Product Designer, Avail

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Avail

Company: Realtor.com Careers

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: June 04, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for the Avail SaaS platform, from initial research and ideation through to polished UI delivery.

• Serve as the primary designer within a cross-functional product squad, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineers to deliver impactful user experiences for landlords and renters.

• Champion user-centric design principles and translate complex user needs into intuitive, efficient, and visually appealing product solutions.

• Integrate innovative AI-driven design workflows to enhance research synthesis, concept generation, and rapid prototyping.

• Contribute to the evolution of the Avail design system by applying existing components and identifying opportunities for new patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for significant autonomy and ownership within their product squad. The emphasis on "AI-Driven Design Workflows" is a critical differentiator, suggesting the company is actively seeking candidates who are forward-thinking and experienced in leveraging AI tools in their design process. This is a key area to highlight in applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with Product Managers and engineers to lead the discovery, definition, and delivery of product features and improvements, ensuring a user-centric approach throughout the product lifecycle.

• Conduct user research (in collaboration with researchers, or independently if needed) to deeply understand user problems, validate design concepts, and inform design decisions for both landlord and renter personas.

• Develop comprehensive user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that effectively address user needs and business objectives.

• Articulate design decisions and the value of design solutions clearly and persuasively to product squads, design leaders, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

• Actively participate in squad rituals, planning sessions, and problem-solving discussions, bringing a proactive design perspective to the team.

• Leverage and contribute to the Avail design system, ensuring consistency and quality in product applications while advocating for necessary enhancements or new components.

• Seek, receive, and professionally integrate design feedback, demonstrating continuous improvement in design craft and execution.

• Be adaptable and willing to support other product squads with design needs as required, showcasing a collaborative "We, Not Me" attitude.

• Set personal development goals with management and actively pursue learning opportunities to advance craft and professional interests, particularly in AI-assisted design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full-stack design role within a product squad, requiring ownership from ideation to implementation. The expectation to "Lead most aspects of the design process" and "be the voice of the user" signals a senior-level contribution. The specific mention of balancing needs for both landlords and renters within a connected experience is a crucial detail for understanding the product's complexity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.

Experience:

• 5+ years of professional experience in the design industry.

• 3+ years of experience working within a product-led organization, specifically on SaaS products.

• Demonstrated experience working within cross-disciplined product teams, including engineers and product managers. Required Skills:

• Product Design: Mastery of the end-to-end product design process, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.

• User-Centric Design: Deep understanding and application of user-centric processes and design thinking principles to solve complex user problems.

• Interaction Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating intuitive interaction flows and building functional prototypes to test and communicate design concepts.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sense and ability to create polished, high-fidelity user interfaces that align with brand guidelines and enhance user experience.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions and rationale.

• AI-Driven Design Workflows: Demonstrable experience or strong interest in leveraging AI tools (e.g., LLMs for research synthesis, AI for concept generation, prototype-driven iteration) within the design process.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for two-sided marketplaces or platforms with distinct user groups (e.g., landlords and renters).

• Familiarity with SaaS platforms and B2B/B2C SaaS product design best practices.

• Experience contributing to or working with established design systems.

• Ability to articulate informed and strong opinions, while remaining open to feedback and iteration ("loosely held").

• A proactive and collaborative mindset, embodying a "We, Not Me" attitude.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Need to Have: AI-Driven Design Workflows" section is critical and should be treated as a primary requirement, not just a preference. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and perspective on AI in design. The portfolio requirements are also specific, asking for interaction flows, prototyping, and high-fidelity work, alongside a "growing design point of view."

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a strong and evolving design point of view.

• Detailed examples of interaction flows for complex features or user journeys.

• Demonstrations of prototyping skills, illustrating dynamic user interactions and user experience testing.

• High-fidelity mockups and visual design examples that highlight attention to detail, usability, and aesthetic quality.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, your role, the solutions you proposed, and the impact of your work (quantifiable where possible). Process Documentation:

• Evidence of leading or significantly contributing to the full design lifecycle within product squads.

• Examples of how user-centric processes and design thinking principles were applied to solve specific problems.

• Demonstrations of how AI tools were integrated into the design workflow, from research synthesis to concept testing.

