Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: South Geeks

Location: Wyoming, New York, United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design & Management

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

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

Remote Status: 100% Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on end-to-end product design and management for a government technology platform, emphasizing an AI-native development model.

• You will be instrumental in shaping product strategy, conducting customer research, and translating user needs into effective design solutions using advanced AI tools.

• The position requires a blend of strong product design skills and meaningful product management experience, with a focus on user outcomes and iterative development.

• Collaboration with engineering teams and product leaders is key, fostering a culture of ownership and shared responsibility within a fast-paced, often ambiguous environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the description clearly indicates significant Product Management responsibilities, including writing product intents, acceptance criteria, and running grooming sessions. This suggests a hybrid Product Designer/Product Manager role, often seen in lean startups or AI-native development environments where individuals wear multiple hats. Candidates should highlight both design and PM capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the full product cycle design process, including customer research, user journey mapping, wireframing, flow design, prototyping, and creating final specifications for development.

• Conduct in-depth customer interviews and user research to identify pain points, gather insights, and inform product strategy for government clients.

• Collaborate closely with engineering pods and product leaders to ensure seamless integration of designs and to iterate on product features based on user feedback and AI-driven insights.

• Write clear product intents and acceptance criteria, and facilitate grooming sessions to ensure development teams understand product requirements.

• Utilize AI design and development tools (e.g., Lovable, Claude Design, Make) as integral parts of the daily workflow for efficient product iteration and creation.

• Partner with a hybrid designer/PM to cover the product surface area, ensuring comprehensive product coverage and strategic alignment.

• Translate user outcomes and business objectives into tangible product features and improvements, prioritizing user value over mere feature lists.

• Communicate product vision, design decisions, and technical requirements effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through written and verbal channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach within small, agile pods, typical of AI-native product development. The expectation to "own the loop" and work directly with engineers, rather than through traditional handoffs, highlights a collaborative and integrated product development methodology.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is highly beneficial.

Experience: 3+ years in product design, with a proven track record of meaningful product management experience.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in product design methodologies, including user research, wireframing, user flow creation, and prototyping.

• Strong customer research instincts, with the ability to conduct effective interviews and translate insights into actionable product improvements.

• Fluency in utilizing AI design and development tools such as Lovable, Claude Design, Make, or comparable platforms.

• Proven ability to manage and run product sprints, demonstrating ownership and leadership in the development cycle.

• Product instincts grounded in user outcomes and value delivery, rather than a focus on feature checklists.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate product strategies and technical requirements to non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in GovTech, B2B SaaS, or enterprise software environments, particularly for non-technical buyers.

• Background or understanding of government operations or public sector product development.

• Familiarity with Agile and Lean development methodologies.

• Experience with data analysis and A/B testing to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "meaningful PM experience" requirement is critical. Candidates should be prepared to showcase instances where they've taken ownership of product strategy, roadmap planning, or feature prioritization, in addition to their design contributions. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a need for candidates who are not just aware of, but actively integrating, AI into their design and product management workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate your ability to move from initial customer research and problem identification through to final design specifications and shipped features.

• Include case studies that highlight your product management contributions, such as product intent documentation, acceptance criteria, or sprint management examples.

• Provide evidence of your proficiency with AI design and development tools, showcasing how you leverage them to enhance the product development process.

• Demonstrate instances where your product instincts led to significant user outcome improvements or business value, with clear metrics where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you conduct customer research, including interview guides, synthesis methods, and actionable insights derived.

• Documentation of your wireframing, user flow design, and prototyping processes, highlighting tools used and iterative design approaches.

• Showcase examples of product intents, user stories, and acceptance criteria you have written.

• Demonstrate how you have collaborated with engineering teams, including participation in grooming sessions or sprint planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should clearly differentiate between pure design work and product management contributions. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their thought process, detailing their strategic decisions, the challenges faced, and the specific outcomes achieved, especially concerning user value and efficiency gains through AI tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the provided information (Full-Time, remote, payment in USD, experienced role, and target audience in Latin America), a competitive salary range for a Product Designer with significant Product Management experience in Latin America could be estimated between $40,000 - $70,000 USD annually, depending on specific experience, skills, and location within Latin America.

Benefits:

• Long-term projects offering stability and depth of engagement.

• 100% remote work, providing flexibility and work-life balance.

• Payment in USD, ensuring consistent and stable compensation.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) for rest and personal time.

• English lessons to support professional development and communication.

• Technical training opportunities to enhance skills.

• Work from home budget to support a productive remote workspace.

• Career Coaching to guide professional growth and advancement.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to accommodate collaboration with teams in different time zones (though the client is US-based, and the candidate is expected to work in the client's timezone).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for remote, full-time roles in Latin America that pay in USD, considering the mid-level experience and the specialized nature of the role (GovTech, AI tools). Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications and the hiring company's compensation structure. The benefits package is strong, emphasizing professional development and remote work support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: South Geeks operates within the IT Services and Staffing industry, specifically focusing on connecting high-growth companies with elite software engineers from Latin America. Their client is in the Government Technology (GovTech) and B2B SaaS sector.

