Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Pogo Technologies

Location: Brooklyn, Ohio, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-23T12:15:36

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the product design and creative direction for a new consumer insights B2B platform and a rapidly growing consumer app, impacting millions of users.

• Drive end-to-end product experience design, from initial concept exploration to post-launch iteration, ensuring high-quality interfaces and user trust.

• Define and establish the company's design language, systems, and foundational design culture within a fast-paced startup environment.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and go-to-market (GTM) teams, acting as a key design voice in a small, impactful team.

• Leverage cutting-edge AI tools and LLMs (like ChatGPT, Claude) to enhance design workflows and create innovative user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the second Product Designer, implying a significant opportunity to influence product strategy and design direction from an early stage. The emphasis on AI and LLM integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to design technology within the company.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design core product experiences for both a B2B platform and a consumer application, managing the entire design lifecycle from ideation to iteration.

• Craft visually appealing and intuitive interfaces that build user trust and effectively communicate the value of Pogo's data and AI technology.

• Meticulously refine user interface elements, including layout, typography, spacing, color palettes, motion graphics, and interactive components.

• Contribute to the strategic product roadmap by defining and implementing a robust design language and scalable design system.

• Navigate ambiguity and fast-paced development cycles to consistently deliver high-quality design solutions.

• Work cross-functionally with engineering and GTM teams, providing design expertise and ensuring seamless product development.

• Actively integrate LLMs into the design process to accelerate workflow, generate creative concepts, and improve design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "full-stack designer" expectation, requiring the candidate to handle everything from strategic product thinking to detailed UI execution, with a strong emphasis on speed and iteration inherent in a startup environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in software product design, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered solutions.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end product design for software applications.

• Expert proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Strong understanding of UI/UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and best practices.

• Ability to design for both B2B enterprise-grade platforms and consumer-facing applications.

• Experience in crafting and maintaining design systems and style guides.

• Proficiency in detail-oriented design execution, including layout, typography, spacing, and color theory.

• Experience with motion design and interaction design to create engaging user experiences.

• Strong product intuition and the ability to simplify complex problems into clear, user-friendly interfaces.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, and GTM teams.

• Experience integrating LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) into design workflows.

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, startup environment with evolving priorities. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in a startup environment.

• Experience designing interactions for AI-powered products.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and translating user feedback into design improvements.

• Knowledge of web and mobile design patterns and best practices.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a high bar for design quality and a diverse range of design projects.

• Active engagement with design communities and inspiration platforms like Mobbin.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "escape velocity design" and "Calculated Speed" mentions indicate a need for designers who can balance high-quality output with rapid iteration, making efficiency and strategic trade-offs key qualifications.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating ownership from problem definition to final solution.

• Highlight projects that involve B2B platform design or enterprise-grade software.

• Include examples of AI interaction design or the integration of LLMs into design workflows.

• Present case studies that detail your design process, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design.

• Demonstrate your ability to establish or contribute to design systems, style guides, and design language.

• Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design decisions made, and the impact of your work, using metrics where possible. Process Documentation:

• Provide clear explanations of your design process for each project, emphasizing how you approach user problems and iterate on solutions.

• Document how you collaborate with engineering and product teams to bring designs to life.

• Illustrate how you handle ambiguity and make design decisions in a fast-paced environment.

• Show examples of how you prioritize and manage multiple design tasks and projects simultaneously.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on speed and iteration, the portfolio should explicitly demonstrate how the candidate navigates ambiguity and delivers value quickly, potentially through concise case studies or project summaries that highlight rapid prototyping and learning.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Brooklyn, Ohio), experience level (2-5 years), and the company's statement of offering "above-market salaries & equity," a competitive range would likely fall between $100,000 to $150,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers in similar roles and regions, adjusted for the startup context and the company's commitment to top talent.

Benefits:

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

• Significant equity options, offering ownership and a stake in the company's success.

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

• Minimum 20 days vacation policy, ensuring employees prioritize rest and recharge.

• Opportunity to shape product and design direction in an early-stage company.

• Work with cutting-edge technologies, including AI and LLMs.

• Collaborative environment with strong product thinkers.

Working Hours: The company operates with a flexible work schedule, encouraging employees to find their most productive hours. While they "expect more than 9 to 5" due to the startup stage, they trust team members to manage their time effectively. A minimum of 20 days of vacation is mandated in addition to unlimited PTO, suggesting a culture that values work-life balance despite the intensity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly mentions offering "above-market salaries & equity," which is a strong indicator of their compensation philosophy. The salary range provided is an estimation based on typical market data for this role and location, but the actual offer could be higher due to these stated commitments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on consumer insights and data analytics, with applications in B2B and consumer markets. The company leverages AI and machine learning to provide purchase-verified consumer data.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, likely between 11-50 employees, given the mention of being the "second Product Designer." This implies a lean, agile, and highly collaborative environment.

Founded: The company was founded with a strong emphasis on product thinking. One co-founder's background in design (dreaming of being a furniture designer) highlights a deep appreciation for design principles and aesthetics within the company's ethos.

