Product Designer - Splunk

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Splunk

Company: Cisco

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design / Security Operations Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote (US-based, preference outside CA, WA, DC, MD, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VA, AK)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver intuitive, human-centered user experiences for Splunk Security's Security Operations Center (SOC) users, focusing on threat detection, investigation, and response workflows.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and other design disciplines to translate complex security challenges and technical capabilities into scalable, user-friendly product features.

• Drive the end-to-end design process, from conceptualization and user flows to wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design, leveraging modern design tools and AI-assisted technologies.

• Contribute to and utilize established design systems to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across the Splunk Security product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within the Splunk Security Design team at Cisco, focusing on a critical area of cybersecurity operations. The emphasis on "complex security workflows," "threat detection," and "investigation" indicates a need for designers with a strong aptitude for understanding technical domains and translating them into actionable user interfaces. The preference for remote work within the US, with specific exclusions, suggests a distributed team model requiring strong asynchronous communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive user flows, detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for Splunk Security experiences, with a primary focus on SOC user needs.

• Partner strategically with Product Management and Engineering teams to deeply understand product requirements, technical constraints, and business objectives, ensuring design solutions are feasible and impactful.

• Conduct thorough analysis of complex user workflows from a user's perspective, proactively identifying usability gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities for design innovation.

• Drive design iterations based on continuous feedback from user research, product partners, engineering, and other designers, ensuring design solutions meet evolving user and business needs.

• Apply and contribute to established design systems, while exploring and integrating modern design and AI-assisted tools (e.g., Figma Make, Claude) to accelerate concept exploration and prototyping.

• Collaborate effectively with Engineering teams throughout the implementation phase to ensure design fidelity and user experience integrity are maintained.

• Advocate for the user by bringing a strong user-centric perspective to complex problem-solving scenarios, guiding cross-functional teams towards thoughtful and usable solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core UX/UI design skills and strategic problem-solving within a complex technical domain. The emphasis on "evaluating complex workflows," "identifying gaps," and "developing design options" signifies a need for analytical and critical thinking applied to user experience challenges. The expectation to "collaborate with Engineering through implementation" underscores the importance of design handoff and partnership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, with 5+ years of relevant professional experience.

• OR Master’s degree in a relevant field with 3+ years of related professional experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 3+ years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or UI/UX design, with a proven track record of creating impactful digital product experiences.

• Demonstrated experience designing for complex workflows or data-rich environments, effectively translating abstract product requirements and technical capabilities into intuitive user-centered design solutions. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in creating detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity product designs using industry-standard tools such as Figma.

• Experience leveraging AI-enabled design or prototyping tools to enhance the development, iteration, or conceptualization of product design solutions.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies applied to digital products.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a curious and analytical approach to exploring complex user and product challenges. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for enterprise software, SaaS platforms, cybersecurity solutions, IT management tools, or other technically complex products.

• Familiarity with Security Operations Center (SOC) workflows, processes, and core security concepts, including threat detection, investigation, triage, threat intelligence, or incident response.

• Advanced visual and interaction design skills, with a proven ability to evaluate end-to-end user workflows and identify critical usability or experience gaps.

• Experience contributing to or working with established design systems.

• Exposure to emerging AI-assisted design approaches and tools within design workflows (e.g., Figma Make, Claude, MCP-based workflows).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Minimum Qualifications" indicate a mid-to-senior level designer role, requiring substantial hands-on experience. The "Preferred Qualifications" point towards a significant advantage for candidates with direct experience in the cybersecurity domain, particularly within SOC environments, highlighting a specialized knowledge base that will accelerate their impact. The mention of specific AI tools suggests an expectation for designers to be at the forefront of adopting new technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate end-to-end product design capabilities, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final visual design.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, and the ultimate impact or outcome.

• Include case studies that specifically highlight your experience with complex workflows, data-rich interfaces, or enterprise software solutions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in using design and prototyping tools, with Figma being a primary requirement. Include examples that show your ability to leverage design systems effectively.

• Present examples of how you've utilized AI-assisted design tools or explored AI's impact on design processes, if applicable. Process Documentation:

• Provide clear documentation of your design process within your portfolio, outlining how you approach user research, problem definition, solution exploration, and iteration.

