Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: LatchBio

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-11-03T00:00:00

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

Remote Status: On-site (implied by lack of remote designation and company context)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and ship intuitive, polished user experiences for researchers engaging with LatchBio's AI-driven computational biology benchmarks, encompassing both internal tools and the public-facing platform.

• Drive improvements in complex product workflows, identifying and resolving usability issues to enhance the overall user experience for computational biologists and AI developers.

• Translate intricate technical concepts and AI performance data into clear, compelling visual designs and intuitive interfaces for a scientifically-minded audience.

• Develop and implement engaging website experiences, including benchmark launches, product announcements, and company updates, to effectively communicate LatchBio's value proposition and technical advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role explicitly mentions working with "AI coding agents to implement and iterate on their designs," indicating a strong emphasis on a hands-on approach to bringing designs to production. This suggests a need for candidates comfortable with a hybrid design-and-development workflow, blurring traditional lines between design and front-end implementation. The "On-site" status is inferred due to the lack of remote designation in the provided data and the typical expectation for collaborative roles in early-stage tech companies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and deliver end-to-end user experiences for LatchBio's computational biology benchmark platform, from initial user research and ideation through to final implementation and post-launch iteration.

• Define and optimize complex user workflows for researchers and internal teams, ensuring seamless navigation and efficient task completion within the platform.

• Develop wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that adhere to best practices in UI/UX design and effectively communicate technical information.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to translate design concepts into production-ready assets, leveraging AI coding agents for rapid prototyping and implementation.

• Design and create compelling marketing website pages, landing pages, and launch materials that clearly articulate LatchBio's mission, product offerings, and scientific contributions.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to inform design decisions and continuously improve the product and website experience.

• Maintain and evolve LatchBio's design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description implies a significant level of autonomy and ownership for the Product Designer. The responsibilities suggest a role that is deeply integrated into the product development lifecycle, requiring not just design skills but also an ability to understand technical challenges, manage ambiguity, and drive projects from conception to completion with minimal oversight. The emphasis on "shipping products" and "bringing their work to production" indicates a need for a results-oriented designer.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is expected. A strong portfolio demonstrating design expertise will be prioritized over formal education.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of designing and shipping successful digital products, interfaces, or websites.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Proven ability to design and ship end-to-end product experiences, interfaces, or websites that users love.

• Visual & Interaction Design: Strong aesthetic sense and proficiency in creating polished visual designs, intuitive interaction patterns, and user-centered interfaces.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of UX principles, user research methodologies, and the ability to translate complex workflows into seamless and engaging user journeys.

• Prototyping & Iteration: Skill in creating interactive prototypes and iterating rapidly based on feedback and testing.

• AI Coding Agents Proficiency: Comfort and practical experience using AI coding agents for design implementation, prototyping, and iterating on designs.

• Marketing Website Design: Experience designing polished marketing websites, landing pages, or product launch experiences.

• Technical Communication: Ability to clearly communicate complex technical products and scientific concepts through design.

• Problem Solving & Ambiguity: Aptitude for identifying meaningful product problems, working through ambiguity, and independently driving solutions from concept to production.

Preferred Skills:

• Frontend Development: Experience with HTML, CSS, TypeScript, and React, enabling direct implementation and collaboration with engineers.

• Production Codebase Experience: Familiarity with working within production codebases and collaborating directly with engineering teams on feature implementation.

• Specialized Product Design: Experience designing developer tools, scientific software, or other complex technical products relevant to computational biology or AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Strong Fit" section of the original job description translates directly into the required skills. The "Nice to Have" section informs the preferred skills. The emphasis on "AI coding agents" is a critical differentiator for this role, suggesting that candidates who can demonstrate practical application of these tools in a design context will have a significant advantage. The implied experience level is derived from the combination of "designed and shipped products" and the general expectations for a role that involves significant ownership and autonomy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Products/Interfaces: Showcase at least 2-3 significant projects where you were instrumental in designing and shipping a product, interface, or website from ideation to launch.

