Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Beacon AI

Location: San Carlos, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3+ days onsite)

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the end-to-end product design process for Beacon AI's pilot assistant, a safety-critical AI-driven platform.

• Conduct in-depth user research and usability testing with pilots and aviation professionals to understand critical workflows and mental models.

• Translate complex AI outputs into intuitive, actionable interfaces for high-pressure cockpit environments.

• Develop and maintain a scalable design system to ensure product consistency and design velocity.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to iteratively ship polished user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a foundational design position within a fast-paced, AI-focused aviation tech startup. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," "0 to 1 products," and "no silos" suggests a high degree of autonomy and responsibility, requiring a designer comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration. The safety-critical nature of aviation implies a rigorous approach to design, prioritizing clarity, precision, and user trust above all else.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, from initial concept exploration and user research to iterative wireframing, prototyping, and final specification for engineering.

• Engage directly with pilots and aviation domain experts to gather insights, validate design decisions, and ensure the product meets stringent safety and usability standards.

• Design intuitive and clear user interfaces that effectively communicate complex AI-generated data, alerts, and recommendations to pilots in real-time, high-stress situations.

• Architect, implement, and manage a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product interfaces.

• Foster a strong partnership with the engineering team, ensuring seamless handoffs and collaborative problem-solving to deliver high-quality, well-executed user experiences.

• Contribute to the development of Beacon AI's overall brand and visual identity as a secondary focus, supporting marketing collateral and web presence as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to design, with a strong emphasis on user-centricity and collaboration. The need to design for "safety-critical" and "high-pressure cockpit environments" implies a design process that is highly methodical, data-driven, and focused on minimizing cognitive load and error. The mention of a "scalable design system" points to a need for a designer who can establish and maintain design infrastructure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Design principles, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is expected, demonstrated through experience and portfolio.

Experience: 2-5 years of progressive experience in Product Design, with a significant portion dedicated to leading design efforts end-to-end for new products or features. Experience with complex, data-heavy, or safety-critical systems is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience as a sole or founding designer, successfully taking products from concept to launch without extensive design team structures.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct user research, usability testing, and translate findings into actionable design solutions.

• Strong proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.

• Expertise in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

• Excellent product design instincts with the ability to move fluidly between strategic thinking and detailed execution.

• A proactive and inquisitive mindset, consistently questioning the "why" behind design briefs and pushing for optimal problem-solving.

• Comfort and resilience in navigating ambiguity and complexity in a fast-paced startup environment. Preferred Skills:

• 3+ years of experience in product design, specifically with complex, data-heavy, or safety-critical products such as aviation, aerospace, defense, medical devices, or enterprise software.

• Experience designing for AI-powered products, with an understanding of how to build user trust and intuition around machine-generated insights.

• Familiarity with motion design, micro-interactions, and animation principles to enhance user experience.

• Basic understanding of HTML and CSS, facilitating better collaboration with engineering.

• Genuine curiosity and passion for aviation, aerospace, or related safety-critical industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level, coupled with the "founding designer" requirement, suggests the company is looking for someone who is beyond entry-level but not yet a senior lead, capable of independent work and strategic contribution. The emphasis on "0 to 1" product development and a "genuine curiosity about aviation" are key indicators of the ideal candidate profile.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design work, demonstrating ownership from discovery to delivery.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the challenges encountered, and the solutions implemented.

• Examples of user research methodologies employed and how insights informed design decisions.

• Demonstrations of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final high-fidelity designs.

• Evidence of building or contributing significantly to a design system.

• Visuals and explanations of how your designs addressed complex data or safety-critical requirements. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the iterative process of design, including how feedback was incorporated and how designs evolved.

• Highlight the use of design thinking, user-centered design, and agile methodologies in practice.

• Showcase how you translated complex AI outputs into user-friendly interfaces, detailing the problem-solving steps.

• Demonstrate how you ensured consistency and scalability through your design system implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics and demonstrate a deep understanding of the design process, user research, and the ability to tackle complex, high-stakes design challenges. The emphasis on "0 to 1" and safety-critical products means demonstrating how you navigated ambiguity and made critical design decisions with limited prior structure.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $156,000 - $250,000 USD per year. This range reflects the experience level (2-5 years), the critical nature of the role in a safety-focused industry, and the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Benefits:

• Healthcare: 100% of employee medical premiums covered; 25% for dependents.

• Time Off: Generous PTO (3 weeks) plus 13+ paid company holidays.

• Stipends: Monthly phone and wellness benefits to support employee well-being.

• 401(k): Offered, with a commitment to enhancing employer match in the future.

• Equity: Potential for stock options as part of the compensation package, typical for early-stage startups.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid, a significant onsite presence (3+ days) is required, suggesting a need for dedicated work hours during the business day in San Carlos, CA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Product Designer role with 2-5 years of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in a specialized and high-demand field like AI and aviation. The benefits package is strong, with excellent healthcare coverage and ample time off, which are attractive perks for tech professionals. The equity component is a standard offering for startup roles and can represent significant long-term value.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Aviation/Aerospace. Beacon AI operates at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and the highly regulated, safety-conscious aviation industry. This dual focus requires a unique blend of innovation and rigorous attention to detail.