• Documentation or examples of contributions to design systems, including the application of existing patterns and the proposal of new ones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component for this role, as it's the primary way to assess a candidate's "design point of view," process, and execution. The emphasis on AI integration means portfolios should ideally highlight projects where AI was used to enhance the design process or outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the role's location (Austin, Texas), experience level (5+ years, Senior), and the tech industry, a competitive salary range for a Product Designer of this caliber would typically fall between $120,000 to $160,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior product design roles in major tech hubs like Austin, considering the SaaS and real estate tech sectors.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Inclusive and competitive medical, Rx, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Family Support: Family-forming benefits are provided to support employees' growing families.

• Paid Time Off:

  • 13 Paid Holidays annually.
  • Flexible Time Off (FTO) policy, allowing for work-life balance.
  • 8 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to support community engagement.

• Financial Wellness:

  • Immediate eligibility for the Company 401(k) plan with a generous 3.5% company match.
  • 1:1 personalized Financial Planning Sessions to guide personal financial goals.
  • Student Debt Retirement Savings Match program to assist with student loan repayment.
  • Tuition Reimbursement program for both degreed and non-degreed educational pursuits.

• Office Amenities: Free snacks and refreshments available in each office location.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with an expectation of hybrid work, requiring 3 days in the office per week. Flexibility may be available based on project needs and team agreements, but core collaboration hours are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in Austin, TX. The provided benefits are extensive and focus on health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, which are strong selling points for experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Real Estate Technology (PropTech), SaaS. Realtor.com® operates as a leading online real estate marketplace, with Avail being a specific SaaS platform catering to independent landlords. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on user experience to navigate complex transactions.

Company Size: Realtor.com® is a significant player in the online real estate space. While specific employee numbers for the Avail product squad are not detailed, Realtor.com® itself is a large organization, implying access to resources and established processes, while the Avail team likely operates with the agility of a smaller, focused unit within the larger company. This size offers both stability and opportunities for impact.

Founded: Realtor.com® has been a pioneer in online real estate for over 25 years, establishing a strong brand reputation and deep market knowledge. Avail, as a platform within Realtor.com®, benefits from this legacy while focusing on a specific niche of the rental market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer is embedded within a cross-functional product squad, consisting of a Product Manager, engineers, and the designer. This squad is the primary unit of work.

• Designers operate as peers within their squads, not as a support function, fostering collaboration and shared ownership.

• Senior design resources are available as mentors to provide guidance, collaboration, and professional development support.

• The role requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders across the organization, including researchers, product leaders, brand teams, and other designers. Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: Emphasis on understanding and solving user problems through research, empathy, and iterative design.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing data and user insights to guide product development and measure impact.

• Agile Product Development: Working in iterative cycles with cross-functional teams to deliver solutions efficiently.

• Design System Utilization: Adhering to and contributing to a unified design system for consistency and scalability.

• AI Integration: Actively exploring and incorporating AI tools to enhance design workflows, research, and ideation.

Company Website: https://www.realtor.com/ (Company URL: https://careers.realtor.com/)

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Avail as a SaaS platform within the larger Realtor.com® ecosystem is important. It suggests a blend of startup agility within a stable, established company, offering both innovation opportunities and market reach. The "We, Not Me" attitude and peer-based squad structure are key cultural indicators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Product Designer. This implies a level of autonomy, ownership, and the ability to lead design initiatives for specific product areas within a squad. Senior designers are expected to mentor junior colleagues, influence product strategy through design, and consistently deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision. They are seen as key contributors to the product's success and the design team's overall craft.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports to a manager (likely a Design Manager or Head of Product Design) who provides mentorship and career guidance. Within their product squad, they are a peer to the Product Manager and engineers, with a collaborative reporting dynamic for day-to-day work and project delivery. Senior design resources will also act as mentors, providing additional support and collaboration.

Operations Impact: Product Designers at Avail have a direct impact on the user experience of both landlords and renters using the SaaS platform. Their work influences user acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, the platform's success in facilitating property management. By designing intuitive and efficient workflows, they contribute to revenue generation and market position. The emphasis on solving real user problems for independent landlords directly supports the business's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to grow into Lead Product Designer roles, managing larger product areas or guiding design for multiple squads.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven design, user research, interaction design, or specific product domains (e.g., marketplace dynamics).

