Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Anduril Industries

Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Enablement

Date Posted: September 03, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for enhancing the ArsenalOS platform, focusing on the critical areas of supply chain management and external supplier experiences, directly impacting manufacturing efficiency and operational readiness.

• You will be instrumental in designing intuitive, high-quality user interfaces that bridge complex technical manufacturing processes with streamlined business workflows, improving decision-making and operational execution.

• The position demands a blend of strong visual and interaction design craft with a systems-thinking approach to ensure consistency and scalability across the ArsenalOS product suite.

• You will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineers, and Supply Chain stakeholders to translate intricate operational needs into user-centered design solutions, driving momentum and delivering impactful product enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Product Designer" title, coupled with the focus on "supply chain and supplier experience" within the "ArsenalOS" platform, strongly suggests a role that bridges product design with Go-to-Market (GTM) operations enablement. This role is not just about creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces but about designing systems that directly support and optimize critical business operations, particularly in manufacturing and logistics. The emphasis on "execution-minded designer" and "building at speed" points to a need for a hands-on individual contributor who can quickly translate business needs into tangible design solutions that have immediate operational impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive and efficient user interfaces for the ArsenalOS platform, specifically for supply chain and supplier portal functionalities, to improve process efficiency, evaluation, and reporting for manufacturing operations.

• Own the information architecture, user flows, and lightweight Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) for new features, ensuring a cohesive and well-structured user experience before engineering implementation.

• Judiciously apply existing ArsenalOS design patterns and system primitives, or develop new craft when genuinely warranted, to maintain a coherent and scalable product design system.

• Rapidly iterate on designs through prototyping and high-fidelity mockups, showcasing strong visual and interaction design skills, including micro-interactions and animations.

• Take full ownership of the design execution process from initial discovery and user research through to implementation support and post-launch iteration.

• Collaborate directly with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and Supply Chain experts, to deeply understand operational workflows and translate complex processes into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces.

• Partner with Design Leads while exercising significant autonomy to make timely design decisions and maintain project momentum.

• Balance the need for immediate tactical solutions addressing urgent business requirements with contributions to the long-term design vision and overall product value.

• Create and maintain scalable UI components that function effectively across various device types and are robust enough for the demanding environments of manufacturing and production.

• Engage in contextual user research, including site visits to operational environments and production lines, to gain firsthand understanding of user needs, challenges, and existing processes.

• Effectively communicate design decisions, rationale, and impact to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, fostering buy-in and alignment throughout the design process.

• Collaborate with other designers across different product verticals to ensure design consistency, share best practices, and promote an open design process for cross-functional awareness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a deep integration with operational processes, particularly in supply chain and manufacturing. The mention of "bridging technical processes with business workflows" and "connecting information and action to the right person at the right time" highlights the GTM operations enablement aspect. The requirement to "visit operational environments" and "travel once a quarter to our production lines" underscores the need for hands-on, real-world understanding, which is critical for optimizing operational efficiency through design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is implied by the required experience and skill set.

Experience: 6+ years of professional software design experience, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality design solutions in complex environments.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Mastery: Demonstrated proficiency across core design competencies including Craft & Execution, Impact, Strategy, and Influence/Leadership, operating at both product-level and business-line scope.

• Visual & Interaction Design: High attention to detail and mastery of visual design principles (composition, color theory, typography, Gestalt principles) and interaction design, including micro-interactions and animations.

• Systems Thinking & Design Systems: Ability to think holistically about the entire user experience, championing the reuse and extension of existing design system patterns over creating one-off solutions; experience developing and implementing design systems.

• Prototyping & Execution: Comfort and ability to design by building runnable prototypes in a real codebase, leveraging existing design system components.

• Tool Proficiency: Figma is a primary tool, but expertise in other industry-standard design tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) is valued, with a focus on craft over specific software.

• Information Architecture & Flow Design: Skill in defining and structuring information, creating intuitive user flows, and developing lightweight PRDs.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and domain experts (e.g., Supply Chain) to translate complex requirements into intuitive interfaces.

• User Research & Contextual Inquiry: Experience with on-site research, contextual inquiry, and understanding of manufacturing, production, or similar operational environments.

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong ability to articulate design decisions, rationale, process, and impact clearly to diverse stakeholders, and to tell compelling user-centered stories.

• Scalable Component Design: Experience creating reusable and scalable UI components suitable for various devices and demanding environments.

