Senior Product Designer at Brightspeed

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Brightspeed

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: September 10, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Lead complex UX/UI design projects end-to-end, from discovery and wireframing through high-fidelity delivery and developer handoff across multiple digital platforms.
Set the quality standard for the design team's output, demonstrating excellence in design craft at all fidelity levels.
Translate high-level strategic direction into concrete, executable design approaches, proactively identifying and filling in execution details.
Leverage AI-assisted methods and explore AI-enabled experiences through rapid, testable prototypes in collaboration with product, content, and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical individual contributor within the design team, expected to elevate the overall quality and strategic output. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to design and a need for candidates comfortable with emerging technologies in the product development lifecycle. The hybrid work arrangement indicates a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Own the complete UX/UI design lifecycle for intricate projects, encompassing user research, wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and seamless developer handoff for the website, e-commerce platform, and customer account management system.
Establish and champion the highest standards of design quality for the team, serving as a benchmark for exceptional design execution across all project phases.
Make informed, strategic trade-offs between project speed, design quality, and scope, clearly articulating these decisions and their rationale to management and stakeholders.
Develop meticulously organized and well-documented Figma files that facilitate team collaboration, maintainability, and future scalability.
Translate the product manager's strategic vision into actionable design strategies, proactively addressing any gaps between high-level objectives and detailed execution requirements.
Identify and propose opportunities for integrating AI-enabled features into the user experience, utilizing AI-assisted tools for rapid prototyping and evaluation in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Present data-informed design recommendations, supported by robust reasoning, to influence product strategy and user experience improvements.
Collaborate closely with analysts, product owners, and strategists to interpret user data, pinpoint experience deficiencies, and propose data-driven design enhancements.
Proactively research and introduce emerging trends and best practices in UX, UI, and e-commerce design to foster continuous team improvement and innovation.
Elevate the design craft of the team through constructive critique sessions, proactive knowledge sharing, and by exemplifying strong design thinking principles.
Provide clear, actionable, and constructive feedback to junior designers, fostering their growth while maintaining project ownership and quality.
Contribute to a collaborative team culture that prioritizes curiosity, high-quality output, and effective teamwork.
Plan, facilitate, and synthesize findings from usability testing, design reviews, and research sessions into clear, actionable design recommendations.
Act as a vocal advocate for user-centered decision-making across the design team and with all cross-functional partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strong individual execution ("own complex projects," "set the quality standard") and team enablement ("elevate the craft," "provide clear feedback"). The explicit mention of AI integration and data-informed design suggests a data-centric and technologically advanced design environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX, or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of delivering complex digital products.

Required Skills:

Expert proficiency in Figma, including experience with design systems and component libraries.
Demonstrated experience applying AI tools and methodologies within a professional product design process, with the ability to articulate specific project contributions and outcomes.
Strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking and exceptional craft across a range of complex digital products, including website, e-commerce, and customer account platforms.
Proven ability for independent execution, taking ownership of projects from inception to completion with minimal supervision.
Critical thinking skills to dissect problems thoroughly before proposing solutions, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and confidently.
Proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and user flow development.
Experience planning and conducting user research, including usability testing and synthesizing findings into actionable insights.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse stakeholders.
Collaborative mindset and a low-ego approach to teamwork, with a genuine interest in fostering the growth of colleagues. Preferred Skills:
Experience within the e-commerce, telecommunications, or similar high-volume digital consumer product industries.
Familiarity with front-end development workflows and best practices for developer handoff.
Hands-on experience with user research platforms such as UserTesting, Maze, or Lookback.
Background in conversion rate optimization (CRO) or data-driven design experimentation.
Bilingual proficiency in Spanish.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for demonstrated AI experience in design is a significant differentiator and indicates a need for candidates who are not only skilled designers but also early adopters and experimenters with new technologies. The portfolio is crucial and must showcase both strategic thinking and high-quality execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex digital product design projects, demonstrating end-to-end ownership from discovery through to high-fidelity delivery.
Clearly articulate your specific role and contributions within each project, especially highlighting strategic thinking, problem-solving, and design rationale.
Include detailed case studies that illustrate your process for translating strategic goals into tangible design outcomes.
Present evidence of your ability to leverage AI-assisted methods in at least one project, detailing the tools used and the impact on the design process or outcome.
Demonstrate meticulous Figma file organization and a strong understanding of design system principles, potentially showcasing contributions to or usage of design systems. Process Documentation:
For each portfolio project, document the user research methodology employed, including methods for synthesizing findings into actionable design requirements.
Detail the wireframing and prototyping process, illustrating how iterative design and feedback were incorporated.
Explain the developer handoff process, including the types of documentation and assets provided to ensure accurate implementation.
Showcase how data and user feedback were used to inform design decisions and measure the success of implemented solutions, particularly in areas like conversion rate optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates must be prepared to deeply articulate their design process, strategic thinking, and the quantifiable impact of their work, with a specific emphasis on their experience with AI in design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Charlotte, NC, with 5-10 years of experience and expertise in AI-assisted design, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $120,000 and $160,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Charlotte, the demand for specialized design skills, and the seniority of the role.

