Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies

Location: Brooklyn, Ohio, USA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead product design and creative direction for a new B2B consumer insights platform and a consumer app with a rapidly growing user base of 3 million+.

• Design core product experiences end-to-end, from initial concept and exploration through to launch and ongoing iteration.

• Develop polished, user-centric interfaces that build trust and effectively showcase the power of the company's data and AI technology.

• Contribute to the establishment and evolution of the company's design language, systems, and overall design culture.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams in a fast-paced, often ambiguous, startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the second Product Designer, indicating a significant opportunity for impact and influence in shaping the design function from its early stages. The emphasis on end-to-end design ownership and establishing foundational design systems suggests a need for a proactive, self-directed individual capable of driving design initiatives with minimal oversight. The mention of "escape velocity design" and "calculated speed" implies a culture that values rapid iteration and efficient execution, which is critical for a startup environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

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

• Translate complex data and AI capabilities into simple, elegant, and trustworthy user interfaces that enhance user engagement and product adoption.

• Define, document, and maintain design specifications, including layout, typography, color palettes, motion design, and interaction patterns, to ensure consistency and quality.

• Actively participate in product roadmap discussions, providing design perspective and advocating for user-centered solutions.

• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to understand technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring designs are feasible and effectively implemented.

• Conduct user research, gather feedback through qualitative interviews, and analyze user data to inform design decisions and drive product improvements.

• Foster a strong design culture by championing best practices, sharing knowledge, and mentoring other team members as the design team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "full-stack designer" profile, requiring proficiency across the entire design lifecycle—from conceptualization and user research to detailed UI execution and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on shipping high-quality work rapidly and iterating based on user data is a key characteristic of this role within a startup context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design skills and a deep understanding of UX/UI principles is paramount.

Experience: 1-4 years of professional experience in product design, with a focus on software products.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Strong understanding of UI/UX design principles, including layout, typography, spacing, color theory, and interaction design.

• Ability to design end-to-end product experiences, from early exploration to detailed specifications.

• Experience with rapid iteration and making near-term tradeoffs while maintaining a long-term design vision.

• A high bar for design quality and a keen eye for detail in visual design and polish.

• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing at a startup or in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

• Experience designing interactions for AI-powered products or features.

• Experience designing enterprise-grade products or B2B platforms.

• Active user of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Claude within a design workflow.

• Familiarity with design systems and experience contributing to their development or maintenance.

• Experience with user research methodologies, including qualitative interviews and user data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "full-stack designer" requirement implies a need for versatility, covering both strategic product thinking and meticulous execution. The explicit mention of Figma, LLMs, and design systems points to specific tool and methodology expectations. The preference for startup experience and AI interaction design suggests the company is looking for candidates who can adapt quickly and are comfortable with cutting-edge technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate problem-solving skills and a user-centered approach.

• Include case studies that detail your design process, from initial research and ideation through to final execution and iteration.

• Highlight your ability to design for both B2B and consumer applications, demonstrating versatility.

• Feature examples of how you've incorporated data and AI into your designs.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, the solutions you explored, and the final outcomes.

• Explain how you gathered user feedback and data, and how it influenced your design decisions.

• Detail your collaboration process with engineering and other stakeholders.

• Showcase your ability to contribute to or build design systems, including style guides and component libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on establishing design foundations and working in a startup environment, the portfolio should clearly illustrate the candidate's ability to drive design initiatives independently, make strategic decisions, and deliver high-quality, polished work under pressure. The ability to demonstrate impact through data and user feedback will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the description mentioning "above-market salaries & equity" and the experience level (1-4 years) for a Product Designer role in Brooklyn, Ohio, a competitive range would likely be between $85,000 - $130,000 USD annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in the region and industry benchmarks for mid-level design roles in tech startups.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and above-market equity.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Minimum 20 days vacation policy.

• Opportunity to shape design culture from the ground up.

• Work on cutting-edge B2B and consumer products with significant growth potential.

• Collaborative environment with strong product thinkers across all teams.

• Quick feedback loops for launching and iterating on designs.

Working Hours: While the company encourages a flexible work schedule, the role is expected to require more than standard 9-to-5 hours due to the startup stage and the desire for rapid impact. The company trusts team members to manage their productivity while accommodating outside priorities. A minimum of 40 hours per week is standard, with the expectation of dedication during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for a mid-level Product Designer in a tech startup, considering the location and the company's stated intent to offer above-market compensation. The benefits package reflects the company's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth, particularly the emphasis on flexible work and generous vacation policies to prevent burnout, despite the expectation of significant dedication.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on consumer insights and data analytics for brands and retailers. The company is building a platform that leverages purchase-verified consumer data and AI.

