Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer
Company: Sigma Computing
Location: San Francisco, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience
Date Posted: 2025-10-18
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design vision and strategy for key areas of Sigma's cloud-native business intelligence platform, driving innovation in data analytics.
• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle for specific features, from initial concept and user research through to release and iterative improvements.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Research, Customer Success, and Engineering teams to ensure user needs are met and product adoption is maximized.
• Craft simple, elegant, and world-class user experiences that empower non-technical business users to easily explore data and generate actionable insights.
• Contribute to the continuous evolution of the product by balancing long-term strategic design direction with day-to-day gradual enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title indicates a senior-level individual contributor role, suggesting significant autonomy, leadership in design initiatives, and a need to influence product strategy. The emphasis on "12+ years of experience" and "leading multiple areas" reinforces this senior standing, positioning the candidate as a key design leader within the organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design direction and execution for multiple product areas within Sigma's business intelligence platform, influencing the future of data analytics.
• Take full ownership of the design process for designated product features, from initial ideation and user journey mapping to detailed interaction design and visual specifications.
• Actively engage with end-users through feedback sessions and usability testing to deeply understand customer needs and drive product improvements.
• Translate complex data exploration and insight generation concepts into intuitive and elegant user interfaces that appeal to business users.
• Work cross-functionally with Product Managers to define product roadmaps, with UX Researchers to validate design hypotheses, and with Customer Success to gather critical user feedback for product iteration.
• Present design concepts, strategic directions, and detailed solutions to leadership and cross-functional teams, effectively articulating design rationale.
• Champion best practices in interaction design, visual design, and user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the platform.
• Proactively identify opportunities for design innovation and process improvement within the product development workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership (defining future of data analytics, leading multiple areas) and tactical execution (owning design from concept to release, rapid iteration). The emphasis on user feedback and cross-functional collaboration is crucial for a product designer role in a growing SaaS company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor or Master's degree with a specialization in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 12 years of professional experience in interaction design, with a proven track record of designing and shipping commercially successful software products.
• Demonstrated experience in leading complex design projects autonomously, from concept to implementation, with a focus on user-centered design principles.
• Experience working within a startup environment, demonstrating adaptability, agility, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Proven ability to drive long-term product vision and strategic thinking while also managing and delivering on day-to-day incremental improvements.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Deep understanding of interaction design fundamentals, with a strong aesthetic sense for visual appeal and usability.
• Ability to think holistically about entire systems, designing the "big picture" while also having the tactical capability to break down complex problems for engineering implementation.
• Exceptional facilitation, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly to diverse audiences, including leadership and non-design stakeholders.
• Keen ability to rapidly iterate on designs, incorporate feedback effectively, and conduct experiments to validate design solutions.
• Strong understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to synthesize customer feedback into actionable design improvements.
• Experience in designing for complex data analytics or business intelligence platforms is highly desirable.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI tools and their integration into user interfaces.
• Familiarity with cloud data warehouses and their implications for data analytics platform design.
• Understanding of agile development methodologies and experience working within cross-functional agile teams.
• Experience in developing or contributing to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "12+ years" and "Staff" title signifies a need for seasoned design leadership, not just execution. The emphasis on "system-wide thinking" and "big picture" design is critical for a platform product, requiring the designer to consider the interconnectedness of features and user journeys.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase designs for products that have been successfully released to market, demonstrating system-wide thinking and a breadth of interactive design skills.
• Present case studies that detail your design process, including the evolution of your designs from initial concept to final implementation.
• Clearly articulate the business problem you aimed to solve, the constraints and assumptions you worked with, and the significant iterations undertaken.
• Demonstrate how your designs successfully advanced company objectives while simultaneously meeting and exceeding user needs.
• Highlight your ability to design for complex systems and contribute to a cohesive user experience across the entire product.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio piece, clearly outline your design methodology, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.
• Provide evidence of how you gathered and incorporated user feedback throughout the design process.
• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to bring designs to fruition.
• Showcase your ability to articulate design decisions and rationale, explaining the "why" behind your design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are stringent and designed to assess not just the final output, but the entire problem-solving and execution process. This aligns with senior-level expectations where demonstrating strategic thinking and a methodical approach is as important as the visual outcome.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary range for this position is $210,000 - $250,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Equity: Stock options providing ownership and participation in the company's growth.
• Generous Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Flexible Time Off Policy: Encouraging employees to take the time off they need for rest and rejuvenation.
• Paid Bonding Time for All New Parents: Supporting new parents during this significant life event.
• Retirement Savings: Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans for long-term financial planning.
• Commuter and FSA Benefits: Pre-tax benefits to help manage commuting costs and flexible spending accounts for healthcare.
• Lunch Program: On-site or subsidized meal programs to support employees.
• Dog Friendly Office: A welcoming environment for employees who wish to bring their dogs to work.

