Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer Company: Pulley Location: Remote (United States) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: September 25, 2025 Experience Level: 6+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for critical, high-impact areas within Pulley's equity and token management platform, focusing on transforming complex financial and compliance workflows into intuitive, delightful user experiences.
• Drive the product vision for AI-native equity management, creating new interaction paradigms that simplify sophisticated financial systems and empower early-stage leaders.
• Collaborate directly with Product Management and Engineering leadership to shape product strategy, roadmap, and define what exceptional B2B financial software design looks like.
• Ship high-quality, pixel-perfect designs with velocity, balancing rapid iteration with meticulous attention to detail for complex, regulation-heavy B2B financial tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant influence, expected to operate with radical autonomy and drive design initiatives from conception through to polished execution. The emphasis on "AI-native world" and "token management" suggests a forward-thinking approach to financial technology, requiring a designer comfortable with emerging paradigms. The "weeks, not quarters" shipping cadence indicates a need for efficiency and pragmatic execution alongside strategic vision.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and lead the complete design lifecycle for key product areas, from initial concept exploration and user research through to high-fidelity mockups and detailed interaction specifications.
• Define and champion new interaction patterns and user flows for equity and token management within an AI-native context, aiming to make complex financial operations feel effortless.
• Conduct and synthesize user research, leveraging insights from qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and validate product direction.
• Develop and maintain a sophisticated design system, creating reusable, scalable patterns that address the complexity of enterprise-grade financial software.
• Prototype extensively using tools like Figma and potentially code to effectively communicate design ideas, user journeys, and interactive elements to stakeholders.
• Mentor junior designers, provide constructive feedback, and actively contribute to elevating the overall design craft and culture within the organization.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and marketing, to ensure design alignment and successful product delivery.
• Translate intricate compliance requirements and financial calculations into user-friendly interfaces that are not only functional but also enjoyable to use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic ownership and hands-on execution. The expectation to "raise the quality bar" and "mentor designers" signifies a leadership component within an individual contributor role. The focus on "AI-native workflows" and "token management" suggests the need for a designer who can think abstractly about future financial systems while grounding solutions in user needs and practical implementation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and interaction design is crucial. Equivalent practical experience will be highly valued. Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of professional experience in shipping exceptional product design, with a significant focus on complex B2B or fintech environments. Demonstrated experience in taking products from initial concept ("0→1") through to scaling mature products is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of leading end-to-end product design for complex features and products.
• Exceptional taste and a keen eye for craft excellence, with a portfolio showcasing polished, shipped work.
• Strong systems thinking capabilities, including experience creating and scaling design systems for enterprise complexity.
• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma, and familiarity with interactive prototyping methods.
• Rigorous approach to UX research, including planning, conducting, synthesizing, and translating insights into actionable design improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to work with AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Figma Make) to amplify design impact and efficiency.
• Autonomy and proactivity in identifying opportunities and driving design initiatives forward without constant direction.
• Excellent storytelling and communication skills, capable of articulating design decisions clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Experience in transforming complex, regulation-heavy workflows into intuitive and delightful user experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing AI-powered experiences, including human-in-the-loop workflows, prompt patterns, and guardrails.
• Background in data visualization and designing for information-dense interfaces.
• Experience working closely with engineering teams, with a potential for basic coding proficiency or understanding.
• Proven success in high-growth startup environments, demonstrating adaptability and a willingness to wear multiple hats.
• A strong affinity for tackling challenging, less glamorous problems that offer significant impact when solved effectively.
• Natural leadership qualities, being a designer others seek out for guidance and mentorship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "taste," "craft excellence," and "systems thinking" points to a need for a designer who understands the nuances of sophisticated software. Proficiency with AI tools is a specific and modern requirement. The blend of B2B, fintech, and "AI-native" suggests a niche expertise that combines financial domain understanding with forward-looking technology application.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex projects that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership and impact, preferably within B2B, fintech, or SaaS environments.
• Clearly articulate the problem space, user needs, and business objectives for each project, highlighting your specific role and contributions.
• Present detailed case studies that illustrate your design process, including user research methodologies, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final visual design.
• Quantify the impact of your design solutions with measurable business metrics, ROI, or user engagement improvements wherever possible.
• Demonstrate your ability to work with and extend design systems, showcasing sophisticated patterns and their application across a product suite.
• Include examples of how you have tackled complex compliance, financial, or regulatory challenges through design.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolios should effectively document the design process, including how user research was integrated, how feedback was incorporated, and how design decisions were validated.
• Clearly outline the iterative process used for problem-solving and feature development, highlighting key pivots or learnings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to document design specifications for engineering handoff, ensuring clarity and maintainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary proof of "craft excellence" and "measurable business impact." The expectation for "systems thinking" and handling "enterprise complexity" means the portfolio should showcase not just individual features but also the strategic design of scalable systems and patterns. Demonstrating an ability to translate complex, regulation-heavy workflows into user-friendly experiences is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $173,000 - $201,000 USD per year. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) coupled with an annual Winter holiday break.
• Robust Parental Leave policy.
• Generous stipends for Work From Home setup, continuous learning, wellness, and AI tools.
• 401(k) match for US-based employees, with a Pension match for Canadian employees.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, with flexibility often associated with remote roles. The emphasis on "shipping with velocity" suggests a results-oriented approach rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Staff Product Designer role, especially in a remote capacity, reflecting the seniority and expected impact. The benefits package is comprehensive, with unique additions like stipends for AI tools, underscoring the company's forward-looking approach and investment in employee growth and well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech / SaaS (Equity Management, Startup Operations) Company Size: Pulley is a growing company with over 4,000 customers, indicating a maturing startup phase that has moved beyond early-stage uncertainty but still retains a high-growth dynamic. The exact employee count is not specified, but the customer base suggests a significant operational footprint. Founded: Pulley was founded with the mission to simplify company startup processes, particularly equity management. The company's trajectory is supported by notable investors, highlighting its strong market position and growth potential.

