Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Gallatin

Location: El Segundo, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: 2026-09-29

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop intuitive user interfaces and experiences for complex military logistics decision-making systems, aligning with Go-To-Market (GTM) operational needs.

• Collaborate closely with senior designers, engineers, and military stakeholders to translate intricate requirements into user-centric product solutions.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather critical feedback for iterative design improvements and validation.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a cohesive visual design system, ensuring brand consistency and operational efficiency across all product touchpoints.

• Support the engineering teams in the seamless implementation of designs, ensuring fidelity and adherence to specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, its application in military logistics decision-making and the emphasis on user research with military stakeholders positions this role as critical GTM operations support. The design outputs directly influence the adoption, usability, and effectiveness of the product in real-world operational scenarios, impacting sales enablement and customer success outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with senior designers to conceptualize and create user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) tailored for military logistics decision-making platforms.

• Generate detailed wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity prototypes using industry-standard design tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Execute user research initiatives, including interviews and usability testing sessions with military personnel and stakeholders, to gather actionable insights.

• Develop and maintain visual design elements and a comprehensive design system, ensuring brand consistency and supporting efficient product development cycles.

• Actively collaborate with software engineering teams to ensure accurate and effective implementation of design specifications, bridging the gap between design and development.

• Participate in cross-functional team meetings, design critiques, and product strategy discussions to influence product direction and operational alignment.

• Create and manage design documentation, including specifications, style guides, and user journey maps, to facilitate clear communication and knowledge transfer.

• Support the creation of marketing and sales enablement collateral by providing design assets and ensuring visual consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities blend core product design tasks with operational support functions. The emphasis on user research with military stakeholders and the creation of design systems directly impacts how the product is perceived and adopted by end-users, which is a key component of Go-To-Market success. Supporting sales enablement collateral is a direct link to GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a closely related field. Experience:

• 1-2 years of professional experience in product design, with a preference for experience within a fast-paced startup environment or in a role supporting complex technical products. Required Skills:

• Proven proficiency in UI/UX design principles and methodologies.

• Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Demonstrated ability to create wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Experience conducting user research and usability testing, with the ability to translate findings into design improvements.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and decisions effectively.

• US Citizenship is a mandatory requirement due to the nature of defense-related projects. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience or a demonstrated interest in defense, military applications, or complex operational environments.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and cross-functional collaboration within these frameworks.

• Experience building and maintaining design systems, component libraries, and style guides.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and their application in product design.

• Experience with user journey mapping and creating comprehensive design documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for US Citizenship is critical for this role due to the sensitive nature of the company's work in national security and defense. The emphasis on UI/UX, Figma, and prototyping aligns with standard operations roles that require clear visualization of processes and system interactions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive product design case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, from initial concept to final execution.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, and the measurable impact or outcomes of your design solutions.

• Highlight your ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, with a specific focus on systems that support decision-making or operational workflows.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs, showcasing your proficiency with design tools.

• Demonstrate your understanding of user research methodologies and how user feedback was integrated into your design iterations. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your ability to document design decisions, user flows, and system interactions clearly and concisely.

• Showcase examples of how you have contributed to or maintained design systems, style guides, or component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Illustrate your understanding of how design specifications are communicated to engineering teams for effective implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations-focused roles, a portfolio is essential for demonstrating practical application of design skills to solve operational problems. The emphasis on process, user research, and measurable impact is key to showcasing an operations-minded approach to design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $92,000 - $142,000 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 0-2 years of experience in the El Segundo, California area, considering the specialized nature of the company's mission in national security and AI-driven logistics. Factors such as the demand for skilled designers in technical fields and the cost of living in Southern California also contribute to this estimation.

Benefits:

• Equity: Opportunity to receive stock options or equity in a growing startup, aligning your success with the company's growth.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• 401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan with potential company matching.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and skill enhancement relevant to design and AI technologies.

• Unique Mission Impact: The chance to contribute to critical national security and defense missions.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for occasional overtime depending on project deadlines. Flexibility may be offered, but the role is primarily on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is derived from the provided data and adjusted for location and experience. Benefits are typical for tech startups, with a unique emphasis on the mission's impact, which can be a significant draw for candidates in this field.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Logistics Infrastructure. Gallatin operates at the intersection of advanced AI, complex logistics, and national security, aiming to revolutionize how military and allied partners make critical operational decisions. This unique positioning requires a blend of cutting-edge technological development and a deep understanding of operational demands.

Company Size: Startup (specific size not provided, but implied by growth and funding). As a startup, Gallatin likely fosters a dynamic, agile, and fast-paced environment where individual contributions have a significant impact. This often translates to a culture of ownership, rapid iteration, and close collaboration across teams.

