Senior / Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior / Staff Product Designer

Company: Coast

Location: New York, NY

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Enablement

Date Posted: April 06, 2026

Experience Level: Senior / Staff (7+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design initiatives, from ideation to execution, in close partnership with engineering and product management.

• Develop and refine user interfaces, workflows, and high-fidelity visuals to enhance the user experience of Coast's financial infrastructure platform.

• Contribute to the evolution of a lightweight design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across the product.

• Actively participate in technical discussions, leveraging product thinking and design expertise to shape product strategy.

• Foster a collaborative design environment through constructive critique and mentorship of fellow designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is explicitly "Product Designer," its focus on financial infrastructure for fleets, AI integration in financial operations, and the need for designers to engage in technical discussions and product roadmap execution positions this role as having significant overlap with GTM Operations Enablement. The designer will be instrumental in creating user-friendly tools that streamline complex financial processes for fleet operators, directly impacting operational efficiency and adoption. Therefore, this description will be framed with that lens, emphasizing how strong design directly supports operational excellence and GTM strategy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate intimately with engineering and product managers to initiate, develop, and complete roadmap projects, eliminating traditional hand-off phases.

• Proactively identify and execute redesigns or refinements for key screens and user flows, addressing both strategic improvements and minor user experience issues ("paper cuts").

• Create comprehensive design artifacts, including mockups, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visuals, to effectively communicate design concepts and their intended implementation.

• Provide design leadership and mentorship through active participation in collaborative critique sessions, guiding the work of fellow designers.

• Utilize and contribute to the improvement of the company's lightweight design system, ensuring component consistency and adherence to design standards.

• Play a role in the team's growth by assisting with the hiring process for new design talent, contributing to the elevation of the team's capabilities and product vision.

• Engage in technical discussions to ensure design solutions are feasible and integrated effectively with the underlying technology stack.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "small, autonomous project teams" and designers being "paired tightly with engineers and product managers" suggests a highly integrated, agile product development environment. This means the designer will not only be responsible for the aesthetic and functional design but also for understanding technical constraints and contributing to the overall product strategy. The responsibility to "spot opportunities to redesign or refine key screens and flows, as well as smaller quality issues" highlights a proactive, continuous improvement mindset crucial in operations-focused product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating mastery of design principles and practical application is paramount. Candidates with degrees in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or related fields may possess relevant foundational knowledge.

Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in software product design, with a proven track record of shipping successful products. Experience in FinTech, B2B SaaS, or platforms serving operational workflows is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• 7+ years of experience designing complex software applications.

• Demonstrated proficiency in prototyping and design tools, specifically Figma.

• Strong product thinking capabilities, with the ability to understand business objectives and translate them into user-centered design solutions.

• Experience in creating and utilizing design systems, with an understanding of component-based design and scalability.

• Ability to distill complex problems and user feedback into clear, focused, and actionable design solutions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, essential for cross-functional collaboration and articulating design rationale.

• Courage and willingness to ask questions, experiment, and advocate for design decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI tools in the design process or understanding of AI's impact on financial operations.

• Familiarity with front-end development technologies such as HTML/CSS, enabling deeper collaboration with engineers.

• Experience designing for operational workflows, financial technology (FinTech), or B2B SaaS platforms.

• Ability to conduct user research and synthesize findings into design improvements.

• Experience with various design methodologies, including agile development frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "technical discussions" and familiarity with "HTML/CSS" suggests that candidates who can bridge the gap between design and development will be highly valued. This is particularly important for operations-focused roles where technical feasibility and integration directly impact the efficiency and usability of the final product. The emphasis on "courage to ask questions, experiment, and advocate" and "humility to accept feedback" points to a culture that values proactive contribution and collaborative iteration, key for driving operational improvements through design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of case studies showcasing a minimum of 7 years of professional product design work, with a strong emphasis on complex problem-solving and end-to-end project ownership.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the design process, from initial research and ideation through to final implementation and iteration, with specific examples of how design decisions impacted user experience and business outcomes.

• Showcase expertise in prototyping, particularly using Figma, and include examples of interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent.

• Highlight experience in utilizing or contributing to design systems, demonstrating an understanding of component reusability, consistency, and scalability.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the problem statement, the design process undertaken, the solutions developed, and the measurable impact of those solutions.

