Sr. Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Product Designer
Company: Generac Power Systems
Location: Pewaukee, WI, United States / Waukesha, WI, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: 2026-02-10
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the end-to-end design of digital experiences that seamlessly integrate with Generac's connected systems and physical products, driving customer engagement and satisfaction.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and QA to define user problems, explore innovative solutions, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, user-centered designs that align with business objectives.
• Apply a rigorous systems-thinking approach to craft cohesive and scalable digital experiences across various platforms, ensuring consistency and a unified user journey.
• Drive product strategy and roadmap prioritization by advocating for the user through data-informed design decisions and a deep understanding of user needs and market trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, the emphasis on "connected systems and physical products," "systems-thinking approach to create cohesive end-to-end experiences," and "digital experiences that connect customers to their Generac products" strongly suggests a focus on the intersection of IoT, hardware, and software. This implies a significant need for understanding how user behavior and digital interfaces interact with physical devices, a key aspect in modern GTM (Go-To-Market) and product operations. The role requires not just UI/UX design but also an appreciation for the broader product ecosystem and its operational implications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive and engaging mobile experiences that effectively integrate with connected hardware and IoT platforms, enhancing user interaction and product value.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Product Management and Engineering, throughout the product development lifecycle to translate complex requirements into elegant and functional design solutions.
• Conduct and synthesize user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis to gather actionable insights that inform design iterations and validate product direction.
• Develop a range of design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard tools like Figma, ensuring clear communication of design intent.
• Actively contribute to the development, maintenance, and evolution of Generac's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices across all digital touchpoints.
• Champion a user-centered mindset throughout the organization, advocating for user needs and promoting design best practices in product planning and development discussions.
• Provide constructive feedback and informal mentorship to junior designers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented design environment.
• Participate in product planning sessions, offering design perspectives to influence roadmap prioritization and strategic decision-making.
• Ensure designs comply with accessibility standards and inclusive design principles, making Generac's digital products usable by the widest possible audience.
• Collaborate with QA teams to ensure the accurate and high-quality implementation of designs, bridging the gap between design intent and final product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on the entire product lifecycle, from discovery (user research, product planning) to delivery (designing, prototyping, collaborating with QA for implementation). This holistic approach is critical for operations roles, as it demonstrates the need for understanding how design decisions impact downstream processes like development, testing, and even customer support. The mention of "connected systems and physical products" and "IoT platforms" suggests that a Sr. Product Designer here will need to think about the operational implications of device connectivity, data flow, and user onboarding for hardware-enabled digital services.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related field, OR equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience focused on designing sophisticated digital products for both mobile and web applications.
• A robust portfolio showcasing a history of shipping impactful work at scale, demonstrating exceptional design craft, strategic problem-solving capabilities, and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for creating detailed designs, interactive prototypes, and contributing to design systems.
• Strong command of user-centered design processes, interaction design principles, and information architecture.
• Proven ability to analyze user research data and translate insights into effective design solutions that address user needs and business goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and decisions clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within Agile development methodologies and cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design practices to ensure equitable user experiences.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, polished design deliverables.
• Proactive, self-motivated individual comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving design initiatives independently.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for connected devices, Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, or hardware-integrated digital services.
• A proven track record of contributing to, or actively managing, design systems to ensure product consistency and scalability.
• Experience conducting usability testing sessions and effectively synthesizing findings to guide design improvements.
• Familiarity with UX research and prototyping tools such as Maze, UserTesting.com, or similar platforms.
• Basic understanding of front-end development technologies (HTML, CSS) to better inform design feasibility and collaboration with engineers.
• Experience facilitating design thinking workshops, collaborative design sprints, or participatory design sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Skills" section, particularly "Experience designing for connected devices or IoT platforms" and "Familiarity with Maze or other UX research tools," points towards a need for candidates who can not only design interfaces but also understand the operational ecosystem of hardware-software integration. This implies a need for designers who can think about the entire customer journey, including onboarding, device management, and data feedback loops, which are critical for product operations and GTM strategies. The mention of HTML/CSS and workshop facilitation indicates a need for strong collaboration and communication skills vital for cross-functional operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Work Showcase: A significant portion of the portfolio must feature examples of digital products that have been successfully launched and are currently in market, demonstrating real-world impact and scale.
• Problem-Solution Framing: Each case study should clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge, the design process undertaken, and the specific solutions implemented, highlighting the designer's strategic thinking.
• Design System Contribution: Evidence of contributions to or utilization of design systems, showcasing an understanding of component-based design, scalability, and maintaining visual/interaction consistency.
• Systems Thinking Examples: Demonstrations of how the candidate has designed for cohesive end-to-end experiences, connecting digital interfaces with physical products or complex systems, and has considered the broader ecosystem.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Walkthroughs: Detailed explanations of your personal design process, from initial discovery and research through ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation handoff, emphasizing iterative refinement.
• User Research Synthesis: Examples of how user research findings were analyzed and translated into tangible design decisions, showcasing the ability to extract actionable insights.
• Collaboration & Handoff: Documentation illustrating effective collaboration with product managers, engineers, and QA, including examples of design handoff procedures and feedback loops.
• Design System Principles: Clear articulation of principles and guidelines followed when contributing to or utilizing a design system, including rationale for pattern creation or adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio that demonstrates strong design craft, thoughtful problem-solving, and shipped work at scale" directly translates to a requirement for candidates to showcase tangible results and process. For operations roles, this means candidates should be prepared to discuss not just the "what" but the "how" and "why" behind their design decisions, including the operational impact of their work on product adoption, user retention, and efficiency. The "systems-thinking approach" requirement is particularly relevant, as it implies an understanding of how design integrates with the broader product and operational framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Sr. Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in the Waukesha, WI area, the estimated salary range is likely between $110,000 and $150,000 annually. This estimate considers the "Sr." title, the specified experience level, and the cost of living in the region for a technology-focused role.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Covering medical, dental, and vision care for employees and their families.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match: Providing a strong retirement savings option with employer contributions.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays to promote work-life balance.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Offering financial protection through life insurance and short/long-term disability coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Providing confidential support for personal and work-related challenges.
• Professional Development Opportunities: Including access to training, conferences, and resources to foster skill enhancement and career growth, particularly in design and related technologies.