Founded: Founding date not explicitly provided. The company's mission suggests it is relatively young, likely leveraging recent advancements in AI and machine learning to address long-standing challenges in defense logistics.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is likely small and integrated closely with engineering and product management.

• Designers will report to a Head of Design or a Senior Design Lead, collaborating daily with Product Managers and Software Engineers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, involving close interaction with military stakeholders, subject matter experts, and potentially business development teams to understand user needs and operational contexts. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and stakeholder feedback to inform design decisions.

• Agile Development: Adherence to agile principles for rapid iteration and continuous improvement of product features.

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and addressing the unique needs and operational constraints of military users.

• Mission-Oriented: All design efforts are aligned with the overarching goal of enhancing national security through improved logistics decision-making.

Company Website: https://gallatin.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on national security and AI in logistics shapes its culture. A candidate should expect a mission-driven environment with a strong emphasis on rigorous problem-solving and delivering impactful solutions for a critical user base. The startup nature implies a hands-on approach and the opportunity to influence product direction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an entry-level Product Designer (0-2 years experience). It represents an opportunity to build foundational experience in a highly specialized and impactful field. The designer will be mentored by senior team members, allowing for rapid skill development and exposure to complex design challenges.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Senior Designer or Head of Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers, forming agile product teams responsible for specific features or product areas. This collaborative structure ensures that design is integrated into the product development lifecycle from inception to deployment.

Operations Impact: The designs created by this role directly influence the usability, efficiency, and adoption of Gallatin's AI-powered logistics decision-making platform. Successful designs will lead to better operational outcomes for military missions, reduced logistical errors, and improved decision advantage. This translates to tangible GTM success by making the product more effective and desirable for its target audience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop expertise in designing for complex operational environments, AI-driven systems, and defense applications.

• Design System Leadership: Progress to owning and expanding the company's design system as the team grows.

• User Research Acumen: Deepen capabilities in conducting rigorous user research and usability testing with specialized user groups.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to product strategy and roadmapping, contributing to the future direction of Gallatin's offerings.

• Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced designers and engineers, fostering accelerated career progression.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and growth, opportunities for team lead or management roles may emerge as the design team scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Product Designer in a specialized tech startup like Gallatin offers significant opportunities for skill development and impact. The direct influence on operational effectiveness for national security missions provides a unique career trajectory beyond typical commercial product design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in El Segundo, California, within a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): El Segundo, California, United States. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and is strategically situated within a region known for aerospace and defense industries.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and dedicated project spaces to facilitate seamless teamwork between designers, engineers, and product managers.

• Tooling and Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and necessary infrastructure to support their work effectively.

• Team Interaction: Daily stand-ups, design reviews, and cross-functional project meetings will be common, encouraging a high degree of interaction and knowledge sharing within the operations and product teams.

• Mission Focus: The environment is geared towards individuals who are passionate about impactful work and understand the importance of their contributions to national security objectives.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with a primary focus on in-office collaboration. While flexibility may be available, the on-site nature is crucial for team cohesion and the sensitive nature of the work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in El Segundo suggests a need for candidates who can thrive in a structured, collaborative office setting. The environment is likely geared towards intense focus and problem-solving, typical of companies working on critical national security projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application, focusing on your resume and portfolio link. Expect questions about your design process and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your best work, detailing your role, process, challenges, and outcomes for 1-2 key case studies. Prepare to discuss your design rationale and how you approach user research.

• Technical/Design Challenge: A practical exercise may be given to assess your UI/UX skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you approach design within specific constraints. This could involve a design prompt related to logistics or decision-making.

• Team Interviews: You will meet with members of the design, engineering, and product teams. These interviews will assess your technical skills, cultural fit, and ability to collaborate effectively within an operations-focused team.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Gallatin's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle complex requirements. Prioritize projects that demonstrate UI/UX design for functional systems or operational workflows.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific contributions, the iterative design process (including user research and feedback), your design solutions, and the impact/outcomes. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced errors).

• Highlight Operational Relevance: Emphasize how your designs address user needs in an operational context, improve efficiency, or support critical decision-making. If you have experience with logistics, defense, or similar complex domains, make sure this is evident.

• Showcase Tools and Techniques: Clearly mention the tools used (Figma, Adobe Suite) and methodologies employed (user research, wireframing, prototyping, design systems).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss your design decisions in detail, defend your choices, and explain how you handled challenges or constraints.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with basic concepts of logistics, supply chain management, and decision-making processes, especially in military contexts. Research Gallatin's mission and product.

• Practice Design Exercises: Work through typical UI/UX design challenges, focusing on rapid ideation, wireframing, and prototyping.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to explain your design process step-by-step, highlighting how you gather requirements, ideate, prototype, test, and iterate.