• Showcase examples of how you've translated user needs and technical requirements into tangible design artifacts like user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Include evidence of how you've tested and iterated on designs based on feedback from stakeholders, users, and research findings.

• Demonstrate your ability to document design decisions and rationale, preparing for effective handoff to engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, especially in a complex domain like cybersecurity, a robust portfolio is paramount. The requirements emphasize not just the final output but also the designer's thought process, problem-solving skills, and ability to navigate technical complexities. The inclusion of AI-assisted tools in preferred qualifications suggests that demonstrating experience or an understanding of these tools in a portfolio would be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The provided salary range for this position in the U.S. is $115,800.00 - $163,200.00 per year.

• Specific salary bands for certain locations are provided:

  • New York City Metro Area: $138,100.00 - $226,000.00
  • Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $124,000.00 - $201,000.00

• This range reflects base salary and does not include potential incentive compensation, equity, or benefits. Individual pay will be determined by factors such as hiring location, market conditions, experience, skills, qualifications, education, and training. Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) plan with a matching contribution from Cisco.

• Paid parental leave.

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Basic life insurance.

• Eligibility for Cisco restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest over time.

• Generous paid time off package:

  • 10 paid holidays per calendar year, plus one floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
  • Paid day off for employee's birthday, year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days for personal wellness.
  • 16 days of paid vacation time per year for non-exempt employees (accrued).
  • Flexible vacation time off program for exempt employees (no defined limit, subject to business needs).
  • 80 hours of sick time off provided annually, with carry-forward provisions.
  • Option for 10 paid days per year for volunteer activities.

• Potential eligibility for annual bonuses (for non-sales roles). Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours.

• The role is designated as Remote, with flexibility expected to collaborate across different time zones as needed, although specific working hours are not strictly defined beyond the standard full-time expectation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are broad and vary significantly by location, reflecting the cost of living and market demand in different U.S. regions. The comprehensive benefits package, including stock units and extensive paid time off, indicates a competitive total compensation offering typical of large tech enterprises. The mention of "flexible vacation time off" for exempt employees suggests a culture that trusts employees to manage their time effectively.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Cybersecurity, Software & Networking Solutions. Cisco, through its acquisition of Splunk, is a major player in enterprise security and IT operations management, providing solutions that help organizations detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats.

Company Size: Cisco is a large, multinational technology conglomerate, employing tens of thousands of individuals globally. This acquisition of Splunk further expands its reach and capabilities in the cybersecurity market. Being part of a large organization offers stability, extensive resources, and broad career development opportunities.

Founded: Cisco was founded in 1984. Splunk was founded in 2003. The integration of Splunk into Cisco signifies a strategic move to enhance its security portfolio and leverage Splunk's data analytics capabilities for broader enterprise solutions.

Team Structure:

• The Splunk Security Design team is multidisciplinary, comprising UX designers, researchers, content strategists, accessibility specialists, and systems problem solvers.

• Designers work within this specialized team, contributing to broader initiatives and collaborating closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Research teams.

• The team structure is designed to foster collaboration and expertise, enabling designers to focus on complex security workflows and AI-assisted experiences. Methodology:

• The team emphasizes a human-centered design approach, partnering with cross-functional groups to deliver scalable and intuitive experiences.

• Collaboration, curiosity, experimentation, strong design craft, and customer empathy are core values that drive their methodology.

• The design process involves working across the product lifecycle, from initial research to implementation, with a focus on solving complex problems for security professionals.

Company Website: https://www.cisco.com/ | https://www.splunk.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Cisco's acquisition of Splunk positions this role at the intersection of networking, security, and data analytics. The culture within the Splunk Security Design team is described as collaborative and experimental, valuing strong design craft and customer empathy. This suggests an environment where designers are empowered to innovate while maintaining high standards of execution within a complex, mission-critical domain.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Product Designer role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, indicated by the 5+ years of experience requirement. It involves significant autonomy in design execution, complex problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration, moving beyond basic UI execution to strategic design contributions.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, designers typically report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Splunk Security Design team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, establishing strong cross-functional partnerships crucial for GTM success.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to enhancing the usability and effectiveness of Splunk's security products, particularly for SOC users. By creating more intuitive interfaces for threat detection, investigation, and response, the designer directly contributes to improving customer security posture, reducing response times, and ultimately, driving customer satisfaction and retention, which are key GTM metrics.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in cybersecurity design, focusing on complex domains like threat intelligence, incident response, or AI-driven security analytics.

