Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Lyrebird Health

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 5-10 years (Senior/Lead)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with significant Work from Anywhere flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the entire product design discipline, from initial problem framing and discovery through to the delivery of polished user interfaces and an evolving design system.

• Drive a continuous discovery process, conducting primary research with clinicians to deeply understand user needs and translate them into intuitive, user-centric product solutions.

• Champion an AI-native design workflow, prototyping and shipping directly in code (e.g., using Cursor, Claude Code, MCPs) rather than relying solely on static screen handoffs.

• Define and architect the company's design system, establishing its underlying UX ontology and maintaining its component library to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

• Serve as the most senior design voice, setting the standard for design quality and methodology that others will follow, while mentoring and coaching junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the most senior design leader, reporting to the Head of Product Operations. This suggests a strong emphasis on operationalizing design processes, establishing scalable design standards, and integrating design closely with product strategy and engineering execution. The "AI-native delivery" requirement points towards a forward-thinking approach to design tooling and workflow automation, which is highly relevant to GTM and operational efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Discovery & Strategy: Conduct in-depth primary research with clinicians (e.g., mapping jobs-to-be-done, user interviews) to validate problems and inform product strategy before design begins.

• End-to-End Design Ownership: Manage the complete product design lifecycle, from ambiguous problem framing and strategic planning to the design and implementation of shipped UI, including UX research to test hypotheses.

• AI-Native Prototyping & Delivery: Leverage AI tools (Claude, Cursor, MCPs) to prototype and ship code directly, enabling faster iteration and a more integrated development process.

• Design System Architecture: Define, architect, and maintain the design system's structure, UX ontology, and component library to ensure consistency and facilitate AI implementation.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Management and Engineering teams, providing a strong point of view on prioritization and desired business outcomes.

• Process Optimization & Velocity: Establish and maintain efficient design cycle times from problem identification to signed-off design, proactively identifying and mitigating potential bottlenecks.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Elevate the design capabilities of the team by mentoring and coaching other designers, fostering a culture of high-quality design output.

• Quality Assurance & Standards: Set and uphold design standards, ensuring that all product experiences are intuitive, solve user problems effectively, and meet business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a unique blend of traditional product design leadership with a strong focus on operational efficiency, AI integration, and a hands-on approach to delivery. The emphasis on "shipping in code" and "AI-native workflow" suggests this role will be instrumental in streamlining the GTM process by reducing handoff friction and accelerating product development cycles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected, though equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience: A proven track record of 5-10 years in product design, with demonstrated experience in leading design initiatives from conception to launch, particularly in ambiguous, 0-to-1 product problem spaces.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to own and drive ambiguous product problems end-to-end without explicit direction.

• Design Systems Expertise: Extensive experience owning the architecture and evolution of a design system, not just contributing components.

• AI-Native Workflow Fluency: Hands-on experience and comfort prototyping and shipping code using AI tools (e.g., Claude, Cursor, MCPs, agentic coding tools).

• Agentic Design Integration: Deep understanding of how design integrates into the software development lifecycle and agentic workflows.

• User Research & Discovery: Proficiency in conducting primary research, user interviews, and mapping jobs-to-be-done.

• Prototyping & UI Design: Strong skills in creating high-fidelity prototypes and intuitive user interfaces.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Ability to collaborate effectively with Product and Engineering, contributing to strategic prioritization.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Experience in guiding and developing other designers.

• Product Judgement: Strong strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to business outcome discussions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in high-growth startups or fast-paced US-based SaaS companies.

• Experience designing for clinical, healthcare, or other highly regulated environments.

• Familiarity with AI models and their application in design and development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI-native workflow" and "agentic design" requirements are critical. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate tangible experience in prototyping and shipping code, not just using AI as a conceptual tool. This indicates a move towards more integrated and efficient product development operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your ownership of ambiguous product problems from initial framing and discovery through to shipped UI.

• Design System Ownership: Include a detailed example of your work on a design system's architecture, including its underlying UX ontology and how you managed its evolution.