Company Size: Startup (likely small to medium-sized, given the "fast-moving team," "no silos," and "small, focused teams" description). This implies a dynamic, agile environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's description suggests it is a relatively young, growth-stage startup with substantial backing from top investors and existing DoD contracts, indicating a product-market fit and significant traction.

Team Structure:

• Beacon AI emphasizes small, focused teams that own their areas of development without "heavy processes." This suggests a flat or semi-flat organizational structure.

• The Product Designer will likely be part of a cross-functional pod or team, working closely with engineers and product managers.

• Collaboration is expected to be direct and frequent, with minimal hierarchical bureaucracy. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The company leverages AI and data to enhance flying safety and efficiency. Design decisions will need to be informed by data, user feedback, and rigorous analysis of AI outputs.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core function is optimizing pilot workflows through AI assistance, requiring a deep understanding of existing aviation processes and how to improve them.

• Automation & Efficiency: The AI platform itself is about automating complex tasks and improving operational efficiency in aviation, a principle that should extend to design processes.

Company Website: https://beaconai.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by agility, speed, and a strong sense of ownership. The "no silos" and "small, focused teams" environment is ideal for designers who thrive on autonomy and direct impact. The aviation context adds a layer of seriousness and a critical need for reliability and precision in design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Product Designer role is positioned at an individual contributor level, likely mid-level (2-5 years experience), with significant potential for growth. It's described as a "founding designer" role for a specific product line, implying it could evolve into a lead position for that area or a broader design leadership role as the company scales.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Head of Product, CTO, or a senior engineering lead, given the startup environment and emphasis on small teams. Direct collaboration with product managers and engineers is a given.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work will have a direct and critical impact on the safety, efficiency, and capability of flight operations. Designing interfaces that pilots trust and can use effectively in high-stakes situations directly contributes to the company's mission and success in securing and fulfilling contracts. The AI aspect means the designer is at the forefront of integrating advanced technology into a critical domain.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company grows, this role could evolve into a Lead Product Designer, managing a small team or overseeing design efforts for specific product verticals.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI interface design, aviation UX, or safety-critical systems design.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain broader product strategy influence by working closely with engineering and product leadership on the future direction of Beacon AI's platform.

• System Ownership: Continue to expand and refine the design system, becoming the go-to expert for design infrastructure and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "0 to 1" nature of this role means the designer will be instrumental in shaping not just the product but also the design function within Beacon AI. This offers significant opportunities for impact and career advancement beyond standard progression paths, particularly in a rapidly scaling startup.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid role based in San Carlos, CA. This indicates a modern office environment designed to support collaboration and focused work, with the flexibility of remote work days.

Office Location(s): San Carlos, California, a location within the broader San Francisco Bay Area, offering access to a vibrant tech ecosystem. The specific office details would need to be confirmed, but it's expected to be a professional setting conducive to the company's mission.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on small teams suggest a collaborative workspace where designers can easily interact with engineers and product managers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools (Figma is specified) and potentially other software relevant to AI development and aviation simulation.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with a dedicated team focused on solving complex problems in aviation AI.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 3+ days per week onsite. This structure balances the need for in-person collaboration and focused individual work, allowing for flexibility while ensuring team cohesion and project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, indicating a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. For a designer, this means opportunities for both spontaneous ideation sessions and focused, uninterrupted design time.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in aviation AI.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio. Expect to walk through 1-2 key case studies, detailing your process, decisions, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your experience with 0-to-1 products and safety-critical design.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: This might involve a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard session focused on a specific design problem related to AI interfaces or aviation workflows. The goal is to assess your problem-solving approach, design thinking, and ability to articulate your rationale.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with engineering and product team members to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and alignment with the team's working methods.

• Final Round: Potentially a conversation with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, long-term impact, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, your unique contribution, the design process you followed, and the measurable outcomes (even if qualitative).

• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Detail your research, ideation, iteration, and decision-making rationale. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Highlight 0-to-1 Experience: Emphasize your ability to build products from scratch, navigate ambiguity, and establish design foundations.

• Address Safety-Critical Design: If possible, showcase projects where you considered user safety, reliability, and clarity under pressure. Explain your approach to these constraints.

• Be Ready for AI: Discuss your experience or understanding of designing for AI-powered products and how you build user trust.

Challenge Preparation:

• Think Aloud: During any live challenge, articulate your thought process clearly. Explain your assumptions and how you're approaching the problem.

• Prioritize: In a timed exercise, focus on the most critical aspects of the problem. Show how you would prioritize features or design elements.

• Ask Clarifying Questions: Demonstrate your ability to gather information and refine the problem statement.

