Staff Product Designer
π Job Overview
Job Title: Staff Product Designer
Company: Sigma Computing
Location: New York City, NY
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: April 06, 2026
Experience Level: 12+ Years
Remote Status: On-site
π Role Summary
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Lead multiple product areas within a cloud-native business intelligence platform, shaping the future of data analytics and driving product vision.
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Collaborate closely with Product Management, Research, Customer Success, and Support teams to gather end-user feedback and enhance product adoption and utilization.
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Design elegant and highly usable user experiences for non-technical users exploring complex data and generating critical business insights.
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Own the end-to-end design process for assigned product areas, from initial concept and strategy to final release and iterative improvements.
π Enhancement Note: This role is defined as a "Staff" level Product Designer, indicating a senior position requiring significant experience (12+ years) and the ability to lead complex projects, influence product direction, and mentor other designers. The focus on a "cloud-native business intelligence platform" and "data analytics" specifically targets candidates with experience in B2B SaaS, data visualization, and complex application design.
π Primary Responsibilities
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Drive the strategic vision for key product areas, balancing long-term innovation with incremental, day-to-day user experience improvements.
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Own the interaction design and visual appeal for complex data exploration and analytics features, ensuring simplicity and elegance.
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Conduct user research and actively incorporate feedback from customers, PMs, and internal stakeholders into iterative design solutions.
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Develop comprehensive design systems and frameworks that ensure consistency and scalability across the entire product.
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Present new design directions and strategic proposals to leadership, effectively communicating the rationale and potential impact.
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Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure designs are technically feasible and can be implemented incrementally while maintaining design integrity.
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Facilitate design workshops and brainstorming sessions to foster innovation and cross-functional alignment.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "leading multiple areas," "presenting new directions to leadership," and "designing entire systems" strongly suggests this role involves strategic product vision and significant influence beyond individual feature design, aligning with a Staff-level product design position.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor or Master's degree with specialization in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a closely related field.
Experience: 12+ years of professional experience in interaction design, with a proven track record of designing commercially successful, world-class software products. Startup experience is highly valued.
Required Skills:
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Demonstrably strong interaction design fundamentals with a keen eye for visual appeal.
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Proven ability to think about entire systems, design the big picture, and break it down into actionable, incremental engineering tasks.
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Expertise in Figma for detailed design, prototyping, and collaboration.
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Experience leading multiple product areas and presenting design strategies to senior leadership.
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Ability to work autonomously, lead complex design projects, and deliver high-quality solutions.
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Capability for rapid iteration, embracing feedback cycles, and incorporating customer needs.
Preferred Skills:
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Experience in the business intelligence, data analytics, or SaaS platform space.
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Familiarity with SQL and Python for understanding data-related use cases.
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Experience working with AI infrastructure and data application development.
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Background in designing for non-technical business users.
π Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "12+ years of interaction design" and "expert on Figma" highlights the seniority and tool-specific expectations. The "startup experience" preference suggests a need for adaptability and comfort in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Showcase designs that have been successfully released to market, demonstrating system-wide thinking and comprehensive interaction design skills.
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Include case studies that clearly articulate the business problem addressed, project constraints, your design process, and the iterative evolution of the solutions.
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Highlight how your designs achieved company objectives while effectively meeting user needs and improving product adoption or utilization.
Process Documentation:
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Clearly illustrate your design process, from initial user research and problem definition through ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.
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Detail the rationale behind significant design iterations, including feedback received and adjustments made.
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Explain how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (PM, Engineering, Research, Customer Success) throughout the design lifecycle.
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Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, adoption, efficiency, or business outcomes.
π Enhancement Note: The detailed portfolio requirements emphasize demonstrating a complete design lifecycle, strategic thinking, and measurable impact, which are critical for senior-level design roles, particularly in a product-focused company like Sigma Computing.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $210,000 - $250,000 annually.
Benefits:
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Equity (Stock Options)
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Generous health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
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Flexible time off policy
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Paid bonding time for all new parents
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Traditional and Roth 401k plans
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Commuter benefits
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Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefits
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Lunch Program
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Dog-friendly office environment
Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (typically 40 hours per week), with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and business needs, common in on-site startup environments.
π Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for a Staff Product Designer role in New York City. The benefits package is comprehensive, including equity which is standard for senior roles in tech startups. The "dog-friendly office" and "lunch program" are specific perks that contribute to the company culture.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI applications and analytics platforms within the Data & Analytics sector. Sigma is transforming Business Intelligence (BI) through AI infrastructure and data application development.
