Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Anduril Industries

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-27T12:14:28

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end user experience design for critical production software, focusing on accelerating hardware manufacturing and delivery.

• Develop and refine the Forge platform's user interfaces, ensuring immersion, efficiency, and consistency across manufacturing and deployment workflows.

• Contribute to product strategy and roadmap development by leveraging user research, ideation, and rapid prototyping.

• Create scalable design components for diverse devices and physical environments, supporting the maturation of a robust design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is for a Product Designer within the ProductionOS team, specifically focused on the "Forge" platform. This platform is crucial for Anduril's hardware production and delivery lifecycle. The emphasis is on designing for physical production environments, requiring a blend of digital design skills and an understanding of manufacturing workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process from discovery and ideation through prototyping, user testing, and final implementation for various Forge applications.

• Shape product roadmaps and contribute to strategic design decisions that align with business objectives and user needs.

• Utilize compelling storytelling to effectively communicate design rationale and gain stakeholder buy-in.

• Design critical manufacturing and onsite workflows, balancing immediate tactical needs with long-term design system evolution.

• Collaborate closely with the central Product Design team to share best practices, foster learnings, and contribute to a unified design vision.

• Develop and maintain reusable, scalable components for mobile, tablet, and desktop interfaces, considering the unique operational contexts of manufacturing floors.

• Advance the design system by creating and implementing standardized components to enhance consistency and efficiency across all platforms.

• Advocate for design principles and establish design tenets that guide strategic design initiatives.

• Conduct on-site user research, employing the Gemba philosophy to gain deep, firsthand understanding of user needs and operational environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on hands-on design execution, strategic contribution, and deep user engagement through on-site research. The role requires balancing immediate product needs with long-term design system strategy, a common challenge in dynamic product development environments within hardware-focused companies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Specific educational requirements are not detailed, but a strong portfolio demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of design principles and execution is paramount.

Experience: 6+ years of professional software design experience, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality user experiences.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of visual design principles, including layout, color theory, typography, and Gestalt principles.

• Advanced skills in interaction design, with a focus on micro-interactions and animations that enhance user experience.

• Proven ability to create scalable and consistent components for a variety of devices and user contexts, including mobile, tablet, and desktop.

• Experience in developing, implementing, and maturing comprehensive design systems.

• Demonstrated proficiency in conducting on-site user research and understanding the nuances of manufacturing and production environments.

• Strong storytelling capabilities to articulate design decisions and their impact effectively to diverse stakeholders.

• High attention to detail in all aspects of design execution.

• Ability to clearly articulate the rationale, process, and impact of design work.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with hardware-related industries such as supply chain, manufacturing, or logistics.

• Advanced knowledge of accessibility standards and their practical application in software design.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of core design craft (visual, interaction, systems) and practical application in complex, physical environments. The explicit mention of "multimodal experiences" and on-site research suggests a need for designers who can think beyond traditional screen-based interactions and understand the broader user context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio showcasing a range of multimodal user experiences, demonstrating end-to-end design ownership from concept to implementation.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, the design process undertaken, the solutions developed, and the measurable impact on user efficiency and business goals.

• Examples of scalable component design and their application across different devices and platforms.

• Evidence of experience in developing or contributing to design systems, including examples of reusable components and style guides.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolios should detail the user research methodologies employed, particularly on-site research in industrial or manufacturing settings.

• Showcase the iterative design process, including wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and feedback incorporation.

• Illustrate how design decisions were aligned with stakeholders through effective storytelling and communication.

• Highlight contributions to product strategy and roadmap shaping, demonstrating an understanding of business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio demonstrating multimodal experiences" and "on-site research" indicates a need for designers who can document their process in complex, physical environments. Candidates should be prepared to showcase how they translate user needs observed in manufacturing floors into effective digital solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $146,000 - $194,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive equity grants as part of the total compensation package.

• Top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including comprehensive health, recovery, and support programs.

• Specific details on benefits are available via the provided career link: Explore Our Benefits.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week to align with full-time employment, with flexibility potentially available within the on-site work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the stated range and industry benchmarks for a Product Designer with 6+ years of experience in a high-cost-of-living area like Seattle. The range is inclusive of base salary only, and actual offers will consider experience, education, skills, and business needs. The inclusion of equity grants is a significant compensation component in tech companies, especially in defense tech.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology, specializing in advanced technology for military capabilities, including AI, autonomy, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking.