• Complex Workflow Design: Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to understand, map, and simplify complex user workflows into intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Visual & Interaction Design Examples: Provide examples of your visual design skills, interaction patterns, and high-fidelity mockups, highlighting your aesthetic judgment and attention to detail.

• AI Implementation Showcase: If possible, include a project or case study that demonstrates your experience using AI coding agents or similar tools to implement or iterate on designs, showcasing your hands-on approach.

• Marketing/Launch Experience: Feature at least one project focused on designing marketing websites, landing pages, or launch announcements that effectively communicated technical products or company updates.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Walkthrough: For each key portfolio piece, clearly articulate your design process, including user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation phases.

• Problem Identification & Solution: Detail how you identified the core problem or opportunity, the design decisions made to address it, and the rationale behind those decisions.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or usability improvements. Explain how you measured success.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Describe your collaboration process with engineering and product teams, and how you incorporated feedback and iterated on your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on shipping products and using AI coding agents for implementation, the portfolio is expected to be highly practical and results-oriented. Candidates should not only present polished visuals but also demonstrate a clear understanding of the product development lifecycle and their tangible contributions to successful outcomes. The inclusion of AI implementation in the portfolio is crucial for this specific role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO Policy: Offers flexibility and autonomy in managing personal time off.

• Paid Lunches & Dinners: A significant annual value of $18,000, covering daily meals.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: 100% premium coverage for Blue Shield's platinum health plan for employees, and 50% for dependents.

• Top-Tier Dental & Vision: 100% coverage for premium Guardian dental and vision plans.

• Ambitious Equity Incentives: Opportunity to participate in the company's growth through stock options or grants.

• 401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan options available.

• Professional Development: Company-sponsored support for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Work Visa Sponsorship: Available for qualified candidates requiring visa assistance.

• Team Science/Engineering Reading Groups: Fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the team.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time role typically implies around 40 hours per week. The unlimited PTO policy suggests flexibility in managing work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided in the job description. The benefits are also detailed, with specific values highlighted for meals and health coverage. The "Unlimited PTO" and "Company-sponsored professional development" are particularly attractive benefits for professionals focused on growth and work-life integration. The "Work visa sponsorship" is a key differentiator for international candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Biology, AI Benchmarking. LatchBio operates at the cutting edge of scientific discovery, applying AI to solve complex problems in computational biology. This implies a culture that values scientific rigor, innovation, and a deep understanding of both AI and life sciences.

Company Size: Small team (implied by "small team" and "significant control over the direction you take"). This typically means a fast-paced, agile environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: The company's founding date is not provided, but the description suggests an early-stage startup environment focused on rapid growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with Engineering (Aidan, Ryan, Anirudh, Joel, Tim), Product (Hannah, Nathan), and the Founding Team/C-Suite (Alfredo, Kyle, Kenny, Jordan).

• Expertise Diversity: The team includes BioEngineers and AI Biologists, indicating a blend of scientific and technical expertise.

• Small, Impactful Design Team: The Product Designer will likely be a key member of a small, dedicated design function, working closely with product and engineering leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The company's focus on AI benchmarks suggests an emphasis on data analysis and evidence-based decision-making in product development and design.

• Agile Development: The need to "iterate quickly" and the small team size point towards agile or lean development methodologies.

• User-Centric Approach: The core mission of designing for researchers implies a strong focus on understanding and meeting user needs.

Company Website: https://latch.bio/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is crucial for understanding the operational environment. LatchBio is positioned as a leader in AI for computational biology, suggesting a high-caliber team and a demanding but rewarding work environment. The small team size implies a flat hierarchy and significant opportunities for individual impact and growth, but also requires individuals to be adaptable and comfortable with a degree of ambiguity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Product Designer, likely at a mid-level, requiring 2-5 years of experience. It offers significant scope for impact and growth within a startup environment. The designer will be responsible for end-to-end design processes, from strategy to implementation.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, the designer will likely report to a Head of Product, a Design Lead (if one exists), or a co-founder, given the small team size. They will work closely with engineering and product managers.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, adoption, and perceived value of LatchBio's core AI benchmarking platform. Their work will influence how researchers interact with cutting-edge AI in biology, directly contributing to the company's mission and market position. The design of marketing materials will also impact lead generation and brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company scales, there will be opportunities to shape the design function, build out a design team, and define design strategy.

