Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies

Location: Brooklyn, Ohio, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-10

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with potential for occasional in-person collaboration or events)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead product design and creative direction for a new B2B consumer insights platform and a growing consumer app with 3 million users.

• Design end-to-end product experiences, from initial concept and exploration through launch and ongoing iteration, focusing on building trust and showcasing data/AI capabilities.

• Contribute to the definition of the product roadmap and establish foundational design language, systems, and culture within a fast-paced startup environment.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams, acting as one of the early design hires to shape the product's visual and interactive future.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, indicated by the "second Product Designer" and "1 of 2 designers (for now)" phrasing. The expectation is for the candidate to contribute significantly to product strategy and design systems, not just execution. The emphasis on "end-to-end" design and "shaping the product roadmap" suggests a strategic involvement beyond typical UI/UX tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design core product experiences for both a B2B platform and a consumer app, managing the full lifecycle from early exploration to post-launch iteration.

• Develop polished, intuitive, and trustworthy user interfaces that effectively communicate the power of Pogo's data and AI technology.

• Focus on meticulous attention to detail across layout, typography, spacing, color, motion, and interactions to ensure a high-quality user experience.

• Actively participate in defining the product roadmap, setting strategic design direction, and building the foundation for Pogo's design language, systems, and overall design culture.

• Find creative solutions to deliver high-quality design work efficiently within a dynamic, often ambiguous, startup setting.

• Work cross-functionally with engineering and GTM teams, fostering strong collaborative relationships to ensure design vision is realized.

• Integrate LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) into the design workflow to enhance efficiency and explore innovative interaction patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a "full-stack designer" mentality, requiring end-to-end ownership and cross-functional collaboration. The mention of "swooping into Figma for superpowers" and "near-term tradeoffs" suggests a need for agile and pragmatic design execution, balancing speed with quality.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for Product Designer roles. A strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience designing software products, with a preference for candidates who have worked in a startup environment or have specific experience with AI interactions or enterprise-grade products.

• Proficiency in rapid iteration and efficient design execution, capable of making pragmatic near-term tradeoffs while maintaining a strong long-term design vision. Required Skills:

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

• Strong skills in UI/UX Design, encompassing user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Proven ability to design B2B platform experiences and consumer applications.

• Experience in design systems development or significant contribution to existing systems, including defining design language, components, and style guides.

• Deep understanding of typography, spacing, color theory, and motion design principles.

• Ability to craft delightful interfaces that build user trust and convey complex information clearly.

• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering and GTM teams to bring designs to life.

• Proficiency in integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Claude into design workflows.

• Strong product intuition and a focus on simplicity and clarity in user experiences. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing AI interactions or products leveraging AI/ML technologies.

• Previous experience designing enterprise-grade products with complex user flows and data requirements.

• Familiarity with design resources like Mobbin for inspiration and best practices.

• Experience in user research methodologies and translating insights into design decisions.

• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments.

• Understanding of GTM strategies and how design supports sales and marketing efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "design nerd at heart" and "high bar for design quality" implies that candidates should be passionate about design, continuously learning, and able to articulate strong design opinions backed by examples and industry knowledge. The requirement to "design things in a day" and "ship weekly" points to a need for candidates comfortable with rapid iteration and a "calculated speed" approach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, highlighting your role and contributions.

• Demonstration of your ability to design for both B2B and B2C/consumer applications, with clear distinctions and rationale for design choices.

• Evidence of your proficiency with Figma, including complex prototypes, component libraries, and design system contributions.

• Case studies that detail your process for tackling ambiguous problems, iterating rapidly, and making pragmatic tradeoffs.

• Examples of how you've designed polished, delightful interfaces that build trust and effectively communicate complex data or AI functionalities.

• Demonstration of your understanding of design principles such as layout, typography, spacing, color, and motion, applied practically in your projects.

• Projects that showcase your ability to collaborate cross-functionally, particularly with engineering and product teams. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your process for defining product roadmaps and contributing to design strategy.

• Showcase your approach to building or contributing to design language systems, including style guides, component libraries, and best practices.

• Provide examples of how you have incorporated user feedback and data into your design iterations to improve product outcomes.