Company Size: Anduril Industries is a rapidly growing company, part of the broader defense technology sector aiming to modernize military systems. The specific team size for ProductionOS is not detailed but is part of the larger ArsenalOS group.

Founded: Founded with the mission to bring 21st-century innovation to the defense industry.

Team Structure:

• The ProductionOS team is a vital part of ArsenalOS, focused on software that streamlines hardware production and delivery.

• The Product Designer will collaborate with product managers, engineers, and other designers within the ProductionOS team and the central Product Design team.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on agile development methodologies, rapid iteration, and data-driven decision-making.

• Strong commitment to user-centric design, particularly through the Gemba philosophy of on-site research.

• Focus on building scalable, robust systems (like Lattice OS and Forge) that leverage advanced technologies such as AI and computer vision.

• A culture of innovation, speed, and direct impact on national security objectives.

Company Website: https://www.anduril.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Anduril operates in a high-stakes, mission-driven environment. The culture likely values rapid execution, technical excellence, and a strong sense of purpose. The emphasis on "changing how military systems are designed, built and sold" suggests a disruptive approach to a traditional industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior level Product Designer, indicating a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or guide junior designers. The "6+ years of experience" requirement reinforces this.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the ProductionOS team or ArsenalOS, with close collaboration across product management and engineering functions.

Operations Impact: The design work directly impacts the efficiency, speed, and quality of Anduril's hardware production and delivery. This has a direct correlation to the company's ability to fulfill its mission and serve its customers, making it a critical role with significant business impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to shape the future of a critical internal software platform (Forge) that directly supports a national security mission.

• Potential for leadership growth within the Product Design team, possibly leading design initiatives or mentoring junior designers.

• Development of specialized expertise in designing for manufacturing and hardware production environments, a niche but valuable skill set.

• Contribution to the evolution of Anduril's design system, impacting a wide range of products across the company.

• Exposure to cutting-edge defense technology and the unique challenges of applying modern software design principles in this domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential, not just in design skills but also in strategic influence and domain expertise within the defense tech sector. The ability to impact a core operational platform like Forge provides a unique career trajectory.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, requiring the designer to work from the Seattle, Washington office. The environment is likely fast-paced and collaborative, typical of a rapidly scaling technology company.

Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington, United States.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will foster collaboration with engineering, product management, and other designers.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with users on the shop floor will be integral to the role, promoting a hands-on and immersive work experience.

• The environment will likely be dynamic, reflecting the fast-paced nature of hardware production and defense technology development.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected for this full-time, on-site position. Flexibility may be available, but the core requirement is physical presence in the Seattle office to facilitate research and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is critical, especially given the emphasis on Gemba research. This suggests that the company values in-person collaboration and direct observation of users in their natural work environment to drive design decisions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess core qualifications, experience, and design craft.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, likely involving a presentation of past work and a discussion of design decisions, process, and impact. This may include a specific design exercise related to manufacturing workflows.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and strategic thinking.

• On-site Visit (if not local): For candidates not based in Seattle, a visit to the office might be required as part of the final stages to experience the environment and meet the team in person.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss role fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Gemba/On-site Research: Clearly showcase projects where you conducted user research in physical or manufacturing environments. Detail your methods and how observations informed your design solutions.

• Demonstrate End-to-End Ownership: Present case studies that cover the entire design lifecycle, from initial problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.

• Showcase Design System Contributions: Include examples of how you've built, evolved, or contributed to design systems, focusing on reusable components and their impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs. For this role, focus on improvements in efficiency, throughput, error reduction, or user satisfaction in production workflows.

• Articulate Your Process and Rationale: Be prepared to walk through your thought process for each project, explaining the "why" behind your design decisions, and how you used storytelling to influence stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with manufacturing processes and the challenges of designing for industrial environments.

• Practice articulating complex design concepts and user flows clearly and concisely.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for a platform like Forge, considering its role in hardware production and logistics.

