Product Designer (Temporary Full Time Position)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Temporary Full Time Position)

Company: Tidepool

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: August 14, 2026

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing user-centric features for Tidepool's innovative diabetes technology, including their Automated Insulin Dosing (AID) System (Tidepool Loop) and Data Management Platform.

• Responsibilities encompass end-to-end product design, from conceptualization to detailed UI/UX for mobile and web applications, with a strong emphasis on regulated medical devices.

• The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams including engineers, product managers, clinical, regulatory, and quality assurance professionals to ensure design integrity and compliance.

• Candidates will translate complex user needs and technical constraints into intuitive and safe design solutions, impacting both patient and clinician experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, the emphasis on regulated medical devices, hardware/software interactions, and collaboration with clinical/regulatory teams suggests a strong need for understanding the nuances of operations within a healthcare technology context, particularly concerning compliance and user safety. The "temporary" nature of the role might also imply a focus on specific project completion or a critical need for specialized skills for a defined period.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead design initiatives for Tidepool Loop, focusing on critical hardware/software interactions such as initial device setup, replacements, and error handling.

• Design comprehensive user experiences for Tidepool's Data Management Platform, covering device integrations, patient dashboards, data visualizations, and connection workflows.

• Translate patient needs and broad problem statements into user-friendly designs that adhere to strict safety regulations and technical limitations.

• Actively partner with Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality teams to ensure all design outputs meet rigorous risk management and quality standards for medical devices.

• Articulate design visions, user-centric rationale, and data-informed decisions effectively to stakeholders and team members through compelling communication.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineering teams, and quality assurance to drive design decisions and champion user advocacy.

• Solve diverse product design challenges across iOS and Android platforms, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience.

• Support human factors engineering activities, including formative usability studies and preparation for summative validation, in conjunction with research and regulatory departments.

• Develop profound empathy for individuals managing diabetes and their healthcare providers, leveraging this understanding to drive continuous product refinement and improvement.

• Work alongside product managers to define new feature concepts and influence product strategy by prioritizing features that align with user impact and business objectives.

• Proactively manage prioritization challenges within the product team to ensure design focus areas are aligned with overarching business goals and user needs.

• Be prepared to take on responsibilities beyond traditional design, potentially including aspects of product management.

• Cultivate expertise in various diabetes hardware and software technologies to create impactful and innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for a designer who can operate at both strategic and tactical levels, with a strong emphasis on regulated environments. The inclusion of "Product Thinking" responsibilities suggests the ideal candidate will contribute to feature definition and prioritization, mirroring some GTM (Go-to-Market) operations activities in terms of strategic alignment and impact assessment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this nature. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Product Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, or Experience Design.

Required Skills:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a proven design process, with examples of solutions for mobile and responsive web platforms.

• Demonstrated experience designing Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) for both Android and iOS operating systems.

• Proven ability to design software solutions that interface directly with physical hardware.

• Strong understanding of visual design principles, including layout, color theory, and typography.

• Proficiency in exploring and executing design concepts independently, while actively seeking and incorporating feedback.

• Experience utilizing Jira for design reviews and providing feedback to engineering teams.

• Familiarity with AI prototyping tools for rapid concept exploration and communication, coupled with a human-centered approach to design.

• Experience working within highly technical domains involving complex data sets and hardware constraints.

• Ability to design at a high strategic level and execute on detailed design tasks. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with human factors engineering and conducting usability studies (formative and summative).

• Familiarity with diabetes technology, including Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and Automated Insulin Dosing (AID) systems.

• Experience with data visualization design for complex health data.

• Understanding of regulatory requirements for medical devices (e.g., FDA guidelines).

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and experience with SaMD and hardware interactions are critical. The mention of AI prototyping tools alongside a "human-in-the-loop" approach highlights a modern design workflow expectation. The need for Jira experience points to integration with development operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory for consideration, showcasing a structured design process from problem identification to final solution.

• Portfolio should clearly demonstrate experience with mobile (iOS/Android) and responsive web design projects.

• Specific case studies highlighting the design of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and hardware-software integrated systems are highly valued.

• Provide all necessary passwords or access credentials for portfolio review; incomplete access will prevent application advancement.

• Examples of how user research and data informed design decisions should be clearly articulated. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how design processes were documented, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI specifications.

• Demonstrate experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams (engineering, product, clinical, regulatory) through the design lifecycle.

• Illustrate how design feedback was incorporated into iterative improvements, especially in a regulated environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "design process" and "user-centric" solutions, coupled with the need for SaMD and hardware interaction examples, means the portfolio should clearly articulate the 'how' and 'why' behind design decisions, especially concerning safety and regulatory compliance. This aligns with operations' need for documented, repeatable processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The hourly rate for this temporary role will range from $49.25 to $62.48 USD.