• AI-Native Workflow Demonstration: Provide specific examples or a case study demonstrating your practical application of AI tools in prototyping and/or shipping code. Highlight the impact on efficiency or outcomes.

• Process Improvement Examples: Illustrate how you've optimized design processes, improved cycle times, or streamlined handoffs to engineering.

• Impact & Metrics: Clearly articulate the business impact and measurable outcomes of your design work, supported by data where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery Frameworks: Be prepared to discuss your methodologies for continuous discovery and primary research.

• Design System Documentation: Showcase your approach to documenting design system architecture, principles, and component usage.

• AI Integration Workflows: Explain how you integrate AI tools into your daily design and development workflow, including any custom setups or integrations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements emphasize hands-on application and demonstrable impact, particularly in areas like AI integration and design system architecture. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio, explaining not just the "what" but the "how" and "why," with a focus on process efficiency and measurable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer role in Melbourne with 5-10 years of experience, especially in a high-growth tech startup environment, the estimated salary range is AUD $150,000 - $200,000 per annum. This range accounts for the senior nature of the role, the demand for specialized AI/coding skills, and the leadership responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Parental Leave: Generous paid leave for primary (14 weeks) and secondary (4 weeks) caregivers.

• Flexible Work: Hybrid model in Melbourne, allowing for a balance between office collaboration and remote work.

• Work from Anywhere: Up to 6 weeks per year to work remotely, offering significant location flexibility.

• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive wellness initiatives, including yearly flu jabs and confidential Employee Assistance Program access.

• Career Development: Dedicated investment in growth through coaching, mentoring, courses, and learning sessions.

• Social Engagement: Monthly team lunches and quarterly offsites to foster team cohesion and camaraderie.

• On-site Amenities: Fully stocked breakfast and snack bar, including kombucha.

• Referral Program: Financial incentives for referring successful candidates.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with flexibility offered through the hybrid and work-from-anywhere policies. The role emphasizes outcomes and velocity over strict adherence to office hours, aligning with a results-oriented work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available compensation data for senior design roles in Australia, adjusted for the specific requirements of AI integration and leadership. The benefits package indicates a strong focus on employee well-being, flexibility, and professional growth, which are attractive to senior operational and design talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (HealthTech), specifically focusing on AI-driven clinical documentation and administrative automation.

Company Size: Lyrebird Health is likely a growing startup or scale-up, indicated by the need for a senior design lead and the presence of a Head of Product Operations. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individual impact is significant.

Founded: (Information not provided, but context suggests a relatively young company focused on modern technology solutions).

Team Structure:

• The design function appears to be integrated within a broader Product Operations team, reporting to the Head of Product Operations. This suggests a strong emphasis on operationalizing product development and ensuring efficient workflows.

• The Lead Product Designer will work closely with the CEO/Founder, Product Managers, and Engineers, indicating a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment.

• There will be at least one other designer to mentor, implying a small but growing design team. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Discovery: Emphasis on continuous, primary user research to validate problems and drive product decisions.

• AI-Native Development: A core methodology involves leveraging AI tools for prototyping and direct code implementation.

• Design System Centricity: A commitment to building and maintaining a robust design system as a foundational element for scalable product development.

• Agile & Iterative: The focus on velocity, urgency, and shipping implies an agile development process with rapid iteration cycles.

Company Website: https://www.lyrebirdhealth.com/au

📝 Enhancement Note: The reporting structure to "Head of Product Operations" is unusual for a design lead and suggests a unique operational focus. This role is less about traditional design leadership and more about embedding design as a critical, efficient component of product operations, particularly in its AI-driven development approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior, lead-level position, serving as the principal design authority within the company. It's a critical role responsible for establishing design standards, driving product strategy from a design perspective, and directly impacting the efficiency and quality of product development operations.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Product Operations, indicating a close alignment with business objectives and operational efficiency. Will also work closely with the CEO/Founder.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer will have a profound impact on Lyrebird Health's ability to deliver high-quality, user-centric products efficiently. By owning the design system and championing AI-native workflows, they will directly contribute to faster development cycles, reduced technical debt, and improved user satisfaction, all of which are critical for GTM success and revenue generation in a HealthTech startup.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-native design tools and agentic workflows, becoming a leader in this emerging field.

