Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Anduril Industries

Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design (with a focus on Operations Technology)

Date Posted: 2026-05-27T12:14:43

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design end-to-end user experiences for critical manufacturing and onsite workflows within the Forge platform, a proprietary software accelerating hardware production and delivery.

• Drive product strategy and design execution from discovery and ideation through to prototyping, user testing, and implementation, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Develop and mature a scalable design system with reusable components for mobile, tablet, and desktop, optimized for physical environments like manufacturing floors.

• Conduct on-site user research (Gemba philosophy) to gain firsthand understanding of user needs, operational challenges, and environmental constraints in high-rate production settings.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within the ProductionOS team, which is part of ArsenalOS. The focus on "Forge" and accelerating "production and delivery of customer-ready hardware" strongly indicates a need for design expertise in operational technology (OT) and industrial software, rather than typical consumer-facing applications. The emphasis on manufacturing floors and physical environments is a key differentiator.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute significantly to roadmap shaping and strategic decision-making for product and design initiatives within the ProductionOS team.

• Lead all phases of the design process, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final design implementation for Forge applications.

• Utilize compelling storytelling to effectively communicate design rationale, process, and impact to a diverse range of stakeholders, including engineering, product management, and operations leadership.

• Define and craft user experiences for critical manufacturing, production, and onsite workflows, aiming to enhance immersion, efficiency, and consistency.

• Strategically balance immediate tactical design needs with long-term goals for design system evolution and scalability.

• Actively collaborate with the central Product Design team to share best practices, learnings, and contribute to a cohesive design culture across Anduril.

• Design and create scalable, reusable components for various platforms (mobile, tablet, desktop), specifically considering the unique physical and environmental constraints of manufacturing floors and high-rate production settings.

• Develop, document, and maintain the Forge design system, ensuring it supports consistency, efficiency, and rapid iteration across all associated applications.

• Advocate for design principles and decisions, establishing design tenets that guide future strategic design work and product development.

• Engage in direct, on-site user research, embracing the Gemba philosophy by visiting shop floors and workstations to gain deep, firsthand understanding of user behaviors, pain points, and environmental factors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product involvement and deep execution, with a strong emphasis on physical environments and manufacturing processes. The "Gemba philosophy" is a Lean manufacturing principle, indicating a need for designers who can immerse themselves in operational realities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience.

Experience: 6+ years of professional software design experience, with a demonstrable track record in end-to-end product design.

Required Skills:

• High attention to detail and mastery of visual and interaction design craft, including micro-interactions and animations.

• Proven ability to conduct user research, translate findings into actionable design solutions, and articulate the "why," process, and impact of design work through compelling storytelling.

• Proficiency in creating scalable components and designing for diverse devices and physical environments (mobile, tablet, desktop).

• Experience in developing, implementing, and maintaining robust design systems.

• Comfort and experience with on-site research methodologies, particularly within manufacturing, production, or similar industrial environments.

• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to product roadmapping and design strategy.

Preferred Skills:

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

• Advanced knowledge of core visual design principles: layout, color theory, typography, and Gestalt principles.

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

• Understanding of accessibility standards and their practical application in complex software environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "multimodal experiences" and designing for various devices and environments, especially manufacturing floors, suggests a need for skills beyond typical web/mobile UI design, potentially including industrial interfaces or hardware-integrated software. The "6+ years" and emphasis on strategy point to a mid-to-senior level individual contributor.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio showcasing a minimum of 6 years of professional software design work, with a strong emphasis on end-to-end project execution.

• Demonstrations of multimodal user experiences, illustrating design for various devices and contexts, particularly those relevant to operational or industrial settings.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the design problem, your specific role and process, the solutions you devised, and the measurable impact achieved (e.g., efficiency gains, error reduction, user satisfaction improvements).

• Evidence of experience in developing and utilizing design systems, including examples of reusable components and their application across different products or features.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio pieces should clearly outline your design process, from initial discovery and user research through ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.

• Demonstrate how you have documented and evolved design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and usage guidelines.

• Showcase instances where you have used storytelling to present design concepts, rationale, and outcomes to stakeholders.

