Senior Product Designer – UI/UX Strategy & Execution

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer – UI/UX Strategy & Execution

Company: Samba TV

Location: Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; New York City, New York

Job Type: US Full-time Salaried

Category: Product Design / UI/UX Strategy

Date Posted: December 11, 2025

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the UI/UX strategy and execution for Samba's unified client reporting portal, transforming it into an intuitive, data-rich client-facing platform.

• Conduct in-depth user research with clients and internal stakeholders to identify pain points, map workflows, and uncover design opportunities for enhanced user experience.

• Establish and scale design systems, reusable patterns, and foundational design standards across the entire platform to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to seamlessly integrate Samba TV's brand identity, voice, and values into the product experience, bridging marketing assets and functional design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a high-impact individual contributor with direct C-level access, focusing on building design strategy from inception. The emphasis on "establishing design processes, tools, and workflows" and "transforming an internal interface into an intuitive, data-rich experience for clients and partners" highlights a significant opportunity for strategic influence and foundational work in a growing organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the UI/UX for Samba's unified client reporting portal (Samba's Bridge), aiming to elevate it from an internal tool to an intuitive, data-rich experience for external clients and partners.

• Lead end-to-end design processes, encompassing information architecture, user flows, wireframing, high-fidelity prototyping, and detailed implementation specifications.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews and usability testing, with clients and internal stakeholders to gather insights into their needs, challenges, and workflows.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system, establishing reusable UI components, design patterns, and style guides to ensure brand cohesion and design consistency across all product touchpoints.

• Partner closely with the marketing department to ensure the product experience authentically reflects Samba TV's brand identity, voice, and core values.

• Define and articulate the UI/UX strategy for the client reporting portal, creating a vision, roadmap, and approach that aligns with business objectives, with direct support from the Chief Product Officer.

• Present design rationale, research findings, and strategic recommendations directly to C-level executives, effectively communicating the value and impact of design decisions.

• Establish and refine design processes, tools, and workflows to optimize team efficiency and position Samba TV for future design team growth.

• Advocate for user-centered design principles throughout the organization, fostering a design-aware culture.

• Understand front-end development constraints and opportunities to ensure designs are technically feasible and optimized for implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a strategic leadership role for design within the client reporting portal. The emphasis on "transforming an internal interface into an intuitive, data-rich experience for clients and partners" suggests a significant business impact, requiring a deep understanding of B2B user needs and data visualization. The direct reporting line to C-level leadership and the mandate to "create our UI/UX strategy from scratch" underscore the foundational and high-influence nature of this position.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in product design, with a proven track record of end-to-end ownership of complex applications.

• Demonstrated experience in designing for B2B environments or data-heavy applications is highly valued, indicating an understanding of sophisticated user needs and information architecture.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma (or equivalent industry-standard design and prototyping tools like Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Deep understanding of UX principles, interaction design, user-centered design methodologies, and visual design fundamentals.

• Proven ability to conduct user research (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys) and translate findings into actionable design solutions.

• Strong skills in information architecture, wireframing, prototyping (low to high fidelity), and creating detailed design specifications for development.

• Experience in establishing and utilizing design systems, component libraries, and style guides.

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to executive stakeholders.

• Proven ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and create structure in undefined areas.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and work effectively with product managers, engineers, marketing, and executive leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically designing reporting, analytics, or dashboard interfaces.

• Familiarity with front-end development constraints and best practices (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience partnering with marketing teams to ensure brand cohesion between product and marketing initiatives.

• A portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design ownership, impact on B2B or data-intensive products, and strategic contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "5+ years in product design with a strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end ownership of complex B2B or data-heavy applications" is crucial. The emphasis on "track record of building design strategy in early-stage or transformation environments" and "comfortably advocating for users," combined with "expert-level skills in Figma," points towards a highly autonomous and impactful role. Experience with analytics or dashboard interfaces is specifically called out as highly valuable, aligning with the core function of the client reporting portal.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design ownership of at least one complex B2B or data-heavy application from conception to implementation.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the user problem, your design process, the solutions you proposed, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.

• Demonstrate expertise in establishing or significantly contributing to design systems, including examples of components, patterns, and style guides.

