Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: AAPC

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Remote - US)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX

Date Posted: August 26, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and build functional, data-fed prototypes rapidly using AI-assisted development tools and existing codebases.

• Own the end-to-end user experience (UX) process, from initial concept discovery through post-launch iteration and data analysis.

• Maintain and extend a mature design system by adhering to established components and introducing new ones with clear rationale.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) to translate user needs into tangible product solutions.

• Conduct rigorous user research, including usability studies and A/B testing, to inform design decisions with evidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly unconventional, emphasizing a "build-first" approach with AI assistance over traditional design handoffs. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in both UX principles and direct codebase interaction. The focus is on rapid prototyping and tangible output, rather than purely visual design or documentation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Transform ambiguous early-stage concepts into functional, interactive prototypes within a live codebase using AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor).

• Develop and refine user flows, information architecture, and interaction designs that address complex user problems for a demanding professional audience.

• Design and execute usability studies and A/B tests to gather empirical data and drive data-informed product iterations.

• Actively contribute to and extend the existing design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency by utilizing established components and design tokens.

• Present design concepts, research findings, and rationale clearly and persuasively to stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and Marketing.

• Partner with engineering teams to ensure prototypes are readable, reactive, and potentially transferable to production code.

• Conduct post-launch analysis to understand user behavior and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Maintain a strong focus on clarity and effectiveness for a professional user base under time pressure, prioritizing usability over aesthetic novelty.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building in our codebase" and "turning ambiguity into working software" suggests a need for a designer who is comfortable with technical constraints and collaborative coding environments, even if not a full-stack engineer. The responsibility for "owning UX end to end" implies significant autonomy and project management within the design lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring this level of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in UX or product design, with a portfolio showcasing shipped products and problem-solving capabilities.

Required Skills:

• AI-Assisted Development Fluency: Proven, hands-on experience utilizing AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code) as an integral part of the design and prototyping workflow. Ability to articulate specific use cases and outcomes.

• Codebase Interaction: Working fluency in reading and interacting with codebases. Ability to understand component libraries, design systems expressed in code, and navigate code branches without disruption. Read-level fluency is a minimum.

• User Experience (UX) Expertise: Demonstrated strength in core UX disciplines including user research, flow design, information architecture (IA), interaction design, user journeys, and usability testing.

• Figma Proficiency: Strong, demonstrated skills in Figma for design system contributions, alignment artifacts, and detailed handoff documentation.

• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with a proven capacity to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse audiences, including those without design backgrounds, and to handle constructive pushback.

• Intellectual Curiosity: A natural inclination to ask probing questions, investigate user needs, and proactively seek answers and solutions.

• Data-Informed Design: Hands-on experience with A/B testing and data analysis for product iteration. Demonstrated ability to honestly interpret results and adjust designs based on evidence.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing platforms such as VWO.

• Familiarity with agile product development methodologies and tools like Jira.

• Experience contributing to design systems, particularly with synchronized design tokens and code.

• Foundational understanding of front-end technologies like React and Tailwind CSS, extending beyond AI assistance.

• Exposure to the healthcare, education/e-learning, or professional association/membership organization sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hard requirement" for AI-assisted development fluency signifies a significant shift in the role's expectations. Candidates without direct, recent experience using these tools in a professional capacity may not meet the minimum qualifications. The emphasis on "working fluency in a codebase" suggests a need for designers comfortable with technical environments, even if they are not coders.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Impact: Showcase projects where you've taken ownership of complex problems from conception to launch, clearly articulating the user problem, your solution, and the measurable outcomes.

• AI-Assisted Workflow: Include case studies that highlight how AI tools were integrated into your design process, detailing the benefits, challenges, and specific contributions.

• Codebase Interaction Examples: Provide examples of how you've worked with or understood codebases, design systems in code, or contributed to components that bridge design and development.

• UX Process Evidence: Detail your approach to user research, information architecture, user flows, and interaction design, supported by tangible artifacts or project outcomes.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Showcase instances where you used A/B testing, usability testing, or other data sources to iterate on designs and improve product performance.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of designing and conducting usability studies and A/B tests, including methodology and analysis of results.

• Examples of how you've maintained consistency and extended design systems, demonstrating an understanding of component libraries and design tokens.

• Artifacts illustrating your approach to information architecture and user flow mapping for complex digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not be solely comprised of visual design exercises or polished decks. It must demonstrate practical application of UX principles, direct experience with AI-assisted workflows, and comfort interacting with code. Evidence of shipping products and iterating based on data will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on typical compensation for a Product Designer with 4+ years of experience in a remote US-based role, and considering the specialized skills required (AI-assisted development, codebase interaction), the estimated salary range is $100,000 - $140,000 annually. This estimate is subject to variation based on specific qualifications, interview performance, and cost of living in the candidate's location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) for medical expenses.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions.

