Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Designer

Company: Hover

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: August 11, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office for those within 50 miles of SF or NYC)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design and delivery of high-quality product experiences, from concept to launch, leveraging strong UX, UI, and visual design fundamentals.

• Drive product innovation and user-centric solutions by prototyping and testing ideas iteratively, ensuring user needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.

• Foster a collaborative design environment by partnering effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data teams to navigate constraints and deliver impactful outcomes.

• Contribute to and evolve Hover's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the product as the company grows.

• Solve complex design problems by applying thoughtful design thinking and articulating clear, data-informed design rationale to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is designated as Hybrid, requiring a minimum of three days per week in either the San Francisco or New York City office for employees residing within a 50-mile radius. Fully remote positions are not being considered at this time.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and ship end-to-end product experiences that address meaningful user problems and business objectives.

• Prototype and test design concepts early and often to gather user feedback and validate solutions before full-scale development.

• Partner cross-functionally with Product Management, Engineering, and Data Science to deliver high-quality, user-centered product outcomes.

• Contribute to and evolve Hover’s design system, ensuring its robustness, scalability, and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Bring strong design fundamentals and product understanding to cross-functional conversations, helping teams navigate constraints and tradeoffs effectively.

• Advocate for the user throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring their needs and pain points are addressed through thoughtful design.

• Participate in design critiques and provide constructive feedback to peers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Utilize data and user research insights to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to design, requiring the Lead Designer to not only create but also actively validate and iterate on designs through prototyping and user testing, aligning with industry best practices for product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for lead-level positions, though equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Strong fundamentals across UX, UI, and visual design, with a keen eye for aesthetics and usability.

• Proficiency in Figma for design, wireframing, and prototyping.

• Demonstrated experience in solving complex design problems through creative and user-centered approaches.

• Ability to clearly articulate design decisions, rationale, and trade-offs to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• A strong portfolio showcasing thoughtful, end-to-end product design work with a focus on impact and craft.

• Experience working within or contributing to a design system.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion design or advanced prototyping techniques to create more engaging user experiences.

• Proven ability to use data and user research to inform design decisions and measure design effectiveness.

• Experience in the property technology (PropTech) or related industries.

• Familiarity with AI-driven product features and their design implications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "thoughtful, high-quality work" suggests that candidates should be prepared to showcase not just the final designs but also the process, user research, and strategic thinking behind them, particularly for complex problem-solving.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies that highlight your process from problem definition to shipped solution.

• Include examples of complex design challenges and how you approached them, demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Present clear UX flows, UI mockups, and interactive prototypes that exemplify strong visual design and usability principles.

• Demonstrate contributions to or experience with design systems, illustrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Quantify the impact of your design work where possible, using metrics or user feedback to show improvements in user experience or business outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline the design process followed for each case study, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, and testing strategies.

• Detail how you collaborated with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.

• Explain how you leveraged data and user feedback to iterate on designs and drive product improvements.

• Illustrate your approach to building and maintaining design systems, including component creation, documentation, and governance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "solving complex design problems" and "contributing to Hover's design system," a portfolio should ideally feature at least one comprehensive case study that details the challenges of scaling a product and the strategic decisions made regarding design system implementation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,000 - $300,000 annually. This range is determined by role, level, and location, with individual pay influenced by work location, job-related skills, experience, and education.

Benefits:

• Compensation: Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a fast-growing company.

• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.

• Paid Time Off: Unlimited and flexible vacation policy, promoting work-life balance.

• Paid Family Leave: Generous parental and new child bonding leave to support employees.

• Mandatory Self-Care Days: One dedicated day per month for employees to recharge.

• Remote Wellbeing Resources: Access to fitness classes, meditation/mindfulness tools, virtual therapy, and family planning assistance.

• Learning & Development: Support for continued education, including management training, conferences, workshops, and certifications.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position. While specific daily hours are not detailed, the hybrid model and focus on outcomes suggest flexibility, with an expectation of 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided for the US market. Hover's commitment to employee well-being is highlighted through unique benefits like "Mandatory Self-Care Days" and "Remote Wellbeing Resources," which are attractive perks for operations and design professionals alike.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Property Technology (PropTech), AI, Software. Hover operates at the intersection of real estate, construction, and insurance, using AI and proprietary data to provide accurate property information.

Company Size: Hover is a growing company, backed by prominent investors, indicating a dynamic and scaling environment that likely offers significant opportunities for impact.

Founded: Founded over a decade ago, Hover has established itself as a trusted platform by industry leaders, suggesting a mature yet innovative company culture.

Team Structure:

• The design team operates collaboratively, working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data partners.

• This cross-functional approach ensures that design is integrated throughout the product development lifecycle.

• The Lead Designer will likely be a key contributor within a product-focused team, influencing design strategy and execution. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using data and user research to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Iterative Prototyping: Prototyping and testing ideas early and often is a core part of the design process.

• User-Centricity: The user is at the center of every design decision, ensuring products are intuitive and valuable.

• Collaborative Critique: Design critique and thoughtful challenging of ideas are central to improving craft and clarity.

Company Website: hover.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Hover's culture is characterized by a blend of high performance, curiosity, and inclusivity. The company emphasizes serving customers and each other, fostering a growth mindset and accountability. This context is crucial for understanding how design decisions are made and how designers are expected to collaborate.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a "Lead Designer," indicating a senior individual contributor position with significant responsibility for product vision, design execution, and mentorship. It's a step above a standard Product Designer and requires leadership qualities in design thinking and craft.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Lead Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or VP of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on a day-to-day basis.

