Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Cohere Health

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-23T12:38:05

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for complex, data-dense problem spaces, driving user-centered solutions from discovery to delivery.

• Spearhead the design, maintenance, and evolution of a global design system, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and scalability across multiple product surfaces.

• Drive innovation by leveraging AI tools to accelerate design research, prototyping, and generation, enhancing team velocity and design output.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with product managers, engineers, data scientists, and operations teams to influence roadmaps and deliver measurable business impact.

• Set a strong foundation for integrating design practices with engineering teams, acting as a founding member of the India design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid of individual contributor product design leadership and design operations, with a significant focus on establishing and scaling a design system. The "founding member" aspect of the India design team suggests a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for shaping team processes and culture.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle for critical product areas, from initial problem framing and user research to high-fidelity prototyping, visual design, and iterative refinement.

• Define and document core experience principles, user flows, and interaction patterns to ensure clarity and alignment across cross-functional product teams.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system, including UI components, design tokens, patterns, and documentation, to ensure a consistent, accessible, and high-quality user experience across all Cohere Health products.

• Utilize AI tools (e.g., Claude Code) to expedite design research, generate rapid prototypes, and validate design concepts, thereby increasing team velocity.

• Collaborate closely with product management to shape product roadmaps, and with engineering to ensure technical feasibility, accessibility, and quality of design implementations.

• Actively participate in and contribute to design critiques, providing constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work across the team.

• Partner with engineers to ensure design and technical cohesion, refining existing components and designing new systematic elements that scale across complex workflows and diverse user needs.

• Advocate for user needs and best practices, including accessibility standards (WCAG), throughout the design and development process.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the product by identifying opportunities for design to drive user satisfaction, operational efficiency, and business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end design," "owning and evolving the design system," and "setting a strong foundation" indicates this role requires a senior-level individual contributor with strong leadership potential and a strategic mindset. The mention of AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

• Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in software product design.

• Proven track record of owning end-to-end design delivery for multiple products or significant product areas.

• At least a portion of this experience must involve working extensively with or on a design system.

• Experience operating within complex domains such as enterprise software, healthcare, fintech, or data-intensive analytics.

• Experience collaborating within cross-functional agile scrum teams. Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Ability to lead complex design initiatives from conception to launch and iteration.

• Design Systems Expertise: Deep understanding and practical experience in designing, building, and maintaining design systems (components, tokens, patterns, documentation).

• UX/Interaction Design: Strong command of UX best practices, user-centered design methodologies, and interaction design principles.

• Visual Design Craft: Excellent visual design skills, with an eye for detail, typography, color theory, and brand expression.

• Prototyping & Research: Proficiency in creating high-fidelity prototypes for usability testing and concept validation, and experience applying user research insights.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• AI Tooling for Design: Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude Code) to accelerate design workflows, research, and prototyping.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders in an agile environment.

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, influence stakeholders, and generate alignment.

• Conceptual Thinking: Ability to balance user needs, product strategy, business goals, and technical constraints.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for the healthcare industry.

• Proven ability to influence design system adoption within engineering teams.

• Familiarity with frontend technologies and standards such as Google's Material Design, React, HTML/CSS, and Design Tokens.

• Experience with design system tooling such as Storybook, ZeroHeight, Tokens Studio, or DesignDocs.

• Strength in motion design or micro-interactions.

• Experience launching version 1 products or building 0-to-1 experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "at least part of that time spent working on or heavily with a design system" highlights the critical importance of this aspect of the role. Proficiency with AI tools is a key differentiator. The preference for healthcare experience and specific tooling knowledge provides additional context for ideal candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Problem Framing & User-Centered Design: Demonstrations of how you identify and frame complex problems, and your systematic approach to user research, analysis, and strategy development.

• End-to-End Design Process: Case studies showcasing your involvement in the entire design lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to detailed design, prototyping, and post-launch iteration.

• Design System Work: A dedicated section showcasing your experience with design systems, including examples of component creation, pattern development, token design, and system documentation. Highlight how your work contributed to consistency and efficiency.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantifiable results or clear qualitative evidence of the impact your designs have had on users, product metrics, or business objectives. Focus on metrics related to efficiency, satisfaction, or adoption.

• Collaboration & Storytelling: Evidence of your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and articulate your design process and decisions clearly.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Showcase examples of how you've mapped out and optimized user flows, business processes, or system workflows to improve efficiency and reduce friction.

