Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Kaizen Labs

Location: New York, New York, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-05-05

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4-6 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the user experience for government staff and the public, focusing on AI-native software solutions.

• You will drive design initiatives end-to-end, from customer research and requirement documentation to high-fidelity prototyping and final product delivery.

• Collaboration is key, working closely with engineering, implementation, business development, and leadership teams to define product strategy, create sales enablement assets, and develop marketing materials.

• This is a high-agency, multifaceted role within a rapidly growing GovTech startup, offering significant impact on product direction and brand evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Product Designer" title, coupled with the responsibilities involving product strategy, customer interaction, and sales enablement, suggests a role that blends traditional product design with elements of product management and client-facing consulting. The emphasis on AI tooling and GovTech indicates a need for adaptability and a forward-thinking design approach.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire design lifecycle for new features and products, from initial user research and discovery sessions with government agencies and residents to defining product requirements.

• Develop and iterate on high-fidelity user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes using Figma to visualize complex government service interactions.

• Collaborate closely with engineers throughout the development process, ensuring design integrity and providing clear specifications for implementation.

• Partner with the implementation team to support critical customer deployments, offering hands-on project management, product strategy guidance, and direct customer communication.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of "Trailmix," Kaizen Labs' internal design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all products.

• Support the business development team by creating robust prototypes for Request for Proposals (RFPs) and compelling product demonstrations.

• Assist the leadership team in creating marketing collateral, including social media assets, one-pagers for conferences, and other branded materials to enhance Kaizen Labs' brand presence.

• Integrate and leverage AI tooling (e.g., ChatGPT, Figma Make) to enhance design workflows, generate content, and explore innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "Partner with the implementation team on critical customer deployments" indicates a hands-on, client-facing aspect to this design role, requiring strong communication and project management skills beyond typical design tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is highly recommended for understanding complex technical and user-centric challenges.

Experience: 4-6 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong preference for experience within high-growth startup environments or reputable design agencies.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in end-to-end product design, encompassing user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Demonstrated expertise in Figma for both detailed design mockups and interactive prototyping.

• Experience designing administrative tooling and complex SaaS products for both desktop and mobile interfaces.

• A strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Experience in client services, with a genuine excitement for engaging directly with customers to understand their needs and challenges.

• Familiarity with integrating AI tooling (e.g., ChatGPT, Figma Make, Lovable) into design workflows to enhance efficiency and innovation.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience contributing to or managing internal design systems.

• Familiarity with AI coding tools like Cursor, enabling contributions to the codebase.

• Experience in the GovTech sector or designing for public sector services.

• Understanding of scalability challenges in SaaS product design.

• Graphic design skills for creating marketing assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Workflows powered with AI tooling (ChatGPT, Figma Make, Lovable, etc.)" and "Experience with AI coding tools like Cursor" indicates a strong emphasis on leveraging AI in the design process, which is a critical differentiator for candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design projects that demonstrate your ability to drive impact from research to launch.

• Include detailed case studies of projects involving administrative tooling or complex SaaS applications.

• Present examples of high-fidelity interactive prototypes created in Figma, illustrating user flows and problem-solving.

• Highlight contributions to design systems or style guides, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly articulate the design process followed, including discovery, ideation, iteration, and collaboration with engineering.

• Document how user feedback and data were incorporated to refine designs and improve user experience.

• Illustrate the use of AI tooling or innovative approaches to streamline design processes or enhance outcomes.

• Demonstrate how designs were translated into production-ready assets, showing collaboration with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's scope, the portfolio should emphasize projects that showcase not just visual design but also strategic thinking, user research capabilities, and the ability to work with complex systems and potentially AI-augmented tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance: Gold and Platinum PPO plans through Oxford/United, with 85% premium coverage on Platinum and a $0 employee premium option.

• Dental Insurance: Guardian PPO plan, with 99% employee premium coverage.

• Vision Insurance: Beam plan, with 99% employee premium coverage.

• Dependent Coverage: 50% premium coverage for dependents on dental and vision plans.

• Life Insurance: $100,000 in fully paid coverage.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): For healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Access through Guideline.

• Paid Parental Leave: 16 weeks fully paid for birthing parents; 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) & Company Holidays: Including all federal holidays and a company-wide winter break.

