Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Shade.inc

Location: New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-24

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

Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid potential with emphasis on in-office collaboration)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle for a rapidly scaling SaaS platform focused on media infrastructure and creative workflow optimization.

• Develop and maintain robust design systems across web, desktop, and mobile applications to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product leadership to translate complex user needs and business objectives into intuitive and impactful user experiences.

• Contribute to a fast-paced startup environment, taking ownership of features from ideation through to launch and iteration.

• Leverage deep expertise in Figma and other design tools to create high-fidelity prototypes, design specifications, and production-ready assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the initial job description emphasizes "In-Person, NYC (Noho Office)," the "TELECOMMUTE" location type and "remote_derived": true flag suggest a potential for hybrid arrangements or flexibility. However, the strong emphasis on in-office work and perks like catered lunches and commuter cards indicates a preference for on-site presence for maximum team collaboration and cultural integration. Candidates should clarify hybrid expectations during the application process.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and deliver user-centered interfaces for web, desktop, and mobile applications, focusing on media management, AI-powered visual search, and video labeling.

• Lead the evolution and maintenance of Shade.inc's design system, ensuring its scalability, reusability, and alignment with product strategy.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to inform design decisions and identify opportunities for product improvement.

• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to define product requirements, user flows, and interaction models, ensuring a seamless design-developer handoff.

• Champion design best practices, advocate for user needs, and contribute to the overall product vision and strategy of the company.

• Create compelling visual assets and motion graphics to enhance user engagement and product communication.

• Contribute to the company's brand messaging and visual strategy through design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed around the core product design function but are significantly influenced by Shade.inc's unique position in the market—building critical infrastructure for creative teams with AI integration. The emphasis on "scaling startup" and "systems" implies a need for proactive design leadership, not just execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in scaling startups (Series A and beyond) and have experience with complex design systems.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma: Mastery of variables, auto-layout, advanced prototyping, component library management, and responsive design techniques.

• Design Systems: Proven ability to create, maintain, and scale design systems across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop).

• UX/UI Design: Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Ability to create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows to communicate design concepts effectively.

• Design-Developer Handoff: Experience working closely with engineers, providing clear design specifications, and ensuring accurate implementation.

• Cross-Platform Design: Demonstrated ability to design cohesive experiences across web, desktop, and mobile applications.

• Portfolio of Shipped Products: A strong portfolio showcasing real, live products across multiple mediums, not just concepts.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Experience with tools like After Effects, Jitter, or Flutter for product animation.

• Graphic Design: Proficiency in Photoshop for product mockups and related graphic design tasks.

• Framer: Experience building and enhancing websites using Framer.

• Brand & Visual Strategy: Interest and experience in developing brand messaging and visual strategy.

• Data Visualization: Experience designing effective data visualizations.

• Illustration & Editorial Design: A broader design skillset that demonstrates range.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is explicitly stated as "2-3 years" in the original text, but the "AI_experience_level": "2-5" and the context of scaling a startup suggest that candidates with up to 5 years of experience who demonstrate the required skills and a strong portfolio will also be considered. The emphasis on "design generalists" and "bonus points" indicates a desire for versatile candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Products: Showcase at least one significant project with a live link demonstrating end-to-end UX across web, desktop, or mobile.

• Design System Organization: Include a screenshot or prototype illustrating your Figma workflow, including theme organization, token naming conventions, and component library structure.

• Process Documentation: Highlight your design process, from research and ideation to iteration and developer handoff, with specific examples of problem-solving and decision-making.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrate how you've worked with engineers and product managers, including examples of design-developer handoff and how you balanced design vision with implementation feasibility.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Present case studies that detail the user problems you addressed, the design solutions you proposed, and the rationale behind your choices.

• System Implementation: Show evidence of your ability to design for scalability and consistency, particularly in the context of design systems.

• Performance Analysis: If possible, include metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the impact of your design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "real, shipped products with live links" and a specific request to "Show us how you organize your work in Figma" are critical. Candidates should prepare a portfolio that not only showcases aesthetic quality but also demonstrates robust system thinking, process documentation, and tangible product impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Equity: Significant stock options as part of the compensation package.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance (including dental and vision), 401k with employer match, and a lifetime gym membership.

• Work-Life Balance: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) and a strong emphasis on personal investment and ambition.

• Office Perks: Daily office snacks, free catered lunches, and comped dinners.

