Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Checkfront (Manifest)

Location: Canada (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Front-End Development

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the visual design, interaction, and user experience quality for AI-generated customer websites and the platform that creates them.

• Drive product UI design, ensuring a cohesive and scalable structure for new features within the Manifest platform.

• Leverage AI-assisted design and build tools, including Claude Design, to accelerate the product development lifecycle.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams, contributing directly to front-end implementation and potentially opening/iterating on pull requests.

• Operate effectively in a zero-to-one, startup-like environment, embracing ambiguity and a bias towards shipping and iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the emphasis on "comfortable in a codebase," "implementing UI on the front-end," and "taking an idea all the way to a pull request" indicates a hybrid role blending traditional Product Design with significant front-end development responsibilities. The AI-native aspect and specific mention of Claude Design are critical differentiators.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design quality of customer-facing websites, encompassing visual aesthetics, interaction patterns, information architecture, and overall user polish.

• Partner with the onboarding team to craft bespoke website experiences for high-value clients, ensuring alignment with their brand and business needs.

• Deeply understand the capabilities and limitations of the current platform, proactively identifying gaps and contributing to the product roadmap.

• Make strategic decisions on the optimal use of AI tooling (e.g., Claude Design) versus building reusable platform features to maximize efficiency and scalability.

• Design and maintain the internal UI structures and component patterns for the Manifest platform itself, ensuring new features integrate seamlessly.

• Directly implement front-end UI/UX elements, enabling engineers (or yourself) to build features on a well-defined and robust foundation.

• Elevate the standard of quality and consistency across all shipped products, from the core platform to individual customer websites.

• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with Engineering, Onboarding, and Product teams to ensure seamless workflow integration and address edge cases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach with a strong emphasis on both user-facing product quality and the internal platform's design system. The strategic decision-making regarding AI tool utilization is a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience in Product Design and front-end development is expected.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in Product Design, with a significant portion involving front-end implementation or close collaboration with engineering. Experience in a startup or zero-to-one product environment is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Fundamentals: Proven ability in creating aesthetically pleasing and effective visual designs, with a keen eye for detail and polish.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and engaging user interactions across web interfaces.

• UX Design: Solid understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies to create user-friendly experiences.

• Information Architecture: Ability to structure content and navigation logically for optimal user flow and discoverability.

• HTML & CSS Proficiency: Working knowledge of HTML and CSS for front-end development and implementation.

• Component-Based Design: Experience designing and working with reusable UI components for web applications.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Fluency and enthusiasm for leveraging AI tools in the design process, specifically mentioning Claude Design, and the judgment to apply them strategically.

• Product UI Design: Experience designing the user interface for software products, focusing on structure, scalability, and feature integration.

• Startup Environment Adaptability: Comfort and proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous, and "many hats" startup setting.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Onboarding).

Preferred Skills:

• Front-End Engineering Background: A solid foundation in front-end engineering, with the ability to read, write, and iterate on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, including experience with pull requests.

• Travel/Hospitality Industry Experience: Familiarity with the nuances of the travel, tourism, activities, hospitality, or booking/e-commerce product sectors.

• Website Builder/CMS Familiarity: Experience with tools like Webflow, Duda, or WordPress, and an understanding of SEO, AEO, and performance optimization (e.g., Lighthouse scores, structured data).

• Design System Ownership/Contribution: Experience in creating, managing, or contributing to a design system.

• AI Tooling for Production: Demonstrated track record of using AI tools to accelerate design, prototyping, and delivery in a live production environment.

• Design-Engineering Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively at the intersection of design and engineering, where responsibilities are highly collaborative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" clearly indicate a hybrid role. The emphasis on AI tools like Claude Design is a specific requirement. The "Preferred Skills" offer clear pathways for candidates to stand out, particularly those with direct front-end engineering experience and industry-specific knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies that highlight your process from problem identification to solution implementation, focusing on both customer websites and the platform UI.

• Visual Design & Interaction Examples: Include examples demonstrating strong visual design sensibilities, intuitive interaction patterns, and user-centric UX solutions.

• Front-End Implementation Samples: Provide evidence of your ability to implement UI directly, whether through code snippets, live examples, or descriptions of your contribution to front-end code.

• AI Tooling Integration: Demonstrate how you've strategically used AI tools (like Claude Design) in your workflow to solve design challenges or improve efficiency.

• Problem-Solving Approach: Clearly articulate the problems you were solving, your design rationale, and the outcomes achieved, with a focus on measurable impact where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Flow: Clearly outline your typical design process, from research and ideation through to prototyping, testing, and implementation handoff (or direct implementation).

• Collaboration Workflows: Illustrate how you collaborate with engineering and product teams, including examples of communication strategies and feedback loops.

• AI Integration Strategy: Explain your approach to integrating AI tools into the design and development workflow, including how you evaluate tool effectiveness and make strategic decisions about their use.