• Leadership: Progress into Senior Product Designer roles, leading design initiatives for larger product areas, mentoring junior designers, or potentially moving into a Design Management track.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Develop strong partnerships with Product Management and Engineering, potentially leading to roles with broader product strategy or program management responsibilities.

• Design Systems Contribution: Become a key contributor or lead within the design systems team, influencing the evolution of design standards and tools across Cisco/Splunk.

• AI Design Exploration: Gain cutting-edge experience in applying AI to design workflows and product features, becoming a subject matter expert in this rapidly evolving field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential within a large, established tech company. The emphasis on cybersecurity and AI-driven design provides opportunities for specialization in high-demand areas. The collaborative nature of the work also opens doors for broader product strategy and leadership roles, aligning well with GTM objectives by improving product adoption and customer success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is primarily remote, with a strong preference for candidates located within the United States. While no specific office presence is mandated for remote employees, Cisco has numerous office locations globally. For those who may occasionally visit or work from a Cisco office, the environment is typically modern, collaborative, and equipped with the necessary technology for design and development work.

Office Location(s): Although the role is remote, Cisco has major hubs and offices across the US, including but not limited to San Jose (HQ), Austin, Boston, Raleigh, and Seattle. The preference to avoid certain states (CA, WA, DC, MD, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VA, AK) suggests a strategic distribution of remote talent.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative remote environment requiring strong asynchronous communication skills, proficiency with virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams, Zoom), and active participation in virtual meetings.

• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with industry-standard design software (Figma), prototyping tools, and potentially AI-assisted design tools will be essential.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with a diverse, multidisciplinary team of designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected. While remote, flexibility may be required to accommodate collaboration with team members and stakeholders across different U.S. time zones. The emphasis on asynchronous communication supports this flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of this role necessitates strong self-management and communication skills. The preference for specific US locations might relate to tax, legal, or talent pool considerations for Cisco. The environment is geared towards leveraging digital tools for seamless collaboration across dispersed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter and potentially a design hiring manager to assess qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Expect to present your portfolio, discussing your process, key projects, and design thinking. This may be followed by a design exercise or case study, either take-home or conducted live, focusing on a problem relevant to Splunk Security.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work within a team.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio case studies to tell a compelling story about the problem, your process, your contributions, and the impact of your design solutions.

• Process Focus: Clearly articulate your design methodology, research insights, and iterative design decisions. Show how you arrived at the solution, not just the final UI.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, conversion rates, or efficiency gains.

• Tailor to Splunk: Highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex workflows, data-rich interfaces, enterprise software, or cybersecurity domains. If you have experience with AI-assisted tools, showcase that.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, easy to navigate, and clearly presents your best work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Splunk Security, its products, and the challenges faced by SOC users. Familiarize yourself with common cybersecurity concepts like threat detection, incident response, and SIEM.

• Process-Oriented Thinking: Be prepared to walk through your design process for a given problem, explaining your rationale for each step and decision.

• Problem Decomposition: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and identifying potential user needs and design solutions.

• AI Integration: Consider how AI tools could be applied to solve the design challenge or enhance the user experience, aligning with the role's preferred qualifications.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, as if explaining them to a non-designer (e.g., Product Manager or Engineer).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a design role at a company like Cisco/Splunk will likely be rigorous, emphasizing both design craft and strategic thinking. The portfolio review is critical, so candidates should prepare to deeply discuss their process and impact. The emphasis on SOC workflows and AI tools suggests that demonstrating domain knowledge and forward-thinking design approaches will be highly valued.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (required), with proficiency in creating user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.

• AI-Assisted Design: Experience or familiarity with tools such as Figma Make, Claude, or other AI-driven design and prototyping technologies is preferred.

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or similar platforms for team communication and virtual meetings.

