Senior Product Designer - Milan, Italy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Speechify

Location: Milan, Italy

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: February 28, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical part of Speechify's mission to eliminate reading barriers through innovative text-to-speech technology.

• The Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping the user experience and interface design for Speechify's consumer-facing products across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome Extension, and Web App.

• The position requires a blend of strategic product thinking, hands-on design execution, and a customer-centric approach to drive feature development and refine core user flows.

• This role will influence the product roadmap and contribute to the evolution of the design organization within a fast-paced, distributed startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description is for a "Senior Product Designer," this enhanced version frames it within the context of operations by focusing on the design's impact on user adoption, retention, and the efficiency of user flows, which are key operational metrics in a product-led growth environment. The emphasis on "refining processes" and "shaping the design org" also highlights operational aspects of team development and workflow optimization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Feature Development Lifecycle: Initiate, prototype, test, build, ship, and iterate on new product features, ensuring a seamless transition from concept to deployment.

• User Experience & Interface Refinement: Enhance and optimize UX/UI patterns across Speechify's native iOS and Android applications, focusing on intuitive navigation and engaging interactions.

• User Flow Optimization: Rethink and redesign onboarding sequences and core user journeys to improve user comprehension, engagement, and task completion rates.

• Product Strategy Influence: Contribute to the product roadmap by providing data-driven insights, user research findings, and design recommendations that align with business objectives and user needs.

• Design Organization Development: Play an active role in refining design processes, establishing best practices, and shaping the overall structure and culture of the design organization.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders to translate user needs and business requirements into effective design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been expanded to highlight the end-to-end nature of product design within a growth-oriented tech company. Emphasis is placed on the iterative process, user-centricity, and strategic contribution, which are crucial for operational excellence in product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles and user-centered methodologies is paramount. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of demonstrable experience in product design, with a focus on consumer-facing applications across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web). Proven track record of successfully researching, discovering, prototyping, and delivering user-centric product features.

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking & Strategy: Ability to understand product strategy, articulate the "what" and "why" behind design decisions, and leverage analytics to identify key user opportunities.

• Customer-Centric Design: Demonstrated ability to engage directly with customers, gather feedback, and integrate user insights effectively into the design process.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with Product Managers, engineers, and executives, demonstrating strong negotiation and influencing skills.

• Design Craftsmanship: Expertise in typography, information design, and micro-interactions. Understanding of design feasibility and constraints across iOS, Android, and web browsers.

• Communication Skills: Articulate and persuasive communication, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and ask insightful questions.

• Focus & Adaptability: Ability to work effectively in a high-growth, remote startup environment, understanding when to engage deeply and when to focus autonomously.

• Curiosity for Audio: A genuine interest and understanding of audio technology and its application in user experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with text-to-speech (TTS) technologies.

• Familiarity with AI-driven product features.

• Experience in a fully distributed or asynchronous work environment.

• Contributions to design systems or established UX/UI patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements are tailored to emphasize operational aspects of design, such as data-driven decision-making ("embrace analytics"), customer feedback loops, and cross-functional alignment, which are critical for a well-oiled product development operation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your involvement from initial research and discovery through prototyping, user testing, and final delivery of consumer-facing features.

• Platform Diversity: Include examples of work across multiple platforms (e.g., iOS, Android, Web) to demonstrate versatility and understanding of platform-specific design considerations.

• Problem-Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business opportunity addressed, the design process followed, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Process Transparency: Detail your design methodology, including how you incorporate user feedback, analytics, and cross-functional input into your workflow.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you have designed or refined user workflows to enhance efficiency and user satisfaction.

• Prototyping & Iteration: Demonstrate your approach to rapid prototyping and iterative design based on testing and feedback.

• Metrics & Impact Reporting: Show how you track and report on the success of your design solutions, linking them to key performance indicators (KPIs) such as user retention, engagement, or conversion rates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are specifically designed for a product design role in an operations-focused context, emphasizing the demonstration of process, measurable impact, and efficient workflow design, rather than just aesthetic output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Milan, Italy, the estimated annual salary range is €55,000 - €80,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major Italian tech hubs, considering the company's growth stage and the specialized nature of Speechify's product.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: A strong salary package reflecting your experience and contributions.

• Impactful Product: The opportunity to work on a product that genuinely changes lives, particularly for individuals with learning differences.

• Innovative Technology: Exposure to and work with cutting-edge AI and audio technology.

• Asynchronous Work Culture: A commitment to an exceptional asynchronous work environment that fosters focus, autonomy, and creativity.

• Dynamic Environment: A fast-paced setting where your contributions directly shape the company and its products.

• Growth Opportunities: Autonomy and the chance to grow with a rapidly scaling company.

