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 Design Date Posted: November 4, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (implied by "Senior" title and 5-10 year AI estimate) Remote Status: Fully Remote (with a primary focus on Manchester, UK talent)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design and iteration of Speechify's consumer-facing products, focusing on enhancing user experience and interface across multiple platforms including iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome Extension, and Web App.
• Drive innovation by pitching, prototyping, testing, building, shipping, and refining new features, directly influencing the product roadmap and the company's mission to remove reading barriers.
• Elevate the user journey through meticulous refinement of UX/UI patterns, onboarding flows, and core user interactions within a high-growth, distributed team environment.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Executives to translate strategic objectives into intuitive and impactful design solutions, leveraging data analytics and customer feedback.
• Contribute to the growth and evolution of the design organization by refining processes and shaping design best practices within an asynchronous work culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a "Senior Product Designer" based in Manchester, UK, but the company operates as a 100% distributed team with no offices. This suggests a strong emphasis on asynchronous communication, self-management, and the ability to work effectively remotely, despite the location specificity. The AI-generated experience level of 5-10 years aligns with a senior designation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Feature Development: Lead the end-to-end design process for new features, from initial concept and user research to prototyping, user testing, final delivery, and post-launch iteration.
• UX/UI Enhancement: Systematically refine and optimize existing UX/UI patterns across Speechify's suite of applications (iOS, Android, Web, Browser Extensions) to ensure consistency, usability, and aesthetic appeal.
• User Flow Optimization: Re-envision and improve critical user journeys, including onboarding, core feature utilization, and user engagement pathways, to maximize user comprehension and adoption.
• Product Strategy Influence: Actively contribute to the product roadmap by providing design insights, identifying user needs, and proposing innovative solutions that align with Speechify's mission and business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Product Managers to analyze user data and identify key product opportunities, and work closely with engineers to ensure feasible and high-quality design implementation.
• Design Process Improvement: Play a key role in shaping the design organization by contributing to the refinement of design workflows, standards, and best practices, particularly within a remote and asynchronous setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on design role with significant strategic input. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" highlights a full-cycle design ownership. The need to "refine our process and help shape the design org" suggests this individual will have influence beyond individual projects, contributing to the team's operational excellence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. A strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience is paramount.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of designing and delivering successful consumer-facing products across multiple platforms (mobile, web, browser extensions).

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking & Strategy: Ability to understand business objectives, articulate design rationale ("what and why"), and translate strategy into actionable design solutions. Proficient in using analytics to identify opportunities.
• UX/UI Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design, with a strong portfolio showcasing this.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to test concepts and gather feedback, and a commitment to iterative design based on user insights.
• User Research & Customer Centricity: Experience conducting user research, gathering customer feedback, and integrating qualitative and quantitative data into the design process. Comfort in directly engaging with customers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders, influencing decisions and negotiating design outcomes.
• Platform Design: Understanding of design constraints and best practices for iOS, Android, and web browsers.
• Communication Skills: Articulate and persuasive in presenting design ideas, asking insightful questions, and documenting work with high attention to detail.
• Focus & Self-Management: Ability to work autonomously, prioritize tasks effectively, and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced, remote startup environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Audio Product Experience: Curiosity and understanding of audio-centric products and their unique design considerations.
• Accessibility Design: Experience designing for inclusivity and understanding the needs of users with learning differences like dyslexia or ADD.
• Animation & Micro-interactions: Skill in crafting subtle, engaging micro-interactions and animations that enhance user experience.
• A/B Testing: Experience designing and interpreting results from A/B tests to optimize user flows and features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Ideal Candidate" section strongly implies the required skills. The AI-estimated experience of 5-10 years is a reasonable inference for a "Senior" role, especially in a high-growth startup environment where significant end-to-end product experience is valued. The emphasis on "curiosity about audio" and understanding of specific platforms is critical.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 in-depth case studies demonstrating the full product design lifecycle: research, discovery, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and successful delivery of consumer-facing features.
• Platform Diversity: Include examples of work across different platforms (iOS, Android, Web, Browser Extensions) to demonstrate adaptability and cross-platform design thinking.
• Problem/Solution Articulation: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed, the design process followed, and the impact of the delivered solution, ideally with quantifiable results.
• Design Process Transparency: Detail the methodologies used, including user research techniques, prototyping tools, and how customer feedback was incorporated.
• Visual Design & Interaction: Present high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and examples of micro-interactions or animations where applicable.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase examples of designing and optimizing user flows, particularly for onboarding and core feature engagement.
• System Integration Awareness: Demonstrate an understanding of how designs integrate with underlying technical systems and constraints (mentioning iOS, Android, browser capabilities).
• Iterative Improvement: Highlight instances where designs were iterated upon based on data, analytics, or user feedback, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly mentions the need for a portfolio and LinkedIn profile. For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is not just a collection of work but a demonstration of process, strategic thinking, and impact. The "Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements" are inferred from typical expectations for senior design roles in tech, emphasizing a structured approach to problem-solving and delivering user value.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior Product Designer title, Manchester, UK location, and the tech industry average for a high-growth startup, the estimated annual salary range is likely between £60,000 - £90,000. This range accounts for experience, the competitive nature of design talent, and the cost of living in Manchester.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: As stated, indicating a strong salary package.
• Welcoming Atmosphere: Suggests a positive and supportive team environment.
• Exceptional Asynchronous Work Culture: This is a key benefit, implying flexibility, trust, and resources to support remote, time-zone-agnostic collaboration.
• Impactful Work: The opportunity to work on a product that significantly changes lives, particularly for individuals with learning differences.
• Growth & Innovation: Being part of a revolutionary industry at the intersection of AI and audio.
• Autonomy: Fostering creativity and ownership.