Benefits:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee and family well-being.
Life insurance coverage for financial security.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential support for personal and work-related challenges.
401K retirement savings plan with a company match, promoting long-term financial health.
Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual, allowing for work-life balance and personal rejuvenation.
Potential for hybrid work flexibility, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work capabilities.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are approximately 40 hours per week. While a hybrid arrangement is in place, occasional additional hours may be required to meet critical project deadlines or ensure timely delivery of design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in the specified location and experience level. Actual compensation will be determined by the company based on individual qualifications, experience, and internal equity. The hybrid nature of the role implies a structured approach to in-office days, likely focused on collaboration and team synergy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Telecommunications and Internet Service Provider (ISP). Brightspeed is focused on accelerating the upgrade from copper to fiber optic technologies, particularly in underserved rural markets, aiming to deliver high-speed internet and a superior customer experience.

Company Size: Brightspeed is a growing company, backed by funds managed by Apollo Global Management, indicating significant investment and expansion potential. While specific employee numbers are not provided in the raw data, its operational scope across twenty states suggests a substantial organization.

Founded: Brightspeed was established with a vision to transform internet service delivery, implying a culture that values innovation, rapid deployment, and customer-centricity. The company's focus on upgrading infrastructure points to a forward-looking and ambitious operational environment.

Team Structure:

The Senior Product Designer will be part of the Consumer Group, likely working within a dedicated Product Design or UX/UI team.
This team is expected to be collaborative, with a structure that supports both individual contribution and collective problem-solving, reporting to a Design Manager.
Close partnerships will be formed with Product Owners, Analysts, Content Strategists, and Engineering teams to ensure integrated and user-focused product development. Methodology:
A strong emphasis is placed on user-centered design principles, validated through research and testing.
The team is expected to embrace data-informed decision-making, utilizing analytics and performance metrics to guide design choices and measure impact.
The integration of AI-assisted methods suggests a willingness to experiment with and adopt cutting-edge design technologies to enhance efficiency and explore new user experiences.
Agile methodologies are likely employed for iterative development and rapid prototyping.

Company Website: http://brightspeed.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Brightspeed's mission to upgrade broadband infrastructure and serve traditionally underserved markets suggests a company with a significant growth trajectory and a focus on impact. The culture likely values innovation, execution speed, and a commitment to improving customer connectivity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor. It demands a high degree of autonomy, expertise in design craft, and the ability to influence strategic design decisions. The role is expected to mentor junior designers and contribute to raising the overall quality bar of the design team.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Design Manager. This structure implies a clear hierarchy for strategic direction and performance management, with opportunities for direct mentorship and feedback from experienced leadership.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work will directly influence the user experience across Brightspeed's core digital platforms, including website, e-commerce, and customer account management. This impact is critical for customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue generation, especially as the company expands its fiber optic services. The role's influence extends to shaping the company's digital brand perception and operational efficiency through intuitive user interfaces.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-assisted design, e-commerce optimization, or complex digital product strategy.
Leadership: Transition into a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing projects and teams, by consistently demonstrating strategic thinking, mentorship, and impactful design outcomes.
Skill Development: Access to training, workshops, and industry conferences to stay abreast of the latest UX/UI trends, AI advancements, and design methodologies.
Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by collaborating on strategic initiatives with product, engineering, marketing, and business intelligence teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a leadership potential within the design function, not necessarily through direct management, but through mentorship and setting standards. Growth into lead or managerial positions is a likely progression path for successful candidates.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Brightspeed HQ is located in a modern office building (Vantage South End - East Tower in Charlotte, NC), suggesting a professional and amenity-rich workspace. The company promotes a hybrid work model, balancing in-office days with remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is 1120 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC. This location is noted as a "vibrant destination for our hybrid workforce," implying a well-appointed office designed for collaboration and employee engagement.