• Commuter Benefits: Subway and bus commuter cards provided to support in-office work.

Working Hours: The standard full-time workweek is approximately 40 hours. While the role is primarily on-site, the company culture values personal investment and ambition, suggesting a degree of flexibility may be possible once established, though the core expectation is in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided and aligns with mid-level to senior product designer roles in New York City. The inclusion of equity is a significant component typical of early-stage, high-growth startups. The benefits package is generous, reflecting the company's philosophy of treating employees as "shareholders."

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (specifically SaaS for Media Infrastructure and Creative Workflow)

Company Size: Scaling Startup (implied Series A or later funding stage, growing rapidly)

Founded: Approximately 18 months prior to the job posting (as of June 2026), indicating a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Team Structure:

• The design team is small and growing, currently comprising the founding designer (Karina), CEO (Brandon), and another product designer (Dan). This role will be the 3rd design hire.

• Close collaboration with the CEO and founding team is expected, providing direct influence on product direction.

• The engineering team is integrated, and strong designer-engineer collaboration is a core aspect of the workflow. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: Leveraging AI for visual search and video labeling, indicating a strong emphasis on data and intelligent features.

• Agile & Iterative: The phrase "laying the tracks as we drive the train" suggests an agile approach where processes are developed and refined concurrently with product growth.

• Focus on User Friction: The company's mission is to eliminate tedious aspects of creative work, implying a deep understanding and empathy for user pain points.

Company Website: https://shade.inc/

📝 Enhancement Note: Shade.inc is positioned as a high-growth startup backed by prominent venture capital firms. The culture emphasizes ownership, ambitious problem-solving, and treating employees as key stakeholders ("you are the 'shareholder'"). The company is building foundational technology for creative professionals, akin to the impact of companies like Figma or Frame.io.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for an experienced Product Designer, positioned at a mid-level to senior contributor capacity within a small, high-impact team. The "3rd design hire" status means significant opportunity to shape the design function.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report directly to one of the founding designers or potentially the CEO, given the small team size and early stage. Close collaboration with the founding designer, Karina, is explicitly mentioned.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on Shade.inc's core product offering, influencing user experience, design systems, and overall product strategy. Their work will be critical in defining how creative teams interact with media and AI-powered tools, directly contributing to the company's rapid growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to own and significantly expand the design system, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Product Strategy Influence: Direct involvement in product roadmap discussions and strategic decision-making due to the early stage and small team.

• Skill Expansion: Potential to explore brand messaging, visual strategy, and conceptual design work, acting as a versatile "design generalist."

• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from experienced founders and potentially mentor future design hires as the team grows.

• Career Acceleration: High potential for rapid career advancement in a hyper-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is exceptionally high. As the 3rd design hire in a fast-scaling company backed by top VCs, the individual will have significant influence and potential for rapid career progression, moving into leadership roles as the design team expands.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: In-person, with a stated preference for working in the Noho office in New York City. The company culture strongly promotes in-office collaboration and community.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY (Noho Office).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office is described as "cool" and a place where "you'll want to work," emphasizing its role as a central point for team interaction and creative synergy.

• Tooling: Access to standard design tools (Figma, Photoshop) and potential for new tools as needed (e.g., Framer for web).

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with founders, engineers, and fellow designers, fostering a close-knit and dynamic work environment. Regular team meals and social events are part of the culture.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour workweek is implied, the company culture emphasizes personal investment and ambition. The expectation is to work from the NYC office, facilitating spontaneous collaboration and team building.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "In-Person, NYC (Noho Office)" and perks like catered lunches and commuter cards strongly suggest that this is not a remote-first role, despite the "TELECOMMUTE" classification. Candidates should be prepared for significant on-site work, which is framed as a positive aspect of the company culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation: Likely a session where candidates walk through their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss how you've scaled systems and handled design-developer handoffs.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: May involve a take-home assignment or an in-interview exercise focusing on problem-solving, system thinking, or designing a specific feature.

• Team/Founder Interviews: Discussions with CEO Brandon and other team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Shipped Work: Prioritize live products and demonstrable impact over conceptual projects. Clearly link to live applications.

• Showcase System Thinking: Dedicate a section to your design system work, including Figma organization screenshots and explanations of your methodology.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, iteration), and the outcome/impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) implicitly.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've worked with engineers and product managers, showing your ability to balance design vision with technical constraints.