Working Hours: The AI-estimated 40 hours per week is standard. Given the "exceptional asynchronous work culture" and "remote team" context, there's likely significant flexibility in when these hours are worked, provided tasks are completed and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary information was not provided in the input. The estimate is based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer in a major UK city like Manchester, considering the company's growth-stage and tech focus. The benefits are directly pulled from the job description, with an interpretation of what "exceptional asynchronous work culture" implies for working hours and flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focusing on AI-powered Text-to-Speech (TTS) solutions, with significant implications for Education, Accessibility, and Productivity software. Speechify is positioned at the forefront of making reading accessible and efficient. Company Size: Approximately 200 people globally, described as a "high-growth startup." This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact and rapid scaling. Founded: The founding date isn't explicitly stated, but the company has achieved significant milestones like "Chrome Extension of the Year" and "Apple's 2025 Design Award winner for Inclusivity," indicating a mature product and market presence.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Model: Operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices, fostering a global talent pool.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers work closely with opinionated Product Managers, Engineers (frontend, backend), and AI Research Scientists. Collaboration is key, especially in an asynchronous setting.
• Design Org: The role includes refining the design organization's processes, suggesting a structured approach to design operations and team development.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on embracing analytics and working with PMs to pinpoint key opportunities, suggesting a strong reliance on metrics and user data.
• Customer-Centricity: Valuing direct customer conversations and integrating feedback into the design process.
• Agile & Iterative: The "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" cycle points to an agile development and design methodology focused on continuous improvement.
• Asynchronous Collaboration: A core operational methodology, requiring clear documentation, proactive communication, and effective use of collaboration tools.

Company Website: Speechify.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description paints a picture of a mission-driven, innovative, and digitally native organization. The "100% distributed setting" is a critical aspect of its culture and operational model. The mention of AI and accessibility highlights its strategic focus and market differentiation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a "Senior Product Designer," indicating a level beyond entry-level or mid-level. It requires demonstrated expertise in the full design lifecycle, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or influence others. The scope includes not just feature design but also process improvement within the design organization.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or potentially a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, retention, engagement, and overall product success. By improving UX/UI, onboarding, and core flows, they contribute to Speechify's mission, which in turn drives user adoption and growth. Their influence extends to shaping the product roadmap and improving the efficiency of the design team itself.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership within Design: Opportunity to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and take on more strategic product responsibilities.
• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven product design, audio UX, or accessibility.
• Process Ownership: Significant opportunity to shape and own design processes within a rapidly growing, distributed organization.
• Career Progression: Potential to move into roles like Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and responsibilities like "influence the product roadmap" and "shape the design org" suggest a role with substantial growth potential beyond individual contributor tasks. The distributed nature of the company might offer unique opportunities for global collaboration and exposure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a 100% distributed model, meaning there is no central office or requirement to work from a specific physical location, even though the posting specifies Manchester, UK. This implies a remote-first, potentially hybrid-flexible environment tailored to individual employee needs and time zones.