• Focus on User Needs: Demonstrate empathy for the end-user and a commitment to creating solutions that genuinely meet their operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a role like this will heavily emphasize the candidate's ability to translate complex technical requirements into user-friendly designs for a critical operational domain. A strong portfolio showcasing process and impact is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating and managing components within Figma is essential.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop and Illustrator will likely be used for asset creation, image editing, and graphic design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's native capabilities, experience with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) may be beneficial.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack, Jira, and Confluence are commonly used for team communication, task management, and documentation in agile environments.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility, understanding how design impacts user behavior and operational metrics tracked through analytics tools will be valuable. Familiarity with tools that present user behavior data (e.g., Hotjar, Google Analytics) can inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but understanding how the product integrates with broader operational systems or sales enablement platforms is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is a core requirement. Familiarity with agile project management tools is also expected for effective collaboration within the product development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to the company's purpose of enhancing national security through advanced logistics and AI. This means prioritizing impact and effectiveness in all design work.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for design outcomes, from ideation through implementation, and proactively addressing challenges.

• Clear Thinking & Direct Communication: Valuing logical reasoning, concise explanations, and transparent feedback among team members.

• High Standards: An expectation of excellence in design quality, technical execution, and problem-solving approaches.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Relying on user research, testing, and performance metrics to guide design choices and validate solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with engineers, product managers, and potentially military stakeholders to ensure designs are technically feasible, operationally relevant, and meet user needs.

• Iterative Design Process: Embracing feedback loops and continuous refinement of designs based on input from various sources.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in design reviews, sharing insights, and contributing to a collective understanding of user needs and best practices.

• Agile Teamwork: Contributing to a fast-paced, collaborative environment where teams work together to achieve common goals on tight timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Gallatin is likely to be intense, mission-focused, and highly collaborative, requiring individuals who are not only skilled designers but also adaptable, accountable, and aligned with the company's ambitious goals in a critical sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Users: Adapting design approaches to meet the unique needs, operational constraints, and technical proficiencies of military personnel.

• Translating Abstract Concepts: Visualizing and designing interfaces for AI-driven decision-making systems that may involve complex algorithms and data inputs.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Creating cutting-edge solutions while ensuring they are intuitive, reliable, and easy to use in high-stakes operational environments.

• Rapid Iteration in a Startup: Adapting quickly to changing requirements and project scopes within a fast-paced startup environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of military logistics, defense operations, and AI applications in these fields.

• Advanced Design Skills: Developing expertise in designing for complex systems, user research in specialized contexts, and contributing to sophisticated design systems.

• Industry Exposure: Working with cutting-edge AI technology and contributing to projects with significant national security implications.

• Career Advancement: Opportunities to grow into senior design roles, lead design initiatives, or specialize in areas like UX research or design systems within a scaling organization.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced professionals in design, engineering, and defense operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges but also offers unparalleled growth opportunities due to the specialized nature of the work and the company's mission. The ability to overcome these challenges will directly contribute to professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a user group with specific constraints or unique needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on user research, empathy, and adaptive design).

• "Walk us through a complex design project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, the key decisions you made, and the impact?" (Prepare to discuss your design rationale, trade-offs, and measurable results).

• "How do you approach the development and maintenance of a design system? What are its key components and benefits?" (Highlight your understanding of consistency, scalability, and efficiency). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Gallatin, specifically in the defense/national security sector?" (Connect your personal values and career aspirations to the company's mission).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or differing design opinions within a team?" (Showcase your ability to collaborate, communicate, and be receptive to feedback).

• "Describe your experience working in a startup environment or a fast-paced team." (Highlight adaptability, proactivity, and ability to manage multiple priorities). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your step-by-step design process for each project, emphasizing how you moved from problem definition to solution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user satisfaction, reduced task completion time, increased efficiency).

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you creatively solved them through design.

• Tailor to Gallatin: If possible, frame your case studies to highlight skills relevant to logistics, decision-making systems, or complex operational environments.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your proficiency with Figma, design system principles, and user research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong design process, user-centricity, and an understanding of the operational context. Highlighting experience with complex systems and the ability to collaborate effectively within a mission-driven team will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby, ensuring you include a link to your online portfolio.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your UI/UX design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to create intuitive interfaces for complex systems or operational workflows. Emphasize any experience with decision-making tools or logistics.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 1-2 years of relevant product design experience, highlighting proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, user research, and prototyping. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your understanding of Gallatin's mission and the defense/logistics sector.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Gallatin, its mission, its focus on AI in logistics for national security, and its company culture. Be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for this specific role and company.

⚠️ 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.