notion or Confluence for documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar platforms to track user behavior and feature adoption.
• A/B Testing Platforms: Tools like Optimizely or internal A/B testing frameworks.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a designer's primary tool, awareness of CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms is beneficial for understanding the broader user journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tool recommendations are based on common industry standards for product designers in tech companies, particularly those operating remotely and focusing on analytics-driven design. Figma is highlighted as a strong likelihood.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to Speechify's purpose of making reading accessible for everyone, particularly those with learning differences.
• Customer-Centricity: Prioritizing user needs and feedback in all design and product decisions.
• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration of new technologies (AI, audio) and creative solutions to user problems.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take ownership of their work and drive projects forward with minimal oversight.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering open communication and knowledge sharing within a distributed team.
• Efficiency & Focus: Valuing productive work and the ability to manage time effectively in an asynchronous environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication and collaboration are designed to be effective without real-time interaction, relying on clear documentation and thoughtful messages.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers work as integrated members of product teams, collaborating closely with PMs and engineers from ideation to launch.
• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes.
• Respect for Focus Time: Understanding and respecting colleagues' need for uninterrupted work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: Values and collaboration style are inferred from the company's mission statement, product focus, and distributed work model, reflecting typical expectations for such an organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Rapidly Evolving Industry: The AI and audio technology space is dynamic, requiring continuous learning and adaptation of design strategies.
• Balancing Diverse User Needs: Designing for a broad user base, including individuals with specific learning disabilities, requires careful consideration of accessibility and inclusivity.
• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient workflows in a fully distributed environment can be challenging.
• Prioritization in a High-Growth Startup: Balancing multiple project demands and influencing product roadmap decisions requires strong strategic thinking and negotiation skills.
• Technical Constraints & Opportunities: Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI and audio technologies to create feasible yet innovative designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering AI and Audio UX: Deepen expertise in designing for emerging technologies that are central to Speechify's product.
• Accessibility Design Specialization: Become a go-to expert in designing inclusive products for users with diverse needs.
• Product Strategy Development: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and contributing to long-term business strategy.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading design initiatives.
• Exposure to High-Growth Startup Dynamics: Gain invaluable experience in scaling a product and organization in a fast-paced tech environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are identified based on the role's seniority, the company's industry, and its operational model (remote, startup).

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Speechify that aims to improve comprehension for users with dyslexia?" (Focus on user research, iterative design, and accessibility considerations).
• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap or make a difficult trade-off between design vision and technical feasibility. What was your process and outcome?" (Demonstrates strategic thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving).
• "How do you ensure your design decisions are data-informed and customer-centric, especially in a remote environment where direct customer interaction might be less frequent?" (Highlights analytical skills, user empathy, and remote work strategies).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Speechify's mission, and how does your design philosophy align with it?" (Assesses passion for the mission and cultural fit).
• "How do you approach collaboration and communication in a fully distributed, asynchronous team?" (Tests understanding and experience with remote work dynamics).
• "Given Speechify's focus on AI and audio, what are some potential design challenges or opportunities you foresee, and how would you address them?" (Evaluates forward-thinking and technical curiosity).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of Speechify's mission and your understanding of the role.
• Case Study Deep Dive: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact. For each:
  • Clearly define the problem and your role.
  • Detail your research and ideation methods.
  • Showcase key design artifacts (wireframes, prototypes, final UI).
  • Explain your collaboration with PMs and engineers.
  • Present measurable results and lessons learned.
• Quantify Everything: Use numbers, data, and metrics to support your claims about design success.
• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.
• Showcase Communication Skills: Speak clearly, concisely, and enthusiastically about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions and preparation strategies are designed to probe for senior-level design thinking, strategic contribution, and suitability for Speechify's specific mission and remote work culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse platform.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate end-to-end product design experience for consumer-facing products. Prioritize projects that highlight user research, problem-solving, collaboration, and measurable impact. If possible, tailor your selection to showcase relevant experience in accessibility, education, or audio technology.
• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5-10 years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements and responsibilities directly related to product design, UX/UI, prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration. Integrate keywords from the job description naturally.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience in a remote, asynchronous environment and your understanding of Speechify's mission.
• Research Speechify: Thoroughly understand Speechify's product, mission, and target audience. Consider how your skills and experience can contribute to their ongoing success and growth.

⚠️ 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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