Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: AltaML

Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada / Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product success by owning usability risk for enterprise AI solutions, ensuring user adoption and satisfaction.

• Collaborate intimately with Product Managers and Tech Leads within dedicated product teams, acting as a core member from discovery to post-launch iterations.

• Champion rapid prototyping and iterative design methodologies, prioritizing user testing and feedback loops over static documentation.

• Contribute to and enhance a shared design system, establishing precise design standards that inform AI coding tools and benefit the entire organization.

• Design with a strong emphasis on accessibility, crucial for serving government and public sector clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core focus of this role is deeply embedded within product teams, emphasizing proactive ownership of the user experience and usability aspects of complex AI products. The emphasis on "owning usability risk" and "prototypes are how we answer questions" signifies a hands-on, research-driven approach rather than a purely visual design role. The integration with AI coding tools and design systems highlights a forward-thinking, scalable design practice.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user discovery sessions with clients and end-users to deeply understand needs, pain points, and workflows.

• Rapidly translate user insights and requirements into interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, facilitating quick testing and validation.

• Orchestrate and execute usability testing sessions, meticulously observing user interactions with prototypes and gathered feedback for actionable insights.

• Drive iterative design improvements based on user feedback, ensuring products are not only functional but also intuitive and enjoyable to use.

• Actively participate in defining and refining the company's shared design system and standards, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to accessibility requirements.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure design intent is accurately translated into functional software, particularly within the context of AI development.

• Advocate for user needs and best practices within cross-functional product teams, influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions.

• Contribute to the evolution of design processes and methodologies within a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed around proactive engagement in the product development lifecycle, emphasizing user-centricity and iterative improvement. The emphasis on "prototypes are how we answer questions" and "the bar is software that customers love to use" indicates a high standard for user experience and a focus on measurable adoption.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for roles of this nature, especially within a technology-focused company.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a closely related field, with a strong track record of shipping successful software products.

Required Skills:

• Shipped Software Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing real-world products that users have adopted and actively use, with the ability to articulate user behavior and product impact.

• Rapid Prototyping: Demonstrated proficiency in creating functional prototypes quickly, ideally using Figma, to test concepts and gather feedback efficiently.

• User Research & Discovery: Proven experience in conducting user interviews, discovery sessions, and usability testing to gather actionable insights.

• Iterative Design: A mindset and proven ability to iterate rapidly on designs based on user feedback and testing results, prioritizing speed and learning.

• Design System Contribution: Experience working with or contributing to design systems, understanding their importance for consistency and scalability.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to effectively partner with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders in a collaborative team environment.

• User Advocacy: Strong ability to represent and champion user needs throughout the product development process.

• Accessibility Standards: Understanding and practical application of accessibility principles (e.g., WCAG) in design solutions, particularly for public sector clients.

• Agile/Fast-Paced Environment: Proven ability to thrive and create traction in a dynamic, evolving, and sometimes ambiguous work environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-assisted design tools.

• Familiarity with enterprise software design challenges.

• Experience in the applied AI or Machine Learning industry.

• Understanding of AI/ML product development lifecycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements are heavily weighted towards practical experience and a demonstrable portfolio of shipped products. The emphasis on "fast prototyping," "user research," and "working with engineers" highlights a pragmatic, hands-on approach to design within a product team context. The specific mention of AI-assisted design tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Shipped Products: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant projects where your design contributions led to the successful launch and adoption of software.

• User Impact & Behavior: For each project, clearly articulate what users did with the product, the problems they solved, and the impact your design had on their experience and the business.

• Process & Iteration: Detail your design process for key projects, highlighting how you used discovery, prototyping, and user feedback to iterate and improve the design.

• Tool Proficiency: Explicitly mention and showcase work done with Figma, and if applicable, any experience with AI-assisted design tools.

• Accessibility Focus: Include at least one case study that demonstrates a strong understanding and implementation of accessibility best practices.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Research: Provide examples of how you documented findings from user discovery sessions and research, even if these were informal notes or synthesized findings rather than formal reports.

• Prototyping & Testing: Illustrate your rapid prototyping workflow and how you structured user testing sessions, including how you captured and acted on feedback.

• Design System Integration: Show how your designs align with or contribute to existing design systems, explaining any custom components or standard updates you proposed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are exceptionally specific and action-oriented, moving beyond visual design to emphasize process, impact, and user behavior. The prompt explicitly states "Prototypes are how we answer questions here, not documents about prototypes," indicating a strong preference for demonstrated outcomes and iterative workflows in the portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80,000 - $110,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Uncapped Vacation: Full-time employees are offered unlimited vacation time, emphasizing work-life balance and trust.

• Competitive Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package for all full-time, permanent employees, likely including health, dental, and vision coverage.