• Strategic Influence: Grow influence over product strategy and roadmap decisions, working closely with leadership.

• Team Building: Potentially build and lead a larger design team as the company scales.

• Industry Impact: Contribute to improving healthcare outcomes through innovative product design.

• Operational Excellence: Gain experience in integrating design seamlessly into product operations, a valuable skill in fast-growing tech companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The reporting line to Product Operations is a key differentiator. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence how design functions as a core operational pillar, rather than a separate creative function. This path can lead to broader operational leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model for the Melbourne team. This suggests a mix of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on team lunches/offsites indicate a desire for in-person collaboration while respecting individual flexibility.

• Technology-Forward: The role's requirements suggest access to cutting-edge design and development tools, including AI-powered platforms.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Expect frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and leadership, fostering a dynamic and communicative work setting.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a strong emphasis on flexibility. The "Work from Anywhere" policy (up to 6 weeks/year) and the hybrid model provide significant autonomy over where and when work is done, as long as key objectives and collaboration needs are met. This flexibility is crucial for deep work required in design and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of hybrid, work-from-anywhere, and the operational focus suggests a modern, results-oriented work environment that values autonomy and output over strict office presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on demonstrated experience in end-to-end product design, design systems, and AI-native workflows.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session where you'll present 1-2 key case studies. Be prepared to articulate your process, decision-making, the challenges faced, and the impact of your work, with a specific focus on how you integrated AI or optimized processes.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Likely a practical exercise or discussion focused on solving an ambiguous product problem, potentially involving AI tools, or a deep dive into your approach to design systems and code-based prototyping.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product and Engineering leads to assess collaboration style, product judgment, and understanding of development lifecycles.

• Leadership/Founder Interview: A final discussion with the CEO/Founder or Head of Product Operations to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and alignment with Lyrebird Health's mission and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially discovery and AI integration), your specific contributions, the solutions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight AI/Code Fluency: Dedicate specific sections or examples to demonstrate your proficiency in AI-native workflows and shipping code. Show prototypes built in code or explain how AI facilitated faster iteration or novel solutions.

• Design System Architecture: Clearly articulate your approach to designing and managing a design system, including its foundational principles and scalability.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., user adoption, efficiency gains, conversion rates, time savings for clinicians).

• Prepare for Ambiguity: Be ready to discuss how you handle undefined problems and how you establish structure and direction.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Tool Familiarity: Ensure you are comfortable articulating how you would use tools like Claude, Cursor, or MCPs in a design and development context.

• Process Optimization Mindset: Think about how you would improve design workflows, reduce handoffs, and increase development velocity.

• Healthcare Context: If you have experience in healthcare, be prepared to discuss its unique challenges and opportunities. If not, demonstrate a strong ability to quickly understand complex, regulated domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and operational thinking. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their design skills but also their ability to integrate with development workflows, leverage AI, and drive efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (standard for UI design), potentially advanced prototyping tools.

• AI-Native Workflow: Cursor, Claude (or similar LLMs for code generation/assistance), MCPs (Meta's Model-based Code Production, or similar concepts for agentic code generation).

• Code-Based Prototyping/Shipping: Proficiency in a programming language (e.g., JavaScript, React) will be essential for direct implementation.

• UX Research Tools: Tools for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., Dovetail, UserTesting.com).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to track user behavior and product performance.

• Dashboarding: Potentially tools like Tableau, Looker, or Metabase for visualizing key metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Likely Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar, for managing customer data and sales processes.

• Integration Tools: Tools like Zapier, Workato, or custom APIs for connecting different systems.

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design and development tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-native delivery" and "prototyping/shipping in code" is a critical differentiator. Candidates must have practical experience with these tools and workflows, not just theoretical knowledge. This indicates a highly modern and efficient tech stack.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible results that improve clinician efficiency and patient care.