Company Size: Sigma Computing has secured significant funding (Series D of $200M in May 2024), indicating substantial growth and a dynamic, potentially fast-paced startup environment. The company is actively expanding its teams.
Founded: Founded with a vision to make data accessible and transformative, Sigma has a history of innovation in cloud-native BI.
Team Structure:
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The Product Design team is a core part of the product development organization, working in close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Research, Customer Success, and Support.
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Designers are expected to operate with autonomy but also engage in deep collaboration to ensure product success.
Methodology:
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Data-driven decision-making is central, with a focus on user insights and analytics.
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Iterative design and development are key, emphasizing rapid cycles of feedback, learning, and shipping value to customers.
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A strong emphasis is placed on making complex data analytics usable and accessible to non-technical users.
Company Website: https://www.sigmacomputing.com/
π Enhancement Note: Sigma Computing's recent Series D funding highlights its strong market position and growth trajectory, suggesting a dynamic and well-resourced environment for its product teams. The company's mission to democratize data analytics through AI is a key cultural driver.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This level signifies a senior individual contributor role focused on leading significant product initiatives, influencing design strategy, and driving complex design challenges. It requires a blend of deep design expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership in execution.
Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a Design Manager, Director of Product Design, or VP of Product. Will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Researchers.
Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the usability, adoption, and success of Sigma's core business intelligence and AI application platform. By designing intuitive and powerful experiences, the Staff Product Designer directly contributes to customer satisfaction, retention, and the company's ability to transform businesses through data insights.
Growth Opportunities:
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Leadership: Potential to grow into a Principal Product Designer role, leading even larger strategic initiatives or taking on people management responsibilities (e.g., Design Lead).
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Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-driven product design, complex data visualization, or enterprise SaaS application architecture.
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Cross-functional Influence: Increased involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and influencing the overall direction of the company's offerings.
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Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth and development of the design team.
π Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title implies a significant level of autonomy and influence, positioning this role as a key contributor to product strategy and vision, with clear pathways for continued growth within a rapidly expanding tech company.
π Work Environment
Office Type: The job description explicitly states "Note: We have an in-office work environment in all our offices in SF, NYC, and London." This indicates a commitment to on-site collaboration and a traditional office-based work setting.
Office Location(s): New York City, NY.
Workspace Context:
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The NYC office is likely designed to foster collaboration, with spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and focused individual work.
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Access to necessary design tools and technology, including expert-level Figma, will be standard.
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The environment is expected to be dynamic and fast-paced, common in growth-stage tech companies, with opportunities for frequent interaction with product, engineering, and research teams.
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Perks like a dog-friendly office and a lunch program suggest an emphasis on employee well-being and a positive, engaging workplace culture.
Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour week is typical, the on-site nature and startup environment may require flexibility to meet project demands and collaborate effectively with global teams if applicable.
π Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of an "in-office work environment" is crucial for candidates evaluating work arrangements. This signals a preference for face-to-face collaboration and team synergy, which can be a significant factor for designers.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with requirements.
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Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your background, design philosophy, experience with complex systems, and leadership capabilities.
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Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A key stage where you will present your portfolio, diving deep into case studies. This may be followed by a design exercise or critique session focused on problem-solving and design thinking.
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Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and team fit.
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Leadership Interview: Final discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, vision, and cultural alignment.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem solved, user needs met, and the quantifiable impact of your designs (e.g., increased adoption, improved efficiency, customer satisfaction).
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Show Your Process: Detail your approach from research to iteration, highlighting how you navigated constraints and made critical design decisions. Use visuals to show the evolution of your designs.
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Systemic Thinking: Emphasize projects where you demonstrated an understanding of the broader product ecosystem and how your designs fit into the larger user journey and business goals.
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Tool Proficiency: Highlight your expertise with Figma, showcasing complex prototypes or design system elements if applicable.
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Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives around your projects that showcase your problem-solving skills, collaboration, and design leadership.
Challenge Preparation:
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Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for a specific data analytics problem or feature within Sigma's platform.
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Practice articulating your design decisions and trade-offs clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds.
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Understand Sigma's product and target users to frame your problem-solving approach effectively.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a detailed portfolio review with specific requirements around demonstrating process, impact, and system-wide thinking is critical for this senior role. Candidates should prepare to extensively discuss their past work and design methodologies.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Figma: Explicitly required as an expert-level tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to use its advanced features for complex interfaces and design systems.