• Hybrid Work Environment: Access to state-of-the-art office spaces designed to foster collaboration, while also supporting flexibility.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth are implied through working with senior colleagues and the company's focus on continuous improvement.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility in terms of exact working hours and location (hybrid model).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in CAD, aligning with the Canadian locations. The benefits emphasize flexibility and employee well-being, with uncapped vacation being a significant perk. The "Office as a Resource" perk reinforces the hybrid work model.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Applied AI, Machine Learning, Technology, Software Development. AltaML operates at the forefront of AI innovation, building and deploying AI software solutions across various industries, including public sector and government clients.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, the mention of "product teams," "shared design system," and a "fast and sometimes messy environment" suggests a growing company, likely in the scale-up phase, potentially between 50-250 employees. This size offers opportunities for significant impact and influence while maintaining a dynamic culture.

Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the company's focus on "new age AI products" and "building and operationalizing AI software solutions" indicates a relatively modern, tech-centric organization.

Team Structure:

• Product Teams: The designer will be embedded within small, cross-functional product teams, consisting of a Product Manager, Tech Lead, and the Product Designer.

• Design Practice Growth: The design organization is described as "not a settled design org and it will not be for a while," indicating an evolving structure with opportunities for individuals to shape processes and standards.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: High emphasis on collaboration with Product Managers (value/viability), Tech Leads (buildability), and Engineers (implementation), as well as end-users.

Methodology:

• Agile & Iterative: The company embraces "small bets, failing fast" and an "interactive process" for iterative development and continuous improvement.

• Data-Driven & User-Centric: Decisions are informed by data, user feedback, and a deep understanding of user needs, with a focus on creating "lovable" products.

• Design System Centric: A core methodology involves building and maintaining a shared design system to ensure consistency and enable AI coding tools.

• Discovery-Driven: Prototyping and user testing are central to answering product questions and mitigating usability risks.

Company Website: altaML.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by agility, a strong focus on AI/ML, and a hands-on, user-centric approach to product development. The "not a settled design org" point is crucial, suggesting that candidates should be comfortable with ambiguity and eager to contribute to process development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, with expectations of owning significant aspects of the product's usability and user experience. It's not an entry-level position, requiring demonstrable experience in shipping products and navigating complex design challenges.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports within their dedicated product team, likely to a design lead or a product lead, but works day-to-day with a Product Manager and Tech Lead. The broader design practice is still forming, offering a unique opportunity to influence its trajectory.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is directly tied to the success and adoption of AI products. By ensuring usability and desirability, they mitigate critical risks that can lead to product failure, directly contributing to revenue and customer satisfaction. The focus on "lovable" products underscores the business value of excellent UX.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Practice Leadership: As the design function matures, there will be opportunities to take on more senior roles, mentor junior designers, and lead the development of design processes and standards.

• Specialization in AI/ML Design: Deepen expertise in designing for complex AI/ML applications, a rapidly growing and in-demand field.

• Cross-functional Influence: Grow influence within product teams and across the organization by demonstrating the value of user-centered design and contributing to product strategy.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through working with PhD/Master's level colleagues, exposure to cutting-edge AI technology, and potentially through formal training or conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory is tied to both individual contribution and the scaling of the design practice itself. Candidates who are proactive and enjoy shaping processes will find significant opportunities here. The emphasis on AI/ML design offers a specialized career path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment with "state-of-the-art office spaces that ignite collaboration." This suggests well-equipped physical offices available for use as a resource, but not a mandatory full-time in-office requirement.

Office Location(s): Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. These are major urban centers with established tech scenes.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are designed to facilitate teamwork and interaction, encouraging spontaneous collaboration.

• Technology Integration: As an applied AI company, expect access to modern technology and tools necessary for design and development.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for flexibility while ensuring opportunities for in-person interaction with product teams and colleagues.

Work Schedule: Flexible work hours are implied by the "how much vacation you take, and what you wear" flexibility, alongside the hybrid model. While the core working hours are 40 per week, there's an emphasis on work-life balance and autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, offering flexibility while retaining the benefits of in-person collaboration. The "state-of-the-art" office spaces suggest a commitment to providing a good working environment when employees choose to be on-site.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of application and portfolio to assess alignment with requirements.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session focused on reviewing the candidate's portfolio, discussing specific projects, design decisions, user outcomes, and process. Expect questions about what users did, not just how designs looked.

• Product Team Collaboration Simulation: Potential for a case study or design challenge, possibly involving rapid prototyping or problem-solving related to an AI product scenario. This will assess how the candidate works with PMs and engineers.

• Cultural Fit & Values Assessment: Interviews to gauge alignment with AltaML's core values (Agile, Gritty, Humble, Happy) and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Final Round: Discussions with senior leadership to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize showcasing how your designs solved user problems and contributed to product success. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., increased adoption, reduced errors).

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), the challenges faced, and the final outcome.

• Demonstrate Process: Show your iterative process. Highlight how user feedback shaped your decisions. Include examples of rapid prototypes and user testing insights.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase instances where you effectively collaborated with PMs, engineers, and users.

• Address Accessibility: Ensure your portfolio includes examples demonstrating your commitment to and understanding of accessible design principles.

• Be Prepared for "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind every design decision.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand AI Context: Familiarize yourself with common challenges and opportunities in designing AI/ML products, especially for enterprise and public sector use cases.