Workspace Context:

The hybrid model fosters a flexible work environment, allowing designers to leverage the benefits of both focused remote work and collaborative in-office sessions.
The office space is likely equipped with modern technology and tools to support design activities and cross-functional communication.
Designers will have opportunities to engage with colleagues from various departments, fostering a holistic understanding of the business and its operational challenges.

Work Schedule: The role is designated as hybrid, with a standard 40-hour work week. This arrangement allows for dedicated time for deep work at home and collaborative sessions, team meetings, and brainstorming in the office. Flexibility may be afforded within this structure, contingent on project needs and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Charlotte as a "vibrant destination" suggests the company invests in its physical office space to make it an attractive and productive hub for its hybrid workforce. This indicates a commitment to fostering a strong company culture and facilitating effective collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A recruiter will review applications and portfolios to assess alignment with the core requirements, particularly experience with Figma, AI in design, and a strong portfolio.
Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: This stage will focus on a deeper dive into your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, strategic thinking, and how you handle complex challenges. Expect questions about your experience with AI tools and their application in design.
Design Team Collaboration Exercise/Critique: You may be asked to participate in a design exercise or a portfolio critique session with other designers. This assesses your collaboration style, design thinking, and ability to provide and receive constructive feedback.
Cross-functional Interview: An interview with stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, or other relevant departments to evaluate your communication skills, ability to collaborate, and understanding of business objectives.
Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and alignment with Brightspeed's culture and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic problem-solving, and exceptional UI craft. Prioritize complexity and impact.
Highlight AI Integration: Clearly label and detail any projects where you used AI-assisted tools. Explain the specific problem AI helped solve, the tools used, and the tangible outcomes or insights gained.
Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically. For each project, include a brief overview, your role, the problem statement, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions, and the final outcome/impact. Use visuals effectively.
Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to verbally walk through your portfolio, explaining why you made specific design decisions. Connect your choices back to user needs, business goals, and data insights.
Demonstrate Craftsmanship: Ensure your high-fidelity mockups are polished, pixel-perfect, and demonstrate a strong understanding of visual design principles and UI patterns.

Challenge Preparation:

Anticipate Design Challenges: Be ready for potential design exercises that might involve solving a specific UX problem, improving an existing flow, or presenting a critique of a given design. Focus on demonstrating your process, not just a perfect solution.
Practice AI Integration: Think about how you would approach a design challenge using AI tools for ideation, prototyping, or analysis. Be ready to discuss this strategy.
Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios: Practice articulating design recommendations and defending your choices to non-designers, focusing on business impact and user value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI in the qualifications and responsibilities means that candidates should be prepared to discuss their practical experience with AI tools in design, not just theoretical knowledge. The portfolio review will be a critical component, requiring detailed explanations of process and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating and utilizing design systems within Figma is expected.
Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's native capabilities, familiarity with tools like InVision, Principle, or similar for advanced interactive prototypes may be beneficial.
AI-Assisted Design Tools: Experience with tools like Uizard, Galileo AI, Microsoft Designer, or AI plugins for Figma/Sketch that aid in idea generation, wireframing, or asset creation.

Analytics & Reporting:

User Research Platforms: Tools such as UserTesting, Maze, Lookback, or similar for conducting remote usability testing and gathering qualitative user feedback.
Web Analytics Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior on the website and e-commerce platforms.
Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, understanding how to interpret data presented in tools like Tableau or Power BI can be advantageous for data-informed design.