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design team.

• Cross-functional Influence: Increase influence on product strategy and company-wide design practices.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities, including exposure to new design tools, methodologies (especially AI), and industry best practices through company-provided resources and a supportive team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title signifies a move beyond execution to strategic contribution and influence. The growth opportunities highlight pathways for career advancement within design and potentially into product management or leadership roles, especially given the emphasis on AI and strategic problem-solving.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates with a hybrid work model, requiring employees to work three or more days in the office. This suggests a physical office space designed for collaboration, innovation, and fostering company culture through in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Austin, Texas. Specific office details regarding amenities or accessibility are not provided, but it's implied that the Austin office is equipped to support in-person collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model is designed to balance remote flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration, fostering a richer company culture. Expect to work closely with your product squad and other designers in shared spaces.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design tools and potentially specialized software for AI-assisted design, prototyping, and research synthesis. The company likely provides necessary hardware and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for spontaneous brainstorming, design critiques, and team-building activities with your product squad and the broader design and product teams.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week). The hybrid model mandates regular in-office presence for collaboration, while remote days offer flexibility for focused work. The schedule should accommodate team rituals and cross-functional meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key characteristic of the work environment. For operations roles, this typically means a structured approach to in-office days for collaborative sessions, team meetings, and knowledge sharing, while remote days can be used for focused analytical work or individual task completion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio to assess qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: You will likely present your portfolio, discussing your design process, decision-making, and impact. A design challenge may be assigned, focusing on a specific problem relevant to Avail, potentially with an AI integration component.

• Squad Interviews: Interviews with your potential Product Manager and engineers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and problem-solving approach.

• Design Leadership Interview: A discussion with senior design leadership to evaluate your overall design craft, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's vision.

• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with a higher-level stakeholder to discuss overall fit and impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly showcase projects where you used AI tools to enhance your design process or outcomes. Explain the tools used, the challenges addressed, and the results achieved.

• Structured Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed, key decisions made, and measurable outcomes or learnings.

• Demonstrate Process: Show, don't just tell, your design process. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your impact whenever possible. Use metrics related to user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or business objectives.

• Tailor to Avail: Research Avail and its target users (landlords and renters). Frame your experience and portfolio examples to demonstrate how your skills directly address their needs and the company's goals.

• Articulation: Be prepared to clearly and concisely articulate your design rationale, defend your decisions, and discuss trade-offs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the User: Research independent landlords and renters. Identify their pain points, goals, and workflows related to property management, leasing, and tenant communication.

• AI-Centric Solutions: For any design challenge, consider how AI could be leveraged to create a more efficient, insightful, or personalized solution.

• Process Over Perfection: Focus on demonstrating a clear, logical design process rather than just a polished final output. Show how you would approach problem-solving and iteration.

• Pragmatism: Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and constraints, and how you would make pragmatic design decisions within a product squad.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI in the job description suggests interviewers will probe deeply into this area. Candidates should be ready to discuss their specific experiences and perspectives on AI's role in design, not just general awareness. The portfolio review is a critical stage, and tailoring it to showcase AI integration and impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable, as it's industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Framer, or built-in Figma prototyping capabilities.

• User Research Tools: UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, SurveyMonkey, or similar platforms for qualitative and quantitative data collection.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: This is a key area. Candidates may be expected to use or have experience with LLM-powered tools for research synthesis (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude for summarization), AI-powered design generation tools (e.g., Midjourney for ideation, or AI features within design software), and potentially tools for AI-driven user feedback analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for tracking user behavior on the platform.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker, Power BI, or internal dashboarding tools for reporting on user engagement, feature adoption, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

• A/B Testing Platforms: Optimizely, VWO, or similar for experimental design and validation.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (though less likely for a pure design role, awareness is beneficial for understanding sales/customer workflows).

• Project Management/Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello, Confluence for tracking tasks, sprints, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI-Driven Design Workflows" requirement strongly suggests that familiarity with AI tools and platforms is not just preferred but essential. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with specific AI tools relevant to design, research, and prototyping.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of both landlords and renters, making their experiences intuitive and effective.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Embracing a "We, Not Me" mentality, fostering strong partnerships within product squads and across the broader organization.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights and data to inform design choices, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of solutions.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to seeking new solutions, embracing new technologies (like AI), and continuously refining processes and products.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes, from ideation through to successful implementation and iteration.