• Travel Readiness: Willingness and ability to travel once per quarter to production lines for contextual research and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Skills:

• Hardware/Industrial Experience: Familiarity with hardware-related industries such as supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, or defense technology.

• Workflow Creation Tool Experience: Prior exposure to workflow creation tools, especially those related to quality, supplier-facing applications, or non-conformance processes.

• User Research Background: Background in User Research (UXR) or a hybrid UX/UXR skill set is highly desirable.

• Advanced Design System Knowledge: Deep understanding of how to actively build, enhance, and promote the use of a design system across an organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "6+ years of software design experience" and meeting "Senior Product Designer on Anduril standards" indicates a role that is beyond a standard mid-level position, requiring strategic input and leadership in design execution. The emphasis on "building at speed" and "execution mindset" is a critical filter, suggesting this role is for designers who can deliver tangible results quickly, rather than those focused primarily on deep, long-term strategic research without immediate output.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Craft & Execution: Showcase high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear visual design examples that highlight a strong command of UI and interaction design principles.

• Process Improvement Case Studies: Include detailed case studies that illustrate how your design solutions have directly improved operational efficiency, streamlined workflows, or enhanced user productivity within a specific business context. Quantify impact where possible.

• System Design Examples: Present examples of how you have contributed to or leveraged design systems, including the creation of scalable components and adherence to architectural guidelines.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Evidence: Highlight projects where you successfully partnered with engineering, product management, and domain experts, demonstrating your ability to translate complex requirements into user-centered solutions.

• Contextual Research Integration: Show evidence of how user research, particularly contextual inquiry or on-site observations, informed your design process and led to more effective solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Provide examples of how you have mapped, analyzed, and redesigned complex operational workflows to improve clarity, reduce friction, and enhance output.

• System Implementation and Automation: Showcase experience in designing interfaces that support or enable automation, or that integrate with existing technical systems to create seamless user experiences.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how your designs have been measured for impact, including the use of metrics related to efficiency, adoption, error reduction, or stakeholder satisfaction in operational contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role focused on operations enablement, a portfolio that clearly articulates the impact of design on operational metrics is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not just the "what" and "how" of their design process, but the "why" and the "results," particularly concerning efficiency gains, error reduction, and improved stakeholder satisfaction within manufacturing and supply chain contexts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $146,000 - $194,000 USD per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $146,000 - $194,000 USD for a Senior Product Designer in Costa Mesa, California, aligns with industry benchmarks for experienced design professionals in a high-cost-of-living area within the defense technology sector. This range is competitive, reflecting the seniority and specialized skills required for this role. Research suggests that Senior Product Designers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California tech hubs can command salaries within this bracket, especially with 6+ years of experience. Factors such as specific skill sets, interview performance, and the candidate's overall experience will determine the final offer within this range.

Benefits:

• Highly Competitive Equity Grants: A significant component of the total compensation package, offering ownership and potential upside in the company's growth.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Top-tier medical, dental, and vision coverage designed to support employee well-being.

• Well-being and Recovery Support: Benefits focused on employee health, recovery, and overall life support.

• Additional Benefits: Specific details are available on the company's career page, generally including retirement savings plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work schedule, likely aligning with typical business hours in the Pacific Time Zone (e.g., 40 hours per week). Flexibility may be available, but the role is on-site, requiring consistent presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "top-tier benefits" and "investing in our people" indicates a robust benefits package typical of growth-stage technology companies, aiming to attract and retain top talent. The mention of "comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees)" is a strong selling point for prospective candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology. Anduril Industries operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and national security, developing advanced systems for U.S. and allied military forces.

Company Size: Anduril Industries is a rapidly growing company, indicating a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Typical for companies of this nature, it likely has a significant employee base, fostering both large-scale project capabilities and the agility of a startup.

Founded: Founded in 2017, Anduril is a relatively young company but has quickly established itself as a significant player in the defense tech sector, driven by innovation and a mission-oriented approach.

Team Structure:

• The ArsenalOS Design team is part of a larger design organization within Anduril. This Senior Product Designer will be a generalist, serving wherever the ArsenalOS needs are greatest, currently focusing on supply chain and supplier experience.

• The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering teams, and domain experts within the supply chain operations.

• Reporting is likely to a Design Lead or Design Manager within the ArsenalOS vertical, with significant autonomy in daily execution. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on understanding user needs through research and data to inform design decisions.

• Iterative Development: Rapid iteration and prototyping are core to the design process, allowing for quick validation and momentum.