• Fully remote work environment, allowing for flexibility and work-life balance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week. The role emphasizes delivering results and autonomy, allowing for some flexibility in scheduling as long as collaboration and project deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the US. The AI-identified benefits are explicitly listed in the job description. The unique nature of this role (AI-assisted, codebase interaction) may warrant a higher compensation than a traditional Product Designer role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Training, Certification, and Solutions Association. AAPC operates within the professional development and certification sector, focusing on medical coding and revenue cycle management. This means the digital products are critical for career advancement and learning for their members.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, AAPC is described as "the world's largest and fastest-growing healthcare training, certification, and solutions association, serving more than 300,000 members." This suggests a significant organization, likely with a dedicated product and engineering team.

Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the company's extensive membership base implies a well-established history.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will report to a "senior UX/CX leader."

• The team is described as "small" with "short distance between an idea and a decision."

• Collaboration is expected across Product, Engineering, and Marketing departments. Methodology:

• Continuous Shipping: The company ships continuously, prioritizing real-world feedback from members over hypothetical discussions.

• Remote-First: Operates as a remote-first organization, fostering autonomy and efficient communication.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Emphasizes learning from live product performance and member interactions.

Company Website: www.aapc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on serving a large member base with critical professional development tools means that product decisions have a direct and significant impact on users' careers. The "small team" and "remote-first" environment suggest a dynamic, potentially fast-paced culture where individual contributions are highly visible.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior Product Designer, requiring 4+ years of experience and a high degree of autonomy. The emphasis on building, owning end-to-end UX, and contributing to strategic decisions places it beyond a purely execution-focused role.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a senior UX/CX leader, indicating mentorship and guidance will be available from an experienced professional in the field. This leader values craft, autonomy, and a strong point of view.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will directly influence the "world-class" digital experiences that AAPC members use for learning, growth, and career advancement. Their work will have a tangible impact on user engagement, learning outcomes, and member satisfaction, which are critical to AAPC's mission and growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-assisted development, rapid prototyping, and data-informed design methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain experience leading design initiatives and influencing product strategy through collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Marketing.

• Design System Contribution: Develop advanced skills in contributing to and evolving design systems, with a focus on synchronized code and design tokens.

• Mentorship: Learn from a senior UX/CX leader and potentially mentor junior designers as the team grows.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in the unique challenges and opportunities within the healthcare education and professional certification sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The unique blend of skills required (UX, AI-assisted coding, data analysis) positions this role as a growth opportunity for designers looking to stay at the forefront of product development methodologies. The emphasis on autonomy and direct impact suggests potential for rapid career advancement within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company operates as a "remote-first" organization, meaning all work is conducted outside of a traditional office setting.

Office Location(s): While the job is posted with a Salt Lake City, UT address, the "remote role" designation and "US" location requirement for remote work indicate that candidates can be located anywhere within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the team emphasizes close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Marketing through digital tools and frequent communication.

• Tools & Technology: Candidates will work with standard remote collaboration tools, Figma, AI coding assistants, and potentially A/B testing platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with a senior UX/CX leader and cross-functional team members is expected through virtual meetings, asynchronous communication, and collaborative platforms.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the remote-first, results-oriented culture suggests flexibility in daily scheduling, provided project deadlines and collaborative commitments are met. This allows for efficient time management around design tasks, research, and coding activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of the company means that proactive communication and self-discipline are paramount. The workspace context implies a reliance on digital tools for all aspects of collaboration and project execution.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess required skills, particularly AI-assisted development and codebase interaction experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, focusing on projects that demonstrate their unique skill set. Expect in-depth discussions about specific case studies, design decisions, and how they've utilized AI tools and worked with code.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: A practical exercise may be given, potentially involving a design task that requires rapid prototyping, AI assistance, and a demonstration of understanding within a codebase.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with members of the Product, Engineering, and Marketing teams to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Discussion with the senior UX/CX leader and potentially other senior management to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly detail how AI tools were used in your projects, what value they added, and any limitations encountered.

• Showcase Codebase Interaction: Include examples or descriptions of your experience working with code, understanding design systems in code, or contributing to component libraries.

• Focus on Problem-Solving & Impact: Prioritize case studies that clearly define user problems, your thought process, and the quantifiable impact of your solutions.

• Demonstrate End-to-End Ownership: Show projects where you managed the entire design lifecycle, from research and ideation to testing and iteration.

• Be Concise and Clear: Present your work in a digestible format, focusing on key takeaways and your unique contributions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Rapid Prototyping: Be ready to quickly create functional prototypes, potentially using AI assistance.

• Familiarize Yourself with Code Concepts: Brush up on fundamental coding concepts and how design systems are implemented in code.

• Prepare for AI Tool Discussions: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI coding assistants, their strengths, weaknesses, and your workflow integration.

• Articulate Your Design Rationale: Practice explaining your design decisions clearly and persuasively, especially in the context of a specific codebase or design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate the unique "build-first" and AI-assisted workflow. A traditional portfolio focused solely on visual design or Figma mockups will likely not suffice. Expect a rigorous assessment of practical skills and technical comfort.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design system contributions, alignment artifacts, and detailed handoff. Proficiency is required.