Company Size: Early-stage startup. As the second Product Designer, the team is small and growing, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and shared ownership.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company is in an early stage, implying a dynamic and evolving environment.

Team Structure:

• The design team currently consists of a Lead Product Designer and this Product Designer role.

• This role will work cross-functionally with engineering, product management, and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on "Calculated Speed": Iterating and shipping weekly rather than prolonged, complex processes.

• Data-driven decision-making, with a strong reliance on user data and qualitative feedback.

• Experimentation and agility: Willingness to pivot based on data and user insights.

• High value placed on product thinking across all team members.

Company Website: joinpogo.com (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by its startup nature: fast-paced, experimental, and highly collaborative. The strong emphasis on "Calculated Speed" and data-driven iteration is a core tenet. The small team size means each member has a significant impact, and a proactive, self-starter mentality is essential. The fact that "product thinking is critical for everyone" highlights a company-wide obsession with building great products.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, offering significant growth potential. As the second designer, there's an opportunity to grow into a senior or lead role as the design team expands.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to the Lead Product Designer, working closely with engineering leads and product managers. This structure allows for mentorship from an experienced designer while fostering direct collaboration with technical and product teams.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on the core product experience for both B2B clients and 3 million+ consumers. They will be instrumental in shaping the user interface, user experience, and overall product strategy, directly influencing user adoption, customer satisfaction, and the company's market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer or Design Lead role as the company scales and the design team expands.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI interaction design, enterprise product design, or design systems, given the company's focus and early stage.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop strong product management and engineering collaboration skills, gaining a holistic understanding of product development.

• Culture Shaping: Play a pivotal role in defining and evolving the company's design culture, processes, and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for rapid career advancement and impact due to its early-stage nature. The candidate will not only execute but also influence the strategic direction of design and product. The emphasis on growth is tied to the company's scaling, offering a clear path for those who contribute significantly.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company embraces a remote-first or remote-flexible work environment, allowing employees to work from anywhere.

Office Location(s): While the job is listed with a Brooklyn, Ohio location, the remote status indicates that candidates can work from various locations. The derived "Brooklyn, New York, United States" from the raw location data might indicate a primary hub or a historical listing detail, but the "TELECOMMUTE" and "#LI-Remote" tags explicitly confirm remote work.

Workspace Context:

• A fully remote setup necessitates strong self-discipline, effective communication tools, and a dedicated home workspace.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital platforms like Slack, Figma, and video conferencing.

• The environment is described as fast-paced and often ambiguous, requiring adaptability and resilience.

• The company values product thinking and design rigor, fostering an environment where these contributions are highly regarded.

Work Schedule: The company promotes flexible work schedules, allowing individuals to structure their workdays to maximize productivity and accommodate personal priorities. However, there's an expectation of commitment and dedication, with potentially longer hours during critical phases, balanced by a strong encouragement of time off to prevent burnout.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role requires candidates to be comfortable with asynchronous communication and self-management. The company's approach to flexibility, coupled with the expectation of significant effort at this stage, suggests a need for individuals who can balance autonomy with accountability.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation/Walkthrough: A session where you present selected projects from your portfolio, discussing your design process, rationale, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma, AI, and enterprise design.

• Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to work under time constraints.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with engineering leads, product managers, and potentially founders to assess collaboration skills, product intuition, and alignment with company values.

• Final Interview: A discussion with leadership to finalize the decision, focusing on strategic thinking and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Prioritize projects relevant to B2B, AI, or complex software products.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the challenges, your thought process, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Detail your design methodology, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Show how you made decisions and adapted based on feedback.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss how you leverage Figma for complex workflows, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Address Ambiguity: If applicable, discuss how you've navigated ambiguous problems or fast-paced environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement and any provided constraints.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your design thinking process, not just the final UI. Show how you would approach the problem.

• Communicate Clearly: Prepare to present your solution concisely, explaining your rationale and any trade-offs you made.