• Detail how user feedback and technical constraints were incorporated into the design process, demonstrating adaptability and iterative problem-solving.

• Illustrate the collaboration process with engineering and product teams, showcasing how design was integrated into the development lifecycle without traditional hand-offs.

• Include examples of how quality issues or "paper cuts" were identified and resolved through design refinements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role touching on operational efficiency and financial infrastructure, portfolios should ideally showcase projects where design directly led to measurable improvements in user task completion, data accuracy, workflow streamlining, or cost reduction. The ability to articulate how design supports operational goals is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $205,000 - $220,000 USD per year.

This range reflects the seniority of the role (Senior/Staff level), the required experience (7+ years), and the high cost of living and competitive market for design talent in New York City. The company also offers equity, further enhancing the total compensation package.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity package.

• Company-sponsored 401(k) plan for retirement savings.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, encompassing vacation, personal well-being, and paid holidays.

• Paid parental leave to support new parents.

• $400 accessories allowance for essential work equipment (e.g., keyboard, mouse, headphones).

• Education stipend to support continuous learning and professional development.

• Tools and resources for financial wellness, including webinars and access to equity tax advisory services.

• Complimentary lunch provided on Fridays, fostering team connection.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is 40 hours. Given the on-site requirement and the collaborative nature of the role, a consistent presence in the New York City office is expected. While not explicitly stated as flexible, the company's emphasis on "small, autonomous project teams" and "ownership" suggests a results-oriented culture where focus and productivity are key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior/Staff Product Designer in New York City, aligning with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in the tech sector, particularly those with FinTech or B2B SaaS experience. The benefits package is robust, offering strong support for employee well-being, professional growth, and financial health, which are attractive to experienced professionals seeking stability and comprehensive coverage.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech), specifically focused on fleet management and payments. Coast is disrupting a traditionally underserved market with modern, AI-enhanced tools.

Company Size: Coast is a growing startup, likely within the range of 50-200 employees based on typical funding stages for companies of this description. This size implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Founded in 2020, Coast is a relatively young company, indicating a culture that is still evolving but likely embraces innovation, agility, and a strong builder mentality.

Team Structure:

• The design team operates within small, autonomous project teams, paired directly with Product Managers and Engineers. This structure promotes tight collaboration and shared ownership.

• Designers are expected to be key elements of projects from beginning to end, implying a high degree of autonomy and responsibility within their project pods.

Methodology:

• Product Development: Emphasizes an agile, integrated approach where designers, engineers, and product managers work together seamlessly, enabling rapid prototyping and deployment of internal builds.

• Design Philosophy: Focuses on simplicity, opinionated design, and building tools that are both modern and well-crafted, specifically for an industry that has been underserved by technology.

• Operational Focus: AI is highlighted as a key driver for changing fleet financial operations, suggesting a forward-thinking approach to leveraging technology for efficiency and control.

Company Website: https://www.coastfashion.com/ (Note: The provided URL was "coastfashion.com", which might be a placeholder, but the description implies a FinTech/fleet focus. Assuming the intent is a company focused on fleet finance.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "building the financial infrastructure powering America's fleets" and leveraging "AI" to change "how fleets run their financial operations" indicates a strong operational and efficiency-driven mission. The designer's role is crucial in translating complex financial processes into intuitive software, directly enabling operational improvements for their customers. The "in-person" culture suggests a preference for highly collaborative teams and rapid, synchronous communication, which can accelerate product development and problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at the Senior to Staff level, signifying a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and influence. It's for experienced designers who can not only execute but also lead design initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to product strategy. The expectation to "engage in technical discussions" and be a "key element of projects from beginning to end" points to a role that deeply integrates design with product and engineering, similar to how senior operations roles integrate strategy with execution.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, designers are paired tightly with engineering and product managers within small, autonomous project teams. This suggests a flat or matrixed reporting structure where the immediate project team is the primary working unit, with potential for a design lead or manager overseeing multiple such teams.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the operational efficiency and financial control of fleet owners and operators. By creating a "payments and expense management platform" that offers "control, visibility, and trust," the design is fundamental to how businesses manage their core financial operations. The emphasis on simplicity and user-friendliness for an industry accustomed to complexity means good design is a direct driver of adoption and operational success for Coast's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in FinTech product design, learn about AI's application in financial operations, and contribute to a rapidly evolving design system.