Benefits:

• This is a benefits-ineligible position due to its temporary nature.

• While specific benefits are not detailed, this implies the compensation is for hourly work only, without typical full-time employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, with an anticipated 40 hours per week.

• The role is fully remote, allowing for flexibility in work location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is provided as an hourly range, typical for temporary contract roles. The lack of benefits is a significant factor for candidates to consider, affecting the overall compensation package. The 40-hour work week is standard for full-time, but the remote aspect offers location flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Medical Devices / Software as a Service (SaaS) / Non-profit. Tidepool operates at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and patient advocacy, focusing on making diabetes data accessible and actionable.

Company Size: Tidepool is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. While the exact employee count isn't provided, the scope of their work suggests a lean but highly specialized team.

Founded: Founded in 2013, Tidepool has a mission-driven history focused on improving lives for people with diabetes.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely integrated within product squads, working closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams.

• Collaboration is expected across departments, including Clinical, Regulatory, and Quality Assurance, to ensure compliance and user safety.

• The organization fosters a mission-driven culture, with a strong emphasis on empathy for patients and a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. Methodology:

• Design is data-informed and user-centric, with a strong emphasis on usability and safety for regulated medical devices.

• Agile development methodologies are likely employed, requiring iterative design and close collaboration with engineering.

• A focus on translating broad user needs into actionable design solutions is core to their approach.

Company Website: https://tidepool.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The nonprofit status and mission-driven nature of Tidepool are key cultural indicators. The emphasis on collaboration and user empathy, especially for a vulnerable patient population, suggests a supportive yet demanding work environment. The mention of "working around the world" implies a globally distributed team, which requires strong remote communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level Product Designer, requiring significant autonomy and the ability to lead design projects. It's a temporary position, so direct long-term career progression within Tidepool might be limited unless an extension or permanent role becomes available.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Product, working within cross-functional product teams. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and engineers.

Operations Impact: The designs created will have a direct and significant impact on the lives of people with diabetes, influencing their ability to manage their condition effectively. For Tidepool, successful product design is critical to achieving its mission of making diabetes data accessible and actionable, which in turn supports its goals for research and patient care.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunity to gain specialized experience in designing for regulated medical devices (SaMD), hardware-software integrations, and within a mission-driven nonprofit healthcare technology environment.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Deepen understanding of clinical, regulatory, and quality assurance processes within the medical device industry.

• Project Leadership: Lead significant design projects for core Tidepool products, including the Tidepool Loop AID system, offering a chance to demonstrate leadership and strategic design thinking.

• Industry Insight: Develop a nuanced understanding of the diabetes technology landscape and patient needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary role, the experience gained in designing for regulated medical devices and a mission-driven organization is highly valuable for a Product Designer's career trajectory, especially in the health tech sector. The opportunity to influence critical diabetes management technology is a significant growth aspect.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning the primary "office" is the candidate's home.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company headquarters are in Palo Alto, California. The team operates globally, suggesting a distributed workforce.

Workspace Context:

• A remote work environment requires strong self-discipline, time management, and proactive communication skills.

• Candidates will need reliable internet access and a suitable home office setup.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital tools, video conferencing, and asynchronous communication platforms.

• The team culture encourages empathy and understanding of chronic conditions, fostering a supportive remote environment. Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week.

• As a remote role with a global team, there might be some flexibility in scheduling work hours, but core collaboration times will likely be established.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature is a key aspect. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication and managing their own work environment. The global team aspect implies potential for working across different time zones, requiring flexibility and strong organizational skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, portfolio availability, and interest in the role and Tidepool's mission.

• Portfolio Review: A critical step where the design team will thoroughly evaluate the submitted portfolio for process, problem-solving, and relevant experience (SaMD, hardware interaction, mobile/web).

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a case study from their portfolio or complete a design exercise to demonstrate their problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to articulate design rationale.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and other Designers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Potential interviews with members of Clinical, Regulatory, or Quality Assurance teams to gauge understanding of regulated environments and ability to collaborate with these functions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Clarity of Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project. Show your thinking, research, ideation, iteration, and final solution.

• Highlight SaMD & Hardware: Emphasize projects that involved designing for regulated medical devices or hardware-software interactions. Detail the unique challenges and how you addressed them.

• User-Centricity: Demonstrate a deep understanding of user needs, empathy for the target audience (people with diabetes), and how your designs address those needs.

• Problem-Solving: Focus on the problem you were solving and the impact of your design solution. Quantify results where possible.

• Accessibility: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and navigable. Provide all necessary login details.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with diabetes technology, including CGMs, insulin pumps, and AID systems. Research Tidepool Loop.

