Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Whalar Group (Foam)

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-03

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on end-to-end ownership of established product surfaces within the creator economy tech space, emphasizing iterative improvement and user-centric design.

• The Product Designer will be instrumental in refining existing features, understanding user workflows, and shipping enhancements that streamline the digital talent management process.

• Collaboration with product and engineering teams is key, requiring strong communication skills for a remote, asynchronous work environment spanning US and European time zones.

• The position involves working within an evolving design system, contributing to its growth while adhering to established patterns and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Product Designer within the "creator economy" technology sector, focusing on B2B SaaS for talent managers and agencies. The emphasis on "startup-native" and "comfortable with ambiguity" suggests a fast-paced environment where adaptability and proactive problem-solving are highly valued. The "remote OK" status with a US location implies a need for strong self-management and asynchronous communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Product Surface Ownership: Take full responsibility for the user experience of defined product areas, from initial diagnosis of user needs and pain points to redesign, iteration, and successful launch of new features and improvements.

• Iterative Design & Improvement: Continuously analyze existing product functionalities, identify areas for enhancement, and implement design changes that improve usability, efficiency, and overall user satisfaction.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product Managers to translate high-level briefs and user needs into tangible design solutions, and collaborate with Engineers to ensure seamless implementation of designs, providing interactive prototypes that clearly convey intended functionality.

• Design System Contribution: Actively utilize and contribute to a shared, evolving design system. Prioritize the reuse of existing components and patterns, and propose new ones only when they offer significant, demonstrable value.

• User Feedback Integration: Conduct lightweight, focused user sessions to gather direct feedback on prototypes and implemented designs, systematically folding these insights back into the design process for continuous refinement.

• Multi-Platform Design: Design for a variety of states and contexts, including sparse and dense data scenarios, mobile and desktop interfaces, and embedded versus standalone functionalities, ensuring a consistent and intentional experience across all variations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on role where the designer is expected to be both strategic (diagnosing needs, proposing solutions) and tactical (building prototypes, iterating based on feedback). The emphasis on "shipping improvements at a steady cadence" suggests a focus on agile development cycles and continuous delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and digital product development is essential. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial but not strictly required if equivalent experience is demonstrated.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in Product Design or UX/UI Design, with a significant portion spent in a fast-paced, iterative environment, ideally within a startup or SaaS company. Demonstrated experience owning product features from concept to launch is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio of Work: A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of product design projects across different industries or product types, demonstrating the ability to adapt to unfamiliar domains quickly. Evidence of end-to-end product ownership is a must.

• Startup Acumen: Proven ability to thrive in a startup environment, adapting to changing priorities mid-flight with a positive and resilient attitude.

• Design Craftsmanship: Strong skills in component design, managing variants, creating responsive layouts, and building interactive prototypes with a keen eye for visual detail and polish.

• Ambiguity Tolerance: Ability to form a clear point of view and make decisions from incomplete information, committing to a direction while remaining open to user feedback.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and work effectively in an asynchronous manner across different time zones.

• Prototyping Proficiency: Expertise in creating functional, interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent to engineering teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for SaaS platforms, particularly those serving B2B clients or marketplaces.

• Familiarity with the creator economy, influencer marketing, or talent management software.

• Experience with user research methodologies and conducting lightweight user testing sessions.

• Proficiency with specific design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

• Understanding of data visualization principles and experience designing dashboards or analytics interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Startup-native" requirement is a key differentiator, suggesting candidates should highlight past experiences where they navigated rapid change and ambiguity. The emphasis on "low ego, high resilience" means candidates should be prepared to discuss how they handle design feedback and iteration constructively.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate End-to-End Ownership: Showcase at least 1-2 projects where you took a product surface from initial concept or problem identification through to launch, detailing your specific contributions and decision-making process.

• Range & Adaptability: Include projects that illustrate your ability to tackle diverse design challenges, work across different industries or product types, and quickly grasp new domains.

• Process & Methodology: Clearly articulate your design process, including how you approach problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, iteration, and collaboration with product and engineering.

