Principal Product Designer, AI & Innovation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Product Designer, AI & Innovation

Company: Gen Digital Inc.

Location: Mountain View, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX / AI Innovation

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for high-impact initiatives within the AI & Innovation portfolio, with a primary focus on AI-powered browsers and agentic applications.

• Drive the creation of intuitive, trustworthy, and human-centered AI experiences that resonate with a broad consumer base across multiple product surfaces.

• Develop and evangelize reusable product patterns, design principles, and a cohesive design language to accelerate learning and consistency across the entire AI & Innovation portfolio.

• Act as a senior design leader, influencing product strategy and fostering a culture of high standards, experimentation, and continuous learning within the design team and cross-functional partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities, focusing on the cutting edge of AI-driven consumer experiences. The emphasis on "zero to one" product development, AI as a teammate, and the integration of AI into core product functionalities indicates a high degree of strategic design input and innovation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead end-to-end product design for significant initiatives within the AI & Innovation portfolio, encompassing problem framing, concept development, prototyping, user testing, launch, and iterative improvement.

• Design user-centric interactions for AI-powered browsers (e.g., Norton Neo), agentic applications, and other emerging AI-driven products, focusing on areas such as navigation, AI agent behavior, conversational interfaces, onboarding flows, and automated user actions.

• Define and refine a shared design language, reusable product patterns, and design principles that enhance coherence and leverage learnings across the AI & Innovation portfolio.

• Employ strong problem-framing techniques, low-fidelity concepts, and rapid prototyping to foster shared understanding and enable swift, data-informed learning among cross-functional teams.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Research, Marketing, and other stakeholders to translate complex opportunities into polished, production-ready user experiences.

• Partner with Marketing, Customer Experience, and other teams to ensure seamless launch experiences and consistent customer-facing touchpoints across the portfolio.

• Leverage AI-assisted design tools, generative prototyping, and emerging design workflows to boost design velocity, explore a wider range of creative possibilities, and accelerate team learning cycles.

• Maintain consistency with Gen's existing design system while actively evolving patterns for browser-based, agentic, and AI-first interactions across diverse product surfaces.

• Utilize user research, usability testing, product analytics, and direct customer feedback to validate design decisions and continuously enhance user experiences for a diverse consumer audience.

• Uphold a high standard for design quality, articulate design rationale, discuss trade-offs effectively, and provide constructive feedback to elevate the work of fellow designers and cross-functional partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic influence. The emphasis on "AI as a teammate" and "agentic apps" suggests a need for designers who can conceptualize and design for proactive, intelligent systems rather than just reactive interfaces. The requirement to "shape reusable product patterns" indicates a focus on scalable design solutions and a contribution to the broader design practice at Gen.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

• Equivalent practical experience will be considered in lieu of a formal degree. Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in product design and/or UX design.

• A proven track record of successfully shipping high-quality consumer web or software products to market.

• Prior experience with browser-based products, AI-powered applications, conversational interfaces, or agentic experiences is considered a significant advantage. Required Skills:

• Exceptional end-to-end product design capabilities, spanning strategy, user experience (UX), interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• A strong portfolio showcasing shipped consumer products, clearly demonstrating meaningful product impact and design leadership.

• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with Figma being a primary requirement.

• Demonstrated curiosity and fluency in utilizing AI-assisted design tools and modern generative prototyping workflows to enhance design velocity and exploration.

• Experience designing clear, trustworthy, and human-centered interactions for AI, automation, permission management, or systems that proactively act on a user's behalf.

• Ability to effectively operate within and evolve a mature design system across multiple products and user interfaces, while also recognizing when novel patterns or approaches are necessary.

• Comfort and effectiveness in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, making sound design decisions across concurrent initiatives, and seamlessly shifting between deep individual ownership and broader portfolio-level support.

• Strong collaboration, facilitation, and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence product direction and align senior cross-functional partners. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cybersecurity, online privacy, or financial wellness consumer applications.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within cross-functional product teams.

