Senior Product Designer - Odesa, Ukraine

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Speechify
Location: Odesa, Ukraine
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX/UI)
Date Posted: December 20, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept and pitching through prototyping, testing, building, shipping, and continuous refinement of new features for Speechify's innovative text-to-speech platform.
• Spearhead the enhancement and evolution of UX/UI patterns across Speechify's native iOS and Android applications, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.
• Lead the strategic rethinking and optimization of user onboarding flows and core user journeys to maximize engagement, retention, and user satisfaction.
• Play a pivotal role in influencing the product roadmap, leveraging user data, market insights, and design expertise to guide future product development.
• Contribute to shaping the design organization by refining internal design processes, best practices, and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description focuses on product design, the role's emphasis on consumer-facing products, user experience, and cross-platform development (iOS, Android, Web) strongly aligns with the GTM (Go-to-Market) operations domain, particularly in ensuring product-market fit and user adoption. The influence on the product roadmap and shaping the design org also suggests a strategic operational impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, pitch, and prototype new product features, conducting user research and usability testing to validate designs before development.
• Design, build, and ship high-fidelity user interfaces and interactive prototypes for iOS and Android platforms, adhering to established design systems and best practices.
• Conduct deep dives into user onboarding and core user flows, identifying friction points and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and user feedback.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI Research Scientists to translate product requirements and technical constraints into elegant and effective design solutions.
• Champion a data-driven design approach, utilizing analytics to understand user behavior, measure the impact of design changes, and inform strategic product decisions.
• Refine and document design processes, style guides, and component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability across Speechify's product suite.
• Actively participate in design critiques and provide constructive feedback to peers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design team.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in UX/UI design, AI, and audio technology to bring innovative ideas and solutions to the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for strategic thinking and execution, aligning with GTM operations. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" underscores a full product lifecycle ownership that requires strong project management and operational oversight. Influencing the product roadmap and shaping the design org also points to strategic operational influence beyond pure design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior-level roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of delivering successful consumer-facing products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web).
• Demonstrated experience in research, discovery, prototyping, and shipping features from concept to completion.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design: Expertise in creating intuitive, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces and user experiences for mobile and web applications.
• Prototyping: Proficiency with industry-standard prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to create interactive mockups and user flows.
• User Research & Discovery: Ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative user research, synthesize findings, and translate insights into actionable design recommendations.
• Product Thinking: Strong analytical skills and the ability to understand product strategy, articulate the 'what' and 'why' of design decisions, and partner with Product Managers.
• Customer-Centricity: Comfort and skill in engaging directly with customers to gather feedback and integrate it effectively into the design process.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and executives, fostering strong working relationships.
• Craftsmanship: Excellent skills in typography, information design, and micro-interactions, with a keen eye for detail and visual polish.
• Platform Awareness: Understanding of design feasibility and constraints within iOS, Android, and browser environments.
• Communication: Articulate and persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• Focus & Prioritization: Ability to manage workload effectively in a fast-paced, remote startup environment, prioritizing tasks and maintaining focus.

Preferred Skills:

• Audio Technology Curiosity: A genuine interest in and understanding of audio technology and its applications in user experience.
• AI/ML Integration: Familiarity with designing for AI-powered features and understanding the user implications of machine learning.
• Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, or contributing to design systems for large-scale applications.
• Analytics Proficiency: Experience using analytics tools to track user behavior and measure design impact.
• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and working within Scrum teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "5-10 years" signifies a senior-level position. The emphasis on "consumer-facing products across multiple platforms" and "product thinking" strongly suggests that candidates with experience in GTM strategy, user adoption, and market-facing product development will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating your process from research and discovery through to prototyping, testing, and final delivery.
• Visual examples of your work on consumer-facing products, ideally with a focus on mobile (iOS, Android) and web applications.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design decisions made, the rationale behind them, and the measurable impact of your solutions.
• Demonstrations of your ability to refine UX/UI patterns, redesign onboarding flows, and optimize core user journeys.
• Evidence of collaboration with product managers and engineers, highlighting how you influenced product strategy and roadmap.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio pieces should clearly illustrate your design process, including:
  • User research methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing).
  • Prototyping techniques and tools used.
  • Iterative design cycles and how feedback was incorporated.
  • How you leveraged analytics and customer feedback to inform design decisions.
  • Examples of design documentation, such as user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase design aesthetics but also a deep understanding of product strategy, user psychology, and the ability to drive measurable outcomes, which are key GTM operational considerations. The emphasis on "influencing the product roadmap" and "shaping the design org" implies that the portfolio should also hint at strategic thinking and leadership potential.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: €35,000 - €60,000 per year (gross annual salary)
• Methodology: This estimate is based on regional salary benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Ukraine, specifically Odesa, considering the experience level (5-10 years), the fully remote nature of the role, and Speechify's status as a high-growth tech startup. European salary data for similar roles and companies was also considered, with adjustments for the Ukrainian cost of living and market rates. The range accounts for variations in candidate experience, specific skill sets, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Dynamic Environment: Contribute to shaping a rapidly growing company and its revolutionary products.
• Innovative Team: Work with a team that values innovation, intuition, and drive.
• Autonomy & Creativity: Enjoy the freedom to focus and be creative in your role.
• Significant Impact: Opportunity to make a substantial impact in a revolutionary industry at the intersection of AI and audio.
• Competitive Compensation: Receive competitive pay commensurate with your experience and contributions.
• Welcoming Atmosphere: Be part of a supportive and inclusive work culture.
• Exceptional Asynchronous Work Culture: Benefit from a culture designed for effective remote collaboration and productivity.
• Life-Changing Product: Work on a product that genuinely helps millions, especially individuals with learning differences.
• Industry Leadership: Be at the forefront of AI and audio technology advancements.

Working Hours:

• Standard: Approximately 40 hours per week.
• Flexibility: Speechify promotes an asynchronous work culture, offering flexibility in daily schedules to accommodate different time zones and personal needs, provided core responsibilities are met and collaboration remains effective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for Odesa, Ukraine, based on general market data for senior design roles. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and negotiation. The emphasis on asynchronous work culture is a key operational aspect that influences work-life balance and team coordination.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software, AI, EdTech (Education Technology), Audio Technology. Speechify operates in a unique intersection, leveraging AI to make reading accessible through text-to-speech technology, directly impacting the education and accessibility sectors. Company Size: 100-200 Employees. This indicates a mid-stage startup environment that has achieved significant product-market fit and is scaling its operations and team. Founded: Speechify was founded in 2016. This provides a history of growth and product development, moving beyond the initial startup phase into a more established, high-growth entity.

Team Structure:

• Distributed & Asynchronous: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices, fostering a global team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The design team works closely with engineers (frontend, backend), AI research scientists, and product managers, often from leading tech companies and academic institutions.
• Flat Hierarchy: While there are reporting structures, the emphasis on autonomy and direct contribution suggests a relatively flat hierarchy where ideas can be shared and implemented across levels.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: Decisions are informed by analytics and user feedback, ensuring that product iterations are aligned with user needs and business objectives.
• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on understanding and serving the user, particularly those with learning differences, guides the design and development process.
• Agile & Iterative: The team likely employs agile methodologies, emphasizing rapid iteration, testing, and refinement of features.
• AI & Audio Innovation: A forward-thinking approach that embraces cutting-edge technologies to create innovative solutions.

Company Website: [Speechify Website URL - e.g., speechify.com]

📝 Enhancement Note: Speechify's fully remote and asynchronous nature is a critical operational characteristic. This requires a specific type of individual who can manage their time effectively, communicate proactively, and collaborate digitally. The company's mission to make reading accessible is a strong cultural driver that attracts talent passionate about social impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Senior Product Designer role represents a significant step in a product design career. It's beyond junior or mid-level execution and involves strategic input, influencing roadmaps, and potentially mentoring junior designers. The focus on "shaping the design org" indicates potential for leadership within the design function.

Reporting Structure:

• Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Senior Product Manager. In a fully remote, distributed company like Speechify, reporting lines might be more fluid, with strong collaboration across functional leads.