• System Implementation Methods: Illustrate your understanding of how design systems are implemented and scaled across products, including considerations for developers and product teams.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how you measure the success of your designs and design systems, using data and user feedback to inform future iterations and improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, especially demonstrating design systems work and quantifiable impact. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for defining and evolving design systems, and how they integrate AI tools into their workflow.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The salary for a Lead Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Hyderabad, India, can range from ₹15,00,000 to ₹30,00,000 per annum, depending on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the company's compensation philosophy. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major Indian tech hubs, considering the company's likely focus on innovation and its presence in the competitive healthcare tech sector.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and dependents.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Access to cutting-edge design tools and AI technologies.

• Potential for stock options or equity, depending on the role and company policy.

• Relocation assistance may be provided for candidates moving to Hyderabad.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health and well-being support.

• Opportunities to contribute to a growing design team and shape design culture. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, typically 40 hours per week.

• Given the hybrid nature and global team collaboration, flexibility in working hours may be required to accommodate different time zones, especially when collaborating with teams in other regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry data for senior design roles in Hyderabad, India. Benefits are typical for tech companies of this nature, with an emphasis on professional growth and advanced tooling.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (HealthTech), specifically focusing on clinical intelligence platforms and AI-powered solutions for payer-provider decision-making, prior authorization, and payment integrity.

Company Size: Cohere Health is a growing organization, indicated by its presence on Inc. 5000 lists and its expansion into new regions like India. The company likely has between 200-500 employees, suggesting a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individual contributions are highly visible.

Founded: Cohere Health was founded with a mission to optimize healthcare processes through technology. While the exact founding date isn't provided, its recognition on recent startup lists implies it's a relatively modern company, likely founded within the last 5-10 years.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: The role is a founding member of the India design team and will contribute to the global design function. This suggests a growing, potentially distributed design team structure.

• Reporting: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product Design, or a similar senior design leadership role.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and Operations teams, typical of product development environments.

Methodology:

• Agile Scrum: The team operates within cross-functional agile scrum teams, requiring adaptability and iterative development processes.

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on research insights and measurable impact suggests a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• AI Integration: The company actively uses AI in its platform and encourages its use in design workflows, indicating a forward-thinking, technologically advanced approach.

Company Website: Cohere Health Website

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in the highly regulated and complex healthcare sector, which influences its product design considerations. The emphasis on AI and a "Figma-first" approach suggests a modern and collaborative design culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead Product Designer role, positioned at a senior individual contributor level. It requires not just design execution but also strategic thinking, leadership in design system development, and the ability to mentor and influence others. It's a foundational role for building out a design presence in India.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report to a senior design leader and will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads. They will be a key partner in shaping product strategy and execution.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, directly influencing the user experience of hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals daily. By leading the design system, the Lead Product Designer will enable faster, more consistent, and higher-quality product development across the organization, directly impacting operational efficiency and user satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a Design Manager or Head of Design role as the India design team expands.

• Design System Ownership: Deepen expertise in design systems, potentially becoming a recognized expert in the field.

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop strong strategic partnerships with Product and Engineering, influencing product direction and business outcomes.

• Domain Expertise: Gain deep knowledge in the complex healthcare and payment integrity domains.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and establish best practices for the India design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career growth, particularly for someone looking to establish and lead a design function in a new region and take ownership of a critical design system.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," indicating a mix of remote work and in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern work environment that balances flexibility with the benefits of in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The company also has a global presence, implying potential interaction with teams in other locations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other designers, suggesting an open and communicative workspace culture.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma and AI-powered design software is a given. The company's focus on innovation implies a commitment to providing employees with the best resources.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and team meetings, both in-person and virtually, to foster a strong design community.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the hybrid nature and global team interactions may necessitate some flexibility in daily working hours to accommodate cross-time zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model suggests a thoughtful approach to work-life balance, while the emphasis on collaboration points to a team-oriented culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Talent Acquisition Connect: Initial screening call with the recruitment team to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager to evaluate design philosophy, experience, and alignment with the role's strategic objectives.

3. Behavioral Interviews: Assessment of soft skills, problem-solving approaches, collaboration style, and experience handling challenging situations.

4. Case Study Presentation: A crucial stage where candidates present a detailed case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their design process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

5. Senior Leadership Interview: Final discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit within the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your design work, using quantifiable metrics whenever possible.

• Showcase Design Systems: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to your design system contributions. Detail your approach to component design, token strategy, and documentation.

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your end-to-end design process for at least one complex project, explaining your rationale at each stage.

• Highlight AI Integration: If applicable, showcase how you've used AI tools to enhance your design process, research, or prototyping.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives that highlight the problem, your solution, and the results.

• Tailor to Cohere: Research Cohere Health's products and mission, and tailor your presentation to highlight relevant experience and skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• Case Study Practice: Prepare to present your chosen case study smoothly, anticipating questions about your decisions, trade-offs made, and how you measured success.