• Include examples of how you have balanced short-term design needs with long-term strategic design pursuits.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving manufacturing and hardware production, a portfolio that highlights process optimization, efficiency improvements, and practical application in industrial settings will be highly valued. Demonstrating an understanding of physical workflows and how digital interfaces interact with them is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Explanation of Range: This range is provided by the company and accounts for base salary only. Actual compensation will depend on factors such as the candidate's experience, education, skills, and business needs.

Benefits:

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

• Top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including comprehensive health insurance and other support for health, recovery, and future planning.

• Specifics on additional benefits can be explored via the company's careers page.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time work week (likely 40 hours) is implied. The role requires willingness to travel up to 25% of the time, suggesting potential flexibility in on-site work location during those periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for a Senior Product Designer in a high-cost-of-living area like Washington D.C., especially within a technology-focused defense company. The emphasis on equity grants signifies a strong alignment with company growth and performance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology. Anduril Industries focuses on transforming military capabilities with advanced technology, including AI, autonomy, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking.

Company Size: Large (likely 1000+ employees based on industry prevalence and growth trajectory of defense tech companies). This implies a structured environment with established processes but also potential for significant impact and rapid evolution.

Founded: 2017. Anduril is a relatively young but rapidly growing company, indicating a dynamic, fast-paced, and innovative culture.

Team Structure:

• The ProductionOS team is part of the broader ArsenalOS organization, suggesting a focus on foundational operating systems and infrastructure for Anduril's hardware and software products.

• The Product Designer will likely work within a dedicated Forge product team, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Software Engineers, and potentially hardware engineers or manufacturing specialists.

Methodology:

• The company leverages AI, autonomy, and advanced software engineering practices to rapidly develop and deploy military technology.

• The ProductionOS team specifically uses the "Forge" platform to streamline hardware production and delivery, implying a focus on Lean manufacturing principles, efficiency, automation, and data-driven operational improvements.

• The "Gemba philosophy" is explicitly mentioned, highlighting a commitment to understanding processes and user needs directly at the point of work.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Anduril's mission-driven nature in the defense sector attracts individuals passionate about impact. The combination of cutting-edge technology, rapid development cycles, and a focus on operational efficiency (via Forge and Gemba) creates a unique and demanding work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a significant level of individual contribution, strategic input, and ownership. It's a role where the designer is expected to lead design efforts for a critical product area.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Manager within the ProductionOS/ArsenalOS team, and will collaborate extensively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads. There's also a dotted line or strong collaborative relationship with the central Product Design function.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts Anduril's ability to scale its hardware production and delivery. By improving the efficiency and usability of the Forge platform, this role contributes directly to faster deployment of critical defense technologies, which is central to Anduril's mission. Optimized production workflows mean reduced lead times, lower costs, and increased output, all vital for a defense contractor.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead designer for the Forge product or transition into a management role within the design organization as the company scales.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in operational technology (OT) design, industrial UX, and complex system design within the defense sector.

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic influence by working closely with product and engineering leadership on roadmap and technology decisions.

• Design System Expansion: Lead efforts to expand and govern the design system, potentially influencing design standards across other Anduril product lines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant growth path for designers interested in the intersection of complex hardware production, industrial software, and mission-critical technology. The ability to influence product strategy and operational efficiency is a key differentiator for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is primarily on-site in Washington, D.C., with the expectation of up to 25% travel. This suggests a hybrid work model where significant time is spent in the office, fostering in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia, United States. This location offers access to a vibrant tech and government ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a modern office environment designed for collaboration, with dedicated spaces for design work, team meetings, and focused individual tasks.

• Access to necessary design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially specialized hardware/software for prototyping or simulating industrial environments.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing) both within the ProductionOS team and potentially at manufacturing facilities during travel.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours are expected. The requirement for on-site presence and potential travel necessitates a structured schedule, though the dynamic nature of a defense tech company might also involve periods of intense focus and occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement, coupled with travel, emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration and direct engagement with users and the physical production environment. This is not a remote-first role and requires a physical presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, focusing