Operations Impact:

• The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, engagement, and retention – key metrics for GTM success. By refining onboarding, core flows, and new features, they contribute to user growth and satisfaction, which in turn drives revenue and market penetration. Their influence on the product roadmap ensures that development efforts are aligned with market opportunities and user needs, a critical operational function for sustainable growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing design strategy and team development within Speechify.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, accessibility design, or cross-platform UX strategy.
• Product Strategy: Transition or expand into more strategic product management or GTM roles, leveraging design expertise to drive business outcomes.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to building a world-class design team.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to the growing fields of AI, accessibility, and audio technology through innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed within both a design career path and potential adjacent operational roles (Product Strategy, GTM). This highlights the transferable skills and strategic impact of a senior designer in a tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Speechify operates with a 100% distributed, office-less model. This means there is no physical office location for this role. Office Location(s): N/A (Fully Remote). The role is designed to be performed from anywhere, with a specific focus mentioned for candidates in Odesa, Ukraine.

Workspace Context:

• Asynchronous Collaboration: The primary mode of interaction is asynchronous, leveraging tools like Slack, email, and project management software. This requires strong self-discipline and clear communication.
• Digital Tooling: Access to and proficiency with a suite of digital collaboration and design tools is essential.
• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities to collaborate with a diverse, international team, bringing varied perspectives and experiences to design challenges.
• Focused Work: The remote, office-less environment is structured to allow for deep work and concentration on design tasks, minimizing typical office distractions.

Work Schedule:

• While core working hours might not be strictly defined, effective collaboration and participation in key meetings (which may occur across time zones) are expected. The emphasis is on delivering results and maintaining responsiveness within an asynchronous framework, allowing for a flexible daily schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "office-less" and "asynchronous" work model is a defining characteristic of Speechify's operational environment. This directly impacts how work is managed, how teams collaborate, and the expectations for employee autonomy and communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume, relevant portfolio links (LinkedIn, Behance, personal website), and a cover letter or introductory message detailing interest and fit.
• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications for basic qualifications, experience, and portfolio relevance.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing their process, key decisions, and outcomes for 1-2 selected projects. A design challenge may be assigned, focusing on problem-solving, ideation, and execution within a defined scope.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager and potential cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Engineer). These will assess product thinking, collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.
• Executive/Final Interview: Potentially an interview with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit within the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate the full product design lifecycle and align with Speechify's mission (consumer-facing, mobile-first, AI/audio focus, accessibility).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the constraints, your process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact or outcomes. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight the 'Why': Emphasize the rationale behind your design decisions. How did user research, data, or strategic goals inform your choices?
• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, mention how you collaborated with PMs and engineers, and how you navigated feedback.
• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify success where possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion time). If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the expected impact.
• Tailor to Speechify: Briefly explain why you are interested in Speechify and how your skills and experience align with their mission and products.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the scope, objectives, and constraints of any assigned design challenge.
• Embrace the Process: Focus on demonstrating your design thought process, not just the final output. Show how you approach problem-solving.
• Prioritize and Scope: In a timed challenge, it's crucial to prioritize tasks and clearly define what you can realistically achieve. It's better to deliver a well-reasoned, partially completed solution than an incomplete, rushed one.
• Communicate Assumptions: Clearly state any assumptions you make during the challenge.
• Prepare to Present: Be ready to walk through your solution, explain your decisions, and answer questions about your approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a strong portfolio and the ability to articulate design strategy and impact, which are critical for GTM roles. The design challenge is a practical assessment of problem-solving and execution capabilities relevant to operational tasks.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable due to industry trends and collaborative nature), Sketch, Adobe XD.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Asana or Jira (for project management).
• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar platforms for remote usability testing and feedback collection.
• Design Systems: Experience creating or working within established design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar tools to understand user behavior and track feature adoption.
• Data Visualization: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how data is presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Looker) can be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable for a Product Designer, but awareness of how user data flows from CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) or marketing automation tools might inform design decisions related to user segmentation or personalized experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product design roles. The emphasis on analytics tools indicates the need for designers to be data-literate and to understand how their work impacts business metrics, aligning with GTM operational KPIs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible, especially for those with learning differences. This value translates into a purpose-driven work environment.
• Innovation & Drive: A culture that encourages creative problem-solving, pushing boundaries, and a proactive, can-do attitude.
• Customer-Centricity: Deep empathy for users and a commitment to creating products that genuinely improve their lives.
• Autonomy & Focus: Trust in individuals to manage their work, make decisions, and deliver results independently, fostering deep work and efficiency.
• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design and development, with attention to detail in all aspects of the product.
• Collaboration & Respect: While remote, fostering strong, respectful relationships and effective communication within a diverse, global team.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily text-based, documented, and scheduled thoughtfully to accommodate global time zones.
• Proactive Communication: Team members are expected to communicate their progress, blockers, and needs proactively.
• Feedback-Oriented: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and used for continuous improvement of both products and processes.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships between design, product, and engineering are crucial for successful product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on asynchronous work, autonomy, and a mission-driven culture are key operational aspects of Speechify's team environment. Understanding and aligning with these values is critical for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Designing for a rapidly growing user base while introducing cutting-edge AI features requires careful planning and robust design systems.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: Maintaining a cohesive and intuitive user experience across iOS, Android, and web platforms presents ongoing design challenges.
• Accessibility Design at Scale: Ensuring that the product remains highly accessible and inclusive for all users, especially those with learning differences, as features evolve.
• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion in a 100% distributed and asynchronous environment requires strong communication and organizational skills.
• Influencing Product Strategy: Translating design insights into tangible product roadmap changes requires strong communication, data justification, and stakeholder management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Audio Tech Expertise: Gain deep practical experience at the intersection of AI, audio, and accessibility technology.
• Product Strategy Development: Hone skills in influencing product roadmaps, market analysis, and user acquisition strategies.
• Remote Work Best Practices: Master effective strategies for remote collaboration, asynchronous communication, and self-management.
• Design Leadership: Develop leadership capabilities through mentoring, process improvement, and strategic design input.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events, workshops, and pursue certifications in design, UX, or related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability, strategic thinking, and strong operational execution, all vital for GTM success. The growth opportunities point towards developing expertise in a cutting-edge tech domain and leadership within a remote-first organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Vision & Strategy: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing new features for Speechify, aligning with its mission. How would you balance user needs with business goals?
• User Research & Data Integration: How do you incorporate user research and analytics into your design process? Walk through a time you used data to make a critical design decision.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Describe a challenging collaboration experience with engineers or product managers. How did you navigate disagreements and achieve a successful outcome?
• Problem-Solving: Be ready to tackle a hypothetical design problem related to Speechify's product, demonstrating your approach to understanding the problem, ideating solutions, and iterating.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: Why are you passionate about Speechify's mission? How does your personal experience or perspective align with making reading accessible?
• Remote Work Philosophy: How do you thrive in a fully remote, asynchronous work environment? What strategies do you use to stay productive and connected?
• Design Org Contribution: How would you contribute to shaping Speechify's design organization and processes?
• Handling Ambiguity: How do you approach projects with ambiguous requirements or in a fast-paced startup environment?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: Don't just show pretty pictures. Explain the why behind your design decisions. What problems were you solving? What was your methodology?
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the intended impact and how you would measure it.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to be clear, engaging, and within the allotted time.
• Showcase Versatility: Highlight projects that demonstrate your range, from user research and ideation to detailed UI and interaction design.
• Address the "So What?": For each project, clearly articulate the key takeaways and what you learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational execution, and cultural fit, all crucial for a senior role in a high-growth tech company. The emphasis on data and collaboration directly relates to GTM operational requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Speechify careers portal via the provided Greenhouse link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-4 of your most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end product design for consumer-facing applications (mobile-first preferred). Clearly articulate your process, design rationale, and measurable impact for each.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in user research, prototyping, UI/UX design for iOS and Android, product strategy influence, and collaboration within tech teams. Use keywords from the job description.
• Cover Letter/Introduction: Craft a concise message explaining your interest in Speechify's mission, how your skills align with the role's requirements, and why you are a strong fit for a remote, asynchronous work environment.
• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio and discuss your design process, decision-making, and outcomes during the interview stages. Practice articulating your contributions and impact.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Speechify's products, mission, recent news, and company culture to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

⚠️ 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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