• Component-Based Development: Showcase examples of how you've designed or utilized reusable components to ensure consistency and efficiency in design and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the hybrid nature of the role, the portfolio should strongly emphasize both design thinking and practical front-end implementation capabilities. Highlighting strategic use of AI tools is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $95,000 - $135,000 CAD per year, commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, standard for full-time roles.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Remote Work Stipend/Support: Potential for home office setup or recurring stipends to support a remote work environment.

• Professional Development Opportunities: Support for courses, conferences, and learning resources related to design, front-end development, and AI technologies.

• Stock Options/Equity: Common in startup environments, offering a stake in the company's growth.

• Team Retreats/Events: Opportunities for in-person or virtual team building and connection.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate different time zones within Canada. The company emphasizes moving quickly but caring about craft, suggesting a results-oriented approach to work hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for a fully remote, full-time position at a tech company, especially one in a growth phase. The emphasis on "craft" alongside speed suggests a focus on quality output rather than strict time tracking.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (specifically for the Tours and Activities sector).

Company Size: Checkfront is a growing company, with Manifest being a newer, fast-moving project within it. This suggests a dynamic environment that balances established company resources with startup agility.

Founded: Checkfront was founded in 2010, indicating a mature company with a solid understanding of its core market, while Manifest represents innovation and expansion into new technological frontiers.

Team Structure:

• Manifest Project Team: Small, fast-moving, zero-to-one environment, implying direct collaboration and high individual impact.

• Reporting: Likely reports into a Product Lead or Head of Engineering/Product for the Manifest initiative.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Heavy emphasis on close collaboration with Engineering, Onboarding, and Product teams.

Methodology:

• Agile & Iterative: Moving quickly, embracing ambiguity, and a bias towards shipping and iterating are core tenets.

• Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated, the focus on user experience and product quality suggests decisions will be informed by user feedback and product performance data.

• AI-Centric Development: AI tools are a core part of the practice, influencing how design and development are approached.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Manifest as a "newer, fast-moving part" of Checkfront is crucial. This implies a blend of startup energy with the stability of an established company. The "zero-to-one" nature of Manifest means significant opportunity for impact and shaping the product.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role sits at a mid-level (2-5 years experience) Product Designer position with a strong emphasis on front-end implementation. It's a hybrid role that bridges design and development.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Product Manager or Lead for the Manifest project, working very closely with a small engineering team.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the product's success by shaping both the customer-facing websites and the internal platform. The ability to directly implement UI and leverage AI means rapid iteration and direct contribution to feature delivery and quality. The success of Manifest directly contributes to Checkfront's expansion into AI-native solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in front-end development, potentially moving towards a full-stack role or specializing in component architecture and design systems.

• AI Tool Mastery: Become a go-to expert within the company for leveraging AI in design and development workflows.

• Product Ownership: Grow into a more senior or lead product design role, taking on greater strategic responsibility for the Manifest product.

• Industry Specialization: Further develop expertise in the tours and activities sector, understanding user needs and market trends.

• Leadership Potential: As the Manifest project grows, opportunities for leading design initiatives or mentoring junior team members may arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role presents unique growth opportunities that blend traditional design career paths with emerging front-end and AI development specializations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role is designed for individuals who thrive in a distributed work environment.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Canada, allowing for remote work across various Canadian time zones. The company may have a physical headquarters, but this specific role is remote.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: Expect a highly collaborative digital environment utilizing tools for communication, project management, and design collaboration.

• Access to Modern Tools: Will have access to AI design tools (Claude Design), design software, and potentially front-end development environments.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, stand-ups, and ad-hoc communication channels to foster team cohesion and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility. The emphasis on "moving quickly but caring about craft" suggests a focus on achieving objectives and maintaining high quality, rather than strict adherence to hours. This flexibility is beneficial for remote work and cross-timezone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature is a key aspect, and the company's culture suggests a productive and collaborative remote setup, rather than isolation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess fit with required skills and experience.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: Likely a practical exercise focused on solving a design problem, potentially involving UI implementation or strategic AI tool usage. This may be a take-home assignment or a live working session.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into selected case studies from your portfolio, discussing your design process, decision-making, and technical contributions.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Engineering and Product team members to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and answer any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Hybrid Skills: Clearly showcase projects that demonstrate both strong design thinking and front-end implementation capabilities.

• Emphasize AI Integration: Dedicate specific sections or examples to how you've strategically used AI tools (like Claude Design) to enhance your workflow and outcomes.

• Showcase Process & Rationale: For each case study, detail the problem, your approach, the tools used (including AI), your specific contributions, and the results achieved.

• Include Code Examples (if applicable): If you have strong front-end experience, include links to GitHub repositories, live demos, or code snippets that illustrate your technical proficiency.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced development time, enhanced user satisfaction).

• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio speaks directly to the requirements of this hybrid Product Designer/Front-End role, emphasizing web design, AI, and product UI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Checkfront and the Manifest project. Understand the tours and activities industry and the challenges operators face.