• Practice Rapid Prototyping: Be prepared to quickly mock up and potentially prototype a solution to a given problem, demonstrating your Figma skills and iterative approach.

• Think About Usability Risk: Consider how you would identify and mitigate usability risks in a new AI product.

• Articulate Value & Viability: While your focus is usability, be able to discuss how your design decisions support product value and viability, demonstrating an understanding of the PM's role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes practical application and a deep understanding of the candidate's process and impact, particularly through the portfolio. The "prototypes are how we answer questions" directive is critical for portfolio preparation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. This will be the primary design tool.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other rapid prototyping tools that facilitate quick iteration is beneficial.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Mentioned as a potential area of use, indicating a forward-looking approach to design tooling.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: While not explicitly mentioned, experience with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude for understanding user behavior post-launch would be advantageous.

• Usability Testing Tools: Familiarity with platforms for remote usability testing and session recording (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but understanding how designs integrate with broader product ecosystems is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a core tool. The mention of "AI-assisted design tools" suggests the company is exploring or utilizing newer technologies in their design workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Agile: Embrace iterative development, "little bets," and failing fast. Be comfortable with a dynamic process that allows for quick scaling or modification of ideas.

• Gritty: Demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and resilience. Push through challenges to achieve goals, especially in a fast-paced and sometimes "messy" environment.

• Humble: Be open to data, new ideas, and admitting limitations. Take ownership of problems and continuously seek improvement. Listen to users and data.

• Happy: Ignite passion and purpose. Foster a dynamic work environment, encourage authenticity, and find joy in contributions.

Collaboration Style:

• Team Integration: Work as an integral part of product teams (PM, Tech Lead, Designer), not as a separate support function.

• Open Communication: Engage in open dialogue with engineers and users, bridging communication gaps effectively.

• Shared Ownership: Contribute to and benefit from a shared design system, fostering a collaborative approach to design standards.

• Feedback Loop: Actively seek and provide constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are a significant part of the company culture. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values in their work. The emphasis on "adding" talent rather than "fitting in" suggests a culture that values diverse perspectives and contributions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex AI: Navigating the inherent complexity of AI/ML products, ensuring they are understandable and trustworthy for users who may not be AI experts.

• Rapidly Evolving Environment: Adapting to a design practice that is still forming, requiring comfort with ambiguity and a proactive approach to process development.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating user desires into feasible solutions within the technical landscape of AI development.

• Ensuring Accessibility at Scale: Consistently applying accessibility standards across diverse products and user groups, particularly for government clients.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Applied AI: Gain in-depth experience designing for cutting-edge AI/ML applications.

• Shape Design Practice: Contribute to the growth and definition of AltaML's design function, processes, and standards.

• Mentorship: Learn from PhD and Master's level colleagues in AI/ML and software engineering.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Work closely with product managers and technical leads, broadening understanding of product strategy and development lifecycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The role offers a chance to work on novel problems in a nascent design field within a growing company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you owned the usability risk for a product. What was the risk, how did you address it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, user research, and impact.)

• "Describe your process for creating rapid prototypes. How do you decide what to prototype and how do you test it?" (Highlight speed, iteration, and user feedback.)

• "How do you balance the needs of users with the technical feasibility and business viability of a product?" (Demonstrate collaboration with PMs and Tech Leads.)

• "How have you contributed to or worked with a design system? What makes a good design system?" (Show understanding of scalability and consistency.)

• "Describe your experience designing for accessibility. How do you ensure your designs meet accessibility standards?" (Emphasize practical application for public sector clients.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody our core values of Agile, Gritty, Humble, and Happy in your work?" (Prepare specific examples for each value.)

• "This is a fast-paced, evolving design environment. How do you create traction and drive progress in such settings?" (Showcase your proactive and resilient nature.)

• "AltaML works with enterprise AI products. What do you see as the biggest design challenges in this space?" (Demonstrate industry awareness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process, Not Just Polish: Walk through 2-3 key projects, emphasizing your problem-solving process, user research findings, prototyping iterations, and how user feedback shaped the final design.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, share metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrates the success of your designs.

• Tell a Narrative: Frame each project as a story: the problem, your approach, the challenges, your solutions, and the results.

• Be Prepared to Discuss Decisions: Be ready to defend every design choice you made, explaining the "why" behind it, and how it addressed specific user needs or business goals.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with cross-functional teams and users throughout the project lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating a user-centric, iterative design process supported by strong user research and prototyping skills, with a clear articulation of impact and collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever.co link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in product design, UX/UI, prototyping, user research, and working with cross-functional teams. Use keywords from the job description such as "usability risk," "rapid prototyping," "design system," and "accessibility."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that demonstrate shipped software, your iterative design process, user impact, and proficiency in Figma. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your role, your process, and the outcomes.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, how you embody AltaML's core values, and your approach to tackling usability challenges in enterprise AI products. Practice presenting your portfolio and answering behavioral questions.

• Research AltaML: Understand their work in applied AI, their target industries (especially public sector), and their company culture. This will help you tailor your application and articulate your interest effectively.

⚠️ 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.

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