• Propose Iterations: Show that you understand design is iterative and propose next steps or future improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process. Given the safety-critical nature of the product, expect questions that probe your understanding of user needs, risk mitigation, and clarity under pressure. The "0 to 1" and "founding designer" aspects mean they are looking for initiative, self-sufficiency, and strategic thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as a required skill and the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Proficiency and ownership of a design system within Figma are key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, designers at Beacon AI will likely need to access and interpret user analytics to inform design decisions. Familiarity with common analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) or dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker) would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but understanding how user data flows from product usage into CRM or other systems might be helpful for context. Other Potential Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with dedicated prototyping tools (e.g., ProtoPie for advanced interactions) could be a plus.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, surveys, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Slack for team communication and project tracking.

• Design System Tools: Potentially tools for documentation or version control related to the design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the design tool stack. The emphasis on a "scalable design system" implies a need for organized file management, component libraries, and potentially documentation within Figma or linked tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Safety & Precision: Given the aviation context, a paramount value will be ensuring the safety and accuracy of the product. Design decisions must prioritize clarity, reliability, and the avoidance of errors.

• Innovation & Speed: As an AI startup, Beacon AI values pushing boundaries and shipping quickly. Designers are expected to be innovative while maintaining a fast-paced execution rhythm.

• Ownership & Accountability: The "small, focused teams own what they build" ethos means designers are expected to take full responsibility for their work and its outcomes.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working without "silos" implies a culture of open communication, cross-functional teamwork, and shared problem-solving.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Insights from AI, user research, and analytics will guide design choices, fostering a culture that values evidence.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers will work intimately with engineers and product managers, likely in agile sprints, with constant feedback loops.

• Process Iteration: The team is encouraged to "learn fast," suggesting a culture open to refining processes and methodologies based on what works best.

• Direct Communication: Expect direct, candid communication rather than formal, layered approval processes. The emphasis is on efficient problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values revolve around the high-stakes nature of aviation, the innovative drive of AI technology, and a startup's need for agility and ownership. Designers should embody a proactive, collaborative, and safety-conscious mindset.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Safety-Critical AI: Translating complex, potentially uncertain AI outputs into interfaces that pilots can trust and act upon instantly in high-stakes, time-sensitive situations is a significant design challenge. Ensuring clarity and minimizing cognitive load under pressure is paramount.

• Navigating Ambiguity (0-to-1): As a founding designer for a new product, there will be inherent ambiguity in requirements, user needs, and market direction. Overcoming this requires strong initiative, research skills, and the ability to define direction.

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: The need to "ship quickly" must be balanced with the rigorous demands of aviation safety. Finding this equilibrium in the design process will be key.

• Scalability of Design System: Building a design system that is both comprehensive enough for complex features and scalable for future growth requires strategic planning and ongoing maintenance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Expertise: Deepen knowledge in AI UX, aviation human factors, and safety-critical system design.

• Product Strategy Influence: Contribute directly to product strategy and roadmap development as a design leader.

• Design System Leadership: Take full ownership of the design system, evolving it into a robust, company-wide asset.

• Industry Exposure: Gain deep insights into the aviation industry, aerospace technology, and the application of AI in mission-critical domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique domain and stage of the company. Successfully navigating these will provide significant learning and growth opportunities, making this a high-impact role for an ambitious designer.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an AI alert system for pilots that needs to be both informative and non-disruptive in critical flight phases?" (Focus on clarity, prioritization, and user trust).

• "Describe your process for taking a product from 0 to 1, especially when faced with limited initial user data or clear requirements." (Highlight your 0-to-1 experience, research methods, and iterative approach).

• "How do you ensure a design system remains scalable and relevant as a product and team grow?" (Discuss your experience with design system architecture, governance, and adoption).

• "Imagine you have conflicting feedback from pilots and engineers on a design. How would you resolve this?" (Showcase your negotiation, prioritization, and decision-making skills based on user needs and technical feasibility). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in applying AI to aviation, and what excites you about Beacon AI specifically?" (Demonstrate genuine interest in the domain and company mission).

• "Describe a time you had to work autonomously with little direction. How did you approach it?" (Highlight your initiative, self-management, and problem-solving skills).

• "How do you incorporate user feedback into your design process, especially when dealing with expert users like pilots?" (Emphasize your research methodology and ability to translate expert feedback into actionable design). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing) -> Solution -> Impact/Outcome -> Learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data to show the positive results of your design (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. Explain your design decisions thoroughly.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs made, and alternative solutions you considered.

• Tailor to Beacon AI: Connect your past experiences and portfolio examples to the challenges and requirements of this specific role, especially regarding AI and safety-critical design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating practical design skills, strategic thinking, an understanding of user-centricity in high-stakes environments, and an entrepreneurial spirit suitable for a startup. Your portfolio is your primary tool; ensure it tells a compelling story of problem-solving and impactful design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.ashbyhq.com.

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience in end-to-end product design, user research, design systems, and any work on complex or safety-critical products. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 strong case studies that best demonstrate your ability to tackle 0-to-1 product challenges, conduct thorough research, and design for complex, high-stakes user experiences. Ensure it's easily navigable and clearly explains your process and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your design process, decision-making, and the outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and design systems.

• Research Beacon AI: Understand their mission, the aviation AI space, and their current product. Prepare thoughtful questions about the challenges and opportunities in designing for this domain.

⚠️ 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.