• Highlight experience in user research methodologies and how insights were translated into design decisions that addressed specific user pain points or business needs.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of establishing or refining design processes, potentially including workflow diagrams, project management tools used, and how feedback was incorporated.

• Examples of how design rationale and decisions were communicated and justified, particularly to non-design stakeholders or executive leadership.

• Documentation illustrating collaboration with engineering and product management, including how technical constraints were addressed and how design specifications were handed off.

• Case studies that detail the strategic thinking behind design choices, demonstrating an ability to balance user needs with business goals and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, as it's the primary way to assess "end-to-end ownership" and "building design strategy." Applicants should focus on demonstrating their ability to handle ambiguity, create structure, and drive strategic design initiatives. Case studies that highlight experience with data-heavy applications or B2B reporting interfaces will be particularly impactful. The ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively to executive audiences must be evident in the portfolio's narrative.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $190,000 USD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance coverage.

• Wellness Offerings to support employee well-being.

• Life Insurance for financial security.

• Disability Insurance to provide income protection.

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k) to support long-term financial goals.

• Paid Holidays for national and company-recognized observances.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacation, personal days, and sick leave.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time salaried position. While on-site, there may be flexibility to accommodate project needs and the nature of design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary range of $150,000 - $190,000 USD per year is for roles performed in New York or California. This range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role with significant strategic responsibilities in high-cost-of-living areas. The inclusion of bonus, short-term, and long-term incentives indicates a total compensation package that can exceed the base salary based on performance. The benefits package is standard for a US-based full-time role, covering health, financial security, and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data & Analytics / Technology / Media & Advertising. Samba TV operates at the intersection of these industries, leveraging proprietary data and AI to provide insights into video consumption across streaming and broadcast. This positions the company in a dynamic, data-driven environment where understanding user behavior and delivering actionable insights are paramount.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of C-level leadership and the need to "establish design processes, tools, and workflows" for future growth suggests a company that is likely scaling, possibly between a mid-size to a larger growth-stage company. This implies a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact but also areas where processes are still being defined.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided. However, the company's mission to "fundamentally transform the viewing experience" and its focus on data and AI suggest a forward-thinking, innovative culture.

Team Structure:

• The role is an individual contributor with direct access to C-level leadership, particularly the Chief Product Officer, indicating a flat or lean organizational structure in key areas.

• Collaboration will be essential with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing teams.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is core to Samba TV's operations, given their business model. This implies that design decisions should be supported by user research, analytics, and market insights.

• User-centered design principles will be crucial for transforming the client reporting portal into a valuable tool for clients and partners.

• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed, requiring designers to adapt to evolving requirements and provide timely deliverables.

Company Website: https://www.samba.tv/

📝 Enhancement Note: Samba TV's position in the data and analytics space for video consumption means that the company culture likely values data integrity, innovation, and a deep understanding of user behavior. The opportunity to "build design strategy from the ground up" suggests a culture that is open to new ideas and empowers individuals to shape processes and direction, especially in critical areas like product design for client-facing platforms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Senior Product Designer," indicating a position of significant experience and responsibility. It's a key individual contributor role focused on strategic execution and foundational work, rather than managing a team. The "5+ years" requirement and the direct access to C-level leadership reinforce this seniority.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to C-level leadership, likely within the Product organization (e.g., Chief Product Officer), with direct exposure and collaboration across other executive functions like Marketing and Engineering. This structure offers high visibility and a direct line to decision-makers.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a profound impact on Samba TV's client relationships and business operations by:

• Enhancing the client reporting portal, which is critical for client retention and satisfaction.

• Driving a more user-centric approach to product development, directly influencing user adoption and efficiency.

• Establishing design standards that ensure brand consistency and a professional, trustworthy image for Samba TV's data products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: The opportunity to define and own the UI/UX strategy for a key platform provides a unique chance to grow into a design leadership role, shaping the future of design at Samba TV.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in designing complex data visualizations, B2B applications, and establishing design systems from scratch, all within a fast-paced tech environment.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across executive teams, enhancing strategic communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Foundational Impact: Build and scale design processes and infrastructure, offering experience in organizational design and operational efficiency within a design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential for someone looking to build a design function. The "individual contributor" label is coupled with significant strategic ownership and executive access, suggesting a path towards principal designer or a leadership role in a growing design team. The ability to "balance quick wins with long-term vision" is a key skill for growth in this position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, team synergy, and spontaneous interactions that drive innovation.