• User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and solving real-world problems for clinicians.

• Efficiency & Velocity: Valuing speed, agility, and streamlined processes in product development.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to drive product advancement.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong partnerships across Product, Engineering, and Design.

• Ownership: Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their work and drive outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is expected to be deeply integrated with Product and Engineering, contributing to strategy and execution from the outset.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages direct feedback, proactive problem-solving, and transparent communication.

• Mentorship & Learning: A supportive environment where team members are encouraged to share knowledge and grow together.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Decisions are grounded in user research and performance data, balanced with strategic vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The unique reporting structure to Product Operations suggests that efficiency, process optimization, and measurable impact are paramount values, alongside traditional design principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity in AI-Native Workflows: Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI tools and defining best practices for their integration into design and development.

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Designing for a highly regulated industry like healthcare while pushing the boundaries with new technology.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring the design system remains robust and scalable as the product and team grow.

• Defining the "Standard": As the senior design voice, establishing and maintaining a high bar for design quality and consistency across the organization.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing priorities and aligning diverse stakeholder needs in a fast-paced startup environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Leadership: Become a pioneer in applying AI and agentic workflows to product design and development.

• HealthTech Domain Expertise: Develop deep knowledge of the clinical workflow and healthcare technology landscape.

• Operational Design Strategy: Gain unique experience in how design functions as a core component of product operations.

• Mentorship & Growth: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially shape the future design team structure.

• Strategic Product Involvement: Influence product strategy and roadmap at a senior level.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in operationalizing cutting-edge AI design practices within a regulated industry and a growing startup. This offers significant opportunities for professional growth in a nascent field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you owned an ambiguous, 0-to-1 product problem from start to finish. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on discovery, framing, and execution).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for clinicians that needs to integrate with existing EMR systems, considering both user needs and regulatory requirements?" (Assess understanding of healthcare context and design constraints).

• "Walk us through your experience with design systems. How do you define their architecture and ensure their ongoing health and adoption?" (Focus on strategic ownership beyond component contribution).

• "Describe your experience with AI-native workflows. How have you used tools like Claude or Cursor to prototype or ship code? What were the benefits and challenges?" (Prepare concrete examples of practical application).

• "How do you balance the need for deep user research with the urgency to ship product in a fast-paced startup?" (Demonstrate understanding of continuous discovery and agile methodologies). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Lyrebird Health's mission to reduce medical errors in healthcare?" (Show genuine interest and alignment).

• "How do you see design contributing to operational efficiency and GTM success in a HealthTech company?" (Connect design to business outcomes and operational impact).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Highlight partnership and communication skills).

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers?" (Show leadership potential). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process (Discovery, Strategy, AI Integration, Design) -> Solution -> Impact/Metrics.

• AI/Code Emphasis: Clearly call out where and how AI tools were used and what the tangible output was (e.g., faster prototyping, code generation, improved UI consistency).

• Design System Deep Dive: Be ready to explain the architectural decisions behind your design system and its impact on efficiency and consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Be prepared with specific numbers or demonstrable improvements. If exact metrics aren't available, articulate the expected impact clearly.

• Engagement: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process and be open to discussing alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their experience with AI tools and their impact on the design and development process in a very practical, hands-on manner. The emphasis will be on execution and operational efficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that clearly demonstrate end-to-end ownership, design system architecture experience, and crucially, your practical application of AI-native workflows and code-based prototyping. Quantify impact wherever possible.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to lead-level roles, design system ownership, AI tool proficiency, cross-functional collaboration, and any experience in regulated industries like healthcare. Use keywords such as "Product Design," "Design Systems," "AI-Native," "Agentic Design," "Prototyping," "UX Research," and "Mentorship."

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your strategic contributions, and the impact of your work, especially focusing on how you leverage technology (like AI) to drive efficiency and quality. Be ready to discuss your approach to setting design standards and mentoring others.

• Research Lyrebird Health: Understand their mission, product, and the challenges in the HealthTech space. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their operational goals and innovative approach.

⚠️ 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.