• Be ready to discuss how you balance short-term needs with long-term design system strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio for evidence of on-site research capabilities and experience with design systems. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process and impact with concrete examples relevant to manufacturing and production environments.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) are explicitly mentioned as preferred. Candidates should be proficient in at least one primary tool.

• Design System Management: Tools and methodologies for creating and maintaining scalable design systems.

• Collaboration Tools: Likely Jira, Confluence, Slack, or similar for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but an understanding of how design integrates with broader production and operational systems (like Forge) is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is often a strong indicator for modern product design roles, though Sketch and Adobe Creative Suite are also listed. Candidates should highlight their experience with design systems and any tools used for user research and data analysis that inform design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the company's mission of transforming military capabilities.

• Innovation & Speed: A culture that values rapid iteration, cutting-edge technology, and quick deployment of solutions.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving user needs, particularly through direct, on-site engagement (Gemba).

• Excellence & Detail: High standards for quality, precision, and meticulous execution in both hardware and software.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams (design, engineering, product, manufacturing) to achieve common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers working closely with product managers and engineers to define requirements and iterate on solutions.

• Emphasis on clear communication, storytelling, and cross-functional alignment to ensure shared understanding and buy-in.

• A culture that encourages feedback and constructive critique to elevate the quality of design work.

• Integration with the central Product Design team for shared best practices and learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely defined by its mission, pace, and a strong emphasis on practical, user-focused solutions. Designers should be prepared to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where direct impact is valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Physical Environments: Translating user needs and operational constraints from manufacturing floors into effective digital interfaces.

• Balancing Tactical vs. Strategic Design: Managing immediate feature requests and bug fixes while simultaneously advancing long-term design system goals.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating design rationale and gaining consensus from diverse stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds and priorities.

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Staying abreast of advancements in AI, autonomy, and other technologies that Anduril integrates into its systems.

• Travel Requirements: Managing up to 25% travel to conduct on-site research, which requires strong organizational and time management skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in designing for complex operational workflows within the defense technology sector.

• Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI, computer vision, and sensor fusion technologies.

• Contribute significantly to a growing design system, impacting a wide array of critical products.

• Develop leadership skills through strategic product input and potential mentorship roles.

• Attend industry conferences or pursue certifications relevant to product design, UX, and potentially manufacturing/operations technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the unique context of designing for hardware production in a defense tech company. Growth opportunities lie in developing specialized domain expertise and contributing to high-impact, mission-critical projects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used on-site user research to significantly improve a product's usability or efficiency. How did you approach the research, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on Gemba/manufacturing context).

• "How do you balance the need for quick, tactical design solutions with the long-term goal of building a robust and scalable design system?" (Prepare examples of system contributions).

• "Walk us through a complex design project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, the key decisions you made, and the measurable impact?" (Emphasize storytelling and impact quantification).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Anduril's mission and its role in defense technology?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the company's purpose).

• "How do you handle feedback from stakeholders who may not have a design background?" (Highlight communication and persuasion skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project case study. Start with the problem statement, then your process, solutions, and finally, the impact.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions. Show your iterative process, including research, ideation, and testing.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify achievements whenever possible. Use metrics related to efficiency, user adoption, error reduction, or business value. For this role, focus on improvements in production or operational workflows.

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Showcase your contributions to design systems and how you ensure consistency and scalability.

• Tailor to Anduril: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with physical environments, complex workflows, or hardware-related industries if possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on showcasing on-site research experience, design system contributions, and the ability to articulate impact. Candidates should be ready to discuss their process in detail and demonstrate strategic thinking relevant to manufacturing and production environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating end-to-end design ownership, on-site user research, and design system contributions. Tailor your presentation to highlight relevant skills for designing in manufacturing/production environments.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 6+ years of experience, specific skills in visual and interaction design, design system development, and any experience with hardware production, supply chain, or manufacturing contexts. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your process, design rationale, and measurable impact. Prepare to discuss how you would approach design challenges specific to Anduril's Forge platform and its operational context.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Anduril Industries, its mission, products (especially Lattice OS and Forge if possible), and its culture. Understand the defense technology landscape and Anduril's unique position within it.

⚠️ 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.