Operations Impact: As a Lead Designer at Hover, your work will directly influence how homeowners, contractors, and insurance professionals interact with and understand properties. Your designs will be critical in improving the accuracy, efficiency, and user experience of property data management, directly impacting customer satisfaction and business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to influence design strategy, mentor junior designers, and shape the future of design at Hover.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design systems, motion design, or data-informed design through hands-on project work and company-supported learning.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain experience in driving product decisions across multiple departments (Product, Engineering, Data) and influencing company-wide product strategy.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in the PropTech and AI space, contributing to innovative solutions in property design, improvement, and protection.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title implies an expectation of mentorship and influence beyond individual contribution. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they have guided other designers or influenced product direction in previous roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hover maintains physical "Hubs" in San Francisco and New York City. The company emphasizes building rapport and fostering organic connection through in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s):

• San Francisco, CA

• New York City, NY Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Collaboration: Employees within a 50-mile radius of these offices are expected to be present at least three days a week, fostering a dynamic hybrid work environment.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The workspace is designed to encourage close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data partners, facilitating seamless communication and integrated workflows.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and prototyping software is expected to be readily available to support efficient design processes.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time. The hybrid model suggests a structured work week that balances remote flexibility with in-office collaboration, likely adhering to standard business hours with potential for flexibility based on project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement is a significant factor. Candidates must be comfortable with a minimum of three days per week in either the San Francisco or New York City office if they reside within the specified radius.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your application, resume, and portfolio to assess initial fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your experience, design philosophy, and fit for the Lead Designer role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Exercise: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through key case studies. A design exercise or challenge may be given, either take-home or as part of an interview, to assess your problem-solving and design skills.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, or other designers to evaluate collaboration style and technical/design aptitude.

• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your design decisions and rationale, and the final outcome/impact.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you collaborated with PMs, Engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Showcase Design System Work: If you have design system experience, dedicate a section or highlight specific contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics, user feedback, or business results to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your approach to complex challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement and any constraints.

• Focus on Process: For design exercises, emphasize your thought process, not just the final deliverable. Show how you would approach the problem.

• Time Management: Be mindful of time limits for any live design challenges or presentations.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain the reasoning behind your design decisions, even if the solution is not fully polished.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Designer role, expect a significant emphasis on strategic thinking, problem-solving complex issues, and the ability to articulate design decisions with confidence and data. Your portfolio should reflect this seniority.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, experience with tools like Principle, ProtoPie, or similar for advanced animations and interactive prototypes may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) is preferred, allowing for data-informed design decisions and impact measurement.

• Familiarity with A/B testing platforms and methodologies.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and automation platforms can provide valuable context for user flows and data capture.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. The "Nice-to-haves" including "Motion design or advanced prototyping skills" and "Experience using data to inform design decisions" point to the desire for a designer who can create highly polished and data-validated user experiences.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Purpose: A drive to understand user needs and a commitment to solving meaningful problems that impact customers.

• High-Performance: A dedication to excellence, accountability, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

• Inclusivity: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering a supportive environment where everyone can contribute.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, embracing critique, and sharing knowledge.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all design and product decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists, acting as integral members of product teams.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages thoughtful critique, open feedback, and constructive dialogue to elevate the quality of work.

• Shared Ownership: Teams are likely to share ownership of product outcomes, with designers playing a key role in strategy and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Hover's stated values of curiosity, purpose, high performance, inclusivity, and collaboration are central to their culture. Designers are expected to embody these values in their daily work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design System: Contributing to and evolving a design system for a rapidly growing product requires strategic thinking about maintainability, scalability, and adoption.

• Balancing Innovation and Constraints: Designing within technical, business, and data constraints while still pushing for innovative user experiences.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on design vision and rationale, especially when navigating complex trade-offs.

• Data-Informed Iteration: Effectively integrating quantitative and qualitative data into the design process to drive continuous improvement.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in motion design, advanced prototyping, or specialized areas of UX/UI.

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a formal design leadership role, mentoring teams and shaping design strategy.

• Industry Knowledge: Deepening expertise in PropTech, AI, and data-driven product development.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a broad understanding of product development from engineering, product management, and data science perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's investment in "Learning" benefits suggests a commitment to employee growth, enabling designers to proactively seek out development opportunities aligned with their career aspirations and the company's needs.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for users who are scanning their properties for the first time, considering the complexity of the technology?" (Focus on user onboarding, clarity, and error handling.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, data, and negotiation skills.)

• "How do you balance the need for a robust design system with the desire for creative freedom and unique product experiences?" (Focus on design system governance and flexibility.)

• "Walk me through your process for using data to inform a significant design decision or iteration." (Focus on analytical skills and data-driven design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Hover's mission and the PropTech industry?" (Research Hover's products, market position, and recent news.)

• "How do you embody Hover's values of curiosity, purpose, and inclusivity in your work?" (Prepare specific examples.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers, especially when there are differing opinions?" (Focus on communication and partnership.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, starting with the problem and ending with the impact. Use clear headings for each stage of your process.

• Focus on Your Role: Be clear about your specific contributions, especially in team projects.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points effectively.

• Be Prepared to Dive Deep: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs, and challenges you faced.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interviewers to probe deeply into your design process, your ability to articulate rationale, and your collaborative skills. Be ready to discuss both successes and failures, and how you learned from them.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Hover's careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end product design, complex problem-solving, and design system contributions, aligning with Hover's focus.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of experience in product/UX design, emphasizing skills in Figma, prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, preparing detailed case studies that showcase your process, rationale, and impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to data-informed design and collaborative problem-solving.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Hover's mission, products, and recent developments. Understand their position in the PropTech market and how your design skills can contribute to their goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.