Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: Onebrief

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design (GTM/Operations adjacent)

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (10+ Years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for complex military planning software, focusing on user experience and intuitive workflow design.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and customer relations to translate intricate user needs into elegant design solutions.

• Contribute to the development and evolution of Onebrief's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across the platform.

• Act as a strategic design partner, influencing product direction and innovation within a fast-paced, AI-powered environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, its focus on complex systems, workflow optimization, and collaboration with military planning staffs has direct parallels to Revenue Operations and Sales Operations roles that require deep understanding of intricate business processes and user journeys. The emphasis on AI-powered workflows and translating user needs into functional, efficient tools aligns with the operational mindset.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of user experiences for complex military planning scenarios, including geospatial and ICAM domains, ensuring a seamless and effective end-to-end planning tool.

• Conduct user research, empathizing with military planners globally to uncover unmet needs and translate these insights into actionable design requirements and solutions.

• Develop and refine user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs, creating wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that articulate design concepts clearly.

• Actively experiment with and integrate cutting-edge design and AI tooling, such as Figma Make, Claude, and Codex, to enhance design processes and outputs.

• Partner directly with product managers and founders, contributing a product perspective to shape the roadmap and product strategy, with flexibility to adapt the role as needed.

• Shape and evolve Onebrief's design system, establishing design principles, patterns, and components to ensure visual and functional consistency across the product.

• Collaborate iteratively and scrappily with cross-functional teams, including engineering and customer relations, to ensure design feasibility and successful implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product thinking and hands-on design execution, particularly in translating complex requirements into user-friendly interfaces. This requires a deep understanding of workflows and user journeys, akin to operations roles focused on process optimization and system efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience with a strong portfolio will be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of experience in product design, with a proven track record of working on complex systems, data visualization, or modern collaboration platforms where innovative design was critical to success.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in UX/UI design principles and best practices for complex software applications.

• Proven ability to conduct user research and translate user needs into intuitive design solutions, even when users struggle to articulate them.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma (including Figma Make).

• Experience in developing and maintaining design systems for scalability and consistency.

• Strong understanding of or demonstrated interest in the military and defense technology space.

• Ability to work effectively with Customer Relations, Engineering, and Product teams.

• Demonstrated "owner's mentality," comfortable sharing perspectives with C-suite leadership and taking accountability.

• Collaborative, iterative, and solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.

• Self-starter with the ability to embrace autonomy and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI tools relevant to design and content generation (e.g., Claude, Codex).

• Background in geospatial or intelligence, command, and control (ICAM) systems.

• Experience designing for government or defense sector clients.

• Strong data visualization skills.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate the value of design decisions to diverse stakeholders, including executives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on complex systems, military applications, and AI tools suggests a need for candidates who can not only design but also understand the operational implications of their work. The requirement for U.S. citizenship is a critical qualification for roles involving defense technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant projects that demonstrate expertise in solving complex user problems within intricate systems.

• Projects should highlight the entire design process, from user research and problem definition to ideation, prototyping, and final UI implementation.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the design challenges, the user needs addressed, the design solutions implemented, and the impact of those solutions.

• Demonstrate experience with data visualization and modern collaboration tools.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of iterative design processes and user feedback incorporation.

• Examples of collaboration with engineering and product teams to ensure design feasibility and successful product launches.

• Documentation or case studies detailing the use of various design tools, including Figma, and ideally, experimentation with AI-assisted design tools.

• Clear articulation of how design decisions were made, supported by user research and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities for complex systems, and a deep understanding of user workflows, which are critical for operations-adjacent roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,000 - $230,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Equity: Opportunity to own a piece of a high-growth company.

• Flexible work hours: Ability to manage your schedule to optimize productivity.

• Unlimited PTO: Encourages work-life balance and personal well-being.

• Comprehensive health insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Life insurance: Financial protection for your family.

• 401(k) plan with company match: Supports long-term financial planning.

• Parental leave: Generous support for new parents.

• Annual company summit trips: Opportunities for team building and strategic alignment.

• Home office budget: Support for creating an effective remote workspace.

