Product Designer, Discovery

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Discovery

Company: Roblox

Location: San Mateo, CA, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: May 04, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design end-to-end user experiences for critical "Discovery" surfaces, including the home page, search, events, notifications, and onboarding, to connect billions of users with relevant content on the Roblox platform.

• Operate within cross-functional pods, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Researchers, Data Scientists, and Engineers to deliver cohesive and impactful product solutions.

• Develop and refine user-centered design strategies, leveraging user research, analytics, and feedback to inform intuitive and visually compelling interfaces across various devices and platforms.

• Contribute to the evolution of Roblox's Design System by applying existing patterns and components, and providing valuable feedback for system enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on the "Discovery" aspect of the Roblox platform, which is crucial for user engagement and content consumption. The emphasis on connecting users with experiences highlights the importance of data-driven design and understanding user behavior within a large-scale, interactive environment. The hybrid work model with designated in-office days suggests a need for strong in-person collaboration and communication.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for small-to-medium scope projects within the Discovery domain, progressively increasing autonomy.

• Develop a deep understanding of user needs, behaviors, and motivations to ground design decisions in data and qualitative insights.

• Create high-fidelity visual designs and intuitive user interfaces that are globally relevant and maintain a high standard of craft.

• Translate high-level product objectives into actionable design tasks, workflows, and clear specifications.

• Collaborate with the Design Systems team to ensure consistency and contribute to the advancement of UI patterns and components.

• Proactively identify knowledge gaps and drive self-directed learning and problem-solving.

• Anticipate and mitigate downstream impacts of design decisions within the pod and across interconnected systems.

• Partner effectively with engineering teams by delivering detailed design specifications and providing ongoing support during implementation.

• Mentor and guide more junior designers, contribute to ideation sessions, and foster a collaborative team culture.

• Build cross-functional relationships to understand and influence how design work impacts other teams and systems.

• Participate actively in design reviews, clearly articulating design rationale and incorporating feedback for iterative improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strong blend of individual design ownership, collaborative teamwork, and strategic thinking. The expectation to "own design work end-to-end" and "operate with autonomy" indicates a need for proactive problem-solving and self-management, common in mid-level design roles. The mention of supporting junior colleagues suggests opportunities for leadership and mentorship.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in Product Design, User Experience Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or a related field.

Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with a demonstrated track record of designing consumer products.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar software.

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

• Demonstrated ability to create visually compelling and intuitive user interfaces across multiple devices.

• Experience in leveraging user research, analytics, and user feedback to inform design decisions and iterations.

• Emerging systems thinking capabilities, with the ability to connect individual design contributions to broader product patterns and long-term goals.

• Analytical mindset for critically evaluating diverse inputs and integrating insights into design solutions.

• Effective collaboration and communication skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Research, Data Science).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with prototyping tools and methodologies.

• Familiarity with design systems and contribution to their development.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices.

• Experience designing for global audiences with diverse cultural contexts.

• Knowledge of data analysis and interpretation for design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 3-5 years aligns with a mid-level designer role, expecting a solid foundation of skills and some independent project experience. The emphasis on "emerging systems thinking" suggests the company is looking for designers who can grow into more strategic roles and understand the interconnectedness of their work within a larger platform. The passion for gaming and UGC is a key cultural fit indicator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design projects that demonstrate user-centered problem-solving from concept to execution.

• Include case studies detailing the user problem, your design process, key decisions, and the final solution.

• Highlight the application of user research, data analysis, and user feedback in your design process.

• Demonstrate strong visual design skills, UI proficiency, and attention to detail across various platforms.

• Present examples of how you've contributed to or utilized design systems.

Process Documentation:

• Detail the user research methodologies employed, including how insights were gathered and translated into design requirements.

• Document the iterative design process, including wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and refinement stages.

• Illustrate how you collaborated with engineering and product teams, including spec delivery and implementation support.

• Explain how you measured the success of your designs, using metrics and user feedback post-launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. The emphasis should be on showcasing the process and impact of design, not just the final visuals. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their decision-making, the challenges faced, and how they leveraged data and collaboration to achieve successful outcomes, particularly within the context of discovery features.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $176,940 - $214,710 USD Annually

Benefits:

• Equity compensation (stock options or grants).