• Be Realistic: For live challenges, focus on delivering a thoughtful approach and key design elements within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also the candidate's ability to thrive in a startup environment, collaborate effectively, and contribute to shaping design culture. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates process and impact, alongside preparation for discussions on their experience with specific tools and methodologies, will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Candidates are expected to have "super powers" with Figma and use it for rapid iteration and achieving "escape velocity design."

• LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude): Actively used in the design workflow for ideation, content generation, and potentially research assistance.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role but may be part of the broader company stack.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement, with an expectation of advanced usage for rapid development and collaboration. The explicit mention of LLMs indicates a forward-thinking approach to design tooling, suggesting candidates who are early adopters and experimenters with new technologies will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Calculated Speed: A core value emphasizing rapid iteration, shipping weekly, and making swift, informed decisions rather than getting bogged down in lengthy processes.

• Product Obsession: A company-wide focus on product thinking, where everyone, from engineers to customer support, is deeply invested in building excellent products.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are heavily influenced by user data and qualitative feedback, encouraging a scientific approach to product development.

• Experimentation & Agility: A culture that embraces trying new things, learning quickly from failures, and pivoting when necessary based on insights.

• High Design Bar: A strong appreciation for best-in-class design, with leadership that understands and champions its importance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with engineering and GTM teams is fundamental to the design process.

• Direct Feedback Loops: The startup environment allows for quick feedback on designs and launched features, fostering continuous improvement.

• Lean Team Dynamics: Working effectively in small, agile teams where clear communication and shared ownership are vital.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built around speed, data, and a shared passion for product excellence. Candidates should be comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and a highly collaborative, cross-functional approach. The emphasis on "Calculated Speed" suggests a pragmatic approach to design, balancing perfection with timely delivery.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The startup environment often presents problems without clear-cut answers, requiring creative problem-solving and calculated risk-taking.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: The need to design and ship work within days or weeks can be demanding and requires efficient workflows.

• Limited Design Resources: As one of two designers, you'll need to be resourceful and manage your time effectively, potentially taking on broader responsibilities than in a larger organization.

• Balancing B2B and Consumer Needs: Designing for both enterprise clients and a large consumer base with potentially different requirements and expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Shape Design Function: Directly influence the growth and direction of the design team and its processes.

• Develop Expertise: Gain deep experience in AI interaction design, enterprise software design, and building design systems from the ground up.

• Accelerated Career Growth: The fast-paced startup environment offers opportunities for rapid skill development and career progression.

• Exposure to Product Strategy: Close work with founders and leadership provides insights into broader product strategy and business decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. Candidates who are energized by tackling complex problems, working autonomously, and contributing significantly to a growing company will find this role rewarding. The learning opportunities are substantial, offering a chance to build a design practice from its early stages.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex feature with limited information or a tight deadline. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on "Calculated Speed" and navigating ambiguity).

• "How do you balance the needs of different user groups, such as B2B clients and individual consumers, in your design decisions?" (Focus on understanding diverse user needs).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Pogo's mission and the opportunity to design for a consumer insights platform leveraging AI?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).

• "How do you see yourself contributing to building a design culture from the ground up in an early-stage startup?" (Showcase proactive approach and cultural alignment).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), your key design decisions and rationale, and the impact/results. Use visuals to support your story.

• Emphasize "Calculated Speed": If applicable, highlight instances where you made smart trade-offs or iterated quickly to achieve goals.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to discuss specific Figma techniques you used for efficiency, prototyping, or collaboration.

• Discuss AI Integration: If you have relevant projects, be ready to explain how you approached designing AI interactions or leveraging AI tools in your workflow.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your specific design choices, user research methods, and collaboration with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, adaptability, and a cultural fit with Pogo's values of speed, data-driven decisions, and product obsession. Highlighting experience with Figma and AI, and being able to articulate a clear, impactful design process, will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, with a focus on B2B, AI, or complex software products. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, your process, your design decisions, and the impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 1-4 years of experience in software product design, highlighting proficiency in Figma and any experience with AI interactions or enterprise products. Use keywords from the job description such as "Figma," "AI," "B2B," "Design Systems," and "cross-functional collaboration."

• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on explaining your design rationale, how you handled ambiguity, and your collaboration with engineering. Prepare to discuss your understanding of "Calculated Speed" and how you'd contribute to Pogo's design culture.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Pogo Technologies, its mission, and its product. Understand their focus on consumer insights, data, and AI. Prepare thoughtful questions about the product roadmap, design challenges, and team dynamics.

⚠️ 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.