• Home Office/Desk Setup Stipend: Up to $750 one-time.

• Commuter Benefit: $50 per month.

• Wellness or Productivity Stipend: $100 per month for personal use.

• Professional Development Budget: $500 per year for learning and growth.

• Recreation Budget: $250 per year.

• Company-Provided Laptop: For work use.

• Expensed Lunch: While working in the New York City office.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility expected given the startup environment and potential for client-facing responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is exceptionally comprehensive, particularly the health insurance coverage, parental leave, and a variety of stipends for personal and professional development, indicating a strong commitment to employee well-being and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government Technology (GovTech), focused on modernizing public services through AI-native software.

Company Size: A rapidly growing startup, founded in 2022, having raised $35 million from prominent VCs. While specific employee count isn't provided, the funding and market reach (40 million residents, 50+ agencies) suggest a team of 50-150 employees, operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Founded: 2022. Kaizen Labs was established with a clear mission to rebuild trust in government services by delivering user-friendly, modern technology, addressing decades of public sector tech failures.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and integrated within product development squads, fostering close collaboration with engineers and product managers.

• As a Senior Product Designer, you'll interact extensively with cross-functional teams including engineering, product management, implementation specialists, business development, and leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research and product analytics to inform design and product strategy.

• Agile development methodologies, emphasizing iterative design and rapid prototyping.

• A strong focus on user empathy and understanding the unique needs of both government staff and the public.

• Innovative use of AI and modern technology to build efficient and user-friendly government services.

Company Website: https://www.kaizenlabs.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "strengthen trust in American public services" and its focus on "AI-native software" positions it as an innovative player in the GovTech space. The culture is likely to be mission-driven, fast-paced, and focused on impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor with significant autonomy and influence. It requires not only strong design craft but also strategic thinking and the ability to operate across different business functions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or potentially a co-founder, depending on the current organizational structure. They will work closely with product managers and engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, adoption, and perceived trustworthiness of government services powered by Kaizen Labs' software. Their work will influence user satisfaction, operational efficiency for government agencies, and the company's ability to win new contracts and expand its market reach.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role as the company scales, mentoring junior designers and shaping the design team's strategy.

• Product Strategy: Deepen involvement in product roadmap definition, contributing strategic insights based on user research and market trends.

• Specialization: Develop expertise in GovTech, AI-driven design, or specific product areas, becoming a subject matter expert within the company.

• Cross-Functional Mastery: Gain extensive experience in areas like client services, sales enablement, and marketing through the diverse responsibilities of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role, touching on sales enablement, implementation, and marketing, offers a unique opportunity for a designer to broaden their skill set beyond traditional product design, potentially preparing them for more product-management-oriented leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid role based out of Kaizen Labs' New York City headquarters. This implies a modern office space designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): New York City HQ. Candidates are expected to commute to the office at least three times a week (Tuesdays - Thursdays).

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment where designers work closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

• Access to necessary tools and technology, including company-provided laptops and potentially advanced workstations.

• The office provides opportunities for in-person brainstorming, design critiques, and team-building activities.

• The hybrid model allows for focused individual work at home while leveraging the office for high-impact collaborative sessions.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the startup environment and client-facing responsibilities may necessitate flexibility. The compensation and benefits package, including unlimited PTO and company holidays, suggests a focus on work-life balance where possible, but also acknowledges the demands of a growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to be in the NYC office three days a week (Tuesdays-Thursdays) indicates a deliberate effort to foster in-person collaboration and team cohesion, particularly for critical design and strategy sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company mission.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deep dive into your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, and problem-solving approach. This may include a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual whiteboarding session focused on a specific design problem relevant to GovTech.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, and potentially members of the implementation or business development teams to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of the broader product lifecycle.

• Leadership Interview: A final conversation with a founder or senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and overall fit with Kaizen Labs' vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select 3-4 strong case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, highlighting your role and impact.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the challenges faced, solutions implemented, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Be prepared to discuss your design decisions, trade-offs made, and how you incorporated user feedback and data.

• Emphasize projects involving SaaS, administrative tooling, or complex workflows. If possible, highlight any experience with AI tooling or GovTech.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with the challenges of designing for government services (e.g., accessibility, diverse user groups, complex regulations).

