Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Abbott

Location: Lake Forest, IL, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX/UI)

Date Posted: April 23, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design for cutting-edge medical diagnostic products, with a primary focus on Infectious Diseases.

• Drive the design, prototyping, and testing phases of new product development, ensuring intuitive and effective user interactions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Human Factors, Instrument Software, and Industrial Design, to deliver seamless, technically feasible diagnostic product systems.

• Champion the development and evolution of a comprehensive Diagnostics Design System to maintain functional and visual consistency across all product interfaces.

• Apply critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills to craft unique and differentiated user experiences across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job description is for a Product Designer, this enhancement will frame it within the context of operations roles by emphasizing the strategic impact of design on product adoption, user efficiency, and ultimately, the operational success of diagnostic solutions in healthcare settings. This includes highlighting how well-designed interfaces contribute to accurate data collection, reduced user error, and improved workflow for healthcare professionals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) concepts and prototypes for diagnostic product systems, informed by user research and product strategy, in partnership with R&D and strategic marketing teams.

• Create comprehensive UX deliverables, including UX journey maps, task-flow diagrams, UX/UI wireframes, and interactive prototypes, throughout the new product development lifecycle.

• Lead UX design efforts and prototyping for usability studies to identify user pain points and opportunities for design enhancement, ensuring the products meet user needs effectively.

• Plan, execute, and analyze usability (UX) testing, iterating on designs based on findings to optimize user interaction and satisfaction.

• Work collaboratively with the instrument software team to implement UX/UI design concepts, balancing aesthetic appeal, interaction design principles, and technical feasibility for optimal product performance.

• Act as a creative problem-solver, designing and shaping unique, differentiated user experiences that span across desktop, web, and mobile environments, ensuring a cohesive brand experience.

• Define, lead, and evolve the Diagnostics Design System to ensure all products exhibit both functional and visual consistency, enhancing brand recognition and user familiarity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities have been detailed to emphasize the product development lifecycle and cross-functional collaboration. For an operations-focused lens, it's important to note that effective UX/UI design directly impacts operational efficiency in healthcare. For instance, clear interfaces reduce training time for healthcare professionals, minimize data entry errors, and streamline the diagnostic workflow, all of which are critical operational outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record in product development.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in User-Experience (UX) design and User-Interface (UI) design principles and methodologies.

• Proficiency in creating UX journey maps, task-flow diagrams, UX/UI wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and conducting usability testing and iterating on designs based on findings.

• Strong understanding of interaction design, visual design principles, and technical feasibility constraints.

• Ability to critically think and creatively solve complex design problems across multiple platforms (desktop, web, mobile).

• Experience in defining, leading, and evolving design systems to ensure product consistency.

Preferred Skills:

• 1+ years of experience collaborating with cross-functional project teams to identify key requirements impacting UX/UI design and providing strategic guidance on design approaches, considerations, and trade-offs.

• Proven ability to advocate for UX/UI design goals across a division through effective communication with leadership and collaborators.

• Experience coordinating design activities with external vendors and consultants to ensure prototypes or design services meet project requirements and milestones.

• Familiarity with the healthcare industry, particularly medical diagnostics and point-of-care devices.

• Knowledge of human factors principles relevant to medical device design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level and specific skills have been elaborated to reflect a "Senior" role, emphasizing leadership in design system evolution and cross-functional advocacy. For operations professionals, understanding these skills means recognizing how a Senior Product Designer's work directly influences the efficiency and effectiveness of end-users (healthcare professionals), thereby impacting the operational throughput and reliability of diagnostic services.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of UX/UI design work, with a strong emphasis on complex product development cycles.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the application of UX/UI design principles to solve real-world user problems, particularly in technology or product development contexts.

• Examples of user journey maps, task-flow diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that illustrate the design process from ideation to final implementation.

• Evidence of contributions to or creation of design systems, highlighting their impact on consistency and efficiency across multiple products.

Process Documentation:

• Documentation of the end-to-end design process, from user research and requirements gathering to wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and final UI implementation.

• Clear articulation of how design processes were integrated with broader product development workflows and cross-functional team collaborations.

• Examples of how design feedback loops were managed and incorporated to drive continuous improvement in product interfaces.

• Evidence of systematic approaches to ensuring design scalability and maintainability through design systems and style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to showcase a Senior Designer's ability to manage complex projects and contribute to scalable design frameworks. From an operations perspective, a well-documented design process and a strong portfolio demonstrate a candidate's ability to implement standardized, efficient, and repeatable design solutions that can reduce operational overhead in product development and user training.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $78,000 - $156,000 per year. This range reflects the typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in Lake Forest, IL, considering the experience level and the specialized nature of medical device design. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications, experience, and specific market conditions.

Benefits:

• Medical Coverage: Employees may qualify for free medical coverage under the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the subsequent calendar year.

• Retirement Savings Plan: An excellent retirement savings plan with a significant employer contribution.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Support for continuing education and professional development.