Working Hours:

• The standard full-time work commitment is approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be opportunities for some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team and operational needs. Occasional travel may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on national averages for Senior Product Designers and adjusted for the specific cost of living and tech market in the Waukesha, WI area. Benefits are standard for large, established companies in the manufacturing/energy technology sector in the US, with an emphasis on professional development crucial for a role requiring continuous learning in design and technology. The mention of "occasional travel" implies a need for flexibility and operational readiness.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Energy Technology / Manufacturing. Generac is a leader in energy technology solutions, with a strong heritage in generator manufacturing and a forward-looking approach to smart energy management, solar, and storage. This industry context means a focus on reliability, safety, and innovation in power solutions. Company Size: Generac Power Systems is a large enterprise, likely employing several thousand individuals globally. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes, dedicated teams, and opportunities for significant impact within a large organization. Founded: Founded in 1959, Generac has a long history of innovation and market leadership. This longevity indicates stability, a deep understanding of its markets, and a culture that values experience while embracing new technologies.

Team Structure:

• The Sr. Product Designer will likely be part of a dedicated Product Design or UX team, which is itself a sub-group within a larger Product Management or Engineering organization.
• This team likely operates with a clear reporting structure, with the Sr. Product Designer reporting to a Design Lead or Director of Product Design.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with daily interaction expected with Product Managers, Software Engineers, QA Testers, and potentially Marketing and Hardware Engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and A/B testing to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design changes on user behavior and business outcomes.
• Agile Development: The product development lifecycle is strongly influenced by Agile methodologies, requiring iterative design, close collaboration with development sprints, and adaptability to changing requirements.
• Systems Integration: A key focus is on creating cohesive experiences across digital and physical products, requiring a methodical approach to understanding and designing for complex, interconnected systems.

Company Website: https://www.generac.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Generac's industry (Energy Technology) and long history (founded 1959) suggest a culture that values reliability, innovation, and robust engineering. For a Sr. Product Designer, this implies a need to design solutions that are not only user-friendly but also dependable and integrated with physical products, which has significant operational implications for product deployment, support, and customer satisfaction. The "systems-thinking" requirement is paramount in this context.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the Product Design discipline. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, responsibility for significant product areas, and the expectation to mentor junior team members. The scope extends beyond individual feature design to influencing broader product strategy and design system evolution.

Reporting Structure: The Sr. Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Director of Product Design, or potentially a Senior Product Manager overseeing a specific product vertical. They will work closely with cross-functional peers in Product Management, Engineering, and QA.