• Detail your workflow for rapidly iterating on designs and shipping high-quality work in a fast-paced environment, potentially including examples of "calculated speed" in action.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the startup context and the emphasis on rapid iteration, portfolios should ideally showcase projects that demonstrate adaptability and the ability to deliver value quickly. Including examples of how LLMs were integrated into the design process would be a significant plus.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $100,000 - $150,000 USD per year (for mid-level Product Designer in the US, remote).

• Explanation: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level Product Designers in the US, considering the "above-market salaries & equity" offering and the company's stated commitment to attracting top talent. Location (Brooklyn, Ohio, USA) and the remote work arrangement are factored in, with a slight adjustment upwards due to the "above-market" incentive. The range accounts for variations in specific experience (2-5 years) and the candidate's demonstrated impact.

Benefits:

• Above-market salaries: Compensation designed to exceed standard industry rates.

• Significant equity: Opportunity to own a meaningful stake in the company's growth.

• Unlimited PTO: Flexibility to take time off as needed, promoting work-life balance.

• Minimum 20 days vacation policy: A guaranteed minimum amount of paid time off to ensure employees recharge.

Working Hours: While the job is listed as full-time (likely 40 hours/week), the company emphasizes "Calculated Speed" and "raw hours make an impact at our current stage," suggesting a dynamic work environment. They also trust team members to create a flexible schedule that maximizes productivity while accommodating personal priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "above-market salaries & equity" and flexible scheduling combined with a minimum vacation policy create a unique compensation and benefits package. The "calculated speed" and "raw hours" comment suggests that while flexibility exists, a high level of commitment and output is expected, especially during the startup's growth phase.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software (specifically Consumer Insights Platform)

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (implied by "second Product Designer," "1 of 2 designers," and "early team members"). Likely a Seed or Series A stage startup.

Founded: Not specified, but the phrasing suggests a relatively young company in a growth phase.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Very small, currently consisting of a Lead Product Designer and the new Product Designer. This implies a flat structure with direct collaboration and minimal design management overhead.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close working relationships are expected with engineering and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams. The entire team is described as having "product thinking" as a core competency.

• Reporting: The new Product Designer will likely report to the Lead Product Designer or a Head of Product/CTO, given the early stage.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Strong emphasis on using user data and direct customer feedback to inform product decisions and design solutions.

• Rapid Iteration: A core value of "Calculated Speed" means iterating and shipping weekly, with quick feedback loops from users.

• Experimentation: A culture of experimentation and pivoting based on data and user feedback.

• Product Thinking: Obsession with product thinking across all roles, from engineers to co-founders.

Company Website: joinpogo.com (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by speed, agility, data-driven decision-making, and a deep-seated passion for product. Candidates should thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building from the ground up. The company is actively building a B2B enterprise product, which requires a different design approach than purely consumer-facing apps.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a mid-level Product Designer, expected to contribute significantly to the product's direction and design system. It's not an entry-level position but offers substantial growth potential.

Reporting Structure: The designer will work closely with the Lead Product Designer and likely report to a Product Lead or CTO. This structure promotes direct mentorship and high visibility.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the success of Pogo's consumer insights platform and consumer app. Their work will shape user acquisition, engagement, retention, and ultimately, the company's ability to attract and retain large enterprise clients. They will be instrumental in building the product's core user experience and defining its visual identity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As one of the first two designers, there's a clear path to grow into a Senior or Lead Designer role as the company scales, potentially managing future design hires and overseeing the entire design function.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to deepen expertise in B2B enterprise design, AI interactions, and building scalable design systems from scratch. The company's rapid iteration model allows for fast learning and skill acquisition.

• Product Strategy Influence: The role offers significant influence on product strategy and roadmap, allowing the designer to shape the future of the product beyond just execution.

• Culture Shaping: Opportunity to play a key role in defining and evolving the company's design culture and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory is steep, appealing to ambitious designers who want to make a significant impact and grow with a company. The lack of extensive design management means the designer will need to be self-directed but will gain invaluable experience in building a design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn, Ohio, but the role is explicitly remote.

Office Location(s): While the headquarters is in Brooklyn, Ohio, the role is remote, meaning the designer can work from anywhere. The company mentions "occasional in-person" collaboration or events, suggesting potential for team meetups or offsites.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect to use digital collaboration tools extensively for design, communication, and project management.