• Leadership & Mentorship: The role involves guiding and inspiring fellow designers, and assisting with hiring, providing avenues for leadership development.

• Strategic Influence: As a Senior/Staff designer, there will be opportunities to influence product strategy, roadmap decisions, and the overall design direction of the company.

• Career Progression: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, or specialize further in complex product areas within Coast.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior/Staff title, coupled with the "no hand-offs" and "paired tightly" descriptions, indicates a role that is less about traditional design tasks and more about being a strategic partner in product development. This mirrors the career trajectory of senior operations professionals who move from tactical execution to strategic planning and cross-functional leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Coast is an "in-person company" based in their New York City office. This signifies a traditional office environment where physical presence and face-to-face collaboration are prioritized.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY. The specific location within NYC is not detailed, but it serves as the central hub for the entire team's daily operations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is designed to foster close collaboration among designers, engineers, and product managers, facilitating spontaneous discussions and rapid iteration.

• Tools & Technology: While specific office tech isn't detailed, the role implies access to high-quality workstations and the necessary software (Figma, prototyping tools) to perform design tasks effectively. The company also provides a $400 accessories allowance.

• Team Interaction: The "fully co-located team" and "in-person company" model means ample opportunities for direct interaction, mentorship, and team-building activities.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour workweek is expected. Given the on-site requirement and the company's emphasis on building and rapid iteration, the environment is likely dynamic and focused, encouraging productive work sessions throughout the day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's strong stance on being an "in-person company" is a significant factor for candidates. It suggests a culture that values direct human interaction, spontaneous problem-solving, and a clear separation between work and personal life through a dedicated office space. This environment can be highly productive for those who thrive on immediate feedback and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Review (Live): A session where candidates present selected case studies, discussing their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. Expect detailed questions about technical discussions, collaboration, and design system contributions.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or an in-person exercise to evaluate design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to work within constraints. This might involve a specific product problem related to fleet finance or operations.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: Final discussion to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Highlight projects where you initiated, designed, iterated, and shipped features, emphasizing your role from start to finish.

• Focus on Problem-Solving: Clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your design process, and the rationale behind your decisions, especially for complex operational or financial workflows.

• Demonstrate Technical Acumen: Be prepared to discuss how your designs integrate with technical realities and how you engaged in technical discussions with engineers.

• Highlight Design System Contributions: Showcase any experience with creating, maintaining, or utilizing design systems, explaining how they improved efficiency and consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design solutions on user behavior, operational efficiency, or business goals.

• Tailor to Coast: Select case studies that resonate with Coast's mission of building financial infrastructure for fleets, simplifying complex operations, and leveraging AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with the FinTech space, fleet management challenges, and common operational pain points in this industry.

• Practice Problem Decomposition: Be ready to break down ambiguous problems into smaller, manageable parts and propose structured solutions.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss design decisions in the context of trade-offs (e.g., speed vs. perfection, feature scope, technical feasibility).

• Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining your thought process and design rationale concisely and effectively, both verbally and visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "technical discussions" and "no hand-offs," interviewers will likely probe deeply into how candidates collaborate with engineering. Portfolio case studies should explicitly detail these interactions and how technical constraints were navigated. The "paper cuts" mention suggests an eye for detail and a commitment to polishing the user experience, which is vital for operational tools.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is explicitly required.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools or methods (e.g., using HTML/CSS for advanced prototypes) is a plus.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design system components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, an understanding of how product analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) are used to measure design impact and inform iteration is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Designers will likely interact with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and other business operations tools indirectly, needing to understand how their designs fit into broader business workflows.

• Awareness of workflow automation concepts is valuable, especially given the company's focus on AI and simplifying operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and interest in "AI, HTML/CSS" for prototyping indicates a modern, technically-aware design team. For operations roles, understanding how design tools integrate with or support broader business systems (like CRMs or operational dashboards) is a valuable perspective.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Simplicity: A core tenet, aiming to create intuitive tools for a complex industry. This translates to clear, uncluttered designs and straightforward workflows.