Operations Impact: The Sr. Product Designer's work directly influences customer adoption, engagement, and satisfaction with Generac's digital products and connected devices. High-quality, intuitive design is critical for reducing support costs, increasing product utilization, and ultimately driving revenue through enhanced customer experience and loyalty. The ability to design cohesive digital-physical experiences is key to Generac's broader energy technology strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance into Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Director roles, taking on greater team leadership and strategic responsibility within the design organization.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas such as IoT design, connected product ecosystems, design systems management, or advanced UX research methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Develop strong relationships and understanding across Product Management, Engineering, and Go-To-Market functions, potentially leading to opportunities in product strategy or program management.
• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in the energy technology sector, contributing to innovative solutions that shape the future of power and home energy management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title implies a leadership potential and a need for strategic thinking that aligns with operational goals. The focus on "connected systems and physical products" means growth opportunities might involve understanding the operational lifecycle of hardware, which is a unique and valuable skillset in the GTM and operations space. The ability to impact "support costs" and "product utilization" directly ties the design role to operational efficiency and business success metrics.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Generac operates a modern, professional office environment at its Waukesha HQ. This typically includes collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms equipped for presentations and video conferencing, and dedicated areas for focused individual work. The environment is designed to foster teamwork and innovation. Office Location(s): The primary locations mentioned are Pewaukee, WI, and Waukesha, WI, which are in close proximity and serve as Generac's main operational hubs. These locations offer access to a skilled workforce and a stable business environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Open-plan areas and numerous meeting rooms facilitate spontaneous discussions and planned brainstorming sessions, essential for cross-functional alignment on product design and operational workflows.
• Technology-Rich Environment: Access to up-to-date hardware, software (including Figma), and collaboration tools, supporting efficient design creation, prototyping, and communication.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: The physical layout and company culture encourage interaction between design, engineering, product management, and other departments, enabling a holistic understanding of product development and market needs.