• Experience in mentoring junior designers and contributing to design team culture and craft.

• Understanding of accessibility best practices and inclusive design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 7+ years, coupled with the "Principal" title, indicates a need for a seasoned designer capable of independent leadership and strategic contribution. The emphasis on AI-specific design challenges (trust, agency, permissions) and the requirement to work with both established design systems and new AI interaction patterns point to a role that demands both adaptability and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles in emerging technological contexts.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant product design projects, with a clear emphasis on consumer-facing web or software applications.

• For each project, clearly articulate your specific role and contributions, especially in areas of strategy, UX, interaction, and visual design.

• Include detailed case studies that demonstrate your process from problem definition through to shipped product, highlighting how you translated complex user needs and business objectives into elegant design solutions.

• Provide evidence of your ability to design for AI-powered features, agentic behaviors, or complex interactive systems, detailing the challenges and how you addressed them.

• Showcase your proficiency with modern design tools, particularly Figma, and any experience with AI-assisted design tools or generative prototyping.

• Include examples of how you have contributed to or evolved design systems, or how you have maintained design consistency across multiple products or platforms. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, from initial user research and concept generation to detailed interaction design and visual polish.

• Illustrate your ability to frame ambiguous problems, define project scope, and establish clear design goals.

• Provide examples of how you have used prototyping to test hypotheses, gather feedback, and communicate design intent to stakeholders.

• Showcase your methodology for incorporating user feedback, usability testing, and product data into iterative design improvements.

• Explain your process for collaborating effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and other cross-functional partners throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, given the focus on end-to-end product design and innovation. The emphasis on "shipped consumer products" and "meaningful product impact" suggests that demonstrating tangible results and the ability to navigate the full product lifecycle from concept to iteration is paramount. The inclusion of AI-specific design challenges within the portfolio will be a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $200,000 - $240,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.

• Generous time off policies to encourage rest and rejuvenation.

• Competitive pay and compensation packages.

• Comprehensive well-being programs designed to support employee health and overall wellness.

• [📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly detailed, typical benefits for a company of this size and industry in the US often include health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, stock options or grants, life insurance, disability insurance, and professional development stipends.] Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week, typically around 40 hours.

• [📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" designation suggests a primary expectation of working from the Mountain View office, though "flexible working options" may imply some degree of hybrid flexibility or asynchronous work within the team's needs. Operations professionals in such roles often benefit from the flexibility to manage their schedules around critical project deadlines and deep work periods.]

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for a Principal Product Designer role in the Mountain View, California area, reflecting the seniority and specialized nature of the position, particularly its focus on AI and innovation. The inclusion of "flexible working options" alongside an "on-site" requirement suggests a hybrid model or a focus on in-office collaboration with flexibility for personal needs.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Cybersecurity, Financial Wellness, Consumer Software. Gen Digital Inc. is a global leader leveraging its portfolio of trusted brands (Norton, Avast, LifeLock, MoneyLion) to provide digital freedom, cyber safety, and financial empowerment to nearly 500 million users worldwide. The company operates at the intersection of cybersecurity, digital privacy, and financial technology, aiming to protect and enhance consumers' digital and financial lives.

Company Size: Gen Digital Inc. is a large, established global corporation with a significant employee base. This scale implies a robust organizational structure, established processes, and a wide array of resources, while also offering opportunities for impact across a broad user base.

Founded: Gen Digital Inc. was formed through the combination of NortonLifeLock and Avast. This heritage brings together decades of experience in cybersecurity and digital protection. The company's focus on "powering Digital Freedom" and enabling consumers to "grow, manage and secure their digital and financial lives" underscores its mission-driven approach.

Team Structure:

• The AI & Innovation team is described as bringing ideas from "zero to one," suggesting a startup-like environment within a larger corporation, focused on rapid development and customer learning.

• This team likely comprises product managers, engineers, designers, researchers, and data scientists, all working collaboratively on cutting-edge AI-powered consumer experiences.