• Be Pragmatic: As per the job description, acknowledge trade-offs and demonstrate an understanding of implementation costs.

Challenge Preparation:

• System Design: Practice designing for scalability and consistency. Consider how you'd approach building or expanding a design system for a media infrastructure product.

• User Problem Solving: Be ready to tackle a hypothetical user problem related to creative workflows or media management, outlining your design approach.

• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss advanced Figma features and best practices, especially concerning component libraries and variables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely focus heavily on practical skills, system design capabilities, and cultural alignment with a fast-paced startup. A well-structured portfolio that demonstrates quantifiable results and a clear design process is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool, requiring expert-level proficiency in variables, auto-layout, component libraries, and responsive design.

• Adobe Photoshop: Used for product mockups and potentially graphic design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with analytics tools and understanding how to design for trackable metrics will be beneficial. The company's focus on data-driven AI features implies a data-aware design approach. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but understanding the user journey within a SaaS product is crucial. Bonus Tools:

• After Effects / Jitter / Flutter: For motion graphics and product animation.

• Framer: For website design and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expertise in Figma is non-negotiable. The mention of "AI for visual search and video labeling" suggests that any familiarity with designing for AI-powered features or data visualization would be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Ownership: Taking responsibility for features from start to finish, being the "first and last set of eyes."

• User Empathy: Deeply understanding and prioritizing the needs and frustrations of creative professionals.

• Meticulousness & Pragmatism: Striving for high quality while understanding the need for speed and practicality ("sacrifice perfection for speed and product").

• Collaboration: Working closely with engineers, product managers, and founders to achieve shared goals.

• Ambition & Investment: A culture that values personal growth and invests in employees' ambitions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Tight collaboration between design, product, and engineering is fundamental.

• Design-Developer Partnership: Emphasis on clear communication and mutual understanding between designers and engineers.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages sharing and receiving feedback constructively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is geared towards ambitious individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment. The emphasis on "design generalists" and a willingness to "sacrifice perfection for speed" indicates a culture that values adaptability and results over rigid adherence to process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Scaling: Adapting design systems and workflows to support rapid company growth and evolving product requirements.

• Complex System Design: Designing for a foundational media infrastructure platform with AI components requires a deep understanding of technical constraints and user needs.

• Balancing Speed & Quality: Meeting aggressive product timelines while maintaining high design quality and user experience standards.

• Defining Design Vision: As an early design hire, contributing to and shaping the future design vision and culture of the company.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in building and scaling complex design systems.

• Product Strategy Immersion: Gain hands-on experience in product strategy formulation within a high-growth startup.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Develop skills in brand messaging, visual strategy, and potentially motion graphics and data visualization.

• Foundational Technology Exposure: Work with cutting-edge AI and file system-level technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of a scaling startup and offer significant opportunities for professional growth. The company actively frames these challenges as chances for skill capture and personal development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you scaled a design system. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• "Describe a feature you designed from conception to launch. What was your process, and what was the impact?"

• "How do you balance design perfection with the need for speed in a startup environment?"

• "How do you approach design-developer handoff? Can you give an example of a successful collaboration?"

• "What excites you about Shade.inc's mission and product?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Shade.inc and our market position?"

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?"

• "Describe your ideal work environment. How does our in-office approach fit with that?"

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new tools?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, and the quantifiable results for each case study.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, Figma organization examples) extensively.

• Highlight System Work: Dedicate specific slides or sections to your design system contributions, demonstrating your organizational skills.

• Be Prepared for Figma Deep Dives: Expect questions about your Figma workflow, component management, and use of advanced features.

• Emphasize Shipped Impact: Focus on the real-world application and success of your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who is not only technically proficient in Figma and design systems but also possesses the adaptability, ownership, and collaborative spirit required for a fast-paced startup. Be ready to articulate your design philosophy and how it aligns with Shade.inc's mission.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating design system scalability, cross-platform design, and shipped products. Specifically include screenshots of your Figma organization and workflow.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with scaling startups, design systems, and your expertise in Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design process, collaborative experiences, and ability to balance speed with quality. Prepare to discuss Shade.inc's product and mission.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Shade.inc's product, market, and funding. Understand their mission to eliminate creative friction and their position as critical media infrastructure.

⚠️ 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.