Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies, Inc.

Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US & Canada)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for a new consumer insights B2B platform and a growing consumer app with 3 million users, driving creative direction and user experience.

• Craft polished, delightful interfaces that build trust and effectively showcase the power of data and AI technology for enterprise clients.

• Contribute significantly to defining the product roadmap, establishing foundational design language, systems, and fostering a strong design culture within a fast-paced startup environment.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams to iterate rapidly and ship high-quality design solutions, leveraging tools like Figma for accelerated workflows.

• Act as one of the initial two designers, taking ownership of design initiatives and driving them from concept through launch and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as the "second Product Designer," implying a mid-level to senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and the opportunity to influence design strategy and culture from an early stage. The emphasis on "above-market salaries & equity" and "shaping our design culture from the ground up" further supports this. The target candidate is expected to be a "full-stack designer" comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the complete product design lifecycle for both the B2B platform and the consumer application, from initial concept exploration to final launch and post-launch iterations.

• Develop and refine user interfaces, focusing on visual appeal, usability, and building user trust through meticulous attention to layout, typography, spacing, color, motion, and interactions.

• Actively participate in product roadmap discussions, contributing design-led insights and strategies to shape the future direction of the product.

• Establish and evolve the company's design language, design systems, and overall design culture, setting standards for quality and consistency.

• Proactively identify and implement creative solutions to deliver high-quality work efficiently in a dynamic startup environment characterized by ambiguity.

• Foster strong cross-functional partnerships with engineering and GTM teams to ensure seamless design implementation and effective go-to-market strategies.

• Leverage advanced design tools and methodologies, including Figma and AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude, to enhance design velocity and output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic contribution (roadmap, design language) and hands-on execution (end-to-end design, interface crafting). The expectation to "sweat the details" and "design quickly and efficiently" points to a pragmatic approach to design in a startup setting. The role requires a proactive designer who can operate independently and also collaborate effectively.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for product design roles, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Demonstrated experience designing software products is required. Experience in a startup environment or designing AI interactions and enterprise-grade products are significant advantages. The role implies 2-5 years of professional product design experience, focusing on execution and strategic contribution.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in end-to-end product design for software applications.

• Expertise in using Figma for rapid prototyping, wireframing, and high-fidelity interface design.

• Strong understanding of UI/UX principles, visual design, typography, and interaction design.

• Ability to craft polished and delightful user interfaces that build trust.

• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering and GTM teams.

• Aptitude for product thinking, simplicity, and clarity in design solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to design quickly and efficiently, making pragmatic tradeoffs.

• High bar for design quality and a strong aesthetic sense, with a habit of collecting design references.

• Familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude in a design workflow.

• Resilience in pursuing the best design solutions, including iterating and discarding work when necessary.

• Full-stack design capabilities, from initial concepts to implementation collaboration. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in a startup environment.

• Experience designing AI interactions.

• Experience designing enterprise-grade products.

• Experience in developing and maintaining design systems.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and ability to translate user feedback into design improvements.

• Understanding of data visualization and how to represent data and AI insights effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a "full-stack designer" profile with a strong emphasis on execution speed and pragmatic decision-making ("Calculated Speed"). The mention of LLMs in the workflow and the desire for experience with AI interactions and enterprise products are key differentiators. The "design nerd" aspect suggests a need for someone deeply passionate about design craft and quality.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects for software applications, demonstrating ownership and impact.

• Specific case studies highlighting complex B2B platform or consumer app designs, with a focus on user experience, interface polish, and problem-solving.

• Examples of rapid iteration and design decision-making in ambiguous or fast-paced environments, demonstrating the ability to make "calculated tradeoffs."

• Demonstrations of how design contributed to key metrics or business objectives, showcasing an understanding of impact.

• Visuals showcasing attention to detail in layout, typography, spacing, color, motion, and interactions. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process, including problem definition, user research (even if informal or inferred), ideation, prototyping, iteration based on feedback, and final implementation.