• The Principal Product Designer will operate as a senior design leader, partnering closely with product and engineering leads, and potentially acting as a force multiplier for other designers on the team.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central to the role, requiring close partnerships with research, marketing, customer experience, and other business stakeholders to ensure holistic product development and successful market launches. Methodology:

• The team operates with a "move faster and deliver meaningful results" mentality, leveraging AI as a teammate.

• There's a strong emphasis on "shipping to real customers" and "learning quickly," indicative of an agile, iterative development process.

• The company culture encourages "healthy debate, experimentation, and continuous learning," valuing diverse perspectives and experiences.

• A "scrappy and relentlessly customer driven" approach is highlighted, suggesting a proactive and user-focused mindset.

Company Website: https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/

📝 Enhancement Note: Gen Digital Inc.'s culture emphasizes innovation, customer-centricity, and leveraging AI. The AI & Innovation team, specifically, operates with a "startup" mindset within a large enterprise, focusing on rapid development and iteration. This environment is ideal for experienced designers who thrive on ambiguity, experimentation, and driving significant product impact. The company's mission to empower consumers digitally and financially provides a strong purpose for its employees.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the "Principal" level, signifying a senior individual contributor position with significant influence and autonomy. It requires a deep level of expertise in product design, a proven track record of shipping impactful consumer products, and the ability to lead complex initiatives independently. Principal designers are expected to set high standards, mentor others, and contribute to the strategic direction of the design practice and product portfolio.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Product Designer will report into a design leadership role within the AI & Innovation team or a broader product design organization at Gen Digital Inc. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific initiatives and collaborate with a diverse set of cross-functional partners. The role also implies a mentorship and "force multiplier" aspect, suggesting they will guide and elevate the work of other designers.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial, directly shaping the user experience of cutting-edge AI-powered consumer products, such as the Norton Neo AI Browser and agentic applications. By leading end-to-end design, establishing reusable patterns, and driving innovation, this designer will significantly influence customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and the overall perceived value of Gen's digital offerings. Their work will contribute to the company's mission of powering digital freedom and financial empowerment.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI, agentic systems, and advanced browser experiences, becoming a recognized authority in these emerging fields within Gen.

• Leadership: Progress into design management roles, leading larger teams or specific product areas, or continue on an individual contributor track as a Staff or Distinguished Designer, influencing product strategy at an even broader level.

• Mentorship: Develop strong mentorship skills by guiding junior designers, leading design critiques, and contributing to the design team's overall craft and knowledge base.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different product lines or business units within Gen Digital, driving design best practices and innovation throughout the organization.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to industry thought leadership through speaking engagements or publications, leveraging Gen's innovative work in AI and consumer tech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title and the focus on "zero to one" innovation indicate a significant opportunity for growth, not just in terms of career progression but also in developing expertise in a rapidly evolving field (AI design). The emphasis on both individual ownership and influencing the broader team suggests a role that cultivates both deep craft and strategic leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in Mountain View, California. This suggests a physical office environment where in-person collaboration, team meetings, and access to office resources are expected. Gen Digital Inc. likely provides a professional office setting designed for productivity and collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Mountain View, California. This places the role within a major technology hub, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and talent. The office is likely equipped with modern amenities to support employee comfort and productivity.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, fostering regular interaction with product managers, engineers, researchers, and fellow designers.

• Access to necessary design tools, including advanced hardware and software, will be provided to support complex design tasks, prototyping, and AI-assisted workflows.

• The environment encourages "healthy debate, experimentation, and continuous learning," suggesting a culture where ideas are shared openly and feedback is welcomed, contributing to a dynamic and innovative design process.

• Being on-site facilitates spontaneous brainstorming, quick problem-solving sessions, and stronger team cohesion, which are crucial for fast-paced innovation projects.