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off and holidays.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)).

• Professional development opportunities, including training and conferences.

• Access to employee assistance programs.

• Potential for other perks like wellness stipends or commuter benefits.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the San Mateo office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and optional presence on Monday and Friday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer in the San Mateo, CA area, reflecting the cost of living and the tech industry standard for a company like Roblox. The hybrid work arrangement specifies a clear expectation for in-office presence, which is important for candidates to consider.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Metaverse Platform / Gaming

Company Size: Large (likely 1,000-5,000+ employees, given Roblox's scale)

Founded: 2004

Team Structure: The "Discovery" team operates as a cross-functional pod, indicating a collaborative and agile structure. This pod likely includes a Product Manager, Researchers, Data Scientists, and Engineers, with the Product Designer playing a key role in shaping the user experience. The Design team itself likely has a lead or manager who provides guidance and supports career growth.

Methodology: Roblox emphasizes a user-centric and data-driven approach to product development. Design decisions are informed by extensive user research, A/B testing, and analysis of user behavior. The company fosters a culture of rapid iteration and continuous improvement, especially within dynamic areas like content discovery.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Roblox is a major player in the metaverse and gaming industry, known for its massive user base and user-generated content model. The company culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and focused on empowering creators and players. The "Discovery" team's work is central to user retention and engagement within this vast ecosystem.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Product Designer. This role is positioned for individuals with a solid foundation in design principles and user-centered methodologies, ready to take on more complex projects with increasing autonomy. It's a stepping stone towards senior design roles.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Discovery domain. They will also work closely with a Product Manager within their cross-functional pod.

Operations Impact: The work of the Discovery team has a direct and significant impact on user engagement, content consumption, and overall platform growth. By designing effective discovery surfaces, this role influences how billions of users find and interact with experiences, directly contributing to the platform's success and the revenue generated by creators.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI design, such as personalization, recommendation systems, or cross-device design.

• Systems Thinking: Developing a more comprehensive understanding of large-scale platform design and the interconnectedness of various product features.

• Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives within the pod, and eventually transition into Senior Product Designer or specialized design roles.

• Industry Exposure: Working on a platform with a global reach and a unique user-generated content model provides invaluable experience in a rapidly evolving industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a mid-level designer, Roblox offers a significant opportunity to impact a massive user base and grow within a leading metaverse platform. The progression from this role would likely involve taking on larger, more strategic projects, potentially leading design efforts, and developing expertise in areas critical to platform growth and user satisfaction.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The San Mateo office is part of a hybrid work model, meaning it serves as a central hub for collaboration, team meetings, and in-person work. It's designed to facilitate interaction among team members.

Office Location(s): San Mateo, CA, United States. This location is in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, offering access to a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model emphasizes in-person collaboration on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, fostering team cohesion and dynamic brainstorming.

• Tools & Technology: Designers will have access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma) and potentially internal tools developed by Roblox.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with pod members (PM, Eng, Research, Data Science) for design reviews, ideation, and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The role follows a standard full-time schedule (approximately 40 hours/week), with a structured hybrid model requiring specific days in the office to maximize collaborative efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with a blend of remote and in-office work, with a clear expectation for on-site presence during core collaboration days. This structure is designed to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person teamwork.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will assess your resume and portfolio against the job requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess your experience, design philosophy, and fit with the team.

• Design Challenge / Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into your portfolio, potentially including a design exercise or a presentation of past projects. Expect to discuss your process, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with members of the Discovery pod (e.g., Product Manager, Engineers) to evaluate collaboration and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior design leader or executive to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end ownership and user-centered design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the insights you gained, your design decisions (and why), and the impact of your work. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with PMs, engineers, and researchers.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: If possible, include projects that illustrate how your design fits into a larger system or platform.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to show the success of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Roblox's platform, its user base, and the challenges of content discovery in a metaverse environment.

• Practice Design Exercises: If a specific design challenge is given, practice breaking down problems, ideating quickly, and presenting solutions concisely.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss the pros and cons of different design solutions and the rationale behind your choices.

