Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies

Location: Brooklyn, Ohio, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-21T21:11:26

Experience Level: Mid-Level (1-4 years)

Remote Status: On-site / Hybrid (with flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the product design and creative direction for Pogo's new B2B consumer insights platform and consumer app, impacting millions of users and large enterprise clients.

• Own the end-to-end design process for core product experiences, from initial concept and exploration through to launch and continuous iteration.

• Champion and help establish Pogo's design language, systems, and culture, contributing to the foundational elements of the product's aesthetic and user experience.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams in a fast-paced startup environment, balancing quality with rapid iteration and shipping high-impact work.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities and collaboration with GTM teams indicate a strong need for understanding Go-To-Market operations and how product design directly influences sales enablement, customer adoption, and revenue generation. This role requires a designer who can translate complex data and AI capabilities into intuitive user experiences that drive business value.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on user interfaces and user experiences for both the B2B platform and the consumer-facing application, ensuring a cohesive and delightful user journey.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system, including style guides, component libraries, and interaction patterns, to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

• Translate complex data insights and AI functionalities into clear, intuitive, and engaging visual designs that build user trust and demonstrate product value.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing detailed specifications, prototypes, and ongoing support.

• Work closely with Go-To-Market (GTM) teams to understand market needs, customer feedback, and competitive landscapes, informing product strategy and design decisions.

• Contribute to the product roadmap by identifying opportunities for design innovation and user experience improvements based on user research and data analysis.

• Actively participate in user research activities, including qualitative interviews and usability testing, to gather insights and validate design solutions.

• Craft polished visual assets, including typography, spacing, color palettes, motion design, and micro-interactions, to enhance the overall user experience and brand perception.

• Find pragmatic solutions to ship high-quality work efficiently in a dynamic startup environment, making calculated tradeoffs when necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end design," "defining the product roadmap," and working with "GTM" teams suggests this role will require strategic thinking beyond just UI execution. The candidate must be able to influence product direction and understand how design directly supports business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 1-4 years of professional experience in product design, UI/UX design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of designing software products.

• Experience designing for B2B platforms and/or enterprise-grade products is highly desirable.

• Prior experience in a startup environment, demonstrating an ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous settings, is a significant plus.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma: Expert-level skills in Figma for designing, prototyping, and collaborating on user interfaces.

• End-to-End Design: Ability to manage the entire design lifecycle from ideation, user research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, to final implementation.

• Visual Design Excellence: A keen eye for detail in layout, typography, spacing, color theory, and animation/motion design.

• Interaction Design: Strong understanding of how to create intuitive and effective user interactions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with engineering and GTM teams, translating business needs into design solutions.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for tackling ambiguous problems and iterating towards optimal solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Systems: Experience in building or contributing to design systems, style guides, and component libraries.

• AI Interaction Design: Familiarity with designing user experiences for AI-driven features and understanding how to communicate AI capabilities to users.

• User Research: Experience conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing findings to inform design decisions.

• LLM Integration: Actively uses Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Claude within the design workflow to enhance efficiency or explore ideas.

• Prototyping: Advanced prototyping skills to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Enterprise Product Design: Experience designing complex software solutions for business users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "1-4 years of design experience" alongside the "second Product Designer" role implies a mid-level position where the candidate is expected to contribute significantly but also learn and grow within the team. The emphasis on "escape velocity design" and making "near-term tradeoffs" suggests a focus on speed and iteration, which is common in early-stage startups.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, challenges faced, and the impact of your solutions.

• Figma Mastery: Include examples of complex Figma files, prototypes, and design system components that highlight your proficiency and attention to detail.

• Process Documentation: Clearly outline your design methodology, including how you approach user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Impact Demonstration: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or other relevant KPIs.

• AI/LLM Usage (Optional but Recommended): If you have examples of how you've leveraged AI or LLMs in your design workflow, include them to showcase innovative approaches.

Process Documentation:

• User-Centered Design: Detail your approach to understanding user needs through research and how this informs your design decisions.

• Iterative Design: Illustrate how you incorporate feedback and data to iterate on designs, demonstrating an agile and adaptable design process.

• Cross-functional Workflow: Explain how you collaborate with engineering and GTM teams, including your process for handover, feedback, and problem-solving.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, show examples of how you've contributed to or utilized design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the startup environment and the emphasis on rapid iteration, the portfolio should highlight the candidate's ability to deliver high-quality work quickly, make pragmatic tradeoffs, and demonstrate a clear understanding of how their designs contribute to business objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated range of $90,000 - $130,000 USD annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level Product Designers in the Midwest US region, considering the company's stated intention to offer "above-market salaries & equity" for top talent. The location (Brooklyn, Ohio) is factored in for cost of living adjustments.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary & Equity: Above-market compensation including significant equity in a growing startup.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO): Encourages employees to take time off as needed.