• AI Tool Fluency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI design tools and how you'd approach using them strategically for this role.

• Front-End Fundamentals: Brush up on HTML, CSS, and component-based design principles. Be ready to discuss how design translates to code.

• Problem-Solving: Think about how you'd approach designing a user-friendly website generation platform or improving the UI of a product aimed at small businesses.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've worked effectively with engineers and product managers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on both design craft and technical execution, with a strong emphasis on AI integration and collaborative problem-solving.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (or similar industry-standard tools).

• AI Design Tools: Claude Design (explicitly mentioned), potentially others like Midjourney, DALL-E for asset generation or ideation.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Figma, ProtoPie, or similar for interactive mockups.

• Front-End Technologies: HTML, CSS (including preprocessors like Sass/Less), potentially JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, Angular) for UI implementation.

• Version Control: Git, with experience using platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket for collaboration and pull requests.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude (for understanding user behavior on customer sites and the platform).

• Performance Tools: Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights (for website performance optimization).

• SEO Tools: Familiarity with SEO best practices and tools for structured data and Open Graph.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Understanding of how design impacts CRM integration or user data capture within the platform.

• CMS/Website Builders: Familiarity with Webflow, Duda, WordPress, or similar platforms, as the product generates websites.

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello for workflow management and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes a blend of traditional design tools with cutting-edge AI and front-end development technologies. Proficiency in AI tools like Claude Design is a key differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship: A strong commitment to quality, polish, and attention to detail in both design and implementation.

• Speed & Iteration: A bias towards shipping quickly and iterating based on feedback, characteristic of a startup environment.

• AI-Driven Innovation: Embracing and strategically leveraging AI as a core tool for efficiency and creativity.

• User-Centricity: Deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of small businesses in the tours and activities industry.

• Collaboration: Valuing open communication and teamwork across design, engineering, and product functions.

Collaboration Style:

• Hybrid Design-Engineering Approach: Working closely at the seam between design and engineering, fostering a shared understanding and ownership.

• Direct Communication: Open and frequent communication channels to resolve issues quickly and share progress.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to continuously improve product quality and user experience.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share learnings, best practices, and insights, particularly around new technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to balance the fast-paced nature of a startup with a deep appreciation for product quality and craftsmanship, driven by innovative technologies like AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing AI and Craft: Effectively integrating AI tools while maintaining high design quality and avoiding generic outputs.

• Zero-to-One Ambiguity: Navigating an environment with undefined processes and evolving product requirements.

• Hybrid Role Demands: Successfully managing the dual responsibilities of product design and front-end implementation.

• Platform Scalability: Designing a robust platform UI that can accommodate future features and user growth.

• Industry Specificity: Deeply understanding the unique needs of tour and activity operators.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Specialization: Becoming a leader in leveraging advanced AI for design and development.

• Front-End Mastery: Expanding front-end engineering skills, potentially contributing to core platform architecture.

• Product Strategy: Gaining experience in product roadmap development and strategic decision-making.

• Industry Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in the tours and activities software market.

• Design System Development: Contributing to or leading the evolution of a design system for a growing product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to a role in a rapidly evolving tech space and a startup environment, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance AI-generated output with your own design vision. How did you ensure quality and uniqueness?"

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a website builder platform, considering both user needs and technical constraints?"

• "Walk us through a project where you were responsible for both design and front-end implementation. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?"

• "Imagine you have to decide whether to build a feature directly into the platform or rely on an AI tool for it. What factors would you consider?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Checkfront and the Manifest project specifically?"

• "How do you approach working in a fast-paced, zero-to-one startup environment with a high degree of ambiguity?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with engineering and product teams."

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in AI, design, and front-end development?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Hybrid Roles: Clearly delineate your design contributions and front-end implementation efforts within each case study.

• AI Integration Showcase: Dedicate time to explaining how and why you used specific AI tools, showing the strategic decision-making process.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use interactive prototypes or live demos where possible to illustrate your work. For front-end contributions, be prepared to discuss your code.

• Focus on Outcomes: Emphasize the impact of your work – how it solved a problem, improved user experience, or contributed to business goals.

• Be Prepared for Technical Deep Dives: Given the hybrid nature, expect questions about your front-end knowledge and how you approach implementation challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a balanced skillset, strategic thinking regarding AI, and a collaborative, adaptable mindset suitable for a startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided JazzHR link: https://checkfront.applytojob.com/apply/NErmVWa5Yf/Product-Designer

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your hybrid design and front-end implementation skills, with a clear emphasis on your experience with AI tools like Claude Design.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords relevant to Product Design, UX, UI, HTML, CSS, front-end development, AI-assisted design, and startup environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, your approach to AI integration, and your experience working in collaborative, fast-paced teams. Practice walking through your portfolio case studies.

• Research Manifest & Checkfront: Understand the company's mission, the target industry (tours and activities), and the specific goals of the AI-native website generation project.

⚠️ 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.