Work Schedule: While designated as "On-site," the mention of "flexible working options" suggests that Gen Digital Inc. may offer some degree of flexibility regarding work hours or hybrid arrangements, within the constraints of the "on-site" requirement. The typical expectation for a full-time role is around 40 hours per week, with the understanding that project demands may sometimes require additional commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement for a Principal role in a tech hub like Mountain View suggests a company that values in-person collaboration for its innovation initiatives. The "flexible working options" likely refer to the ability to manage one's schedule effectively within the office framework, rather than a fully remote or highly flexible hybrid setup. This environment is designed to foster deep collaboration and rapid iteration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• TA Call: An initial screening call with a Talent Acquisition specialist to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and basic qualifications.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their design portfolio, detailing key projects, their role, process, and impact. This is a critical stage to evaluate design craft, strategic thinking, and communication skills.

• Design Exercise / Live Design Session (Virtual): A practical assessment, likely involving a design challenge or a live collaborative design session, to evaluate problem-solving abilities, design thinking, and execution under time constraints.

• Final Interview – Hiring Manager: An in-depth discussion with the hiring manager to assess leadership potential, strategic alignment, cultural fit, and suitability for the Principal level. This may involve deeper dives into past experiences and future vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best represent your experience with consumer products, AI-driven features, and end-to-end design ownership. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, trade-offs, and the measurable impact or learnings. Use a narrative structure.

• Showcase AI Expertise: Highlight any projects involving AI, automation, agentic systems, or complex interactive technologies. Explain your approach to designing for trust, clarity, and user agency in these contexts.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly outline your design methodology, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Show how you adapt your process to different project needs.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you partnered effectively with product, engineering, and research teams.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, challenges faced, and how you handle ambiguity and feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a brief for a design exercise, thoroughly understand the problem space, target audience, and business objectives.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear and logical design process, even under time pressure. It's often more important to show how you think than to deliver a perfectly polished final artifact.

• Communicate Your Thinking: Articulate your assumptions, decisions, and rationale clearly throughout the exercise.

• Practice Prototyping: Be comfortable creating low-fidelity or medium-fidelity prototypes quickly to convey interaction flows.

• Prepare for Virtual Collaboration: Ensure your technology is set up for virtual interviews and design sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and practical design skills. The "Portfolio Review" and "Design Exercise" are key stages where candidates must effectively demonstrate their ability to handle complex design challenges, particularly those involving AI and innovative consumer experiences. Preparing specific case studies that align with the role's focus on AI and browser-based products will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (advanced proficiency required), modern design and prototyping tools.

• AI-Assisted Design: Curiosity and fluency in AI-assisted design tools and workflows are highly valued, indicating an openness to leveraging generative AI in the design process.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and evolving mature design systems is essential for maintaining consistency across a large product portfolio.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, designers at this level are expected to leverage product data, user research, and usability testing results to inform design decisions. Familiarity with analytics platforms and A/B testing concepts is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the design role itself, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM or automation workflows could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for advanced Figma proficiency and the emphasis on AI-assisted design tools highlight the modern technology stack and innovative workflows expected for this role. The ability to integrate these tools into a design system framework is key to scalability and efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Driven: A relentless focus on understanding and serving the needs of everyday consumers, especially concerning digital freedom, cyber safety, and financial wellness.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages bringing ideas from "zero to one," embracing healthy debate, and fostering experimentation to discover new solutions.

• Trustworthiness: A core value in designing AI-powered experiences that are understandable, respectful, and reliable for users.

• Collaboration & Respect: Working with people who back each other, respect each other, and recognize that differences are a competitive advantage, fostering an inclusive environment.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to growth, learning, and adapting to new technologies and methodologies, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product, Engineering, Research, Marketing, and other stakeholders to ensure cohesive product development and strategy alignment.

• Design as a Partner: The design team is positioned as a strategic partner, not just an execution arm, influencing product direction and contributing to business outcomes.

• Mentorship & Craft: A culture of sharing knowledge, providing constructive critique, and elevating the overall quality and effectiveness of the design practice.