• Systems-Oriented Approach: Focus on building scalable components and leveraging existing design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across the product suite.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working openly and collaboratively with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Anduril's mission in defense technology implies a culture that values innovation, rapid execution, and a strong sense of purpose. The "ArsenalOS" initiative specifically aims to modernize manufacturing, suggesting a focus on operational excellence and efficiency. The company's rapid growth and focus on advanced technologies like AI and autonomy indicate a high-achieving, technically adept workforce.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior individual contributor role, requiring a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and the ability to influence design direction and execution within the ArsenalOS product. It signifies a level of experience where one is expected to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and contribute strategically to the product's success.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a Design Lead or Manager for ArsenalOS, but the day-to-day work will involve deep collaboration with cross-functional teams (PM, Engineering, Supply Chain).

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts Anduril's ability to scale its manufacturing operations through the ArsenalOS platform. Success in this role means enabling more efficient supply chain management, faster supplier onboarding, and improved production processes, which are critical for meeting defense contracts and achieving strategic objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Managerial role within ArsenalOS or other product verticals as the company expands.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in manufacturing, supply chain, or other complex operational domains through focused project work.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Developing strong relationships and understanding of business operations can open doors to roles in Product Management or Operations Strategy.

• Mentorship: As a senior member, opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team's capabilities and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation, coupled with the "generalist seat" on the design team, suggests that growth can occur not only vertically into management but also horizontally into specialized design domains or even into operational strategy roles, given the direct impact on manufacturing and supply chain. The emphasis on "systems thinker" and "design systems" points to opportunities in evolving the company's design infrastructure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role in Costa Mesa, California. This suggests a traditional office environment with opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Costa Mesa, California, United States. This location offers access to a vibrant tech and engineering talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, implying an open and interactive workspace designed to facilitate communication and teamwork.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma), prototyping software, and potentially internal development environments for building runnable prototypes.

• Operational Immersion: Opportunities to engage with the physical aspects of manufacturing through required travel to production lines, providing a unique and tangible connection to the impact of the design work.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time employment, likely Monday-Friday, with an expectation of presence in the office. While specific flexibility is not detailed, the emphasis on rapid execution suggests a dedicated and focused work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Costa Mesa, California, is significant. For operations-focused roles, this often means being closer to physical operations, manufacturing sites, or key stakeholders who may also be based in the area. The mention of "visiting operational environments" and "production lines" further reinforces this, suggesting a hands-on, integrated approach to design that extends beyond a typical software-only product role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and fit.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focused on problem-solving within a supply chain or manufacturing context. This will likely involve creating mockups or prototypes.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Supply Chain stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to translate complex requirements.

• Design Team Interviews: Discussions with Design Leads and other designers to evaluate design craft, systems thinking, and cultural fit within the design team.

• Final Round: Potentially interviews with senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking, impact, and overall fit with Anduril's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Operational Impact: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate how your design solutions have tangibly improved operational efficiency, reduced errors, or streamlined complex processes within a manufacturing, supply chain, or logistics context.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Clearly articulate your approach to design systems, component reusability, and maintaining consistency across a complex platform like ArsenalOS.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your design process for key projects, emphasizing how you integrated user research (especially contextual inquiry), iterative prototyping, and stakeholder feedback.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. This could include time saved, error reduction, increased adoption rates, or improved stakeholder satisfaction.

• Prepare for "Build by Building": Be ready to discuss how you approach creating runnable prototypes and integrating with engineering workflows, as this is a stated emphasis for the role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with common challenges in supply chain management, supplier onboarding, manufacturing processes, and quality control within a defense or industrial context.

• Focus on Efficiency & Scalability: Frame your solutions around improving efficiency, ensuring scalability, and reducing complexity for users operating in demanding environments.

• Structure Your Presentation: Clearly articulate the problem, your proposed solution, the design rationale, and the expected impact, using visual aids effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "runnable prototype in a real codebase" and designing "by building" is a unique aspect. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to engage with front-end development frameworks or tools that facilitate this, even if they are not coding the final product. The portfolio should explicitly address how their design work integrates with or supports engineering execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary design and prototyping tool, used for creating mockups, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is specified, other prototyping tools might be used or integrated, especially for creating "runnable prototypes."

• Design System Development Tools: Tools and methodologies for building, maintaining, and documenting scalable design systems and component libraries.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for the designer, understanding how design impacts user behavior and operational metrics will be key. This may involve familiarity with analytics platforms used to track feature adoption, user engagement, and process completion rates within ArsenalOS.