• Product Strategy: Deep involvement in product development from the ground up will provide opportunities to influence product strategy and roadmap.

• Technical Skill Development: The requirement to work with AI coding agents and potentially frontend code offers a unique path to developing hybrid design-development skills.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in the intersection of AI, computational biology, and product design.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Working in an early-stage startup offers invaluable experience in building a company from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential in a startup like LatchBio is significant, especially for a role that bridges design and implementation. The opportunity to shape a product and a design function from its early stages is a major draw for ambitious designers. The emphasis on AI implementation also provides a unique avenue for professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (implied). Given the emphasis on collaboration and the lack of remote designation, the role is expected to be based in a physical office environment.

Office Location(s): United States, with time zone alignment to America/Chicago. Specific city is not provided.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative & Agile: The small team structure suggests a highly collaborative and agile workspace where open communication and rapid iteration are key.

• Technology-Rich: Expect access to modern design and development tools, including AI coding agents, and potentially robust engineering infrastructure.

• Interdisciplinary Interaction: Frequent interaction with engineers, product managers, scientists, and founders, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are implied. The unlimited PTO policy suggests a focus on results and flexibility rather than strict adherence to hours, encouraging a healthy work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is likely to be fast-paced and intellectually stimulating, typical of a well-funded, early-stage tech startup in a cutting-edge field. The collaborative nature and emphasis on hands-on contribution are key characteristics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process is likely to be rigorous and multi-stage, designed to assess design skills, technical aptitude, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a detailed case study from their portfolio, focusing on a complex problem and their design process. This will likely involve demonstrating proficiency with AI coding agents.

• Interviews with Team Members: Meetings with engineering, product, and potentially founders to discuss design philosophy, technical approach, collaboration style, and problem-solving methodologies.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates walk through their portfolio, explaining their design decisions, process, and impact, with a particular focus on projects involving complex workflows or AI implementation.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with the founding team to assess strategic thinking, cultural alignment, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Implementation: Showcase projects where you utilized AI coding agents or similar tools to bring designs to life. Explain the process and benefits.

• Deconstruct Complex Workflows: For case studies involving complex workflows, clearly map out the user journey before and after your design intervention, detailing the improvements.

• Demonstrate End-to-End Ownership: Present projects where you had significant autonomy and drove the entire design process from discovery to production.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to illustrate the success of your designs, focusing on user adoption, efficiency gains, or conversion improvements.

• Communicate Technical Concepts Clearly: For projects involving technical products, explain how your design choices made complex information accessible and understandable.

• Tailor to LatchBio: Research LatchBio's mission and products, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with their specific needs in AI and computational biology.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with AI in computational biology and the concept of AI benchmarking.

• Practice Workflow Design: Be ready to analyze and propose solutions for complex, multi-step processes.

• Prepare for AI Tool Integration: Think about how you would leverage AI coding agents in a design challenge scenario.

• Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your design thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI coding agents and complex workflows means that candidates should be prepared to demonstrate practical application of these skills. The portfolio review will likely go beyond aesthetics to assess the designer's ability to solve real-world problems in a technical domain.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• AI Coding Agents: Proficiency with tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar AI-powered coding assistants for design implementation and iteration.

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

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel for tracking website and product usage.

• User Feedback Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or in-app feedback mechanisms.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not directly a design tool, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for designing user experiences that integrate with sales and marketing efforts.