• Agile & Iterative: Working within fast-paced, iterative cycles, embracing feedback, and adapting designs based on learnings from customer interactions and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Gen Digital Inc. values a combination of customer focus, innovation, and collaborative spirit. The AI & Innovation team specifically embodies a "scrappy" and "customer-driven" approach with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI responsibly. The culture supports healthy debate and continuous learning, making it an environment for designers who are proactive, adaptable, and passionate about user-centric innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in AI: Creating AI-powered experiences that users understand, trust, and feel comfortable with, especially when AI takes action on their behalf or handles sensitive data.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating in a "zero to one" environment with evolving priorities, undefined problems, and the inherent uncertainty of innovation where some promising work may lead to learning rather than immediate product launch.

• Balancing Innovation with Consistency: Evolving new interaction patterns for AI and agentic systems while maintaining coherence with a mature design system and the broader Gen portfolio.

• Scaling Design Impact: Effectively acting as a "force multiplier" for other designers and influencing product direction across multiple initiatives and surfaces, beyond direct ownership.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with the fast-moving field of AI and integrating new generative design tools and workflows into the design process efficiently.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for artificial intelligence, agentic systems, and conversational interfaces.

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI-assisted design tools and generative prototyping techniques, pushing the boundaries of design velocity and exploration.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in product strategy, cross-functional leadership, and influencing senior stakeholders through impactful design work and clear communication.

• Mentorship and Craft Development: Contribute to the growth of the design team through mentorship, leading critiques, and sharing best practices, further honing leadership and communication skills.

• Industry Exposure: Potential opportunities to engage with industry conferences or internal innovation showcases, sharing learnings and insights from Gen's work in AI and consumer tech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working at the forefront of AI innovation within a large consumer tech company. They offer significant growth potential for designers who are adaptable, strategic, and passionate about solving complex user problems in emerging technological landscapes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex consumer product from concept to launch. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the impact?" (Focus on demonstrating ownership, process, and results).

• "How would you approach designing a user experience for an AI agent that needs to take actions on behalf of a user? What are the critical considerations for trust, transparency, and user control?" (Prepare to discuss AI ethics, user agency, and error handling).

• "Imagine you need to define a new design pattern for AI-driven browser features that must integrate with an existing design system. How would you approach this, balancing innovation with consistency?" (Focus on your ability to work with systems and adapt patterns). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Gen Digital's mission to 'power Digital Freedom' and how do you see AI playing a role in that?" (Research Gen's mission and values; connect them to your passion for AI design).

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers, especially in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment like an innovation team?" (Highlight your experience as a proactive, communicative, and collaborative partner).

• "How do you contribute to raising the design bar within a team and fostering a culture of continuous learning and experimentation?" (Provide examples of mentorship, critique, or process improvement initiatives). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the journey (ideation to iteration), key decisions, trade-offs, and the outcomes or learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase AI Work: Dedicate time to projects that directly relate to AI, agentic systems, or complex interactive technologies. Explain your thought process for these unique challenges.

• Highlight Process Adaptability: Be prepared to discuss how you adapt your design process based on project constraints, team dynamics, and available resources.

• Engage Your Audience: Be enthusiastic, clear, and ready to answer in-depth questions about your work. Treat it as a collaborative discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of strategic thinking, deep design craft, and leadership potential, with a specific emphasis on AI-related challenges. Case studies that showcase your ability to navigate ambiguity and drive innovation will be highly valued.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating end-to-end product design, consumer-facing applications, and any experience with AI, agentic systems, or complex interactive technologies. Ensure it clearly outlines your specific contributions and the impact of your work.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight 7+ years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements related to shipping consumer products, leading design initiatives, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Incorporate keywords from the job description such as "AI," "Innovation," "Product Design," "UX," "Figma," and "Design Systems."

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the potential interview stages and prepare compelling narratives for your portfolio presentations and responses to strategy and culture questions. Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly.

• Company Research: Deeply research Gen Digital Inc., its brands (Norton, Avast, LifeLock, MoneyLion), its mission, and its recent innovations, particularly in the AI space. Understand their customer base and market position to better align your responses 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.