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello may be used for tracking design tasks and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility of the Product Designer, understanding how analytics and reporting tools are used to measure product performance and user behavior (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics, internal dashboards) can inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• While primarily used by Sales and Marketing, familiarity with CRM concepts (e.g., Salesforce) and automation workflows can provide context for enterprise software design. Other Relevant Tools:

• Design Systems: Understanding and utilizing established design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the design stack for this role. The explicit mention of AI-assisted design tools signals a forward-looking approach and an expectation for designers to be adaptable and explore new technologies that enhance productivity and creativity. Understanding the broader ecosystem of enterprise software tools used by customers will also be beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Empathy: A deep understanding of and focus on the needs and challenges of security professionals, particularly SOC users.

• Curiosity & Experimentation: A drive to explore complex problems, question assumptions, and experiment with new solutions and technologies.

• Strong Design Craft: Commitment to high-quality visual and interaction design, ensuring intuitive and effective user experiences.

• Collaboration: A belief in working together across disciplines (design, product, engineering) to achieve shared goals and build better products.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing research, user feedback, and performance metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Efficiency & Optimization: A focus on creating streamlined workflows and efficient user experiences, especially critical in fast-paced security operations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Management and Engineering, fostering a partnership where design thinking is integrated early and often in the product development lifecycle.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs, facilitating continuous improvement and refinement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the design team and with other disciplines to foster collective growth and innovation.

• Proactive Communication: Emphasis on clear, consistent, and proactive communication, especially in a remote environment, to ensure alignment and smooth project execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, innovation, and collaborative execution. The culture appears to support designers who are not only skilled practitioners but also strategic thinkers who can navigate complex technical domains and drive positive outcomes for users and the business.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Security Domain: Understanding and designing for intricate cybersecurity workflows, threat landscapes, and the high-stakes environment of SOC operations requires continuous learning and deep domain immersion.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating complex technical capabilities and stringent security requirements into intuitive and usable designs.

• AI Integration: Staying ahead of the curve with AI-assisted design tools and effectively integrating AI into product experiences while managing user expectations and ethical considerations.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion, effective communication, and seamless design handoffs in a distributed, remote work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Deep dive into cybersecurity, threat detection, incident response, and SOC operations, becoming a subject matter expert in a critical and evolving field.

• AI in Design: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI design tools and methodologies, positioning yourself as a leader in this emerging area.

• Design Systems Evolution: Contribute to or lead initiatives within Cisco/Splunk's design system, enhancing your skills in creating scalable and maintainable design frameworks.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong strategic partnerships with Product Management and Engineering, enhancing your ability to influence product direction and strategy.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially take on lead roles for significant product areas as you grow within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the specialized nature of cybersecurity and the rapid evolution of design technology. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering paths for deep specialization, leadership, and innovation within a major technology company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex workflow you've designed for. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach simplifying it for the user?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and user-centricity.)

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business requirements when designing a new feature?" (Highlight collaboration, negotiation, and trade-off analysis.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used AI-assisted design tools. What were the benefits, and how did it impact your workflow or the final design?" (Demonstrate adaptability and forward-thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Splunk's role in cybersecurity, and what excites you about designing for SOC users?" (Showcase research and genuine interest in the domain.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers in a remote setting?" (Emphasize communication, empathy, and proactive engagement.)

• "How would you measure the success of a new design for a security investigation feature?" (Focus on metrics, user feedback, and continuous improvement.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the Problem: Clearly articulate the user problem or business need you addressed.

• Show Your Process: Detail your steps, from research and ideation to iteration and final solution. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your individual contributions, especially in team projects.

• Quantify Impact: Present measurable outcomes and explain how your design made a difference.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and learnings from each project.

• AI Tools: If you have AI experience, integrate it into your case studies, explaining its application and benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, domain understanding (cybersecurity), and strong collaborative abilities. Being able to articulate your process and the impact of your work, especially using examples from your portfolio, will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the official Cisco careers portal link provided.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight experience in product design, UX/UI, complex workflows, data-rich design, and any relevant experience with cybersecurity, enterprise software, or AI-assisted tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects showcasing your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prioritize examples relevant to enterprise software, complex workflows, and ideally, security operations or data-heavy applications.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and project outcomes clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss your contributions in detail and answer in-depth questions.

• Research Cisco & Splunk: Familiarize yourself with Cisco's mission, Splunk's products (especially in security), and the company culture. Understand the challenges faced by SOC users to better align your responses with the role's context.

⚠️ 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.