• Tools & Technology: A modern tech stack is implied, with a strong emphasis on Figma and likely other collaboration and project management tools.

• Team Interaction: While remote, the emphasis on "product thinking" across the team and close cross-functional work suggests a highly communicative and collaborative remote dynamic.

Work Schedule: Flexible work schedule is encouraged, allowing employees to optimize productivity while balancing personal priorities. However, the company values "raw hours" and "calculated speed," indicating a high-output environment where responsiveness and timely delivery are key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote setup combined with a flexible schedule is a significant perk. However, candidates should be prepared for a fast-paced, results-oriented environment where responsiveness and commitment to rapid iteration are paramount. The mention of potential "in-person" events implies a desire to foster team cohesion beyond digital interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience and design quality.

• Portfolio Presentation: Expect to walk through 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, detailing your process, challenges, solutions, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role, design decisions, and collaboration.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, potentially involving a problem-solving scenario related to the company's product or a specific design challenge. This might be a take-home assignment or a live working session.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with engineering, GTM, and potentially founders to assess collaboration skills, product thinking, and cultural fit.

• Final Round: May involve a deeper dive into strategic thinking, design vision, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 strong projects that best represent your skills in B2B/enterprise design, consumer apps, end-to-end ownership, and rapid iteration.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (ideation, iteration, tools used), key decisions, challenges faced, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Highlight your use of Figma for prototyping, design systems, and collaborative workflows. Be ready to discuss specific features or techniques you leverage.

• Demonstrate "Calculated Speed": If possible, include a project that shows how you balanced speed, iteration, and quality in a fast-paced environment.

• Highlight LLM Integration: If you have examples of using LLMs in your design workflow, be prepared to discuss them.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user engagement, reduced task completion time).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Pogo Technologies, their consumer insights platform, and their consumer app. Understand their target audience (brands/retailers and consumers).

• Embrace Ambiguity: Be comfortable with open-ended problems and demonstrate how you would approach them systematically.

• Focus on Process: Show your thought process for solving design problems, not just the final solution.

• Prioritize Pragmatism: Given the "calculated speed" value, demonstrate an ability to make pragmatic design choices and iterate quickly.

• Think Cross-functionally: Consider how your design solutions would integrate with engineering and support GTM efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and strategic thinking. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not only design craft but also their ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, growth-stage startup, integrating new technologies like LLMs and contributing to design culture.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool, expected to be used extensively for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management.

• LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude): Actively used in the design workflow for ideation, content generation, exploring interaction patterns, and potentially automating certain design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, other prototyping tools might be used for specific advanced interactions or testing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Likely used to track user behavior, engagement, and feature adoption on both the B2B platform and consumer app (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics).

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used by the product team to present insights derived from user data, which designers may need to understand or contribute to.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM System: Used by the GTM team for managing enterprise client relationships (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot). The designer may need to understand how the platform integrates with or supports CRM processes.

• Project Management Tools: Essential for cross-functional collaboration and workflow management (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).

• Communication Platforms: Tools like Slack for real-time team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and LLMs is clear. Candidates should be comfortable working with these tools and willing to learn new ones as the company grows. Understanding how design interfaces with data analytics and CRM systems will be beneficial for designing effective B2B solutions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Calculated Speed: A core value emphasizing rapid iteration, weekly shipping, and efficient execution to deliver high-quality work quickly.

• Product Obsession: A deep-seated passion for product thinking is shared across the entire team, driving innovation and user-centricity.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are heavily influenced by user data and direct customer feedback, ensuring solutions are effective and targeted.

• Experimentation & Agility: A willingness to experiment with new ideas and pivot quickly based on learnings and market dynamics.

• High Design Bar: A commitment to best-in-class design quality, with a focus on polish, detail, and delightful user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working closely with engineering and GTM teams, fostering a collaborative environment where design is integrated early and often.

• Direct Communication: Given the small team size and remote nature, direct and transparent communication is likely encouraged.

• Learning & Growth Mindset: The environment fosters independent learning and self-direction, with a shared desire to continuously improve both individually and as a team.