• Evidence of cross-functional collaboration with engineering and GTM teams, illustrating how design was brought to life and supported market launch.

• Examples of how AI tools were integrated into the design workflow to improve efficiency or explore solutions.

• Documentation of contributions to design language, systems, or style guides, if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. It needs to go beyond just showcasing aesthetics and demonstrate the candidate's ability to navigate the complexities of startup product development, including speed, ambiguity, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "full-stack" means the portfolio should ideally cover a range of activities from discovery to detailed UI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in a high-cost-of-living area like Brooklyn, New York, and considering the company's explicit offer of "above-market salaries & equity," a competitive range would be approximately $120,000 - $170,000 USD annually. This range is an estimate and can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skill set, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Above-market salaries, reflecting the company's commitment to attracting top talent.

• Significant equity grants, offering ownership and participation in the company's growth.

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

• A minimum of 20 days of vacation per year, ensuring dedicated time for rest and rejuvenation.

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI and enterprise products.

• Flexible work schedule, trusting employees to manage their productivity.

Working Hours: While the standard is likely 40 hours per week, the company emphasizes "we expect more than 9 to 5" at this stage, encouraging flexibility to maximize productivity while also strongly encouraging time off. The focus is on impact rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from U.S. national averages for mid-level Product Designers, adjusted for the high cost of living in New York City and Pogo's stated commitment to above-market compensation. The equity component is a significant part of the compensation package for early-stage startups. The PTO policy is generous and includes a minimum guarantee.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on consumer insights and data analytics for brands and retailers, leveraging AI. The company operates at the intersection of B2B SaaS and consumer data platforms.

Company Size: Early-stage startup (implied by "second Product Designer," "tiny teams," and "shaping our design culture from the ground up"). This means high impact potential for individuals and a dynamic, evolving work environment.

Founded: Founded in 2021 (based on company URL and typical startup trajectory), Pogo Technologies is relatively young but growing rapidly, indicated by their expansion and user base.

Team Structure:

• The design team currently consists of a Lead Product Designer and this incoming Product Designer. This small team structure emphasizes autonomy and direct collaboration with leadership.

• The role involves close cross-functional collaboration with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams, indicating a flat and integrated organizational structure.

• Product thinking is a core value shared across the entire team, from engineers to co-founders, fostering a collaborative and product-centric mindset. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Heavy reliance on user data, qualitative interviews, and direct customer feedback to inform product decisions and design solutions.

• Calculated Speed & Iteration: A core value emphasizing rapid iteration and weekly shipping cycles, prioritizing speed and agility over lengthy, complex processes.

• Experimentation & Pivoting: A culture that embraces experimentation and is willing to pivot based on data and user insights.

• Product Obsession: A collective focus on building exceptional products, with product thinking embedded throughout the organization.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Pogo Technologies is positioned as an innovative startup leveraging AI to bridge the gap between brands and consumers. The culture is characterized by speed, data-centricity, and a shared passion for product excellence. The small team size means individuals will have a significant sphere of influence and direct exposure to leadership.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for an individual contributor at a mid-level to senior level (implied by being the second designer). It offers the opportunity to grow into a more senior design role, potentially leading design initiatives or specializing further as the company scales. The immediate impact on product direction and design culture is substantial.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report directly to the Lead Product Designer or potentially a Head of Product, depending on the current organizational structure. This close reporting line allows for direct mentorship and strategic alignment.

Operations Impact: The designer will have a direct and significant impact on the core product experience for both B2B clients and millions of consumers. Their work will directly influence user adoption, engagement, trust, and ultimately, the company's success in the market. Contribution to product roadmap and design systems will shape the company's future offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company grows, opportunities may arise to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, or even build out a design team.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as enterprise UX, AI interaction design, or design systems development.

• Product Strategy: Evolve from a design execution role to a more strategic product role, influencing feature prioritization and market positioning.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through working on challenging problems, rapid feedback loops, and exposure to diverse product challenges.