CRM & Automation:

CRM Systems: While primarily a design role, understanding how customer data is managed in systems like Salesforce or similar CRM platforms can provide context for customer account platform design.
Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, workflows, and collaborating with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI-assisted design tools is a key technology requirement. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their practical experience and comfort level with these emerging technologies. Figma is clearly the primary tool of engagement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Being Real: Encouraging authenticity and allowing employees to bring their true selves to work, fostering an inclusive environment.
Customer Focus: A strong commitment to delivering an "awesome customer experience" and improving connectivity, especially in underserved areas.
Innovation & Acceleration: Driving the upgrade of infrastructure and embracing new technologies (like AI) to achieve ambitious goals.
Quality & Craftsmanship: Setting high standards for design execution and product quality across all digital touchpoints.
Collaboration: Working effectively across teams to achieve shared objectives and build a world-class network and customer experience.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Content, and Analytics teams, acting as partners in the product development lifecycle.
Data-Driven Dialogue: Discussions are informed by user data, research findings, and performance metrics, leading to objective and evidence-based decision-making.
Constructive Critique Culture: A willingness to share work early and often, providing and receiving thoughtful, actionable feedback to collectively improve outcomes.
Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Senior designers are encouraged to uplift junior team members through guidance and sharing best practices, fostering a continuous learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated value of "Being Real" suggests a culture that prioritizes authenticity and inclusion. This, combined with the emphasis on collaboration and customer experience, points to a team environment where open communication and a shared mission are highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Balancing Innovation with Legacy Systems: Integrating modern AI-driven design capabilities and user experiences with existing digital platforms and infrastructure, potentially built on older technologies.
Driving AI Adoption: Championing the use of AI-assisted design tools and AI-enabled features within a potentially diverse team, requiring persuasive communication and demonstration of value.
High-Volume Digital Experience: Designing for scale across a broad customer base and diverse product offerings (website, e-commerce, account management) while maintaining a consistent and high-quality user experience.
Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced nature of a growing company, which may involve shifting priorities and evolving project scopes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

AI in Design Specialization: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in AI applications for product design, potentially leading internal workshops or defining best practices.
E-commerce & Telecommunications UX: Deepen expertise in the specific nuances of designing for these industries, understanding customer journeys, and conversion optimization strategies.
Mentorship & Team Leadership: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives, and contributing to team strategy and process improvement.
Industry Exposure: Attend relevant design conferences, workshops, and webinars focused on UX, UI, AI, and digital product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will likely involve integrating cutting-edge AI design methods into a large-scale telecommunications business. This requires not only technical skill but also strong communication and change management abilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a complex UX/UI project from your portfolio where you had end-to-end ownership. What was the business problem, your strategic approach, and the ultimate outcome?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and quantifiable results.)
"How have you leveraged AI tools in your professional design process? Can you walk us through a specific example, detailing the tools, your role, and the impact on the design or user experience?" (Be prepared to discuss specific AI applications like ideation, prototyping, or content generation.)
"Imagine you need to design a new feature for our customer account platform that leverages AI. What would be your first steps in approaching this design challenge?" (Demonstrate your structured thinking, user-centricity, and understanding of AI possibilities.) Company & Culture Questions:
"Based on your understanding of Brightspeed's mission, how would you approach designing a seamless onboarding experience for new customers adopting our fiber internet services?" (Connect your design thinking to the company's core business and customer journey.)
"How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment and elevate the design craft of your colleagues?" (Highlight your mentorship, critique, and knowledge-sharing experiences.)
"How do you ensure your design decisions are data-informed and aligned with business objectives?" (Discuss your experience with analytics, user research, and stakeholder communication.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your approach (emphasizing your strategic thinking and AI use), the solutions, and the impact.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the success of your designs.
Show, Don't Just Tell: Use clear visuals, interactive prototypes, and well-organized Figma examples to illustrate your design solutions and process.
Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your specific contributions, design rationale, and challenges encountered. Practice articulating your thought process concisely.
Highlight AI Use: Clearly demarcate and explain the role of AI in your projects. Be prepared to discuss its benefits, limitations, and your learning curve.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare specific examples of AI usage in their design work, as this is a key differentiator for the role. Practicing the articulation of design strategy and impact, especially in the context of Brightspeed's business, will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided application link on SmartRecruiters.
Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that showcase end-to-end ownership, strategic thinking, exceptional UI craft, and critically, your experience with AI-assisted design tools. Ensure clear documentation of your process and impact.
Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX/UI Design," "Figma," "AI-assisted design," "prototyping," "user research," and "e-commerce." Quantify achievements where possible.
Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on your role, the problem, your strategic approach (including AI integration), key decisions, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your design rationale confidently.
Research Brightspeed: Understand the company's mission, values, and current focus on fiber optic expansion. Consider how your design skills can contribute to their goals of improving customer experience and accelerating broadband upgrades.

⚠️ 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.

Senior Product Designer