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Prototyping Tools: While Figma has strong prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools (e.g., Principle, After Effects for motion design) might be beneficial.
Analytics & Reporting:
- While not a direct requirement for the designer, familiarity with how data is analyzed and visualized within BI platforms will be crucial. Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even understanding data structures will be an asset.
CRM & Automation:
- Not directly applicable to the designer's core toolset, but understanding how customer feedback is managed (e.g., through CRM systems or feedback platforms) is important for the user research aspect.
π Enhancement Note: Figma is the only explicitly mentioned tool, but the context of Sigma's product (BI, data analytics, AI) implies that designers need to be comfortable understanding and designing for complex data-driven applications. Familiarity with the broader data analytics ecosystem is a strong plus.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by data and user insights, with a strong emphasis on analytics to measure impact.
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Customer-Centric: Deep understanding of user needs, particularly for non-technical business users, is paramount.
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Innovation: A drive to transform BI and data analytics through AI and cloud-native technologies.
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Collaboration: Emphasis on working together across teams (Product, Engineering, Research, Customer Success) to achieve shared goals.
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Simplicity & Usability: A commitment to making complex data accessible and easy to explore through elegant design.
Collaboration Style:
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Highly collaborative, with designers working hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the product development lifecycle.
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Open communication and feedback are encouraged, fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
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Cross-functional teams are empowered to make decisions, with designers playing a key role in guiding product direction through user-centered design.
π Enhancement Note: The company's mission to make data analytics accessible to non-technical users is a core value that drives the design culture, emphasizing clarity, simplicity, and user empathy.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Designing for complex data interactions and visualizations in a way that remains intuitive for non-technical users.
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Balancing the need for powerful analytical capabilities with a simple, elegant user experience.
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Keeping pace with rapid advancements in AI and data analytics technology to ensure the platform remains cutting-edge.
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Navigating the fast-paced, iterative environment of a growth-stage startup.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Deep Dive into AI & Data Analytics: Gain expertise in designing for cutting-edge AI applications and complex data warehouses.
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Strategic Product Influence: Contribute to the core product strategy and roadmap of a rapidly growing SaaS company.
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Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and shape the design practice within Sigma.
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Industry Exposure: Work on a product transforming a major industry (Business Intelligence) with significant market momentum.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the complexity of Sigma's product and the dynamic nature of the tech industry, offering significant opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement in specialized areas.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"How would you approach designing a new feature for our platform that helps users discover hidden patterns in their data using AI?" (Focus on process, user needs, and AI integration).
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"Describe a time you had to lead a complex design project with significant ambiguity. How did you navigate it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on leadership, problem-solving, and process).
Company & Culture Questions:
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"Based on our product and mission, what do you see as the biggest design challenges and opportunities for Sigma Computing?" (Demonstrate research and strategic thinking).
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"How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a challenging collaboration and how you resolved it." (Assess teamwork and communication).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Structure: Dedicate ample time to 2-3 key case studies that best showcase system-wide thinking, interaction design depth, and successful product launches.
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Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project: the problem, your role and process, key decisions and iterations, the solution, and the impact.
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Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear diagrams to illustrate your design thinking and execution.
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Figma Mastery: Be ready to discuss specific Figma techniques or workflows you employed, especially if they were crucial to the project's success.
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Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how your work aligned with business goals.
π Enhancement Note: Preparing specific examples that align with Sigma's focus on data analytics, AI, and user-centric design for non-technical users will be key to success in the interview process.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:
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Submit your application through the Sigma Computing careers portal via Greenhouse.
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Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating system-wide thinking, complex interaction design, and successful product releases relevant to data analytics or complex SaaS applications. Tailor your presentation to highlight your 12+ years of experience and Figma expertise.
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Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with B2B SaaS, data visualization, and leading design initiatives. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on impact and user adoption. Ensure keywords like "Interaction Design," "Figma," "System Design," and "Product Strategy" are present.
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Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies with an emphasis on your design process, problem-solving approach, and quantifiable results. Be ready to discuss your experience in a fast-paced, startup environment and your ability to work on-site in New York City.
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Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sigma Computing's product, mission, recent funding news, and target market. Understand their vision for AI-driven data analytics and how your design philosophy aligns with their goals.
β οΈ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have 12+ years of interaction design experience and a strong portfolio demonstrating system-wide thinking and commercially successful software. A bachelor or master's degree in HCI, Interaction Design, or a related field is required, along with expert-level proficiency in Figma.