Team Structure:

• The design team currently consists of a Lead Product Designer and this role, indicating a small, high-impact design function.

• Designers work cross-functionally with engineering and GTM teams, suggesting a flat hierarchy and direct collaboration.

• Product thinking is a core value shared across all departments, from engineers to customer support and founders. Methodology:

• Embraces a culture of "Calculated Speed," prioritizing rapid iteration and weekly shipping cycles over lengthy, complex processes.

• Leverages experimentation and pivots based on data and user feedback.

• Utilizes qualitative interviews and direct customer feedback to inform product decisions and tailor solutions, especially for enterprise needs.

• Integrates LLMs into design workflows to enhance efficiency and creativity.

Company Website: joinpogo.com (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "product thinking" as a universal skill and its "Calculated Speed" methodology are critical cultural markers that candidates should understand and align with. The early-stage nature means the designer will have significant influence but also face inherent startup volatility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for an experienced Product Designer, likely mid-level, with 2-5 years of experience. It offers a unique opportunity to be one of the founding members of the design team, providing a direct path to influence and leadership as the company scales.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to the Lead Product Designer, who has a strong background from companies like Figma, Slack, and Glean. This provides a strong mentorship opportunity. Collaboration will be direct and cross-functional with engineering and GTM teams.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a substantial impact on the core product experience for both B2B clients and millions of consumers. Their work will directly shape the company's brand perception, user trust, and the overall success of its consumer insights platform. They will be instrumental in defining the visual identity and user flow of a product used by large global companies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company grows, there will be opportunities to take on more senior design responsibilities, potentially leading specific product areas or mentoring junior designers.

• Design System Expansion: Contribute significantly to the development and evolution of the company's design system, establishing best practices and scalable design solutions.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of B2B enterprise product strategy, GTM dynamics, and AI/LLM applications through hands-on experience and close collaboration.

• Startup Acumen: Gain invaluable experience in navigating the complexities of a fast-growing startup, including rapid iteration, ambiguity management, and strategic decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is ideal for a designer who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building from the ground up, and seeks to make a tangible impact on a product's trajectory. The direct mentorship from an experienced Lead Product Designer is a significant growth advantage.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "TELECOMMUTE" and is "Remote OK," indicating that the company operates with a distributed or remote-first model. This allows for flexibility in work location.

Office Location(s): While the job is posted in Brooklyn, Ohio, the remote nature suggests that candidates from other locations within the US may be considered. The company's headquarters are not explicitly stated in the raw data, but a Brooklyn, NY presence is often associated with tech startups. However, the derived location is Brooklyn, Ohio.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The remote setup allows designers to create their ideal workspace, optimizing for productivity and comfort.

• Digital Collaboration: Expect to heavily rely on digital collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Slack, video conferencing) for communication and design reviews.

• Lean Team Dynamics: Working within a small team of two designers means close-knit collaboration and a shared responsibility for design outcomes.

• Technology Access: The company likely provides necessary software licenses and potentially stipends for home office setup.

Work Schedule: While the company expects more than traditional 9-to-5 hours due to its startup stage, it emphasizes flexible work schedules and trusts individuals to manage their productivity. The implementation of a minimum 20-day vacation policy alongside unlimited PTO highlights a commitment to preventing burnout and encouraging work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is a key feature, offering significant flexibility. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication and self-directed work, while also being prepared for the intensity of a startup environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess your experience, design skills, and alignment with the company's needs.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your work, walking through 1-2 key projects. Be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making, challenges, and the impact of your work.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with engineering and GTM team members to evaluate collaboration skills, product thinking, and cultural fit.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be given a small design problem to solve or asked to elaborate on a specific aspect of your portfolio in more detail, potentially focusing on AI integration or rapid iteration.

• Founder/Leadership Interview: A final discussion to assess your vision for design at Pogo, your understanding of the company's mission, and your long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design capabilities, especially those involving B2B platforms, AI, or rapid iteration.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the constraints, your process, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices.

• Showcase Detail & Vision: Highlight your attention to detail in UI execution (layout, typography, motion) while also demonstrating strategic product thinking and a clear vision for user experience.

• Highlight AI/LLM Use: If applicable, include projects that showcase your experience using LLMs or designing AI-driven interactions.

• Be Concise: Given the "Calculated Speed" culture, ensure your presentation is efficient and impactful, focusing on key learnings and results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a challenge, quickly grasp the problem statement and identify key user needs and business goals.

• Rapid Ideation: Be prepared to brainstorm multiple solutions quickly and articulate your preferred approach with clear reasoning.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize how you would approach the problem, even if you can't fully execute a design within the given time. Discuss trade-offs and iteration plans.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thoughts and design rationale concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily scrutinize your ability to work independently, make quick decisions, and integrate new technologies like LLMs. Be ready to demonstrate how you balance speed with quality and how you contribute to shaping design culture.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect expert-level proficiency required.

• LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude): Actively used in the design workflow for idea generation, content creation, and potentially code assistance.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma, but may include others for advanced interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, expect to utilize tools for tracking user behavior, feature adoption, and performance metrics (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics).

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used to understand user data and present findings to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Likely a standard CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) used by the GTM team, with which the product design may need to integrate or align.

• Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello are common for managing development workflows and tracking design tasks.

• Communication Tools: Slack or similar platforms for daily team communication and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The explicit mention of LLMs indicates a forward-thinking approach, suggesting that familiarity and practical application of these tools will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Quality: A high bar for design excellence, with a deep appreciation for aesthetics, detail, and user experience.

• Product Thinking: A shared obsession with product strategy and user needs across the entire team, fostering a collaborative and insightful environment.

• Calculated Speed & Iteration: A commitment to rapid development cycles, weekly shipping, and continuous improvement based on data and user feedback.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functionality: Strong emphasis on working closely with engineering and GTM teams to achieve shared goals.

• Experimentation & Adaptability: Willingness to pivot and experiment with new approaches based on market feedback and data insights.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Lean: Expect close-knit collaboration within a small team, with direct communication lines to engineering, product, and leadership.

• Data-Informed: Design decisions are heavily influenced by user data, qualitative feedback, and A/B testing results.

• Feedback-Rich: A culture that encourages open feedback exchange to drive continuous improvement in both product and processes.

• Proactive & Autonomous: Team members are expected to be proactive, take ownership, and drive initiatives forward with minimal oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values designers who are not only skilled craftspeople but also strategic thinkers who can operate efficiently in a dynamic startup environment. The blend of a high design bar with rapid iteration is a key cultural differentiator.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity & Shifting Priorities: Navigating a startup environment where problems are often ill-defined and priorities can change rapidly. Candidates must be comfortable with uncertainty.

• Lean Design Resources: Working as one of two designers means a high degree of autonomy but also limited specialized support (e.g., dedicated user researchers). The designer must be resourceful and self-sufficient.

• Rapid Development Cadence: The "Calculated Speed" value means designs need to be shipped quickly, requiring efficient workflows and the ability to make pragmatic trade-offs without sacrificing essential quality.

• Defining Design Culture: As an early design hire, you'll play a key role in shaping the company's design culture, processes, and traditions from the ground up, which can be both rewarding and challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Role: Opportunity to significantly influence the product's direction, design system, and overall user experience from an early stage.

• AI/LLM Integration: Deepen expertise in applying cutting-edge AI and LLM technologies within a product design context.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gain extensive experience working with engineering and go-to-market teams, understanding the full product lifecycle in a startup setting.

• Mentorship: Direct guidance from an experienced Lead Product Designer with a strong background from leading tech companies.

• Startup Growth: Experience the rapid growth and evolution of a tech startup, offering diverse learning opportunities in problem-solving and strategic execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is best suited for a designer who views challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation. The chance to build and define aspects of the company's design function is a significant draw for ambitious professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our B2B platform that leverages AI to provide predictive insights to brands?"

• "Describe a time you had to make significant trade-offs on a design due to time constraints. How did you manage this, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you ensure your designs are scalable and maintainable within a design system, especially in a fast-paced environment?"

• "What's your process for integrating user feedback and data into your design iterations, particularly when dealing with ambiguity?"

• "How do you see LLMs like ChatGPT impacting the future of product design, and how have you incorporated them into your workflow?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Pogo's mission and our approach to consumer insights?"

• "How do you contribute to building a strong design culture within a team?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with engineers and product managers."

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies, such as AI and LLMs?"

• "What are your thoughts on the 'Calculated Speed' value, and how would you thrive in such an environment?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of Pogo and your understanding of the role. Then, dive into 1-2 key case studies. For each case study, clearly state the problem, your role, your process (discovery, ideation, design, testing), key decisions, and the results/impact.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Emphasize why you made certain design decisions, not just what you designed. Show your thought process, problem-solving skills, and how you navigated constraints.

• Showcase Detail & Polish: Be prepared to zoom in on UI details, typography, spacing, and interaction design. Demonstrate your high bar for quality.

• AI/LLM Integration: If you have relevant projects, be ready to discuss how you leveraged AI or LLMs, the benefits, and any challenges encountered.

• Engagement: Be ready to answer questions throughout your presentation and engage in a discussion about your work and Pogo's product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI and LLMs in a practical design context. Your ability to articulate your process, demonstrate attention to detail, and align with the company's fast-paced, iterative culture will be crucial.

📌 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 in end-to-end product design, Figma proficiency, B2B/enterprise design, AI/LLM integration, and startup environments. Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 1-2 strong case studies that showcase your process, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and impact. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your ability to design for both B2B and consumer platforms, and ideally, incorporates AI.

• Prepare your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and quantifiable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience with rapid iteration and ambiguity.

• Research Pogo: Understand their product, target market, and company values. Be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and mission, especially regarding their emphasis on product thinking and "Calculated Speed."

⚠️ 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.