• Design System Scenarios: Be ready to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to evolving or implementing a design system in a complex domain.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer questions about collaboration, problem-solving, leadership, and handling ambiguity.

• Company Research: Understand Cohere Health's business, its market position, and its core values to articulate how your skills and approach align.

📝 Enhancement Note: The case study is a critical component; candidates should select a project that best showcases their design system expertise and ability to drive impact in a complex domain.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The organization is explicitly "Figma-first," making expert proficiency essential for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and design system management.

• AI Design Tools: Proficiency with AI tools like Claude Code for accelerating research, prototyping, and design generation is a key requirement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker) would be beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with project management and workflow tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) is expected, given the Agile Scrum environment.

• Familiarity with design system documentation platforms (e.g., Storybook, ZeroHeight, DesignDocs) is preferred.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone tool. Proficiency in AI design tools is a must-have. Familiarity with related tools for documentation and project management is highly advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs through thoughtful and intuitive design.

• Collaboration & Candor: Emphasizing open communication, constructive feedback, and teamwork across disciplines.

• Kindness & Care: Fostering a supportive and empathetic environment where team members feel valued and respected.

• Impact & Measurable Results: A focus on delivering designs that drive tangible business outcomes and improve user experiences, often demonstrated through data.

• Efficiency & Innovation: Encouraging the adoption of new technologies and methodologies, such as AI, to improve design processes and outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with Product, Engineering, and Data teams as integrated partners, not just service providers.

• Iterative Feedback: Regularly participating in design critiques and seeking feedback to continuously improve design quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings, especially regarding the design system and new tools.

• Empowerment: Empowering designers, engineers, and product teams through a robust and well-documented design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture values empathy, candor, and a collaborative spirit, aiming to create a supportive environment while driving impactful results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Domain: Navigating the intricacies of the healthcare and payment integrity industries to create intuitive user experiences.

• Design System Scalability: Evolving a design system to meet the diverse and growing needs of multiple product surfaces and user types.

• Balancing Innovation and Consistency: Integrating new AI capabilities and design patterns while maintaining system integrity and brand consistency.

• Global Team Integration: Establishing a strong design presence in India and effectively collaborating with potentially distributed global teams.

• Influencing Adoption: Driving the adoption and consistent use of the design system across engineering and product teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in design system architecture, governance, and implementation.

• AI in Design: Explore and apply emerging AI tools and techniques to enhance the design process and product innovation.

• Healthcare Tech Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in the healthcare technology sector, understanding its unique challenges and opportunities.

• Leadership Development: Grow into a leadership role, mentoring designers and shaping the future of design at Cohere Health in India.

• Industry Exposure: Attend relevant design conferences and workshops to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique blend of design execution, system ownership, and team building, presenting significant growth potential for ambitious designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex product feature or product area. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, user research, cross-functional collaboration, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing and evolving a design system for a rapidly growing company in the healthcare tech space? What are the key considerations for components, tokens, and documentation?" (Highlight your design system methodology, understanding of scalability, and ability to collaborate with engineers.)

• "Tell us about your experience using AI tools in your design workflow. Provide specific examples of how AI helped you accelerate research, prototyping, or achieve better design outcomes." (Be ready with concrete examples and demonstrate a forward-thinking approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Cohere Health and our mission to improve healthcare processes?" (Research the company's mission, products, and recent achievements.)

• "How do you embody our core values of empathy, candor, kindness, and care in your work and team interactions?" (Prepare examples of how you demonstrate these values.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive, especially within the healthcare context?" (Discuss your understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, trade-offs, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Design System Work: Dedicate specific slides or sections to showcase your design system contributions. Explain the 'why' behind your design decisions for components and patterns.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with product managers and engineers, and how you navigated feedback and disagreements.

• Showcase AI Integration: If applicable, show how AI tools were used within a project and the benefits they provided.

• Conciseness is Key: Be mindful of the time allotted and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their design system experience and how they leverage AI. The emphasis on healthcare and collaborative values means demonstrating domain understanding and team-player qualities is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your design system work, end-to-end product design case studies, and examples of how you've used AI in your workflow. Tailor your presentation to highlight experience in complex domains like healthcare.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize leadership experience, design system expertise, AI tool proficiency, and quantifiable achievements in previous roles. Use keywords relevant to product design, UX, design systems, and AI.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, process explanation, and impact demonstration. Prepare for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Cohere Health's products, mission, values, and recent news to articulate your interest and understand how your skills align with their strategic 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.