Team Structure:

• The design team operates with a high degree of integration, with designers partnering directly with Engineering and Product leadership.
• This role is likely part of a lean, high-performing design team where individual contributors are expected to take significant ownership.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with designers working closely with PMs and Engineers to shape product strategy and execution.

Methodology:

• Design is viewed as a competitive advantage, emphasizing intuitive, delightful, and beautiful user experiences over traditional, compliance-first software.
• The company embraces an "AI-native" approach, actively exploring how AI can redefine equity management and operational workflows for early-stage companies.
• Design decisions are guided by a blend of user needs, data insights, and a strong emphasis on "good taste."

Company Website: pulley.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Pulley's culture is characterized by a strong belief in design as a differentiator. The emphasis on "stunning colleagues" and specific operating principles points to a deliberate effort to foster a high-caliber, collaborative, and principle-driven environment. The focus on innovation, particularly in the AI space, suggests a company that values forward-thinking and problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This level typically signifies a senior individual contributor with deep expertise in product design, capable of owning complex product areas, influencing strategy, and mentoring others. They are expected to operate with significant autonomy and deliver high-impact results. Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Staff Product Designer often reports to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership role. They would work closely with Lead Product Managers and Staff Engineers, indicating a flat, collaborative hierarchy. Operations Impact: The Staff Product Designer at Pulley will have a direct and significant impact on the company's core product offering, influencing user acquisition, retention, and customer satisfaction by making complex equity management processes simpler and more efficient. Their work will shape how thousands of founders manage their companies, directly contributing to Pulley's mission and business metrics.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in designing for complex financial systems, AI-native workflows, and advanced design systems. Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives, and contributing to the overall design strategy and culture.
• Strategic Influence: Gain experience in shaping product vision and roadmap, leveraging design as a strategic tool to explore new market opportunities and business models, particularly in the evolving AI landscape.
• Career Progression: Potential to move into Principal Designer, Design Lead, or management roles as the design team scales, or to become a recognized expert within the fintech/SaaS design community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title indicates a significant level of responsibility and influence, akin to a senior IC role in many tech organizations. Growth opportunities are tied to both deepening design craft and expanding strategic impact, with potential leadership pathways within a growing company. The focus on AI and complex financial systems offers a chance to specialize in a high-demand, evolving area.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. Office Location(s): While remote, the company specifies "United States" for its remote employees, suggesting a focus on US-based talent and compliance.