• AI-Assisted Development Tools: Candidates must be fluent with tools like Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, or similar AI assistants for rapid prototyping and code interaction.

• Codebase Interaction Environment: Familiarity with working within a code repository (e.g., Git) and understanding component-based structures (e.g., React) is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools like VWO (Visual Website Optimizer) or comparable platforms is preferred for data-informed iteration.

• Data Analysis Tools: While specific tools aren't mentioned, the ability to interpret data from testing and user feedback is key.

CRM & Automation:

• Jira: Familiarity with Jira and agile product development workflows is a plus, indicating experience in structured project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core of the technology stack revolves around the intersection of design tools (Figma), AI coding assistants, and a functional codebase. Candidates must demonstrate comfort and proficiency across these areas, with a particular emphasis on the novel AI-assisted development aspect.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• DRIVEN: Self-starters who are highly motivated to achieve ambitious goals and take initiative without constant direction. Confidence in decision-making is valued.

• HUMBLE: Continuous learners who seek feedback, adapt, and improve relentlessly. Grateful for others' contributions and open to growth.

• TRANSPARENT: Individuals with integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness who hold themselves accountable for their work and actions.

• SUPPORTIVE: Team members who empower and uplift colleagues, listen empathetically, and prioritize well-being and growth.

• INNOVATIVE: Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and a "scrappy mentality" to dream big, identify opportunities, and accomplish challenging tasks.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close partnership with Product, Engineering, and Marketing, necessitating clear communication and alignment across departments.

• Data-Informed Discussions: Collaboration is expected to be grounded in evidence from user research and A/B testing, moving beyond subjective opinions.

• Agile & Iterative: A continuous shipping and feedback loop implies a dynamic collaboration style focused on rapid iteration and learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align with a proactive, collaborative, and growth-oriented individual. The "innovative" and "driven" values strongly support the unconventional nature of this role, encouraging experimentation and pushing boundaries.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Design and Code: The primary challenge is effectively integrating design workflows with AI-assisted codebase interaction, ensuring prototypes are functional and usable.

• Rapid Prototyping Demands: Meeting the expectation of turning ambiguous ideas into working prototypes by Thursday requires efficient workflow management and strong problem-solving skills.

• Maintaining Design System Integrity: Balancing the need to extend the design system with the requirement to use existing components requires careful judgment and clear communication.

• Communicating Technical Design: Effectively conveying design rationale and user needs to non-design stakeholders, especially those with technical backgrounds, will be key.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering AI-Assisted Design: Becoming a leader in the emerging field of AI-integrated product design and development.

• Deepening UX Expertise: Further refining skills in user research, IA, and data analysis within a practical, high-impact context.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Building: Gaining practical understanding of front-end development principles through direct interaction with code.

• Contributing to a Growing Organization: Playing a key role in shaping the digital products of a leading professional association.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to be at the forefront of a new wave of product development. The challenges are directly tied to the unique demands of the role, offering substantial learning and growth potential for ambitious designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you took an ambiguous concept and turned it into a functional prototype. What tools did you use, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on AI tools and rapid prototyping.)

• "How do you approach user research and testing when working under tight deadlines? Provide an example of how data informed a significant design change you made." (Highlight data-driven iteration and evidence-based decision-making.)

• "Walk me through your process for extending or contributing to an existing design system, especially when working with code." (Emphasize understanding of design systems and codebase interaction.)

• "How do you handle disagreements with engineering or product stakeholders regarding design decisions? Provide an example of a time you successfully advocated for a design choice or accepted feedback." (Assess communication and collaboration skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in this specific role, and what makes you believe you can thrive in an AI-assisted, build-first environment?" (Gauge understanding of the role's unique demands and personal fit.)

• "What are your thoughts on the AAPC's mission and how do you see product design contributing to it?" (Assess alignment with company goals and user base.)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote-first team. What strategies do you employ to stay connected and productive?" (Evaluate remote work readiness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure by Project: Organize your presentation around key projects that best showcase your AI-assisted workflow, codebase interaction, and end-to-end UX ownership.

• Emphasize the "How": For each project, clearly articulate how you used AI tools, how you interacted with code or design systems, and how you gathered and used data.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use interactive prototypes or screen recordings where appropriate to demonstrate functionality.

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your coding fluency, understanding of design systems in code, and experience with specific AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools in detail, including specific examples of code generated or modified. Be ready to explain your understanding of design systems as code and how you navigate development environments. The interview will be a practical assessment of your ability to execute the core responsibilities of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on AAPC's careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to AI-assisted development, UX research, prototyping, Figma, codebase interaction, and data-informed design. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your AI workflow, codebase familiarity, and end-to-end UX ownership. Focus on case studies that show problem-solving and measurable impact.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your experience with AI tools and explain your comfort level working directly with code during interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio with a strong emphasis on these unique aspects of the role.

• Research AAPC: Understand their mission, their member base (healthcare professionals), and the importance of their digital learning products. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your interest.

⚠️ 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.