Company Size: South Geeks is likely a growing company, though specific size isn't provided. Their model suggests a focus on quality over quantity in talent placement. Their client, a provider of cloud-based government management software, is described as having "small pods of strong engineers paired with designers," indicating a lean, agile, and product-focused internal structure.

Founded: South Geeks' founding date is not specified, but their mission to provide AI-fluent engineers suggests a modern, forward-thinking approach. Their client's focus on modernizing government operations implies a company established enough to have a product suite but agile enough to adopt AI-native development.

Team Structure:

• You will be embedded within the client's product development team, working in small, cross-functional pods comprising engineers and designers/PMs.

• You will report directly to the Director of Product and Design within the client organization.

• Close collaboration is expected with one other hybrid designer/PM, as well as with the engineering team and potentially client stakeholders in government municipalities.

Methodology:

• The client employs an AI-native product development model, integrating AI tools heavily into design and development workflows.

• A "no handoff culture" is promoted, emphasizing direct collaboration and shared ownership between designers and engineers.

• The approach is user-centric, focusing on customer research and delivering user outcomes rather than just building features.

• Agile methodologies are implicitly used, given the mention of sprints, grooming sessions, and rapid iteration.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by agility, ownership, and a strong emphasis on leveraging technology, particularly AI, to drive product innovation. For operations professionals, this means a need for adaptability, proactive problem-solving, and comfort with data-driven decision-making in a collaborative, remote setting.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer with significant Product Management responsibilities. It offers an opportunity to deepen expertise in both design strategy and product lifecycle management within a specialized domain (GovTech) and an innovative development model (AI-native).

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Director of Product and Design at the client company. You will also work closely with a peer designer/PM and the engineering pod assigned to your product area. South Geeks' People Ops team provides an additional layer of support.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly influence the modernization of government operations in US municipalities. By designing intuitive and efficient software, you will impact how local governments serve their constituents, manage resources, and operate day-to-day. This role offers a chance to contribute to meaningful public sector improvements through technology.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in GovTech, B2B SaaS product design, and AI-native product development methodologies.

• Skill Expansion: Grow product management capabilities by taking on more strategic product decisions, roadmap planning, and stakeholder management.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success, opportunities may arise to lead product initiatives, mentor junior designers/PMs, or transition into a more senior product role within the client organization or South Geeks' network.

• Continuous Learning: Access to English lessons, technical training, and career coaching provided by South Geeks supports ongoing professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual nature of the role (Design + PM) is a significant growth opportunity. Candidates can leverage this to become well-rounded product leaders, a highly sought-after profile in the tech industry. The emphasis on AI tools also positions them at the forefront of modern product development practices.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a 100% remote position. There is no physical office requirement.

Office Location(s): While the client is US-based (Wyoming, NY), the role is open to candidates anywhere in Latin America. This remote setup allows for a distributed team environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a highly collaborative, remote-first environment where communication and teamwork are paramount. You'll work closely with engineers and fellow product professionals.

• Tools & Technology: You will be expected to be proficient with and leverage a suite of modern design and AI tools, including potentially Claude Design, Lovable, and Make, as well as standard design and communication platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction will occur through video calls, messaging platforms, and collaborative design sessions, fostering a connected team dynamic despite the remote nature.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While remote, candidates are expected to align their working hours with the client's timezone (America/New York) to facilitate seamless collaboration with US-based teams and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The expectation to work in the client's timezone is crucial for remote roles. Candidates should be prepared for potential overlap with US business hours, which may include early mornings or late afternoons depending on their specific location in Latin America.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess alignment with the required skills and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the Director of Product and Design to discuss your background, product philosophy, experience with AI tools, and fit for the role and client.

• Design/Product Challenge: You may be asked to complete a take-home assignment or participate in a live session to demonstrate your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate product strategy. This could involve analyzing a problem, proposing a solution, or presenting a case study.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Potentially meet with other members of the product team or engineering leads to assess collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, possibly with senior leadership, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly showcase how you've used AI tools (Lovable, Claude, Make, etc.) in your design and product management processes. Provide specific examples of the impact.

• Showcase PM Contributions: Dedicate sections or specific projects to demonstrating your product management skills – product intents, user stories, acceptance criteria, sprint management, or strategic decision-making.

• Focus on User Outcomes: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, and the measurable outcomes achieved for the user and the business. Quantify impact wherever possible.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling narrative of problem-solving, design thinking, and product ownership.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly communicates your skills and achievements without unnecessary jargon.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand GovTech: Research common challenges and user needs within government operations and public sector software.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience and opinions on the AI tools mentioned and similar technologies.

• Product Strategy: Prepare to discuss how you would approach product strategy for a government platform, focusing on user needs, efficiency, and adoption.