Office Location(s): While the job is posted for Manchester, UK, the company has no fixed offices. Employees are distributed globally. This location specificity might be for talent acquisition or regulatory reasons within the UK.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Setup: Employees are expected to have a suitable home office setup conducive to focused work and video conferencing.
• Asynchronous Tools: The environment relies heavily on robust communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Notion, Figma) to facilitate seamless interaction across different time zones.
• Team Interaction: While remote, there are opportunities for team interaction through virtual meetings, design critiques, and social events. The focus is on effective digital collaboration.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "exceptional asynchronous work culture" suggests significant flexibility in when those hours are worked. The emphasis is on output, clear communication, and meeting collaboration needs rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "100% distributed setting" and "exceptional asynchronous work culture" are defining characteristics of Speechify's work environment. This is a critical factor for candidates to understand, as it shapes communication norms, collaboration styles, and the need for self-discipline and proactive engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio links. Be prepared to articulate your interest and fit for the role.
2. Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
3. Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into your portfolio, likely involving a presentation of 1-2 key case studies. This may be a dedicated session or integrated into later stages. Expect to discuss your process, decision-making, and impact.
4. Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration, communication, and technical understanding. These interviews will focus on how you approach problems and work within a team.
5. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CEO) to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and final cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process for consumer-facing products.
• Focus on Process & Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the trade-offs you made, and the measurable outcomes or impact of your designs. Use data where possible.
• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Design for Audio & Accessibility: If possible, include examples that touch upon audio interfaces or accessibility considerations, given Speechify's product.
• Be Prepared to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, your understanding of Speechify's mission, and how you operate in a remote environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Speechify's Product: Familiarize yourself with Speechify's apps, Chrome extension, and web app. Understand its mission, target audience, and competitive landscape.
• Problem-Solving: Be ready to tackle a hypothetical design problem related to Speechify's product or a general UX challenge. Practice articulating your thought process, research methods, and solution ideation.
• Remote Work Acumen: Prepare to discuss how you manage your time, communicate, and collaborate effectively in a distributed, asynchronous team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is inferred based on standard practices for Senior Product Designer roles in tech startups, especially those with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and remote collaboration. The advice is tailored to highlight the specific aspects mentioned in the job description.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design & Prototyping Tools:

• Figma: Highly probable as the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration, given its industry prevalence.
• Sketch: Potentially used, especially if the team has legacy workflows.
• Adobe XD: Less common but possible for prototyping.
• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Marvel, or Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities.

User Research & Analytics:

• UserTesting.com / Maze / Lookback: Platforms for remote usability testing and gathering user feedback.
• Google Analytics / Mixpanel / Amplitude: Tools for tracking user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion rates.
• Hotjar / FullStory: For heatmaps, session recordings, and understanding user interactions.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Slack: Essential for real-time communication in a distributed team.
• Notion / Confluence: For documentation, process guides, design system information, and project briefs.
• Jira / Asana / Trello: For task management and tracking project progress.