Working Hours: While the company operates with flexible work hours, the role typically requires a commitment equivalent to a 40-hour work week, with adaptability for project needs and cross-functional collaboration across time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Staff Product Designer role in the U.S. market, especially for a well-funded, high-growth company. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing employee well-being and long-term commitment. The flexible work hours are a standard offering for remote roles, but the intensity of the work in defense tech may require significant dedication.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology / SaaS. Onebrief operates at the intersection of cutting-edge software development and the critical needs of military operations, aiming to revolutionize how military staffs collaborate and plan.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, the company's funding ($320M+) and valuation ($2.15B) suggest a rapidly scaling organization, likely employing between 200-500 individuals, with a growing Design and Product team.

Founded: 2019. Founded by experienced planners, Onebrief has quickly established itself as a significant player in the defense tech sector.

Team Structure:

• The Design Team reports to the Head of Product Design, Ario Jafarzadeh.

• This role is part of a specialized Design Team, with designers rotating across product squads (e.g., geospatial, ICAM).

• Designers work in close partnership with Product Managers and Founders, indicating a flat hierarchy and direct impact.

Methodology:

• AI-powered workflow software development.

• Emphasis on transformation and making teams "superhuman" through efficiency and intelligence.

• Data-driven insights to inform product development and design decisions.

• Iterative design and development cycles, with a focus on continuous improvement.

• "Strong opinions loosely held" approach, valuing diverse perspectives but remaining agile.

Company Website: https://onebrief.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as serious, excellent, and competitive, akin to an Olympic team. This suggests a high-performance environment where ownership, collaboration, and a drive to win are paramount. The blend of military veterans and tech professionals creates a unique environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, expected to operate with significant autonomy and influence. It signifies a deep level of expertise and the ability to tackle the most challenging design problems independently, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic product direction.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Product Design. Works fluidly across various product squads, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Founders. This structure offers high visibility and direct impact on product strategy.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the efficiency, speed, and intelligence of military planning operations. By creating seamless tools, the role contributes to mission success and national security outcomes, offering a profound sense of purpose and impact beyond typical commercial product design.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in designing for complex, high-stakes environments, and become a subject matter expert in defense tech workflows.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, managing a team or function, or to transition into Product Management roles given the close partnership with PMs and founders.

• Technical Skill Expansion: Opportunity to master advanced design tools and explore new AI technologies for design and workflow optimization.

• Strategic Influence: Increased influence on product strategy, roadmap prioritization, and the overall design vision for Onebrief.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title implies a leadership trajectory for individual contributors, focusing on complex problem-solving and mentorship rather than direct people management initially. The impact on defense operations provides a unique growth path with significant responsibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Onebrief operates as an all-remote company. While many employees work remotely, some may work alongside customers at military commands worldwide, suggesting a distributed workforce with potential for field-based roles or client-facing interactions.

Office Location(s): Primarily remote within the United States. The company has a global customer base, implying that remote employees may need to be adaptable to client time zones.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, the culture emphasizes collaboration, suggesting strong use of digital collaboration tools and regular virtual team interactions.

• Operations Tools and Technology: Access to industry-leading design software (Figma), AI tools (Claude, Codex), and communication platforms is expected.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs are likely to maintain alignment and foster team cohesion.

Work Schedule: Flexible work hours are offered, allowing employees to manage their schedules. However, the nature of the work and collaboration with military planning cycles may necessitate some flexibility to accommodate critical deadlines or international stakeholder availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature requires strong self-discipline and communication skills. The potential for client-facing work in military settings adds a unique dimension to the remote work environment, requiring adaptability and professionalism.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, focusing on experience with complex systems, UX/UI expertise, and relevant project examples.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A deep dive into selected portfolio projects, discussing design process, rationale, and impact. This may be followed by a design challenge, potentially involving a complex problem relevant to military planning or workflow optimization.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and potentially the Head of Product Design to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Founder/Executive Interview: A final conversation to gauge strategic alignment, ownership mentality, and overall fit with Onebrief's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Complexity: Emphasize projects where you tackled intricate systems, complex data, or challenging user workflows. Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design choices.

• Highlight Process: Detail your user research methodologies, iterative design approach, and how you incorporated feedback. Document your problem-solving steps.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify the results of your designs where possible (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction). If quantitative data is unavailable, use qualitative evidence and user testimonials.

• Design System Expertise: Include examples of your contributions to or creation of design systems, explaining their structure and benefits.

• Tool Proficiency: Clearly state the tools used, with a focus on Figma and any experimentation with AI tools.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling narrative about the problem, your solution, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research military planning processes, common challenges, and the role of technology in this sector. Familiarize yourself with terms like geospatial and ICAM.