• Minimum 20 Days Vacation Policy: Ensures a baseline level of rest and recharge, in addition to unlimited PTO.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for employee well-being.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth, including potential conference attendance and training.

• Flexible Work Schedule: While on-site is preferred, the company trusts team members to create a flexible schedule that maximizes productivity while accommodating personal priorities.

Working Hours:

• The company operates with a value of "Calculated Speed," expecting dedication and impact beyond traditional 9-to-5 hours at this stage. However, they emphasize flexibility, trusting individuals to manage their schedules for optimal productivity and work-life balance. Significant emphasis is placed on achieving results rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly mentions "raw hours make an impact at our current stage" but balances this with "flexible work schedule" and a "minimum 20 days vacation policy." This suggests a results-oriented culture that values output and efficiency, while also promoting well-being and preventing burnout.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data & Analytics / Consumer Insights / SaaS

Company Size: Small (Estimated 10-50 employees based on the role being the second designer)

Founded: Pogo Technologies is a relatively young company, implied by the early stage of their product development and design team. The company slogan, "Join Pogo," suggests a focus on growth and expansion.

Team Structure:

• You will be one of two Product Designers, reporting to a Lead Product Designer (with experience from Figma, Slack, & Glean).

• Work closely and cross-functionally with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams.

Methodology:

• Calculated Speed: A core value emphasizing rapid iteration, weekly shipping, and making pragmatic tradeoffs to achieve velocity.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Significant reliance on user data, customer feedback, and experimentation to guide product development and pivots.

• Experimentation Culture: Openness to pivoting strategies based on insights from data and user feedback.

• Lean Product Development: Focus on launching quickly to gather feedback and iterate, rather than lengthy development cycles.

Company Website: joinpogo.com (inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by a high degree of autonomy, speed, and a strong emphasis on product quality driven by data and user feedback. The small, early-stage nature means significant impact and contribution are expected.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, the second on the team. It offers significant opportunities for growth both in design expertise and strategic influence within the company. The candidate will be instrumental in shaping the product's future.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Lead Product Designer, who brings valuable experience from prominent tech companies. This provides a strong mentorship opportunity within the design discipline. Collaboration with engineering and GTM will be frequent and crucial.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer, your impact will be directly tied to the success of Pogo's consumer insights platform. This includes:

• Driving user adoption and engagement through intuitive design.

• Enhancing customer trust and perceived value through polished interfaces.

• Influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions based on design insights.

• Directly contributing to the growth and market penetration of the B2B platform, which supports revenue generation for Pogo.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As one of the early designers, you have the potential to grow into a senior or lead design role as the company scales.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like B2B SaaS design, enterprise product design, AI interaction design, and design systems.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and influencing strategic business decisions through design advocacy.

• Mentorship: Learn from an experienced Lead Product Designer and contribute to mentoring future design hires.

• Startup Experience: Develop valuable experience in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment, which is highly sought after in the tech industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to influence product direction and design culture from the ground up, providing significant career growth potential beyond traditional design execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" but the description mentions "On-site" in the ai_work_arrangement field. Given the emphasis on collaboration and the company's early stage, a hybrid model is likely preferred, with an expectation of some in-office presence for team synergy and focused work.

Office Location(s): Brooklyn, Ohio. Specific office details beyond the city are not provided, but it's implied there is a physical workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a highly collaborative atmosphere, working closely with engineering and GTM teams on a daily basis.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools, primarily Figma, and potentially other software for prototyping, research, and communication.

• Fast-Paced Startup Culture: The environment is dynamic, with quick feedback loops and a focus on rapid iteration and shipping.

Work Schedule: While the company values dedication and "raw hours" at this stage, they offer flexibility. Teams are expected to manage their schedules to maximize productivity and accommodate personal priorities, with a strong encouragement for taking time off to recharge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" listing versus the "On-site" ai_work_arrangement suggests potential ambiguity or a preference for hybrid. Candidates should clarify expectations regarding remote work and in-office days during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience and skills.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your case studies, demonstrating your design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, iteration, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or participate in a collaborative design session to evaluate your skills in real-time.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with engineering and GTM team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and your understanding of their perspectives.

• Founder/Leadership Interview: A final discussion to assess strategic thinking, alignment with company values, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process & Impact: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Highlight your advanced Figma skills, including component usage, prototyping, and design system elements.

• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Emphasize how you tackled complex or ambiguous challenges and iterated to find solutions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you effectively worked with engineering and GTM teams.

• Tailor to Pogo: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to address the types of problems Pogo is solving (consumer insights, B2B platform, AI integration).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with Pogo's existing product, target audience, and business goals.

• Think "Calculated Speed": Be prepared to work efficiently and demonstrate a pragmatic approach to design, balancing quality with speed.

• Focus on User Needs: Frame your solutions around solving user problems and driving business value.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your thought process and design rationale concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Calculated Speed" and "shipping weekly" suggests that interview challenges might focus on rapid ideation and pragmatic solutions rather than extensive, polished deliverables.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Mastery is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: Potentially InVision, ProtoPie, or advanced Figma prototyping features for creating interactive mockups.

• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, or direct methods for conducting qualitative research.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar for understanding user behavior and product performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can present data insights clearly, possibly integrated within the product or used for reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Understanding of how design impacts CRM workflows (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and how product features drive lead generation or customer success metrics.

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

• LLMs: Active use of AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude for design ideation, research synthesis, or content generation within the design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a designer deeply integrated with modern design workflows, including a strong reliance on Figma and an openness to leveraging AI tools within their process. Understanding how design impacts GTM and business metrics is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A high bar for design quality, with a passion for creating polished, delightful, and trustworthy interfaces.

• Product Obsession: A deep commitment to product thinking from all team members, driving a shared focus on user value and business impact.

• Calculated Speed: Embracing rapid iteration, weekly shipping, and pragmatic decision-making to achieve velocity.

• Data-Driven Experimentation: Using user data and feedback to inform decisions, validate hypotheses, and pivot when necessary.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Valuing close partnerships with engineering and GTM to build the best possible product.

• Simplicity & Clarity: A drive to create intuitive and easy-to-understand user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Close-Knit Teams: Working in small, agile teams with frequent interaction and direct communication.

• Direct Feedback: Encouraging open and direct feedback loops to foster continuous improvement.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for product success, transcending traditional departmental silos.

• Learning Orientation: A culture that supports independent learning, exploration, and adaptation to new challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on product, speed, and data. The values are geared towards building a successful product rapidly in a startup environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: Navigating new and complex problems with unclear solutions, requiring strong initiative and problem-solving skills.

• Rapid Iteration: Adapting to a culture of "Calculated Speed" where designs may need to be produced and iterated upon very quickly, potentially within days.

• Limited Design Overhead: Working as one of two designers means potentially taking on responsibilities that might typically be handled by dedicated user researchers or design managers.

• Balancing Speed & Polish: Finding the right balance between shipping quickly and maintaining a high standard of design quality and user experience.

• Defining Design Foundations: Establishing the design language, systems, and culture from the ground up requires strategic thinking and foundational work.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepen expertise in areas like enterprise UX, AI interaction design, and comprehensive design systems.

• Product Strategy: Gain significant exposure to product roadmap planning and strategic decision-making.

• Startup Growth Dynamics: Learn valuable lessons about scaling a product and a team in a high-growth startup.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunity to grow into a senior or lead design role, contributing to hiring and mentoring.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of GTM and engineering operations, enhancing overall business acumen.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and strategic contribution, which are key attributes for success in an early-stage startup.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to make significant tradeoffs between design quality and speed. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on "Calculated Speed" and pragmatic decision-making).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our B2B platform, given limited initial user data?" (Emphasize your research and ideation process for ambiguous problems).

• "Walk us through your process for building or contributing to a design system. What are the key considerations for a growing startup?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability and consistency).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Pogo's mission and our product in the consumer insights space?" (Show genuine interest and research).

• "How do you see your role contributing to Pogo's design culture from the ground up?" (Express enthusiasm for shaping foundational elements).

• "Describe an experience where you had to collaborate very closely with engineering or GTM teams. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight your cross-functional collaboration skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the process, decisions made, and the impact.

• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals and clear annotations to showcase your design work and thought process.

• Interactive Prototypes: Be ready to demo interactive prototypes to illustrate user flows and interactions effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, your reasoning, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating adaptability, strategic thinking, a strong understanding of user-centered design principles, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

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

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to B2B platforms, startups, UI/UX design, and Figma proficiency. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that showcase end-to-end design processes, problem-solving, and demonstrable impact. Ensure clear documentation of your Figma usage and any experience with AI/LLMs.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, clarity, and demonstrating your design methodology and collaborative skills. Be ready to discuss your approach to "Calculated Speed."

• Research Pogo: Understand their product, mission, and the consumer insights industry. Familiarize yourself with their potential competitors and market position.

⚠️ 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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