• Builder Mentality: Every team member is encouraged to be a builder, taking ownership and actively contributing to product development from ideation to execution.

• High Bar: A commitment to quality and craftsmanship in both product development and team collaboration.

• Customer Focus: Deep care for the trades and fleet operators, aiming to provide them with modern, well-crafted tools that solve real problems.

• Collaboration & Humility: Openness to feedback, iterative improvement, and working closely with colleagues across disciplines.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work "tightly" with engineers and PMs in "small, autonomous project teams" with "no hand-offs," promoting a highly collaborative, cross-functional approach.

• In-Person Synergy: The company culture emphasizes the benefits of being co-located, suggesting a preference for direct, synchronous communication and spontaneous problem-solving.

• Constructive Critique: A culture of collaborative critique is fostered, where designers share work-in-progress to inspire and improve each other's output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of "simplicity" and building "modern, well-crafted tools" for an "underserved industry" are directly aligned with the goals of operations professionals who seek to optimize processes and improve efficiency. The emphasis on being a "builder" and having a "high bar" suggests a team that is driven, detail-oriented, and committed to excellence, qualities highly valued in operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Complex Domain: Translating intricacies of fleet financial operations and payments into simple, intuitive user experiences.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Integrating AI and modern technologies while ensuring the product remains accessible and easy to use for a diverse user base.

• Driving Adoption in a Traditional Industry: Overcoming user inertia and resistance to change in an industry accustomed to older, less efficient methods.

• Evolving a Design System: Continuously developing and maintaining a lightweight design system in a fast-paced startup environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• FinTech & Operations Expertise: Deepen understanding of financial operations, payments infrastructure, and the specific needs of the fleet industry.

• AI in Product Design: Gain practical experience applying AI advancements to product design and user experience.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop leadership skills through close collaboration with engineering and product, and by mentoring other designers.

• Startup Growth Experience: Contribute to the growth and scaling of a product and design function within a dynamic startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present significant growth opportunities. For instance, mastering the design of complex financial operations tools can lead to specialization in a high-demand area. Contributing to AI integration in product design aligns with current industry trends, offering a competitive edge.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to engage in technical discussions with engineers to ensure a design was feasible. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on collaboration, negotiation, and understanding technical constraints.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a fleet manager to gain better visibility into fuel expenses, considering the complexity of fleet operations?" (Prepare a structured approach: problem definition, user needs, potential solutions, key metrics.)

• "Tell us about a time you identified and fixed a 'paper cut' or small quality issue that significantly improved the user experience. What was your process?" (Highlight attention to detail and proactive problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Coast's mission to build financial infrastructure for fleets, and how does your design philosophy align with our emphasis on simplicity?" (Research Coast's mission, values, and the industry.)

• "What are your thoughts on the importance of in-person collaboration for product development, and how do you contribute to a positive team culture?" (Reflect on your collaborative style and experience in office environments.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as narratives, highlighting challenges, your decision-making process, and how you overcame obstacles.

• Technical Integration: Be ready to discuss the technical aspects of your designs and how they were implemented, especially any collaboration with engineers.

• Design System Focus: If applicable, present work that showcases your understanding and contribution to design systems, explaining their benefits.

• Coast Alignment: Emphasize projects that demonstrate your ability to design for complex operational workflows, financial data, or B2B SaaS environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing heavily on practical application, problem-solving, and collaborative capabilities. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not just design skills but also strategic thinking and an understanding of the business context relevant to fleet finance and operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior/Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 7+ years of experience, focus on software design, and explicitly mention skills like Figma, prototyping, design systems, and experience with complex workflows or FinTech.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, technical collaboration, and ideally, experience with operational tools or financial data. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, solution, and impact.

• Prepare for the interview: Research Coast's mission, the fleet industry, and their product. Practice articulating your design rationale, collaboration style, and how your work drives operational efficiency. Be ready to discuss your experience with technical discussions and design systems.

• Consider your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your case studies concisely, focusing on storytelling, impact, and your role in the process.

⚠️ 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. This role, while titled Product Designer, has significant implications for operational efficiency and GTM enablement within the fleet finance sector.