Working Hours: Speechify operates with a commitment to an exceptional asynchronous work culture. While a standard full-time workload is expected (approximately 40 hours per week), the emphasis is on results and efficiency rather than strict adherence to office hours, allowing for flexibility in how and when work is completed.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been provided based on research for comparable roles in Milan, Italy. The benefits are highlighted to align with the company's description and appeal to professionals seeking impactful work and flexible environments. The working hours are described with an emphasis on asynchronous collaboration, a key operational characteristic for distributed teams.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI-powered Text-to-Speech (TTS) and assistive reading technologies. Speechify operates at the intersection of AI, audio, and education technology, aiming to democratize access to information.

Company Size: Approximately 200 employees globally. This size indicates a dynamic, growth-stage startup environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful.

Founded: Speechify was founded with a mission to ensure reading is never a barrier to learning. The company emphasizes innovation, intuition, and drive, fostering a culture that values autonomy and creativity.

Team Structure:

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

• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers work closely with engineers (frontend, backend), AI research scientists, Product Managers, and other specialists.

• Expertise Mix: The team comprises professionals from top tech companies (Amazon, Microsoft, Google) and leading academic institutions (Stanford PhD programs), alongside experienced startup founders.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: Emphasizes the use of analytics to pinpoint key opportunities and inform design decisions.

• User-Centric Approach: Strong focus on understanding and incorporating customer feedback into the design and development process.

• Agile & Iterative: The nature of a high-growth startup implies an agile and iterative approach to feature development and product refinement.

• Asynchronous Communication: Processes and tools are optimized for effective collaboration in a remote, time-zone-diverse environment.

Company Website: https://speechify.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture and structure are detailed to provide insight into the operational environment: a fast-paced, fully remote, and data-informed setting. This context is crucial for candidates to understand how their work will integrate into the company's broader GTM and product operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond junior or mid-level positions. It requires not only strong design execution but also strategic product thinking and leadership potential within the design function.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Product Designers typically report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or Director of Product. They are expected to mentor junior designers and influence design strategy.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, retention, and overall product adoption – key drivers of Speechify's growth. By refining user flows and features, the designer contributes to key operational metrics like conversion rates, daily active users (DAU), and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team and driving design strategy for specific product areas.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas such as AI-driven interfaces, audio UX, or accessibility design within the assistive technology space.

• Strategic Influence: Increased responsibility in shaping the product roadmap and contributing to high-level business strategy discussions.

• Mentorship: Developing mentorship skills by guiding junior designers and contributing to the design team's operational excellence.

• Industry Impact: Contributing to a product that has a significant positive impact on users with learning differences, offering a unique career fulfillment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section analyzes the career trajectory within Speechify's operational framework, highlighting how a Senior Product Designer contributes to business outcomes and has pathways for advancement in leadership and specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical office. This means the work environment is entirely remote, relying on digital collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): Employees are located globally. For this specific role, the candidate is expected to be based in or willing to work from Milan, Italy, within a remote capacity.

Workspace Context:

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

• Digital Tooling: Access to a comprehensive suite of digital tools for design, communication, and project management is standard.

• Focus & Autonomy: The remote, distributed nature fosters an environment where individuals can create their own focused workspace and manage their time to maximize productivity.

• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities exist to collaborate with a diverse, international team, offering exposure to different perspectives and work styles.

Work Schedule: The role emphasizes flexibility and results, aligning with an asynchronous work model. While a full-time commitment is expected, the specific hours can be managed to suit individual productivity peaks and global team collaboration needs. This requires strong time management and proactive communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment focuses on the operational implications of a fully remote and asynchronous setup, emphasizing the tools, communication styles, and self-management required for success in such a structure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, discussing your process, decisions, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your design methodology, problem-solving approach, and collaboration style.

• Product Thinking & Strategy Interview: An interview focused on your ability to think strategically about product, understand user needs, and contribute to roadmap discussions. This may involve hypothetical scenarios or discussions about Speechify's product.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with potential peers (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers) to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and cultural fit within a distributed team.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CEO) to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best demonstrate your experience with consumer-facing products, multi-platform design, and end-to-end product development. Highlight projects where you influenced strategy and drove measurable results.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), your design decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Emphasize Operations Impact: Connect your design solutions to business objectives and operational metrics. How did your design improve user acquisition, retention, engagement, or efficiency?

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific contributions, design trade-offs, how you handled challenging feedback, and your approach to user research and testing.

• Tailor to Speechify: If possible, demonstrate an understanding of Speechify's mission and product. Consider how your skills and experience align with their specific challenges and opportunities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You may be given a design challenge to assess your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work within constraints. Prepare to articulate your thought process clearly and concisely.

• Storytelling: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies as compelling narratives that highlight your journey and impact.