• Focus on Process: Even in a timed exercise, emphasize your thought process and how you would approach the problem systematically.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on evaluating design craft, strategic thinking, and collaborative abilities. Candidates must be prepared to thoroughly explain their portfolio projects and demonstrate their problem-solving approach in a way that aligns with Roblox's product development philosophy.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Useful for graphic design, illustration, and asset creation (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with Figma's prototyping capabilities or other dedicated tools (e.g., Protopie) is likely beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Internal Analytics Platforms: Roblox likely uses proprietary or industry-standard tools for tracking user behavior, engagement metrics, and A/B test results. Familiarity with data interpretation is key.

• Data Visualization Tools: Understanding how to interpret dashboards and reports from tools like Tableau, Looker, or internal equivalents.

CRM & Automation:

• This role is unlikely to directly use CRM or automation tools in a sales/marketing operations sense. The focus is on product design tools and platforms. However, understanding how user data fuels personalization and discovery algorithms is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required proficiency. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their expertise in Figma for high-fidelity design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. While not directly using CRM/automation, understanding the data that feeds into discovery systems is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Obsessed: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the Roblox player community.

• Creator-Focused: Empowering creators to bring their visions to life on the platform.

• Innovation: Constantly seeking new and better ways to build and improve the Roblox experience.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively across disciplines to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven: Making informed decisions based on user insights and platform data.

• Integrity & Civility: Fostering a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all users.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Pods: Working closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and Data Science in agile teams.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct feedback and open discussion to refine designs and solve problems.

• Design Reviews: Regular participation in design critiques to share work, receive feedback, and learn from peers.

• Systems Thinking Integration: Actively considering how designs impact other parts of the platform and contribute to overall system coherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values reflect a company deeply embedded in the gaming and creator economy. Candidates should demonstrate how their design approach aligns with these values, particularly in how they prioritize users, collaborate, and leverage data to achieve impactful outcomes within the Roblox ecosystem.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for a global platform with tens of millions of active users and a vast, ever-growing library of user-generated content presents significant scaling challenges.

• Balancing Creator and Player Needs: Designing discovery features that satisfy both the diverse needs of players and the goals of creators can be complex.

• Evolving Metaverse Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in interactive entertainment and the metaverse to ensure Roblox remains innovative and engaging.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and intuitive experience across a wide range of devices, from mobile to PC and VR.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Platform Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge of the Roblox platform, its architecture, and its unique user dynamics.

• Metaverse Design: Developing expertise in designing for immersive and interactive 3D environments.

• Data-Driven Design: Honing skills in leveraging large-scale user data and A/B testing for optimization.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers and potentially mentor junior team members.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of cutting-edge design practices within gaming, interactive media, and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to operating at Roblox's scale and within the dynamic metaverse space. These challenges also represent significant learning opportunities for designers looking to expand their expertise in complex, high-impact product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing user needs or stakeholder requests in a design project. How did you approach it?" (Focus on your process, communication, and decision-making.)

• "How do you approach designing for a global audience? What cultural considerations do you take into account?" (Demonstrate awareness of localization and cultural nuances.)

• "Walk me through a project from your portfolio that showcases your approach to solving a complex discovery problem. What was the user problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Prepare a concise, compelling narrative for 1-2 key projects.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Roblox and its mission?" (Show genuine interest in the platform and its impact.)

• "How do you think your design work on Discovery would contribute to the Roblox player experience?" (Connect your skills to the team's objectives.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Emphasize teamwork and communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of the project, the problem statement, your role, and the key objectives.

• Process: Detail your design methodology, including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. Explain the why behind your choices.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and user flow diagrams. Annotate key screens to explain interactions and design decisions.

• Impact: Clearly articulate the outcomes and impact of your design, using metrics or qualitative feedback where possible.

• Reflection: Be prepared to discuss challenges, trade-offs, and lessons learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative mindset. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, rationale, and impact clearly and concisely, drawing heavily from their portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Roblox Careers portal at https://careers.roblox.com/jobs/7875761?gh_jid=7875761.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in UX/UI design, consumer products, cross-functional collaboration, and any relevant experience with gaming or interactive platforms. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, user-centered thinking, and visual design craft. Ensure case studies clearly outline problems, processes, solutions, and outcomes.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on your thought process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and user research.

• Research Roblox: Familiarize yourself with Roblox's platform, its mission, its user base, and recent product updates. Understand the "Discovery" function and its importance to the platform's success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.