• System Design & Contribution: Provide examples of your work with design systems, including how you leverage existing components and when and why you advocate for new ones. Showcase your understanding of component-based design and responsive layouts.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your design work where possible. Highlight metrics, user feedback, or business outcomes achieved as a result of your design interventions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate how you map out user flows and system interactions, particularly for complex data-driven applications.

• Prototyping & Iteration: Demonstrate your ability to create interactive prototypes that effectively communicate user journeys and functionality, and how you iterate based on user feedback.

• System Integration: Show examples of how your designs integrate with broader product ecosystems and how you consider technical constraints and possibilities in your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should prepare to walk through their case studies, explaining their thought process, design rationale, and how they navigated trade-offs and user feedback. The "design materializes it, and we test it with real users fast" culture implies a need for prototypes that are functional enough for testing and quick iterations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Product Designer" title, "2-5 years" experience level, and a "Remote OK" status within the United States, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $90,000 - $130,000 USD annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level product designers in tech companies, considering the remote nature which can sometimes command a slight premium or be adjusted based on cost-of-living tiers, though the provided location is broad.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package: 25 days of PTO, plus dedicated Sick days and a Winter break.

• Retirement planning support with an employer match.

• Monthly reimbursement for phone and internet expenses to support remote work.

• Professional development stipend for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• New joiner's Home office allowance to set up an effective workspace.

• Substantial paid parental leave: up to 16 weeks.

• Paid Volunteer days to support community engagement.

• Additional benefits include Identity theft protection, Legal assistance, Company-paid Life & Disability Insurance, and voluntary insurance options (Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, Pet).

• Access to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for community and support.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is approximately 40 hours. However, given the remote and asynchronous nature of the role and the company's operations across US and European time zones, there will be an expectation of flexibility to accommodate cross-timezone collaboration when necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general US tech industry standards for a mid-level remote Product Designer. Actual compensation may vary based on specific candidate experience, negotiation, and the company's internal compensation bands. The extensive benefits package is a strong indicator of a company that values employee well-being and work-life balance, particularly for its remote workforce.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on the Creator Economy and Digital Talent Management Software. Foam operates within the rapidly evolving landscape of influencer marketing and creator monetization, providing tools for managers, agencies, and brands.

Company Size: Whalar Group is a growing organization. While specific numbers for Foam aren't detailed, Whalar as a whole likely operates with a medium-to-large startup structure, allowing for both agility and dedicated resources. This size suggests a dynamic environment where individual contributions have significant visibility and impact.

Founded: Whalar was founded in 2016. Foam, as part of Whalar Group, benefits from this established foundation while operating with the agility of a newer product suite. This blend offers stability with innovation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "small," indicating a close-knit group where collaboration and shared responsibility are likely emphasized.

• The Product Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Product/Design, working closely with dedicated Product Managers and Software Engineers on specific product initiatives.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with regular interaction expected between Design, Product, and Engineering to drive product development cycles. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: The product is powered by real-time, certified metrics, implying a strong emphasis on data analysis to inform design decisions and measure success.

• Agile & Lean Principles: The description of shipping improvements at a steady cadence, testing with users fast, and embracing ambiguity points to an agile or lean product development methodology.

• User-Centricity: The focus on understanding how products are used, running user sessions, and folding feedback into the process highlights a commitment to user-centered design.

Company Website: https://whalargroup.com/ and https://www.foam.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "creator economy" context is crucial. Candidates should understand the unique challenges and opportunities within this space, such as the rapid evolution of platforms, the importance of data metrics for creators and brands, and the role of managers/agencies in bridging the gap.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer (2-5 years of experience). It offers the opportunity to take significant ownership of existing product areas, acting as a key individual contributor with a direct impact on product development. It's a step beyond junior roles, requiring more autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Head of Product, working in close partnership with Product Managers and Engineering teams. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while also fostering independence in daily tasks.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly influences the usability and effectiveness of Foam's software, which is designed to streamline critical business operations for talent managers and agencies. By improving the pitching process, data analysis, and negotiation tools, the designer contributes to increased efficiency, better decision-making, and ultimately, enhanced revenue opportunities for Foam's clients and the company itself.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Product Expertise: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert on specific product surfaces and the creator economy domain, potentially leading to more specialized design roles.