• Frontend Technologies (Familiarity): HTML, CSS, TypeScript, React. While not strictly required for design implementation, understanding these technologies is highly advantageous for effective collaboration and direct implementation using AI agents.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI coding agents" is a critical component of the technology stack for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and how they integrate them into their design workflow. Familiarity with frontend technologies is also highly valued due to the hands-on implementation expectations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Scientific Rigor: A commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI in computational biology, grounded in scientific accuracy and data-driven insights.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of researchers and the scientific community.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork are essential in a small, fast-paced startup environment.

• Hands-On Execution: A bias for action and a willingness to get involved in implementation, with designers actively contributing to bringing their work to production.

• Continuous Learning: An environment that encourages exploration, experimentation, and staying at the forefront of AI and biotech advancements.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work closely and collaboratively with engineers and product managers, forming integrated product teams.

• Direct Communication: Expect frequent, direct communication and feedback loops across disciplines.

• Iterative Design Process: A culture that embraces rapid iteration, experimentation, and learning from both successes and failures.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights through reading groups and team discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at LatchBio is likely to be a blend of scientific excellence and startup agility. The emphasis on hands-on contribution and collaboration is key for success in this environment. Designers are expected to be proactive, communicative, and comfortable working in a dynamic setting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Niche, Technical Audience: Translating complex scientific and AI concepts into intuitive designs for expert users requires deep domain understanding and strong communication skills.

• Balancing Product Design and Marketing Needs: Effectively designing for both complex internal/external product workflows and polished marketing website experiences.

• Leveraging AI Tools Effectively: Mastering the use of AI coding agents for design implementation and staying ahead of rapid advancements in AI-assisted design.

• Navigating Ambiguity in an Early-Stage Startup: Thriving in an environment where processes are still evolving and priorities can shift.

• Bridging Design and Development: Successfully integrating design work directly into production codebases through AI tools.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI & Computational Biology: Unparalleled opportunity to gain expertise at the intersection of these rapidly evolving fields.

• Mastery of AI-Assisted Design: Becoming proficient in cutting-edge tools that are reshaping the design and development landscape.

• Product Strategy Influence: Direct impact on product direction and roadmap in a growing company.

• Building a Design Function: Potential to shape and grow the design practice within LatchBio.

• Entrepreneurial Skill Development: Gaining firsthand experience in building and scaling a tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the unique aspects of the role and the company's mission. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to develop highly specialized skills and gain broad entrepreneurial experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a user experience for a highly technical or specialized audience. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?" (Focus on your process, user research, and ability to simplify complexity).

• "Walk us through a project where you used AI coding agents or similar tools to implement or iterate on your designs. What was the impact, and what did you learn?" (Be ready to demonstrate practical application and reflect on the benefits/limitations).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our benchmark platform that aims to improve [specific user problem, e.g., data visualization clarity or collaboration between researchers]?" (Show your problem-solving methodology, ideation process, and understanding of the domain). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in LatchBio and our mission in AI for computational biology?" (Research the company, its products, and its position in the market).

• "How do you approach working in a small, fast-paced startup environment with a high degree of ambiguity?" (Highlight your adaptability, proactivity, and comfort with evolving processes).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with engineering and product teams." (Emphasize your communication skills and cross-functional teamwork approach). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Implementation), Solution, and Impact (with metrics).

• Emphasize the 'Why': Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

• Showcase AI Implementation: If possible, demonstrate a live prototype or screen recording of a design you implemented using AI coding agents.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design choices, technical constraints, and your collaboration process.

• Connect to LatchBio: Explain how your past experiences and skills are directly relevant to the challenges and opportunities at LatchBio.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating practical skills, particularly with AI coding agents and complex workflow design. Candidates should be ready to articulate their thought process, quantify their impact, and show how they can contribute to LatchBio's unique environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your ability to design complex workflows, create polished interfaces, and ideally, demonstrate experience with AI coding agents or similar implementation tools.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in product design, UX/UI, working with technical products, and any experience with AI-assisted design or frontend technologies. Quantify your achievements with metrics.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI coding agents in detail.

• Research LatchBio: Understand their mission, products (benchmarks.bio), target audience, and the broader AI in computational biology landscape. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ 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.

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