Working Hours:

• This role is expected to involve a standard 40-hour work week, with the understanding that flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines and collaborate across time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for a senior Staff Product Designer role in San Francisco. The benefits package is robust, with equity being a significant component, typical for growth-stage tech companies. The "Dog Friendly Office" is a unique perk that adds to the company's culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically Data Analytics and Business Intelligence (BI). Company Size: The job listing does not explicitly state company size, but the Series D funding of $200M and the presence of multiple offices suggest a rapidly growing mid-to-large size startup. Founded: Sigma Computing was founded with a vision to democratize data analytics. The company has been actively innovating, with recent product launches including AI tools and collaboration features.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is part of a larger product organization, working collaboratively with Product Management, UX Research, Customer Success, and Engineering.
• As a Staff Product Designer, you will likely work closely with a Product Lead and a dedicated engineering team for your feature areas.
• Cross-functional collaboration is emphasized to ensure designs are user-centric, technically feasible, and aligned with business objectives.

Methodology:

• Sigma emphasizes an iterative, user-centric approach to product development, leveraging customer feedback and data analysis to inform design decisions.
• The company is building a cloud-native platform, suggesting a modern tech stack and a focus on scalability and performance.
• Recent integration of AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach to product innovation and a commitment to staying at the forefront of the BI industry.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Sigma Computing positions itself as a leader in transforming BI with a cloud-native, no-code platform. The recent funding and AI integrations signify a dynamic, growth-oriented environment. Understanding this context is key for a designer to align their work with company vision and market trends.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, typically two levels below Principal or Director. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, technical expertise, and strategic influence within the design domain. Reporting Structure: The role will likely report to a Design Manager, Director of Product Design, or potentially a VP of Product. The emphasis on "leading multiple areas" suggests this role will have significant scope and influence, potentially mentoring junior designers. Operations Impact: The Staff Product Designer will directly impact revenue by improving user adoption, retention, and satisfaction through intuitive and powerful data analytics experiences. Their work will enable business users to make better, faster decisions, driving tangible business outcomes for Sigma's customers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into Principal Product Designer, leading larger initiatives or a specific product domain, or transition into management roles.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term product vision and design strategy for Sigma's evolving platform, especially with the integration of AI.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in data analytics UX, AI-driven design, or contribute to the growth of design systems and processes within a scaling company.
• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning software and potentially represent Sigma at industry conferences or events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title is crucial for understanding the career trajectory. It's a role for experienced designers who can operate independently and influence direction, with clear pathways for further growth into more senior individual contributor or leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company explicitly states "in-office work environment in all our offices." This indicates a strong preference for on-site collaboration and a traditional office setting. Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA, with additional offices in NYC and London. Workspace Context:

• The San Francisco office is described as "dog friendly," contributing to a more relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
• The emphasis on collaboration suggests an environment where designers work closely with PMs, engineers, and researchers, likely in open-plan or shared office spaces designed to foster interaction.
• Access to modern design tools like Figma and potentially other collaboration software is expected.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with the expectation of flexibility for project needs. The on-site requirement means predictable working hours within the office setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of an "in-office work environment" and the "dog friendly office" provides specific details about the physical workspace and culture. This is important for candidates who prioritize in-person collaboration and a specific office atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio. Be prepared to briefly articulate your most impactful projects.
• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on your process, problem-solving, and outcomes. This is a critical step where you demonstrate your "system-wide thinking" and "big picture" design capabilities.
• Team Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, fellow Designers, and Engineers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Design, VP of Product) to discuss strategic thinking, vision, and overall suitability for the Staff level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best exemplify your 12+ years of experience, system-wide thinking, and ability to drive significant impact. Prioritize projects released to market.
• Deep Dive into Process: For each project, clearly outline the business problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), key decisions, constraints, and measurable outcomes. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.
• Highlight Iteration: Show how your designs evolved. Demonstrate your ability to incorporate feedback and adapt your solutions.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics (e.g., increased user adoption, improved task completion rates, customer satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the business value of your design work.
• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and any advanced techniques you employ.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Case Study: Prepare to walk through a complex project in detail. Focus on storytelling – the "why," "what," and "how" of your design decisions.
• System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how your designs fit into a larger product ecosystem and consider scalability.
• User-Centricity: Emphasize how user needs and feedback shaped your solutions.
• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are heavily geared towards assessing senior-level strategic thinking and end-to-end design ownership. Candidates need to showcase not just design skills, but also business acumen and leadership potential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly required as an expert tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to demonstrate advanced usage.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific fidelity needs.
• Design Systems: Experience with creating, maintaining, or heavily utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar, used to understand user behavior, track feature adoption, and inform design decisions.
• Data Visualization Tools: While Sigma is a BI tool, understanding how users interact with data visualizations is key. Familiarity with tools that generate such visualizations might be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how design impacts user journeys within a CRM or sales automation context can be beneficial, especially when designing for business users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Expert on Figma" is a critical technical requirement. For a Staff Product Designer, understanding how design integrates with data analytics platforms and user behavior tracking tools is essential for driving impactful design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Insights: A core value, reflected in the company's mission and the product itself. Designers are expected to leverage data to inform their decisions and measure impact.
• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of business users, aiming to make complex data accessible and actionable.
• Innovation & Vision: Encouraging forward-thinking to define the future of data analytics, particularly with the integration of AI.
• Collaboration & Down-to-Earth: Working together with a talented, grounded team that values learning, growth, and shipping value to customers.
• Simplicity & Elegance: Striving for designs that are both powerful and easy to use.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with close partnerships between design, product management, research, customer success, and engineering.
• Iterative and feedback-driven, with a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Cross-functional teams are empowered to work together to solve complex problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of analytical rigor ("data obsessed") and user empathy, combined with a collaborative and innovative spirit. A Staff Product Designer should demonstrate these values in their approach to design and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Vision and Iteration: The role requires driving the future vision of data analytics while managing day-to-day improvements, demanding strong strategic prioritization skills.
• Designing for Non-Technical Users: Simplifying complex data exploration and analysis for a broad business audience, requiring deep user empathy and intuitive design solutions.
• System-Wide Complexity: Designing for a comprehensive BI platform that integrates with diverse data sources and user workflows, requiring a holistic and scalable approach.
• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced nature of a well-funded startup, where priorities can shift and new opportunities emerge quickly.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/ML in UX: Opportunity to explore and design user experiences for cutting-edge AI features in data analytics.
• Platform Design Expertise: Gaining extensive experience in designing complex, enterprise-grade SaaS platforms.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers and influence design best practices across the organization.
• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of BI and data analytics innovation, including cloud technologies and AI advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges reflect the nature of a senior role in a dynamic tech company. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly in the emerging fields of AI-driven design and complex platform architecture.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss how you approach defining the "future of data analytics" and how you balance long-term vision with immediate product needs.
• Articulate your process for understanding the needs of non-technical business users and translating those into intuitive design solutions.
• Discuss how you approach designing for complex systems and ensuring a cohesive user experience across multiple product areas.
• Prepare to explain your methodology for driving product adoption and utilization through design.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Sigma's mission, product, and recent funding rounds. Understand their competitive landscape (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).
• Be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with Sigma's values of data-driven insights, user-centricity, and innovation.
• Prepare examples of how you've fostered collaboration within cross-functional teams.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact. Use a storytelling approach.
• Visualize Your Process: Show wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI designs. Include sketches or early ideation if it adds value.
• Quantify Outcomes: Present clear metrics demonstrating the success of your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss expected outcomes and how they would be measured.
• Highlight Figma Expertise: Be ready to discuss specific Figma features or workflows you used that were instrumental to the project's success.
• Address System-Wide Thinking: Explicitly discuss how your design considerations extended beyond a single feature to impact the broader product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to articulate complex design decisions and their business impact, all critical for a Staff-level role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application and resume through the provided link on Greenhouse.
• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that showcase system-wide thinking, interaction design depth, and successful product releases. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the business problem, your process, iterations, and measurable outcomes.
• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 12+ years of experience, expertise in Figma, and experience leading complex design projects, especially within startup environments. Use keywords from the job description that align with your experience.
• Prepare your presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear articulation of your design process, strategic rationale, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to complex systems and user-centric problem-solving.
• Research Sigma Computing: Understand their product, mission, and competitive landscape. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, product roadmap, and design challenges.

⚠️ 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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