• Design System Leadership: As the design system evolves, there's potential to take on more responsibility in its development and governance, influencing design consistency across the product.

• Mentorship & Leadership: With experience, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers or take on lead roles for larger product initiatives, moving towards a Senior Product Designer or Design Lead path.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Exposure to product strategy, engineering challenges, and user research methodologies will broaden the designer's skill set beyond core UI/UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "owning a set of existing product surfaces end to end" suggests a role with significant autonomy and the potential to deeply influence product direction within those areas. This is a good opportunity for designers looking to move beyond feature-level work and take on more strategic product responsibilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position. The company fosters a flexible work environment, allowing employees to work productively from a setting that best suits their needs.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, it is specified for the "East Coast (Remote)" within the United States. This might indicate a preference for candidates within specific US time zones to facilitate some synchronous collaboration, though the primary mode is asynchronous.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First Culture: The company supports remote work with provisions like a home office allowance and monthly internet/phone reimbursement, indicating a mature remote work infrastructure.

• Collaborative Tools: Expect a digital workspace heavily reliant on tools for communication (e.g., Slack), project management (e.g., Jira, Asana), and design collaboration (e.g., Figma, Miro).

• Team Interaction: While remote, the culture encourages collaboration. The small design team structure and cross-functional partnerships mean designers will have ample opportunity to interact with colleagues, albeit primarily through digital channels.

Work Schedule: The role implies a standard full-time work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week). However, the company's operation across US and European time zones necessitates flexibility, meaning occasional adjustments might be needed to attend critical meetings or collaborate with team members in different regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "East Coast (Remote)" designation is interesting. While the role is remote, this might imply a preference for candidates in Eastern or Central US time zones to ease some overlap with European counterparts and potentially with other US-based stakeholders. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their remote work setup and availability.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and portfolio to assess alignment with the required skills and experience. Be prepared to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership and adaptability.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, and how you approach challenges. Expect questions about your portfolio, your understanding of the creator economy, and your experience in startup environments.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or present a detailed case study from your portfolio. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your rationale. Focus on demonstrating your iterative process and user-centric approach.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with members of the Product and Engineering teams to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional setting.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to assess cultural fit and overall alignment with the company's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio case studies as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, the constraints, your process, the solutions you explored, the final design, and the outcomes.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. For interactive prototypes, be ready to demonstrate them live or provide links.

• Highlight Ambiguity & Iteration: Explicitly discuss how you handled ambiguity, trade-offs, and evolving requirements. Show examples of iteration based on feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, use qualitative feedback or logical reasoning.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with SaaS products, B2B applications, or demonstrate experience in fast-paced, iterative environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Foam, Whalar Group, and the creator economy. Think about the user personas (talent managers, agencies, brands) and their pain points.

• Focus on Process: For any design challenge, clearly articulate your step-by-step approach. Outline your assumptions, research methods (even if hypothetical for a short challenge), ideation techniques, and how you'd validate solutions.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining your design decisions concisely and persuasively. Be prepared to answer "why" for every design choice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "design materializes it, and we test it with real users fast" suggests that the interview process will likely involve quick turnarounds and a focus on practical application rather than purely theoretical discussions. Candidates should prepare to showcase their ability to move from idea to testable artifact efficiently.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma is highly likely to be the primary tool given its industry prevalence and collaborative features. Sketch and Adobe XD are also possibilities.

• Interactive Prototyping: Tools integrated within Figma, or standalone tools like InVision or ProtoPie, may be used to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes.

• Design System Management: Familiarity with creating, maintaining, and utilizing design system components within a chosen design tool (e.g., Figma libraries).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct tool for the designer, understanding how to interpret and utilize data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) will be crucial for informing design decisions and measuring impact.

• Experience designing dashboards or interfaces that visualize data effectively would be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but an awareness of how user data flows through CRM systems and impacts user experience can be beneficial. Collaboration & Project Management:

• Communication: Slack is standard for team communication and asynchronous interaction.

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello are commonly used for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.