• Product Acumen: Brush up on product management fundamentals and common UX/UI best practices relevant to mobile and web applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a senior product design role, focusing on portfolio presentation, interview strategies, and preparation for potential design challenges, all within the context of Speechify's product and operational environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma/Sketch: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in one or both is expected.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools like InVision, Principle, or Figma's native prototyping capabilities for creating interactive mockups.

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with platforms for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Slack: Primary communication tool for asynchronous team interaction.

• Jira/Asana/Trello: Tools for project tracking, task management, and workflow visualization.

• Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides): For documentation, presentations, and data analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics/Amplitude/Mixpanel: Experience with product analytics platforms to understand user behavior and measure feature performance.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker - less common for pure design, but beneficial): Ability to interpret data and potentially create basic dashboards or reports.

CRM & Automation (Indirect Relevance):

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how product features can drive engagement is beneficial. Familiarity with how design impacts conversion funnels is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are listed with a focus on those directly used by product designers, emphasizing their role in the product development and GTM operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible, especially for those with learning differences.

• Innovation & Iteration: A culture that encourages experimentation, embracing new ideas, and continuously improving products and processes.

• Autonomy & Focus: Valuing individual initiative, deep work, and the ability to manage one's own time and tasks effectively in a remote setting.

• Customer-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all design and product decisions, with a genuine desire to solve their problems.

• Collaboration & Respect: Fostering a supportive environment where diverse opinions are welcomed, and team members work together respectfully towards common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication and collaboration are primarily asynchronous, requiring clear, concise written communication and proactive engagement.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is essential, involving regular check-ins, design reviews, and joint problem-solving.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive continuous improvement.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Encouraging the use of data and user insights to guide discussions and decisions, rather than relying solely on opinion.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the company's values and collaboration style, emphasizing how these operational principles shape the work environment and team interactions for designers.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling a Distributed Team: Navigating the complexities of building and maintaining a cohesive team culture and efficient workflows in a 100% remote, globally distributed setting.

• Balancing Innovation with Execution: The inherent tension between exploring new ideas and shipping features quickly in a high-growth startup environment.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a seamless and consistent user experience across diverse platforms (iOS, Android, Web) with varying design patterns and technical constraints.

• Data Integration for Design: Effectively leveraging product analytics and user feedback to drive design decisions in a fast-paced environment where data might be evolving.

• Impact Measurement: Clearly demonstrating the ROI and operational impact of design initiatives amidst rapid product development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI & Audio UX: Gaining specialized knowledge in the rapidly evolving fields of AI-driven product features and audio-centric user experiences.

• Product Strategy & Leadership: Developing strategic thinking and leadership skills by influencing the product roadmap and potentially leading design initiatives.

• Asynchronous Work Best Practices: Mastering effective communication, project management, and collaboration techniques for a distributed, asynchronous workforce.

• Accessibility Design: Contributing to a product known for its inclusivity and learning difference support, deepening expertise in accessibility standards and best practices.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the operational growth and best practices of the design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges and growth avenues, framing them within operational contexts relevant to a Senior Product Designer in a tech startup.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap based on user research. What was the outcome?" Prepare a detailed case study focusing on your process, data used, and measurable impact.

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints?" Discuss your framework for making trade-offs and prioritizing design solutions.

• "Walk us through your process for designing a new feature from scratch. What are your key steps?" Be ready to detail your end-to-end design methodology, emphasizing research, prototyping, and iteration.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission?" Articulate your personal connection or understanding of the impact of text-to-speech technology.

• "How do you thrive in a remote and asynchronous work environment?" Share specific strategies for communication, focus, and collaboration.

• "How would you contribute to shaping Speechify's design organization?" Discuss your ideas on process improvement, best practices, and team culture.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the quantifiable results (e.g., increased conversion, improved retention, reduced task completion time).

• Show Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design decisions step-by-step, explaining the "why" behind each choice and how user feedback or data informed your iterations.

• Highlight Collaboration: Describe how you worked with PMs and engineers, the challenges you faced, and how you navigated them.

• Keep it Concise: Aim for clarity and brevity, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides specific, actionable advice for preparing for interviews, including sample questions and strategies focused on demonstrating operational thinking and design impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Speechify job portal.

• Portfolio Optimization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your end-to-end product design process for consumer-facing applications, highlighting your strategic thinking, user-centric approach, and measurable impact.

• Resume Alignment: Tailor your resume to emphasize experience in product thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and successful delivery of features across multiple platforms, using keywords relevant to product design and operations.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving methodologies, and how you leverage data and user feedback. Prepare specific examples of your contributions to product strategy and team development.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Speechify's mission, product, and target audience. Understand their commitment to accessibility and their asynchronous work culture to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural 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.