Design Systems:

• Component Libraries: Familiarity with building and maintaining design system components for consistency across platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools are not listed, but the listed tools represent the industry standard for product design in a tech company like Speechify. Proficiency in at least one major design tool (Figma is dominant) and familiarity with collaboration and analytics platforms are crucial for a Senior Product Designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission of making reading accessible and removing barriers to learning. This should resonate deeply with candidates.
• Customer-Centricity: A genuine focus on understanding and serving the user, with a willingness to engage directly with customers.
• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration of new ideas, particularly in the evolving fields of AI and audio technology.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take initiative, manage their work, and contribute significantly.
• Efficiency & Focus: Valuing effective workflows and the ability to concentrate on impactful tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Inclusivity & Diversity: Commitment to building a diverse workforce and designing inclusive products.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily asynchronous, requiring clear, concise, and thorough written communication and documentation.
• Proactive Engagement: Team members are expected to be proactive in seeking information, sharing updates, and offering feedback.
• Opinionated & Respectful: The description mentions "opinionated PMs, engineers, and execs," suggesting a culture where strong ideas are encouraged but also require respectful negotiation and collaboration to reach consensus.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Emphasis on close working relationships between design, product, and engineering to ensure successful product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is heavily influenced by its mission and its distributed, asynchronous operational model. Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with these values and an ability to thrive in such an environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Distributed, Asynchronous Environment: Effectively communicating, collaborating, and maintaining productivity without constant in-person interaction requires strong self-discipline and clear communication strategies.
• Balancing Innovation with Execution: In a high-growth startup, there's a constant push for new features and rapid iteration, which can be challenging to balance with maintaining design quality and user experience consistency.
• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively advocating for design decisions and influencing product direction among opinionated team members requires strong communication and strategic reasoning.
• Designing for Diverse Needs: Creating a product that serves a wide range of users, including those with learning differences like dyslexia and ADD, presents unique design challenges that require deep empathy and research.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Audio Tech: Deep dive into cutting-edge AI applications in audio and TTS technology.
• Product Strategy: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and influencing business strategy through design.
• Design Operations: Contribute to building and refining design processes within a scaling, remote organization.
• Accessibility Design Best Practices: Develop expertise in creating inclusive experiences for users with diverse needs.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Hone skills in leading design initiatives and collaborating with various disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges and framing them as opportunities for growth is key. The AI and audio focus, along with the accessibility mission, are significant growth areas for designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap with a design idea. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data use, and stakeholder management.)
• "How do you approach designing for users with specific needs, such as learning disabilities like dyslexia or ADD? Can you share an example from your portfolio?" (Assess empathy, research skills, and inclusivity focus.)
• "Speechify operates on an asynchronous, remote-first model. How would you ensure effective collaboration and communication with your team?" (Evaluate remote work adaptability and communication strategies.)
• "Walk us through a complex UX/UI challenge you solved. What were the constraints, what was your process, and what were the results?" (Demonstrate problem-solving skills, process documentation, and impact measurement.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you drawn to Speechify's mission? How does it align with your personal values or career goals?" (Gauge mission alignment and passion.)
• "How do you stay focused and productive in a remote work environment?" (Assess self-management and work habits.)
• "Describe your experience working with product managers and engineers. How do you handle disagreements or differing opinions on design?" (Evaluate collaboration and negotiation skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), The Solution, and The Impact/Results.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics, user feedback quotes, or data points to demonstrate the success of your designs.
• Explain Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss why you made certain design decisions, especially when faced with technical constraints or business priorities.
• Showcase Iteration: Highlight how user feedback or data led to design changes and improvements.
• Engage and Ask Questions: Treat it as a collaborative discussion. Ask clarifying questions about Speechify's current challenges and how your skills can address them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are tailored to the Senior Product Designer role, Speechify's specific product and mission, and its distributed work model. The portfolio presentation advice emphasizes demonstrating process, impact, and collaborative problem-solving.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the application link and submit your resume.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that demonstrate end-to-end product design experience for consumer-facing products. Ensure they highlight your process, strategic thinking, and impact.
• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize keywords and achievements related to product design, UX/UI, user research, prototyping, cross-functional collaboration, and experience with mobile (iOS/Android) and web platforms. Quantify your accomplishments.
• Prepare Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate why you are a strong fit for Speechify's mission and its unique distributed work culture. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and effectively.
• Research Speechify: Thoroughly understand Speechify's products, mission, target audience, and values. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with theirs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. While efforts have been made to provide comprehensive details relevant to a Senior Product Designer role, candidates should verify all aspects, including specific salary expectations, benefits, and interview processes, directly with Speechify.