• Practice articulating your design process clearly and concisely, focusing on user-centricity and business impact.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach research, ideation, and iteration for a hypothetical government service.

• Consider how AI tools could be integrated into your proposed solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's broad responsibilities, expect interviewers to probe deeply into your ability to manage multiple facets of design, from user research and UI/UX to sales enablement and client interaction.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, and prototyping. Proficiency is essential.

• AI Tooling: Experience with tools like ChatGPT, Figma Make, and Lovable for workflow enhancement, content generation, and potentially design exploration.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems for scalable and consistent product design.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for designers, familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) used by product managers would be beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of CRM principles and how design impacts user adoption within such systems.

• Awareness of automation tools and how design can facilitate automated workflows.

• Experience with tools like Cursor for potential code contributions is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI tooling" and "AI coding tools" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate practical application of these technologies in their design process will have a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to improving public services and building trust through technology.

• User-Centricity: Deep empathy for both government staff and the residents they serve, prioritizing their needs and experiences.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to create modern, efficient, and effective solutions.

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

• Excellence: A drive to build high-quality, beautifully designed software that is a pleasure to use, even in the government sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers working side-by-side with engineers and product managers.

• Open communication and feedback loops are encouraged to ensure design quality and alignment with business objectives.

• A cross-functional approach where designers engage with sales, implementation, and marketing teams to support broader company goals.

• Emphasis on shared ownership and collective problem-solving to tackle complex challenges in the GovTech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "strengthen trust in American public services" is a core value that likely permeates all aspects of its culture, influencing design decisions and team interactions towards building reliable and user-friendly solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Bureaucracy: Understanding and designing for the unique constraints, regulations, and user bases within public sector agencies.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Integrating cutting-edge AI technology while ensuring the software remains accessible and intuitive for a wide range of users, including those with limited technical expertise.

• Cross-Functional Demands: Effectively managing diverse responsibilities across product design, implementation support, sales enablement, and marketing in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Design System Maturity: Contributing to and potentially scaling an internal design system ("Trailmix") to meet the growing needs of the platform.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• GovTech Expertise: Deepen understanding of the public sector landscape, policy, and user needs, becoming an expert in this niche.

• AI Integration: Gain hands-on experience applying AI tools and concepts directly within the design and development lifecycle.

• Product Strategy & Business Acumen: Develop a broader understanding of product roadmap planning, sales cycles, and customer implementation through direct involvement.

• Leadership Mentorship: Potential to grow into leadership roles, mentored by experienced founders and investors, shaping the future of design at Kaizen Labs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The opportunity to work with AI tools and contribute to a growing design system presents significant learning and development potential, aligning with current industry trends and future career growth in product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led product design for a complex SaaS product. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on end-to-end process, user research, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a government service that needs to be accessible to users with varying levels of technical proficiency?" (Highlight user research, accessibility considerations, and iterative design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kaizen Labs' mission to improve government technology?" (Show genuine interest in the GovTech space and the company's impact.)

• "How do you see your role as a Senior Product Designer contributing to our hybrid work environment and cross-functional collaboration?" (Discuss your collaboration style and adaptability.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation around 3-4 compelling case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, process, solutions, and results.

• For each project, be prepared to discuss the specific design decisions, trade-offs, and how you leveraged user feedback and data.

• Highlight any experience with administrative tooling, SaaS, AI integration, or custom workflows.

• Be ready to demonstrate your Figma skills and discuss your approach to building and using design systems.

• Practice articulating your impact using metrics where possible, demonstrating how your designs contributed to business or user goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interviewers to probe into your ability to not only design but also to influence product strategy, collaborate across departments, and leverage emerging technologies like AI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your 4-6 years of product design experience, highlighting accomplishments in SaaS, administrative tooling, and any relevant AI tool usage. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 strong case studies showcasing your end-to-end design process, Figma proficiency, and problem-solving skills. Ensure clear articulation of your role and impact.

• Prepare for Design Discussions: Be ready to walk through your portfolio projects, discuss your design rationale, and articulate your approach to user research, prototyping, and collaboration with engineering.

• Research Kaizen Labs: Understand their mission, their work in GovTech, and their focus on AI-native software. Prepare thoughtful questions about their product roadmap, design challenges, and company culture.

⚠️ 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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