Collaboration Style:

• Peer-Based Squads: Working as an equal partner within cross-functional product squads, contributing design expertise to all stages of product development.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange among designers and with other teams, with a focus on professional growth and improving craft.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with Product Management, Engineering, Research, Marketing, and Brand teams to ensure cohesive product development and user experience.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share learnings, best practices, and insights across the design team and broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "We, Not Me" attitude is a strong indicator of a collaborative and team-oriented culture. The emphasis on user-centricity and data-driven decisions aligns with standard best practices in product design and operations. The openness to AI suggests a forward-thinking and adaptable team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Dual Audiences: Designing for two distinct user groups (landlords and renters) with potentially conflicting needs within a unified platform requires careful consideration of user flows and feature prioritization.

• AI Integration Hurdles: Effectively integrating AI into design workflows can be challenging, requiring experimentation, learning new tools, and demonstrating tangible benefits to stakeholders who may be unfamiliar with AI's capabilities.

• SaaS Complexity: Navigating the complexities of SaaS product design, including feature iteration, scalability, and user adoption within a subscription model.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple squads and stakeholder groups, especially when advocating for design-centric solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Significant opportunities to become an expert in leveraging AI tools for design research, ideation, prototyping, and optimization, potentially becoming a go-to resource for the team.

• Product Strategy Influence: Growing influence on product strategy through impactful design solutions and user advocacy.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and develop leadership skills by guiding design initiatives.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of PropTech and AI advancements through continuous learning, conferences, and internal knowledge-sharing.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and shaping the future of the Avail design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and growth opportunity revolves around AI integration. Candidates who can demonstrate proficiency and strategic thinking in this area will be highly valued. The dual-audience nature of the product also presents a unique design challenge that requires strong user empathy and strategic thinking.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used AI to significantly improve your design process. What tools did you use, what was the impact, and what did you learn?"

• "How do you approach designing for two distinct user groups with potentially conflicting needs within the same platform? Walk us through an example from your portfolio."

• "Imagine we need to design a new feature for Avail that leverages AI to help landlords predict tenant churn. How would you approach this problem from a design perspective, and what initial research steps would you take?"

• "Tell us about a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you present your case and what was the outcome?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Avail and Realtor.com®, specifically within the PropTech space?"

• "How do you embody a 'We, Not Me' attitude in your work and team interactions?"

• "Describe your experience working within a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and productivity?"

• "How do you stay current with design trends, especially in emerging fields like AI in design?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with AI: Begin your presentation by highlighting a project where AI played a significant role, clearly articulating the problem, your AI-assisted solution, and the resulting impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use interactive prototypes or detailed walkthroughs to demonstrate your interaction design skills and the user experience you've crafted.

• Quantify Impact: Prepare to discuss metrics and outcomes for your projects. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss how you would measure success and what KPIs are relevant.

• Process Narrative: Frame your case studies as a story of problem-solving. Explain your thought process, the trade-offs you considered, and why you made specific design decisions.

• Engage Your Audience: Be prepared for questions about your process, your role, and your design philosophy. Encourage discussion and be open to feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can articulate their experience with AI in design clearly and demonstrate how it translates into tangible benefits. Prepare specific examples and be ready to discuss the "why" behind your AI tool choices and their impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Realtor.com Careers platform.

• Craft a tailored resume: Highlight your 5+ years of design experience, specifically mentioning your work in product-led organizations and SaaS environments. Emphasize skills related to user research, interaction design, prototyping, visual design, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your design point of view, interaction flows, prototyping capabilities, and high-fidelity work. Crucially, include case studies that showcase your experience or interest in AI-driven design workflows, clearly explaining your approach and impact.

• Prepare your narrative: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work, with a specific focus on how you leverage AI. Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Avail platform and its users (landlords and renters).

• Research Avail and Realtor.com®: Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, products, and culture. Understand the market landscape for PropTech and AI in design.

⚠️ 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.