• Student Debt Program: The "Freedom 2 Save" program to assist with student loan debt.

• Education Benefit: Access to "FreeU" for an affordable path to obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

• Paid Time Off: (Implied, standard for full-time roles).

• Life and Disability Insurance: (Implied, standard for full-time roles).

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): (Implied, common for large corporations).

Working Hours: Standard work hours, likely aligning with a typical 40-hour work week. Travel is expected up to 5% of the time.

The role requires continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8-hour day) and significant keyboard use (greater than or equal to 50% of the workday).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is directly from the input. The benefits have been expanded to include common offerings for large corporations like Abbott, as well as specific programs mentioned. The working hours and physical demands are detailed to provide a comprehensive picture of the daily work environment, which is crucial for operational planning and individual suitability.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Global Healthcare, with leading businesses in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines.

Company Size: Abbott is a large, multinational corporation with approximately 115,000 employees worldwide, operating in over 160 countries. This scale implies robust infrastructure, established processes, and significant resources.

Founded: Abbott was founded in 1888, bringing over a century of experience and innovation in healthcare.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Division, specifically within the CRLB Core Lab.

• This role will likely involve working within a matrixed R&D structure, collaborating with product managers, software engineers, human factors specialists, and industrial designers.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and measure their impact on user experience and product performance.

• Agile Product Development: Likely integration with agile or iterative development methodologies, requiring flexibility and adaptability in design processes.

• Design System Management: A structured approach to developing and maintaining a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across the product portfolio.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working collaboratively with diverse teams to ensure technical feasibility, market alignment, and human factors considerations are integrated into the design process.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Abbott's global reach and long history, suggesting a stable and resource-rich environment. For operations professionals, this implies opportunities to work with established processes, leverage extensive resources, and contribute to large-scale product rollouts. The emphasis on data-driven design and cross-functional collaboration aligns with operational goals of efficiency and effectiveness.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a "Senior" level, indicating a need for substantial experience and the ability to lead design initiatives independently. It suggests a transition from individual contributor to a role with mentorship and strategic influence within the product development process.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Manager, or Director within the Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Division. They will collaborate closely with project teams, including engineering, marketing, and human factors.

Operations Impact: The work of a Senior Product Designer directly impacts the operational success of diagnostic products by:

• Enhancing user adoption and proficiency, reducing training overhead and error rates.

• Streamlining workflows for healthcare professionals, leading to increased throughput and efficiency in labs and clinics.

• Ensuring product interfaces are intuitive and reliable, minimizing downtime and support issues.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, and influence design strategy within the division.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI design, medical device design, or design systems.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into related roles within product management, human factors, or R&D leadership.

• Global Exposure: Work on products used worldwide, gaining experience in diverse market needs and regulatory environments.

• Continuing Education: Access to Abbott's educational benefits for further skill development and formal learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section connects the Senior Product Designer role to broader operational impacts and career growth within a large organization. For operations professionals, understanding how design contributes to operational efficiency and the potential for career advancement within such a structure is valuable.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, requiring daily presence at the Lake Forest, IL facility. The environment is likely a professional office setting within a large corporate campus, geared towards R&D and product development.

Office Location(s): Lake Forest, Illinois, USA. This location is part of the greater Chicago metropolitan area, offering access to a large talent pool and urban amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a work environment that facilitates collaboration, with meeting rooms, shared workspaces, and potentially design studios equipped for brainstorming and prototyping.

• Technology Access: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially specialized tools for medical device development and testing.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with cross-functional teams (R&D, software, marketing, human factors), fostering a dynamic and communicative atmosphere.

• Professional Setting: A corporate environment that emphasizes professionalism, adherence to company policies, and a focus on achieving business objectives.

Work Schedule: Standard working hours are expected, with a focus on project deadlines and iterative development cycles. Travel up to 5% is anticipated. The role involves significant keyboard use and prolonged sitting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes the on-site nature and the collaborative, professional environment expected in a large R&D facility. For operations professionals, this context is important for understanding daily workflow, team dynamics, and the resources available to support efficient work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screens applications for basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to assess experience, technical skills, and cultural fit. This may include behavioral questions and a review of past projects.

3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and impact. This is a critical stage for a Senior Product Designer role. Expect to walk through 2-3 significant case studies.

4. Technical/Team Interview: Potential interview with design peers or cross-functional team members (e.g., Human Factors, Software Engineering) to evaluate collaboration skills and technical depth.

5. Final Interview: Often with a senior leader or director to confirm suitability for the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your senior-level capabilities, focusing on complexity, impact, and relevance to medical diagnostics if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thought process, decision-making, and how you navigated challenges. Showcase wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI mockups.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved user task completion time by X%, reduced error rates by Y%, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Design System Experience: If applicable, showcase your experience with or contributions to design systems, explaining their benefits and implementation.