• Focus on Workflow: Anticipate challenges that require optimizing complex workflows or designing for high-stakes decision-making.

• AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how AI tools can enhance design processes or product functionality.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to articulate your design strategy, how it aligns with business goals, and how you measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving ability for complex systems, and cultural fit within a mission-driven, high-performance organization. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency with Figma Make is highly desirable.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma or separate tools for advanced interactive prototypes (e.g., Principle, ProtoPie).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Google Forms).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Potentially tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo to understand user behavior and product usage, though direct use might be more on the Product Management side. Designers will need to interpret this data.

• Data Visualization Libraries: Familiarity with how data is presented and the ability to design effective data visualizations.

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom for daily team communication and meetings.

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking design tasks and project progress.

• AI & ML Tools: Active experimentation with tools like Claude and Codex is explicitly mentioned, indicating an interest in leveraging AI for design assistance, content generation, or workflow automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and AI tools like Claude and Codex highlights Onebrief's commitment to leveraging modern technology for design and product development. Proficiency in these areas will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for outcomes and driving projects to completion.

• Excellence & Winning: A high-performance mindset focused on achieving superior results.

• Collaboration & Camaraderie: Working effectively as a team, with the seriousness and support of an Olympic team.

• Continuous Learning & Craft Mastery: Dedication to perpetually improving design skills and understanding new technologies.

• User Focus: Deep empathy for users and a commitment to solving their complex problems.

• Integrity & Ethics: High ethical standards guiding all work and interactions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless partnership with Product Managers, Engineers, and Customer Relations to ensure holistic product development.

• Iterative & Scrappy: Embracing agile methodologies, quick iterations, and finding creative solutions to challenges.

• Open Communication: Encouraging the sharing of ideas and perspectives, even with C-suite leadership, with a "strong opinions loosely held" approach.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Openness to critique and feedback to refine designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply rooted in a high-stakes, mission-driven environment, emphasizing performance, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence. This culture is critical for success in a role that directly supports military operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for military planning workflows involves understanding intricate, often non-intuitive, processes and high-stakes decision-making.

• Translating Unarticulated Needs: Discovering and designing for user needs that users themselves may not fully comprehend requires advanced research and empathy skills.

• Balancing Innovation with Tradition: Integrating cutting-edge AI and design tools while respecting the established workflows and requirements of military users.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective collaboration in a fully remote setting across diverse teams and potentially customer sites.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in defense technology, military planning, and AI-driven workflows.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Mastering AI-assisted design tools and exploring new methodologies for complex system design.

• Strategic Product Influence: Direct involvement in product strategy and roadmap development, offering significant career growth potential.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and contribute to building out the design function within a rapidly growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but offer substantial opportunities for professional growth. Overcoming these will require a combination of technical skill, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal abilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a user group whose needs were difficult to articulate. How did you approach understanding and meeting those needs?" (Focus on research methods, empathy, and iterative validation.)

• "How would you approach designing a complex planning tool for military staff, considering their operational constraints and the need for speed and accuracy?" (Emphasize workflow analysis, user-centricity, and system integration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Onebrief's mission and the defense technology space?" (Show genuine curiosity and understanding of the company's impact.)

• "How do you embody the 'owner's mentality' and collaborate with C-suite leadership?" (Provide examples of taking initiative, contributing strategic ideas, and accepting accountability.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: Frame each case study as a story with a clear beginning (problem), middle (solution and process), and end (impact).

• Focus on Rationale: For every design decision, explain the "why" – what user problem it solved, what data or research supported it, and what was the expected outcome.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flow diagrams. If possible, include short video clips of prototypes or user interactions.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics and data that demonstrate the success of your designs. If quantitative data isn't available, use strong qualitative evidence and user quotes.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used and highlight any innovative applications, especially with Figma and AI tools.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate deep dives into specific design choices, technical challenges, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving for complex systems, and a strong understanding of user needs within a mission-critical context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your experience with complex systems, user research, and end-to-end design processes. Tailor the selection to highlight any relevant defense tech or data visualization experience.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of experience, highlights achievements in solving complex problems, and lists proficiency in key tools like Figma. Integrate keywords from the job description naturally.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on your problem-solving process, design rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and AI tools.

• Research Onebrief: Understand their mission, technology stack, and company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions about their design process, the challenges they face, and the impact of their work on military operations.

⚠️ 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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