Office Location(s): Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; New York City, New York. These are major tech hubs, offering access to diverse talent pools and a vibrant professional ecosystem. Being on-site in these locations means working within established office spaces equipped for professional collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: As an on-site role, the workspace will likely be designed to foster collaboration among design, product, engineering, and marketing teams. This may include open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and whiteboarding spaces.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma is specified), collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping or user testing.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for in-person stand-ups, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions with colleagues, which can accelerate problem-solving and creative output.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. While on-site, the focus will be on delivering high-quality design work and meeting project deadlines, with potential for some flexibility to accommodate the demands of building design strategy and executing complex projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in major tech cities suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and a strong office culture. For a designer building strategy from the ground up, this environment can be beneficial for rapid iteration, team alignment, and fostering a shared vision. The specific office environments in LA, SF, or NYC will vary but are generally equipped to support tech teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on experience with B2B/data-heavy applications, end-to-end ownership, and strategic design capabilities.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into your portfolio, where you'll present 1-2 key case studies. Expect to discuss your process, rationale, challenges, and the impact of your work. This is where your ability to communicate design decisions to executive audiences will be assessed.

• Skills/Technical Interview: Discussions around UX principles, design systems, Figma proficiency, and understanding of front-end constraints. You may be asked about your approach to user research and translating requirements.

• Cross-Functional/Hiring Manager Interview: Conversations focusing on collaboration, handling ambiguity, working with stakeholders, and your strategic vision for UI/UX. This may involve scenario-based questions.

• Executive Interview: A final meeting with C-level leadership (e.g., Chief Product Officer) to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and your alignment with the company's vision and goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Strategic Impact: Focus on case studies that demonstrate your ability to build design strategy, not just execute tasks. Show how your design decisions drove business outcomes or solved significant user problems.

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Clearly define your role and contributions in each project, from initial research and strategy through to final implementation and iteration. Emphasize projects where you had significant autonomy.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that illustrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, reduced task completion time, improved client satisfaction).

• Address Ambiguity: If you've worked in environments with less structure, highlight how you created clarity, defined processes, and drove progress despite uncertainty.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize experience with data-heavy applications, reporting interfaces, or B2B products. Show how you've translated complex data into intuitive user experiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design exercise that might involve analyzing a complex problem related to data reporting or synthesizing user needs into a design concept.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale concisely and persuasively.

• Think about how you would approach building a design system or strategy from scratch for a new or evolving product.

• Prepare examples of how you have successfully collaborated with engineering and marketing teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building design strategy from scratch" and "presenting design rationale and recommendations directly to C-level executives" means the interview process will heavily scrutinize your strategic thinking and communication skills. Your portfolio presentation should not just be about showing screens but telling a compelling story of problem-solving, strategic impact, and user advocacy. Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguity and how you'd establish design processes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (Expert-level proficiency required). Other relevant tools from your portfolio may include Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Framer.

• User Research Tools: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Hotjar, or even robust survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform) may be utilized for gathering user insights.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, Confluence, or Slack for cross-functional team communication and project tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for building the analytics platform, understanding how users interact with and interpret data is key. Familiarity with data visualization principles and tools will be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While this role is primarily design-focused, understanding the client ecosystem is important. Familiarity with CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot might provide context for how clients interact with Samba TV and their data.

• Knowledge of marketing automation platforms could also be relevant for understanding brand integration aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly named as a required tool for expert-level proficiency. The role's focus on a "unified client reporting portal" implies a need to understand data visualization and analytics principles, even if direct tool usage is not the primary requirement. Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools is essential for seamless integration with product and engineering teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Innovation: A core value is leveraging data to drive product improvements and strategic decisions, fostering a culture where insights lead to impactful design solutions.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring that product design directly addresses client needs and enhances their experience.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take full responsibility for their areas, encouraging initiative and a proactive approach to problem-solving and strategy development.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work together openly, sharing information and feedback to achieve common goals.