• Tailor to Abbott: Research Abbott's products and brand to tailor your presentation and highlight how your skills align with their mission and existing design language.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or an on-the-spot problem-solving exercise related to designing an interface for a medical diagnostic tool. Focus on demonstrating your approach to understanding user needs and constraints.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to answer questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, manage stakeholder feedback, or collaborate with engineering teams on technical constraints.

• UX Strategy: Be ready to discuss your understanding of UX strategy in the context of healthcare products and how it supports operational goals like efficiency and accuracy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on the critical portfolio review and interview stages. For operations professionals, understanding this process highlights the importance of clear communication, data-driven results, and process-oriented thinking, all of which are transferable skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP, or similar for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping.

• User Research & Testing Platforms: Familiarity with tools for conducting remote or in-person usability testing, user interviews, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with project management and collaboration platforms like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, or similar for workflow management and team communication.

• Design System Management Tools: Familiarity with tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, an understanding of how design impacts user behavior metrics tracked through analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM or automation systems, an understanding of how user interfaces integrate with backend systems and workflows is advantageous. Awareness of how well-designed interfaces can support or improve automated processes is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section lists the common tools and technologies a Senior Product Designer would use. For operations professionals, understanding this technology stack highlights how design tools contribute to the overall product development pipeline and how design choices can impact downstream operational efficiency and data integrity.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A focus on creating designs that not only meet user needs but also drive tangible business outcomes and improve the operational efficiency of healthcare systems.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring products are intuitive, accessible, and effective for healthcare professionals and patients.

• Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open communication, constructive feedback, and strong partnerships with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Excellence: Striving for creative solutions and high-quality design execution, pushing boundaries while maintaining rigorous standards.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing user research, analytics, and testing to guide design choices and measure their effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively seeking input from and contributing to the work of engineering, marketing, human factors, and regulatory teams to ensure holistic product development.

• Iterative Design Process: Embracing a feedback-rich environment where designs are continuously refined through collaboration and testing.

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

• Solution-Oriented: Focusing on problem-solving and finding practical, effective solutions that balance user needs with technical and business constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section elaborates on the cultural values and collaboration styles that would likely be present in a design team at a company like Abbott. For operations professionals, understanding these values helps in assessing cultural fit and recognizing how design contributes to a collaborative and results-oriented operational environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Designing for complex medical diagnostic systems requires a deep understanding of technical limitations and regulatory requirements, while still advocating for optimal user experience.

• Ensuring Consistency Across a Diverse Product Portfolio: Maintaining a cohesive design language and user experience across multiple diagnostic products, potentially with varying development timelines and technical architectures.

• Integrating New Technologies: Adapting design strategies to incorporate emerging technologies and evolving user expectations in the healthcare landscape.

• Gathering Meaningful User Feedback: Effectively obtaining actionable insights from busy healthcare professionals who may have limited time for extensive feedback sessions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities for advanced training in UX/UI design, medical device UX, human factors, and specific design tools.

• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend leading UX and healthcare design conferences to stay abreast of industry trends and network.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to senior designers and leaders for guidance on career progression and skill development.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to different aspects of product development, such as software engineering, hardware design, and regulatory affairs, to broaden understanding.

• Design System Expansion: Opportunities to contribute to and lead the growth of Abbott's design system, a valuable skill in the industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details potential challenges and growth avenues. For operations professionals, understanding these challenges provides insight into the complexities of product development within healthcare, and the growth opportunities highlight pathways for skill enhancement and career progression that align with operational excellence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder requirements (e.g., marketing, engineering, regulatory) when designing a product. How did you achieve a successful outcome?" (Focus on process, negotiation, and understanding of operational constraints).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a point-of-care diagnostic device that aims to improve data accuracy and reduce user error?" (Prepare to discuss user research, workflow analysis, and iterative design).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Abbott, specifically within the Rapid Diagnostics Division?" (Research Abbott's mission, values, and recent innovations in diagnostics).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UX/UI design, particularly within the healthcare technology sector?" (Showcase continuous learning and industry awareness).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the user, the constraints, your design process, the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "reduced task completion time by 15%", "improved user satisfaction scores by 20%").

• Showcase Your Process: Visually present your journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to illustrate your thinking.

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with cross-functional teams and incorporated their feedback.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical considerations, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice, emphasizing how to frame answers to highlight operational relevance and strategic thinking. For operations professionals, these questions and strategies are excellent practice for demonstrating a results-oriented mindset.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Abbott careers portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of UX/UI design experience, focusing on achievements in product development, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description such as "User-Experience Design," "User Interface Design," "Prototyping," and "Design Systems."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-5 of your strongest UX/UI design case studies that showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your ability to work on complex products and potentially within regulated industries.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear storytelling, quantifying results, and articulating your design decisions and process. Be prepared to discuss how your design choices contribute to user efficiency and operational effectiveness.

• Research Abbott: Thoroughly understand Abbott's mission, values, product lines (especially in diagnostics), and recent news. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their commitment to improving lives through healthcare innovation.

⚠️ 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.

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