Work Schedule: The role is primarily on-site, with a standard 40-hour work week. While core hours are expected, there may be some flexibility in daily scheduling to accommodate project needs and provide a healthy work-life balance. This structure allows for consistent in-person collaboration vital for complex product design and operational alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" work arrangement is crucial for a role that requires deep collaboration with cross-functional teams, especially in a company with integrated hardware and software products. This physical proximity is often essential for effective operational alignment, rapid problem-solving, and the seamless handoff of design assets and requirements to engineering and QA. The office environment likely supports a structured workflow necessary for managing complex product lifecycles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications, focusing on resume and portfolio alignment with the Sr. Product Designer requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will typically present a curated selection of their work, walking through 2-3 key case studies. This is an opportunity to demonstrate design process, problem-solving skills, systems thinking, and collaboration. Expect in-depth questions about your role, decisions, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to integrate into the team.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, leadership potential, and alignment with Generac's culture and strategic goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact or outcome of your work. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Showcase Systems Thinking: Highlight examples where you've designed for connected products, IoT ecosystems, or complex user journeys that span multiple touchpoints. Explain how you ensured consistency and coherence across these elements.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Provide examples of how you navigated feedback, resolved disagreements, and ensured successful design implementation.
• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow in Figma, your approach to building and maintaining design systems, and how you use prototyping for user testing and stakeholder communication.
• User-Centricity: Emphasize how user research informed your decisions and how you advocated for the user throughout the design process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You may be given a hypothetical design problem or asked to critique an existing product. Be prepared to apply your design process, articulate your thinking, and propose solutions. Focus on understanding the underlying user needs and business objectives.
• Systems Thinking Exercise: Expect questions or exercises that test your ability to think about how different components (digital, physical, software, hardware) interact within a larger system.
• Communication Practice: Rehearse explaining complex design concepts and trade-offs clearly and concisely. Practice articulating your design rationale and defending your decisions with data and user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process for a Sr. Product Designer, especially at a company like Generac, will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to connect design thinking with product strategy and operational execution. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate not just aesthetic skills but also a deep understanding of user needs, business goals, and the technical/operational realities of bringing integrated hardware-software products to market. The emphasis on "shipped work" and "impact" is critical for demonstrating operational value.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is a must.
• Design System Tools: Tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design systems (often integrated within Figma, or using dedicated libraries/documentation platforms).
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like InVision, Adobe XD, or Axure for more complex prototyping scenarios might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar for conducting remote usability testing and gathering qualitative feedback.
• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools for tracking user behavior and product performance (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by designers, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms impact customer journeys and data collection can be beneficial for context.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, tracking progress, and collaborating with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as the primary tool is key. For operations, understanding how designers use these tools to create scalable, consistent, and implementable designs is vital. The inclusion of user research platforms and analytics tools highlights the data-driven nature of the role and its connection to measuring the operational success of product features.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all design decisions, ensuring products are intuitive, effective, and meet genuine needs.
• Collaboration: A strong belief in working closely with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, QA) to achieve shared goals, fostering open communication and mutual respect.
• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished designs that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and reliable, reflecting Generac's commitment to product quality.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: An openness to exploring new ideas, technologies, and design approaches, and a proactive mindset towards refining processes and product experiences.
• Systems Thinking: An appreciation for how individual components fit into a larger ecosystem, ensuring that designs are cohesive, scalable, and contribute to a unified brand and product experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Designers are expected to be active partners with Product Managers and Engineers, contributing to requirements definition and roadmap strategy, not just executing final designs.
• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces iterative design processes, encouraging constructive feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users to continually refine solutions.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share best practices, learnings, and design patterns across the team and wider organization, fostering collective growth and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of "User-Centricity," "Collaboration," and "Systems Thinking" are directly relevant to operations. A designer who embodies these values will naturally contribute to more efficient product development cycles, better cross-functional alignment, and ultimately, products that are easier to support and market. The emphasis on "Excellence & Craftsmanship" also implies a focus on quality and reliability, which are core operational tenets.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Integrated Systems: Balancing the complexity of designing for digital interfaces that must seamlessly integrate with physical products and connected IoT devices, ensuring a cohesive user experience across both.
• Evolving Technology Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in energy technology, IoT, and mobile design trends to ensure Generac's digital products remain competitive and innovative.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating design rationale and navigating differing priorities among Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders to achieve optimal design solutions.
• Scalability and Consistency: Maintaining design consistency and scalability across a growing portfolio of products and digital touchpoints, often while contributing to or managing a design system.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen IoT/Connected Product Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for hardware-software integrations and the unique user challenges of IoT ecosystems within the energy sector.
• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to take on more significant responsibilities in managing, evolving, and evangelizing the company’s design system.
• Strategic Product Input: Influence product roadmaps and strategy by leveraging design insights and user research to identify new opportunities and drive business value.
• Mentorship and Skill Development: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers and receive coaching from senior leaders, fostering continuous skill enhancement in design craft, strategy, and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight the strategic nature of this role. For operations, understanding these challenges means recognizing the need for designers who can think holistically about product lifecycles and market integration. The growth opportunities in "IoT/Connected Product Expertise" and "Strategic Product Input" are particularly valuable for operations professionals looking to understand the broader GTM implications of product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a digital experience that integrated with a physical product. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure a cohesive user experience?" (Focus on systems thinking, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.)
• "Walk us through a complex design project from your portfolio. Explain your process, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact of your work on users and the business." (Prepare to articulate design decisions, user research findings, and quantifiable results.)
• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business objectives when design constraints are tight?" (Demonstrate strategic trade-off analysis and prioritization skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Generac and our role in the energy technology sector?" (Research Generac's mission, products, and recent news. Connect your passion for design to their industry impact.)
• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially when working with engineers and product managers?" (Highlight your communication, empathy, and teamwork skills.)
• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies, particularly in areas like IoT and connected devices?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning and industry awareness.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.
• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals of your designs, prototypes, and research artifacts. Explain why you made certain design choices, not just what you designed.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "Increased feature adoption by X%", "Reduced user error rate by Y%", "Contributed to Z% revenue growth").
• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly point out how your designs integrate with broader systems, hardware, or user journeys.
• Be Concise: Respect the allocated time. Practice your presentation to ensure it flows smoothly and covers all key points efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, operational awareness (how design impacts development, support, and market launch), and the ability to collaborate effectively. Candidates should be ready to discuss how their designs contribute to business objectives and a seamless customer experience, particularly in the context of integrated hardware and software.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Generac Careers portal via the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate experience with mobile/web applications, user-centered design, and ideally, connected devices or systems. Prioritize case studies that showcase your problem-solving process and measurable impact.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of experience, lists advanced Figma proficiency, and details your work in Agile environments and with cross-functional teams. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your role in team collaborations, and how your work has delivered tangible business and user value. Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and user research.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Generac's products, mission, and recent news. Understand their position in the energy technology market and how design contributes to their overall business strategy and operational goals.

⚠️ 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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