• Startup Mentality: Expect a dynamic, hands-on approach where everyone contributes to building the company and its products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is a blend of intense focus on product and speed, balanced with a commitment to design quality and employee well-being (flexible hours, generous PTO). Candidates should be comfortable with ambiguity, high expectations, and a collaborative, learning-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity and Shifting Priorities: The startup environment means priorities can shift rapidly based on market feedback and strategic pivots. Candidates need to be adaptable and resilient.

• Limited Design Resources: As one of two designers, you'll need to be highly self-sufficient, managing multiple projects and potentially lacking specialized roles like dedicated user researchers or UX writers.

• Rapid Iteration Demands: The "calculated speed" value means designing and shipping quickly, which can be demanding and requires efficient workflow management.

• Balancing Enterprise and Consumer Needs: Designing for both a sophisticated B2B platform and a mass-market consumer app presents unique UX challenges.

• Building from Scratch: Establishing design systems, processes, and culture from early stages requires significant foundational work and strategic foresight.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Track: Significant potential to grow into a senior or lead design role, shaping the future of the design team and its processes.

• Specialized Skill Development: Deepen expertise in AI interaction design, enterprise UX, and building scalable design systems.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain hands-on experience influencing product roadmaps and business strategy.

• Fast-Paced Learning: The rapid iteration cycle and exposure to diverse product challenges accelerate learning and skill development.

• Mentorship: Direct collaboration with a Lead Product Designer offers valuable mentorship and guidance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to immense growth opportunities. This role is ideal for an ambitious designer who thrives on building, learning, and making a substantial impact in a dynamic startup setting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our B2B platform that helps enterprise clients leverage AI insights for their marketing campaigns?" (Focus on your process, user research, and integration of AI capabilities.)

• "Describe a time you had to make significant tradeoffs in a design project to meet a deadline. How did you ensure quality and plan for future improvements?" (Assess your "calculated speed" and pragmatic approach.)

• "How would you contribute to building and evolving Pogo's design language and design system as a foundational member of the design team?" (Evaluate your system thinking and strategic design capabilities.)

• "Given our focus on rapid iteration and user feedback, how would you ensure our consumer app remains intuitive and delightful for millions of users?" (Probe your understanding of user-centric design and iteration.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Pogo Technologies specifically, and what excites you about our mission and product?" (Demonstrate your research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends, new tools (like LLMs), and best practices in the industry?" (Assess your passion for design and continuous learning.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you thrive in a fast-paced, potentially ambiguous startup setting." (Gauge your fit with the company culture.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and GTM teams, especially when there are differing opinions on product direction or design?" (Evaluate your cross-functional communication and teamwork skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin each case study with a clear summary of the problem, your role, and the key outcome.

• Highlight Your Process: Visually walk through your design journey – from research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, testing, and final design. Use Figma screenshots and interactive prototypes where appropriate.

• Emphasize Decision-Making: Clearly explain why you made certain design choices, referencing user data, design principles, or business goals.

• Showcase LLM Integration: If applicable, demonstrate how you leveraged LLMs to enhance your design process or outcomes.

• Quantify Results: Present metrics and impact data clearly. If exact numbers are unavailable, articulate the intended impact or how you would measure success post-launch.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, technical constraints, and alternative solutions you considered.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation, not a lecture. Be open to questions throughout your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely test your ability to balance creative excellence with pragmatic execution in a high-growth startup. Be prepared to showcase your process, impact, and adaptability, especially regarding the company's core values like "Calculated Speed" and product obsession.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

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

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest product design projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, B2B/enterprise experience, consumer app design, and proficiency in Figma. Tailor your selection to highlight your ability to work in a fast-paced environment and your understanding of data-driven design.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights relevant experience, specifically mentioning your work with software products, startups, B2B platforms, AI interactions, and your proficiency with tools like Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen projects, focusing on your process, design decisions, collaboration, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you've applied your skills in rapid iteration and how you've integrated tools like LLMs.

• Research Pogo Technologies: Thoroughly understand their product, mission, target audience, and company values. Prepare specific reasons for your interest in Pogo and how you align with their culture of "Calculated Speed" and "product obsession."

⚠️ 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.