Workspace Context:

• The remote environment fosters autonomy and flexibility, allowing designers to structure their workdays to maximize productivity and creativity.
• Collaboration is primarily digital, utilizing tools like Slack, Figma, and video conferencing, requiring strong communication and asynchronous work skills.
• The company provides stipends for WFH setups, indicating support for creating an optimal and productive remote workspace.
• Opportunities for team interaction and collaboration occur through virtual meetings, design critiques, and company-wide events.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours are expected. Given the remote nature and focus on velocity, there's likely flexibility in scheduling, provided core responsibilities are met and collaboration with team members across different time zones is managed effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role requires self-discipline, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a distributed team. The company's support for WFH setups and stipends for AI tools reinforces a commitment to enabling productive remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screen: Typically a conversation with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company.
• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on your process, impact, and specific projects. This may be followed by a design exercise or challenge, potentially focused on a specific problem or scenario relevant to Pulley's product, to assess your approach to complex problems and design craft.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers or leadership to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and strategic thinking.
• Final Round/Leadership Interview: A conversation with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, cultural alignment, and overall fit for the Staff Designer role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project, with clear introductions to each case study.
• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the user problem, your design process, the constraints, your decision-making rationale, and the final outcome with measurable results.
• Highlight Impact: Clearly demonstrate the business impact (e.g., increased conversion, reduced churn, improved efficiency) and user impact (e.g., enhanced usability, task completion rates) of your work.
• Showcase Process: Detail your research methods, ideation techniques, iteration cycles, and how you collaborated with stakeholders. Show your thinking, not just the final output.
• Address Complexity: Since this role involves complex financial systems, ensure your portfolio showcases how you simplify intricate information and workflows.
• Tailor to Pulley: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to highlight relevant experience with B2B, fintech, or complex data/compliance challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect a design challenge that may involve simplifying a complex financial workflow, optimizing a data-dense interface, or proposing an AI-enhanced feature for equity management.
• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, research-informed decision-making, and ability to articulate your design rationale clearly and concisely.
• Practice presenting your work and thought process under time constraints, simulating potential interview scenarios.
• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach user research, define key metrics, and iterate on designs based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, emphasizing not only design execution but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to handle complexity. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates process and measurable impact is paramount. The inclusion of AI tools in the "nice to haves" suggests that demonstrating familiarity or innovative use of AI in design challenges might be advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (essential), potentially Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch.
• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities, possibly InVision, Principle, or Framer for more advanced interactive prototypes.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello might be used for tracking design tasks and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics for understanding user behavior and product usage.
• Data Visualization: Proficiency in interpreting data presented through dashboards or reports, potentially using tools like Tableau or Looker, although direct experience might not be required.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, an understanding of CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation platforms might be beneficial for context, especially in B2B environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a given for modern product design roles. The emphasis on "AI tools" like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and Figma Make is a specific differentiator for this role, indicating the company actively integrates AI into its design workflow. An understanding of how design integrates with analytics and user feedback loops is also crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Principles over Playbooks: Encourage understanding the "why" behind strategies to adapt and innovate, rather than strictly following predefined processes.
• Momentum over Speed: Focus on building sustainable progress and delivering value effectively, balancing short-term wins with long-term success.
• Good Taste over Data: While data is important, the company values strong instincts and the ability to make bold bets based on design sensibility.
• Ideas over Egos: Foster an environment where the best ideas win, regardless of their origin, promoting open contribution and psychological safety.
• Gladiator over Spectator: Emphasize execution, attention to detail, and driving for results, taking ownership of tasks.
• Conviction over Consensus: Encourage strong opinions and the courage to defend them, while also practicing "disagree and commit."