• Whiteboarding/Ideation: Miro or FigJam (within Figma) for collaborative brainstorming, user flow mapping, and workshop facilitation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a prerequisite for modern Product Design roles, especially in fast-paced tech companies. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with design systems and how they leverage them to ensure consistency and efficiency in their work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of users (talent managers, agencies, brands) to ensure the product delivers real value and solves their business challenges.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and ambiguity as inherent to startup growth, with a willingness to pivot strategies and designs based on market feedback and evolving priorities.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across disciplines (Design, Product, Engineering) are essential for efficient development and shared problem-solving.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing real-time metrics and analytics to inform design choices, measure success, and drive continuous improvement.

• Low Ego & High Resilience: A culture where feedback is welcomed, designs are iterated upon without personal attachment, and challenges are met with a solutions-oriented mindset.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: The remote nature and cross-timezone operations necessitate a strong reliance on asynchronous communication tools and documentation, ensuring information is accessible and teams can work independently.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Design reviews and feedback sessions are likely integrated into the workflow, encouraging constructive critique and rapid iteration.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers are expected to work as integral partners with Product Managers and Engineers, contributing to strategy and problem-solving from the outset, rather than just executing final designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the design team and across the broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "low ego, high resilience" value is particularly important. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they handle constructive criticism and adapt their designs when faced with new information or stakeholder feedback.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The primary challenge will be to define and refine product areas with potentially incomplete information, requiring strong initiative and problem-solving skills.

• Balancing Iteration with Innovation: Continuously improving existing features while also identifying opportunities for significant innovation within the creator economy tech space.

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with team members across different time zones, ensuring smooth project progression and alignment.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex real-time metrics into actionable design insights and user experiences that are intuitive and valuable.

• Startup Pace: Keeping up with the rapid pace of development and evolving priorities inherent in a growing startup environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of the creator economy, talent management, and the specific needs of agencies and brands in this sector.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to product strategy discussions and contribute to roadmap planning for owned product surfaces.

• Design System Growth: Play a role in shaping and expanding a growing design system, learning best practices in design system governance and implementation.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, gaining insights into their respective disciplines and fostering a holistic understanding of product development.

• Remote Work Best Practices: Hone skills in remote collaboration, asynchronous communication, and self-management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of mid-level roles in fast-growing tech startups. Candidates should frame these challenges as opportunities for growth and demonstrate how their skills and experience make them well-suited to overcome them.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you took ownership of an existing product feature. What was the problem, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem diagnosis, and impact).

• "How do you approach designing for ambiguity? Walk me through a situation where you had to make design decisions with incomplete information." (Highlight your process for forming a point of view and iterating).

• "Tell me about your experience working with design systems. When do you advocate for creating new components versus using existing ones?" (Demonstrate understanding of design system principles and pragmatic application).

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints in your design process?" (Showcase your ability to make trade-offs and find optimal solutions). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the creator economy and Foam's role within it?" (Research the company and industry thoroughly).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Emphasize low ego, resilience, and a focus on product improvement).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Highlight proactive communication, shared ownership, and a partnership approach).

• "What are your thoughts on working in a remote, asynchronous environment across different time zones?" (Discuss your strategies for effective remote collaboration and time management). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the "Why" (the problem/opportunity), the "What" (your role and process), and the "So What" (the solution and its impact).

• Focus on Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens. Explain your thought process, the decisions you made, the trade-offs you considered, and why you chose specific solutions.

• Demonstrate Iteration: Show how user feedback or new insights led to changes in your design. This is crucial for demonstrating a user-centric and iterative approach.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics, user quotes, or business outcomes to prove the value of your design work. Be prepared to discuss how you measured success.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time. Be ready to answer specific questions about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with "startup-native" environments and how they've handled shifting priorities. The interview process will likely assess not just design skills but also cultural fit and adaptability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase end-to-end ownership, adaptability, and impact. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your process, your contributions, and the results. Tailor your project selection to highlight relevant experience in SaaS, B2B, or fast-paced environments if possible.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to Product Design, UX/UI, prototyping, design systems, user research, and experience in startup or agile environments. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies. Be ready to articulate your design rationale, how you handled ambiguity, and the impact of your work. Prepare to demonstrate interactive prototypes if applicable.

• Research Foam and Whalar Group: Understand their mission, target audience (creator economy, talent managers), and product offerings. Familiarize yourself with the creator economy landscape. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.