• Adaptability & Agility: Embracing change and a willingness to pivot strategies based on new information or market dynamics, crucial for a growing tech company.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Product Management and Engineering to ensure seamless integration of design into the product development lifecycle. Close partnership with Marketing is also highlighted for brand cohesion.

• Executive Engagement: A proactive approach to presenting design strategies and rationale to C-level executives, fostering alignment and buy-in.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs, utilizing critiques and reviews to refine solutions and improve product quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "transforming the viewing experience" and its data-centric business model suggest that core values likely revolve around innovation, user focus, and data integrity. The role's emphasis on building strategy from scratch implies a culture that values initiative, ownership, and the ability to navigate ambiguity.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a comprehensive UI/UX strategy, design system, and design processes in an organization that may not have mature design foundations presents a significant challenge. This requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and resilience.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Synthesizing diverse requirements from C-level executives, clients, marketing, product, and engineering teams into a cohesive and user-centered design will be complex.

• Driving Adoption of New Design Standards: Implementing a new design system and processes requires buy-in and adoption across multiple teams, which can be a hurdle.

• Working with Ambiguity: The role explicitly mentions comfort with ambiguity. This means navigating undefined areas, making decisions with incomplete information, and proactively creating clarity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Strategy Leadership: Opportunity to define and own the design vision for a critical client-facing platform, building experience in strategic planning and execution.

• System Design & Architecture: Hands-on experience in architecting and implementing a scalable design system from the ground up.

• Executive Communication & Influence: Developing advanced skills in presenting to and influencing C-level executives, a critical aspect of senior-level roles.

• Data Visualization Expertise: Deepening understanding and application of best practices in visualizing complex data for business intelligence and client reporting.

• Impactful Product Development: Directly contributing to a product that is central to client engagement and Samba TV's value proposition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is also the greatest growth opportunity: building a design function's strategic foundation. This role is ideal for a designer who thrives on creating structure, defining best practices, and driving significant change. The opportunity to influence product direction at the highest levels is a key differentiator for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a UI/UX strategy for a complex B2B application from scratch." (Focus on research, vision setting, roadmap, and stakeholder alignment).

• "How would you establish a design system in an organization that may not have one currently? What are the key considerations and potential challenges?" (Demonstrate understanding of governance, adoption, and scalability).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Samba TV's business, what do you see as the biggest design opportunities and challenges for our client reporting portal?" (Show you've researched the company and understand their market).

• "How do you advocate for user needs when faced with pressure from business stakeholders or technical limitations?" (Provide examples of your user-centric approach and negotiation skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Emphasize Strategic Thinking: Don't just show screens; explain why you made certain design decisions and how they align with user needs and business goals.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs. If quantitative data isn't available, use qualitative feedback or observed user behavior.

• Showcase Ambiguity Navigation: If a project involved significant uncertainty, highlight how you managed it, created clarity, and drove it to a successful outcome.

• Practice Executive-Level Communication: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, clear, and impactful, suitable for a C-level audience. Be prepared to answer tough questions directly and confidently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily test your ability to think strategically, communicate effectively at an executive level, and demonstrate a proactive, problem-solving mindset. Be prepared to discuss your experience in building processes and driving change, not just executing design tasks. Your portfolio should serve as evidence of your ability to handle ambiguity and deliver strategic impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 1-2 case studies that best exemplify your experience in end-to-end product design ownership, particularly for complex B2B or data-heavy applications. Ensure these case studies highlight your strategic thinking and ability to drive impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords relevant to UI/UX strategy, design systems, user research, B2B applications, and executive communication. Quantify achievements and clearly articulate your responsibilities in previous senior design roles.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and strategic approach. Prepare specific examples of how you've handled ambiguity, built foundational processes, and influenced stakeholders at all levels. Rehearse your portfolio presentation for clarity and impact.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Samba TV's mission, products, and recent news. Understand their position in the market and how the client reporting portal contributes to their overall strategy. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their data-driven and innovative culture.

⚠️ 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.