• Proactive over Passive: Foster initiative, clarity-seeking, and a comprehensive understanding of the full picture.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers acting as partners to Product and Engineering leadership.
• Emphasis on cross-functional integration, ensuring design is a key input in strategy and execution.
• A culture that encourages feedback exchange and continuous improvement through design critiques and open communication.
• Knowledge sharing and experimentation are likely encouraged to drive innovation and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Pulley's stated operating principles are central to its culture. They emphasize a bias for action, intellectual rigor, strong personal accountability, and a collaborative yet decisive approach. Understanding and aligning with these principles will be key for cultural fit. The "Gladiator over spectator" principle is particularly strong, highlighting a team of doers.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The primary challenge is translating intricate financial regulations, compliance requirements, and multi-stakeholder equity management into intuitive and delightful user experiences.
• AI Integration: Defining and designing novel interaction paradigms for an "AI-native" equity management world requires forward-thinking and experimentation.
• Balancing Velocity and Craft: Shipping quickly without compromising the high standard of craft expected at the Staff level.
• Scaling Design Systems: Developing and maintaining a robust design system that can accommodate the growing complexity of Pulley's product suite.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Gain deep knowledge in equity management, startup finance, and emerging areas like tokenomics within a rapidly evolving FinTech landscape.
• AI-Powered Design: Develop expertise in leveraging AI tools to enhance the design process and create innovative user experiences.
• Strategic Design Leadership: Hone skills in influencing product strategy, mentoring design talent, and shaping organizational design culture.
• Industry Exposure: Opportunity to work with leading startups and gain insights into the challenges of scaling technology companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the company's mission and the nature of its product – making complex financial operations accessible. Growth opportunities are significant, positioning this role as a chance to become a leader in a niche but impactful area of technology and finance.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for a complex, data-intensive domain like equity management, focusing on simplifying user workflows and compliance.
• Be ready to articulate your process for identifying and addressing user needs in a B2B context, especially for sophisticated financial tools.
• Discuss how you would leverage AI tools to enhance your design process or create new product capabilities within Pulley's domain.
• Explain your philosophy on balancing rapid iteration ("velocity") with meticulous design quality ("craft excellence").
• How would you approach mentoring other designers and contributing to a design culture focused on "principles over playbooks"?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Pulley's mission, product, and investor base to understand its market position and goals.
• Be prepared to discuss how your personal values and work style align with Pulley's operating principles (e.g., "Gladiator over Spectator," "Good Taste over Data").
• Think about how you would contribute to building a "design culture that attracts world-class talent."
• How do you see design playing a strategic role in a company like Pulley, particularly in the context of AI and FinTech?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a compelling story for each project, focusing on the problem, your process, your decisions, and the impact.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Utilize high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear visuals to convey your design thinking and execution.
• Quantify Impact: Be ready to discuss the metrics and business outcomes tied to your projects. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impact or how you would measure success.
• Design System Examples: Clearly showcase your experience with design systems, demonstrating how you've created scalable patterns and maintained consistency.
• AI Tool Integration: If applicable, highlight how you've used AI tools in your workflow or propose how AI could be leveraged for specific design challenges at Pulley.
• Conciseness and Focus: Given the "weeks, not quarters" expectation, be direct and focused in your presentation, highlighting the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills for complex domains, and alignment with the company's operating principles. The ability to articulate design decisions with conviction and showcase tangible impact will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 of your strongest projects, ideally from B2B, fintech, or complex SaaS environments, clearly detailing your end-to-end design process and quantifiable impact.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product design leadership, complex systems, B2B/fintech environments, user research, and design systems. Use keywords like "product design," "UX," "prototyping," "design systems," and "complex workflows."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and project outcomes. Prepare specific examples that showcase your ability to handle complexity, collaborate effectively, and align with Pulley's operating principles. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.
• Company Research: Understand Pulley's mission, product, and target audience. Familiarize yourself with their stated operating principles and how your experience and values align with them. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

⚠️ 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.