• Industry Impact: Play a key role in defining the design of a novel consumer insights platform used by major global companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to make a substantial impact early in a company's growth trajectory. The "shape our design culture from the ground up" aspect is a significant growth opportunity, allowing the candidate to influence foundational processes and standards. The rapid feedback loops also accelerate learning and skill development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is fully remote, with flexibility for candidates in the United States and Canada. This suggests a distributed team environment focused on asynchronous communication and digital collaboration.

Office Location(s): While the listing specifies Brooklyn, New York, the "TELECOMMUTE" and "remote_derived": true flags indicate that the role is not tied to a physical office and can be performed from anywhere within the United States and Canada.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect frequent collaboration with engineering, GTM, and product teams through digital tools. Emphasis on shared understanding and collective problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma, and potentially other collaboration and communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Notion, Jira). AI tools are integrated into the workflow.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: The work environment is dynamic, characterized by rapid iteration, weekly shipping cycles, and a need for quick decision-making. This requires adaptability and a proactive approach.

Work Schedule: The company emphasizes flexibility and trust, allowing team members to create schedules that maximize productivity while accommodating personal priorities. While 40 hours is standard, there's an expectation of commitment ("more than 9 to 5") given the startup stage, balanced by a strong encouragement of time off to prevent burnout.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of the role necessitates strong self-discipline and excellent communication skills. The "Calculated Speed" value implies a work environment that is high-energy and demands efficiency. The balance between demanding work and generous time off is a key aspect of their culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: A session where you present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially tackle a specific design problem or case study relevant to Pogo's product. This will assess your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and communication abilities.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with engineering and GTM team members to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team.

• Founder/Leadership Interview: A final conversation with a co-founder or senior leader to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design thinking, problem-solving, and impact, particularly those involving B2B, consumer apps, or AI.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your design decisions and rationale, and the outcomes/impact (quantified if possible).

• Highlight Speed & Pragmatism: Showcase examples where you made quick decisions, iterated rapidly, and managed tradeoffs effectively, aligning with Pogo's "Calculated Speed" value.

• Detail is Key: Emphasize your attention to detail in UI, interactions, and overall polish, aligning with the "design nerd" expectation.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, include examples of how you collaborated with engineers or product managers to bring designs to life.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Thoroughly research Pogo's current B2B platform and consumer app. Understand their target users, value proposition, and market.

• Anticipate Design Problems: Consider potential design challenges related to data visualization, AI interaction, B2B workflows, or user engagement for a consumer app.

• Structure Your Approach: Be prepared to outline your design process clearly, from problem definition to solution ideation and refinement.

• Articulate Rationale: Be ready to explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Think About AI Integration: Consider how AI could be leveraged or designed within their product context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also cultural fit, adaptability, and strategic thinking. The portfolio review is a critical component, and candidates should prepare to speak in depth about their process and impact, particularly highlighting their ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity UI design, and potentially design system management. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, other tools might be used for more advanced interactive prototypes or user testing.

• AI Design Assistants: Explicitly mentioned are LLMs such as ChatGPT and Claude, which are expected to be integrated into the design workflow for ideation, content generation, or research assistance.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) is beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

• Ability to interpret data and user feedback to drive design iterations. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with how design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms is a plus, especially for B2B product design.

• Understanding of how to design for data capture and user engagement within these broader ecosystems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the design stack. The explicit mention of AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude indicates a forward-thinking approach to design workflow optimization. While direct experience with analytics tools isn't a strict requirement, a data-informed design approach is clearly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Calculated Speed: Prioritize rapid iteration, weekly shipping, and efficient decision-making. This value encourages pragmatic design choices and a bias for action.

• Product Obsession: A deep passion for building excellent products, with product thinking being a shared competency across the entire company.

• Experimentation: A willingness to try new things, learn from data, and pivot when necessary. This fosters innovation and adaptability.