• Communication: Practice articulating complex ideas clearly and concisely, as you'll need to communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review will be critical. Candidates should prepare to deeply discuss their design process, product decisions, and specifically their experience with AI tools and their impact on efficiency and outcomes. Be ready to defend your design choices and product strategies with data and user-centric reasoning.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• AI Design & Development: Lovable, Claude Design, Make (or comparable AI-powered design and workflow automation tools). Proficiency here is a key differentiator.

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (or similar industry-standard design tools for wireframing, user flows, and interactive prototypes).

• Product Management: Tools for writing product intents, user stories, and acceptance criteria (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello, or even well-structured documents).

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace (for communication, meetings, and document sharing).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) for understanding user behavior and product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned as a primary tool for this role, understanding how product design impacts CRM and sales processes within a B2B SaaS context is beneficial.

• Familiarity with workflow automation concepts, especially as related to AI tools like 'Make,' is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools like Lovable and Claude Design is paramount. Candidates should highlight any direct experience or a strong understanding of how these tools are used in modern product development workflows for rapid iteration, AI-assisted design, and workflow automation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for your work, from concept to delivery, and acting with the same level of commitment as an in-house employee.

• AI-Driven Innovation: Embracing and actively using AI tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and product development outcomes.

• User-Centricity: Prioritizing user needs and outcomes in all design and product decisions.

• Collaboration: Working seamlessly with cross-functional teams, fostering open communication and shared goals.

• Agility & Adaptability: Thriving in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, and being comfortable with rapid iteration and change.

• Long-Term Partnership: Committing to long-term projects and building lasting relationships with clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Teamwork: You will be an integrated member of the client's product team, working directly alongside engineers and other product professionals.

• Direct Communication: Expect frequent and direct communication through various channels, with an emphasis on clarity and transparency.

• Shared Ownership: The "no handoff culture" promotes a collaborative environment where team members collectively own the product's success.

• Feedback Loops: An open culture for feedback and iteration is essential for rapid development and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The South Geeks culture emphasizes commitment and integration, while the client's culture is built around agile, AI-native development with strong team ownership. Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values, particularly their proactive approach to collaboration and their comfort with cutting-edge technology.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The role requires comfort with evolving requirements and fast-paced environments, demanding strong problem-solving skills and adaptability.

• Bridging Technical & Non-Technical: Effectively communicating complex design and product decisions to both engineers and government stakeholders requires excellent communication skills.

• AI Tool Mastery: Continuously learning and adapting to new AI design and development tools to maximize their potential.

• GovTech Nuances: Understanding the specific needs, regulations, and user behaviors within the government sector can be complex.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote setting requires deliberate effort and excellent interpersonal skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Become an expert in leveraging AI for product design and development, a highly valuable and in-demand skill.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a deep understanding of both product design and product management, becoming a versatile product professional.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in the GovTech sector, a critical and growing area of technology adoption.

• Professional Development: Benefit from English lessons, technical training, and career coaching provided by South Geeks.

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into leadership roles within the client's product team or through South Geeks' network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are opportunities for growth. Candidates who can demonstrate resilience, a proactive learning mindset, and effective communication strategies will be well-suited for this role and its associated development trajectory.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used AI tools in your product design process. What was the impact, and what were the limitations?" (Focus on specific tools like Lovable, Claude, or Make, and quantifiable results.)

• "How would you approach researching and designing a new feature for a government permitting process, given limited direct access to end-users initially?" (Emphasize user research methodologies and iterative design.)

• "Walk me through your process for writing product intents and acceptance criteria. How do you ensure alignment with engineering teams?" (Showcase your PM skills and collaboration approach.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working in the GovTech space, and what challenges do you foresee?" (Show research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you approach collaboration in a fully remote, AI-native development environment?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key projects that best showcase your blend of product design and product management skills, with a strong emphasis on AI tool usage.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially AI integration), the key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes.

• AI Deep Dive: Be prepared to demonstrate specific workflows or features you designed/managed using AI tools.

• PM Focus: Clearly delineate your product management responsibilities within the presented projects.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, product strategy, challenges faced, and how you measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to speak extensively about your hands-on experience with AI tools and your understanding of product management principles. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of your thought process will be key to impressing the interviewers.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on ashbyhq.com.

• Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 3+ years of product design experience and any relevant product management responsibilities. Emphasize your proficiency with AI design tools (Lovable, Claude, Make) and customer research skills.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase 2-3 strong projects that demonstrate your end-to-end product design capabilities, product management contributions, and specific use of AI tools. Ensure it clearly communicates user outcomes and your problem-solving process.

• Research South Geeks and their client: Understand their mission, culture, and the GovTech industry. Be prepared to discuss why you are a good fit for their AI-native development model and their commitment to long-term partnerships.

• Practice your pitch: Be ready to articulate your experience, design philosophy, and product management approach concisely, especially concerning AI integration and user-centricity.

⚠️ 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.

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