• Tools for creating dashboards and reporting on design impact might be utilized indirectly. CRM & Automation:

• Supply Chain & Manufacturing Software: Familiarity with or ability to design interfaces for systems used in supply chain management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), supplier relationship management (SRM), and manufacturing execution systems (MES) is a strong plus.

• Workflow Automation Tools: Experience designing interfaces that support or are part of automated workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "runnable prototypes in a real codebase (branches built from our AOS design system)" is a critical technical requirement. This suggests that candidates might need to work with tools that integrate closely with development environments, or at least understand the principles of how design assets are translated into code. This is more advanced than standard UI/UX design and hints at a closer collaboration with engineering, potentially involving technologies like Storybook for design systems or even basic front-end knowledge.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the company's mission of transforming military capabilities through advanced technology.

• Innovation & Speed: A culture that values pushing technological boundaries and executing rapidly to deliver solutions.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: High standards for the quality and effectiveness of both technology and design.

• Collaboration & Openness: Emphasis on working together across disciplines and sharing information openly.

• Impact & Accountability: Focus on delivering tangible results that make a difference and taking ownership of outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with PMs, Engineers, and operational domain experts, fostering a deeply integrated product development process.

• Open Design Process: Encouragement of working in the open, sharing progress, and seeking feedback across teams to ensure alignment and identify potential issues early.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture that embraces iterative design and continuous feedback to refine solutions and maintain momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "defense technology" and "mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities" suggests a culture that is serious, purpose-driven, and values high stakes and significant impact. This is different from consumer tech and implies a need for designers who can operate with a high degree of professionalism, attention to detail, and an understanding of the critical nature of their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Operational Environments: Translating intricate manufacturing and supply chain processes into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for users who may not be tech-native.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The need to "build at speed" while maintaining high design quality and ensuring long-term system coherence.

• Bridging Technical and Business Workflows: Effectively connecting disparate technical systems and business processes through a unified user experience.

• Contextual Research & Travel: Adapting to and gaining insights from demanding operational environments, including travel to production lines.

• Evolving Design System: Contributing to and leveraging a growing design system in a fast-paced, innovative company.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Defense Tech: Gaining unparalleled insight into the defense industry, manufacturing, and supply chain operations.

• Advanced Design Systems: Opportunities to contribute to and mature a sophisticated design system used across a growing product suite.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Learning from experts in engineering, product management, and operations to broaden your understanding of the product lifecycle and business strategy.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Developing leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and taking ownership of significant design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented highlight the unique nature of this role, situated at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, complex industrial operations, and a defense mission. Success will require adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to learning about new domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance rapid execution with maintaining design quality. How did you prioritize and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for speed and quality trade-offs).

• "How do you approach translating complex technical processes or business workflows into intuitive user interfaces? Can you walk us through an example?" (Highlight your understanding of operational context and user-centered design).

• "When faced with a new design problem, what is your process for determining whether to extend an existing design pattern or create something new? How do you advocate for your decisions?" (Focus on systems thinking and design system rationale). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Anduril's mission and our work in the defense technology sector, specifically within ArsenalOS?" (Show genuine interest in the company's purpose).

• "How do you approach collaborating with engineers and product managers who may have different priorities or technical constraints?" (Demonstrate your cross-functional collaboration skills).

• "Describe a project where your design directly improved operational efficiency or solved a critical business need. What metrics did you use to measure success?" (Prepare a case study emphasizing operational impact). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story of Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and most importantly, the measurable impact on users or business operations.

• Showcase Your "Build by Building" Approach: Be prepared to discuss how you create functional prototypes and how your design work integrates with engineering workflows. If you have examples of contributing to or using design systems, highlight that.

• Emphasize Systems Thinking: Explain how you ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability in your designs, particularly within the context of a growing design system.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, rationale, and the trade-offs you made throughout your projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "building at speed" and "runnable prototypes," candidates should be prepared to discuss their comfort level with tools and processes that bridge design and development. Demonstrating an understanding of how design assets translate into code and contribute to a functional product will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate experience in designing for operational efficiency, supply chain, manufacturing, or complex enterprise systems. Emphasize case studies with quantifiable operational impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of software design experience, specifically mentioning skills in visual design, interaction design, prototyping, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for Design Challenges: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work, especially in scenarios involving complex workflows and rapid iteration. Be ready to discuss your approach to creating runnable prototypes.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Anduril Industries, its mission, the ArsenalOS initiative, and the defense technology landscape. Understand their commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

⚠️ 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.