• Detail-Oriented Design: A high standard for design quality, with meticulous attention paid to the nuances of layout, typography, color, motion, and interaction.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working cross-functionally with engineering and GTM, and a shared understanding of product goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with engineers and GTM teams, ensuring designs are technically feasible and effectively marketed.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and giving feedback to drive continuous improvement, especially within the small design team and with product/engineering.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture where team members share insights, best practices, and learnings, particularly in a distributed environment.

• Proactive Communication: Essential for a remote team to ensure alignment and keep stakeholders informed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Pogo is fast-paced, results-oriented, and deeply rooted in product excellence. The values of "Calculated Speed" and "Product Obsession" are central to how the team operates. Collaboration is key, especially given the small team size and remote nature of the work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity & Rapid Prioritization: Navigating a startup environment where priorities can shift quickly and problems often lack clear-cut answers requires adaptability and strong strategic thinking.

• Limited Design Resources: Being one of two designers means less formal structure, fewer specialized roles (e.g., dedicated UX researchers), and a need for self-sufficiency.

• Designing for Scale: Balancing the need for "calculated speed" with building scalable design systems and ensuring long-term product quality.

• Enterprise vs. Consumer Design: Juggling the distinct needs and expectations of both B2B enterprise clients and a large consumer user base.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Shape Design Strategy: Directly influence the product roadmap and the foundational elements of the company's design language and systems.

• Rapid Skill Development: Gain extensive experience in end-to-end design, rapid prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration in a high-growth environment.

• Exposure to AI & Enterprise: Develop specialized expertise in designing for AI interactions and complex enterprise-grade products.

• Mentorship: Direct mentorship from a Lead Product Designer with experience from notable companies like Figma, Slack, and Glean.

• Build a Design Culture: A unique opportunity to define and establish the design culture and processes from the ground up.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to the startup environment, such as ambiguity and limited resources. However, these challenges are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities, particularly in shaping design strategy, developing specialized skills, and influencing company culture.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex feature with limited information or in a rapidly changing environment. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses adaptability, problem-solving, and "Calculated Speed.")

• "How do you balance the need for design quality and polish with the pressure to ship quickly in a startup?" (Focuses on the core company value and pragmatic design.)

• "Walk us through a project where you influenced the product roadmap or strategy through your design work." (Evaluates strategic thinking and impact beyond execution.)

• "How do you approach building or contributing to a design system, especially in an early-stage company?" (Tests understanding of scalable design practices.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Pogo's mission and our approach to consumer insights and AI?" (Assesses genuine interest and alignment with company vision.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and technologies, particularly in AI and enterprise software?" (Probes for continuous learning and passion for design.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with engineering and GTM teams. How do you ensure alignment and effective communication?" (Evaluates teamwork and cross-functional skills.)

• "What does 'product thinking' mean to you, and how do you incorporate it into your design process?" (Tests understanding of a core company value.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, your decisions, and the quantifiable results or learnings.

• Emphasize "Calculated Speed": Highlight instances where you made pragmatic tradeoffs, iterated quickly, or shipped features efficiently.

• Showcase Detail: Present your UI with a keen eye for typography, spacing, color, and interaction, demonstrating your "design nerd" sensibility.

• Discuss AI Integration: If applicable, explain how you've used AI tools or designed AI-driven experiences, referencing your workflow.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to deep-dive into any aspect of your projects, defend your design decisions, and discuss potential improvements or future iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating an understanding and embodiment of Pogo's core values, particularly "Calculated Speed" and "Product Obsession." The portfolio presentation is the primary vehicle for showcasing these capabilities, so candidates must be able to articulate their process, decisions, and impact clearly and compellingly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience with Figma, end-to-end product design, B2B or consumer app design, and any experience with AI interactions or enterprise software. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your skills in UI/UX, interaction design, problem-solving, and your ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and impact.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, how you approach ambiguity, and your experience with rapid iteration and cross-functional collaboration. Practice presenting your portfolio projects with a focus on storytelling and impact.

• Research Pogo: Understand their product, target market, and company values. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your engagement and interest in shaping their design culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Pogo Technologies, Inc. before making application decisions.