• Practice Articulation: Be prepared to clearly and concisely explain your design decisions, the rationale behind them, and how they align with user needs and business/regulatory goals.

• Empathy in Design: Be ready to discuss how you incorporate empathy for users into your design process, especially for a sensitive health condition.

• Technical Constraints: Consider how you would approach design challenges with technical and regulatory constraints in mind.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates must tailor their presentation to highlight SaMD, hardware interaction, and user empathy, demonstrating an understanding of the high-stakes nature of medical device design. The interview process will likely probe for a deep understanding of user needs and an ability to navigate complex technical and regulatory landscapes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), AI Prototyping Tools (e.g., Galileo, Uizard, or similar for rapid concepting).

• Task Management & Collaboration: Jira (explicitly mentioned for design reviews and feedback), Confluence.

• Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet, or similar for remote collaboration and video conferencing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for the designer role, understanding how design impacts user behavior and product adoption is key. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and how to interpret data for design improvements would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role's core responsibilities but understanding how user data flows and impacts product features is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Jira is crucial, indicating a need for familiarity with Agile workflows and issue tracking. The inclusion of AI prototyping tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design exploration and efficiency. Candidates should be proficient in standard design software and remote collaboration tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to improving the lives of people with diabetes is central to Tidepool's culture.

• Empathy: Deep understanding and care for patients and their experiences with chronic conditions.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams (product, engineering, clinical, regulatory) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Informed: Using data and user insights to drive design decisions and product strategy.

• Safety & Quality: Prioritizing the safety and well-being of users, especially within a regulated medical device context.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly cross-functional, with designers working hand-in-hand with product managers and engineers from conception through development.

• Open communication and constructive feedback loops are essential for iterative design and problem-solving.

• Emphasis on transparent communication, especially in a remote, globally distributed team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values of empathy, mission-driven work, and collaboration are paramount. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values in their design practice and interactions, particularly when working on sensitive health technology.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Usability with Safety & Regulation: Designing intuitive and user-friendly experiences within the strict constraints of medical device regulations (SaMD) and hardware limitations.

• Complex Technical Domains: Translating intricate diabetes technology, data, and hardware interactions into clear and manageable user experiences.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and communicating design ideas and feedback within a fully remote, globally distributed team.

• Temporary Role Scope: Delivering high-impact designs within a defined 1-year contract period, potentially requiring rapid onboarding and focused execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Medical Device Design: Gaining hands-on experience designing for SaMD and hardware-software integrations, a niche and valuable skill set.

• User Empathy Development: Deepening understanding of the diabetes patient journey and applying this to product design.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Learning from clinical, regulatory, and quality assurance professionals, understanding their perspectives and requirements.

• AI Tool Integration: Exploring and leveraging AI prototyping tools to enhance design efficiency and exploration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in navigating the complex intersection of user experience, technical feasibility, and regulatory compliance. The growth opportunities are significant for a designer looking to specialize in health tech and regulated product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with strict regulatory or safety requirements. How did you approach it?" (Focus on your process, trade-offs, and collaboration with regulatory/quality teams.)

• "How would you approach designing the initial setup flow for a new insulin pump connected to a mobile app, considering potential user error and data integrity?" (Demonstrate your ability to think through complex hardware-software interactions and safety protocols.)

• "Explain your process for translating a broad user need statement into a concrete design solution, especially in a highly technical domain." (Highlight your problem-solving methodology, research, ideation, and validation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Tidepool's mission and working in the diabetes technology space?" (Show genuine interest in their mission and the impact of their work.)

• "How do you foster empathy for users, especially those managing chronic conditions, in your design process?" (Discuss your methods for user research, persona development, and user-centric design.)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote, cross-functional team. How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration?" (Provide specific examples of tools and strategies you use.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions, and the outcome/impact.

• Highlight Key Projects: Prioritize projects that showcase your experience with mobile/web platforms, SaMD, and hardware-software interactions.

• Showcase Your Process: Visually present your design process, including research artifacts, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI.

• Emphasize User Impact: Clearly articulate how your designs addressed user needs and contributed to the overall product goals.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with other teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design within a regulated environment, strong communication skills for remote collaboration, and a genuine passion for Tidepool's mission. The portfolio presentation is your primary tool to showcase these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience in product/interaction design, specifically mentioning experience with mobile, responsive web, Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), and hardware-software integrations. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible, and clearly showcases your design process, relevant case studies (especially SaMD and hardware interaction examples), and includes any necessary login credentials.

• Research Tidepool: Understand Tidepool's mission, products (Tidepool Loop, Data Management Platform), and the diabetes technology landscape. This will help you articulate your interest and fit during interviews.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and impact for key projects in your portfolio, as well as answer questions about your experience with regulated environments and user empathy.

⚠️ 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.