Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Mirage

Location: New York, NY, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Art & Design / Software / Creative & Media

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

Experience Level: 6+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic vision and long-term roadmap for AI-native video creation products, influencing high-level business and product decisions.

• Lead complex, cross-functional product initiatives from ideation through launch, ensuring seamless execution across multiple workstreams.

• Translate ambiguous user and business problems into clear design frameworks, user journeys, and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Establish and scale a robust design system to maintain product cohesion, quality, and efficiency across all user interfaces.

• Provide design leadership and mentorship, fostering a culture of thoughtful critique, feedback, and user-centric decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is deeply embedded in product strategy and execution, requiring a Senior Product Designer to not only craft user experiences but also influence the core direction of an AI-native video platform. The emphasis on "AI-native" and "generative media" suggests a need for designers comfortable with rapidly evolving technologies and complex problem spaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with executive leadership and product management to define and refine product vision, strategy, and the long-term roadmap.

• Own the end-to-end design process for complex, ambiguous product challenges, from initial problem framing to final polished experiences.

• Develop comprehensive user journeys, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes that clearly articulate design solutions and interaction paradigms.

• Conduct and synthesize qualitative and quantitative user research to uncover insights, identify new opportunities, and validate design decisions.

• Establish, scale, and evolve a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and high craft across the product suite.

• Provide design leadership through regular critiques, constructive feedback, and guidance to junior designers and cross-functional teams.

• Champion user-centricity throughout the product lifecycle, balancing user needs with technical feasibility and business objectives.

• Proactively identify areas for product improvement, workflow optimization, and internal process enhancements.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, AI capabilities, and industry best practices to inform product innovation.

• Articulate clear design rationale, grounded in user insights, data, and business goals, to influence stakeholders across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic influence, hands-on design execution, and leadership. The emphasis on "translating ambiguous business and user problems" and "establishing, scaling, and evolving a robust design system" points to a need for strong analytical, strategic, and systems-thinking skills in addition to core design craft.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 6+ years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant focus on consumer-facing digital products (mobile and/or desktop). Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end design initiatives from strategy to launch, with a measurable impact on product success.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Proven ability to design intuitive, engaging, and effective user experiences for complex digital products.

• Design Systems: Expertise in building, scaling, and maintaining robust design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• Prototyping: High proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Principle) for creating interactive mockups and user flows.

• User Research: Experience driving and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative research to inform design strategy and validate solutions.

• Interaction Design: Deep understanding of interaction design principles and the ability to create seamless user flows and engaging micro-interactions.

• Strategic Problem Framing: Ability to identify, define, and articulate complex user and business problems clearly and concisely.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and executive stakeholders.

• Product Strategy: Ability to contribute to and influence product vision, strategy, and long-term roadmapping.

• User Journeys: Skill in mapping out comprehensive user journeys to understand user needs and touchpoints.

• Design Leadership: Experience providing mentorship, design critiques, and guidance to other designers.

• Data-Driven Design: Ability to leverage data and user insights to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Systems Thinking: Capacity to understand and design for complex interconnected systems and their implications.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-native products or generative media platforms.

• Familiarity with video editing workflows or creative production processes.

• Experience in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment.

• Strong visual design and UI skills.

• Experience with Agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "6+ years" requirement and emphasis on "complex, consumer-facing digital products" indicate a need for seasoned designers. The specific mention of "strategic problem framing," "product strategy," and "design leadership" points to a role that requires more than just execution; it demands strategic thinking and influencing capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design ownership for complex, consumer-facing digital products (mobile and/or desktop).

• Demonstrations of strategic problem framing, clearly outlining the problem space, user needs, and business objectives.

• Examples of high-quality design execution, including wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and polished UI designs.

• Case studies that highlight measurable impact, detailing how your design decisions led to positive outcomes for users and the business.

• Evidence of experience building or scaling design systems, with examples of components, guidelines, and their application.

• Projects that illustrate your ability to conduct and leverage user research to inform design strategy. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your process for translating ambiguous business and user problems into actionable design frameworks and user journeys.

• Provide examples of how you have established, scaled, or evolved design systems to ensure cohesion and efficiency.

• Demonstrate your approach to driving and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative research to inform product direction.

• Illustrate how you champion user-centric decision-making throughout the product lifecycle, balancing various constraints.

• Include examples of how you proactively identify opportunities for product improvement and workflow optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially in an AI-focused company, the portfolio should emphasize strategic thinking, end-to-end ownership, and impact. A strong portfolio will demonstrate not just visual design skills but also the ability to frame problems, conduct research, iterate on solutions, and articulate the "why" behind design decisions. The inclusion of design system work is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the provided range of $175,000 - $275,000 USD per year for a Senior Product Designer in New York City, this is competitive for a high-impact role at a well-funded startup in the tech industry. This range reflects the seniority, required experience, and the demanding nature of the role in a high cost-of-living area.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.

• 401K retirement savings plan with a generous employer match to support long-term financial planning.

• Commuter Benefits program to assist with transportation costs to the office.

• Catered lunch provided multiple days per week, fostering team connection and convenience.

• Dinner stipend available for employees working late, ensuring well-being and productivity.

• Grubhub subscription for flexible meal options.

• Health & Wellness Perks, likely covering fitness, mental health, or other well-being initiatives.

• Multiple team offsites per year and monthly team events to build camaraderie and strengthen team bonds.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy to encourage work-life balance and employee well-being.

Working Hours: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied for full-time roles, the mention of a "dinner stipend every night if you're working late" suggests an environment that may require extended hours at times, common in fast-paced startups. However, the generous PTO and focus on wellness aim to balance this.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided and is competitive for the role and location. The benefits list is comprehensive, with specific mentions of catered meals and a dinner stipend that are attractive perks, especially for an on-site role in a major city. The inclusion of "401K with employer match" and "commuter benefits" are standard but valuable.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI-native video creation and generative media. Mirage is innovating in a rapidly evolving space that intersects artificial intelligence, creative tools, and media production.

Company Size: Mirage is described as an early member team, and its investor list includes major venture capital firms, suggesting it is a well-funded, rapidly growing startup. The size is likely between 50-200 employees, with aspirations for significant scaling.

Founded: The company's press mentions and funding rounds suggest it was founded in recent years (likely post-2020, given the TechCrunch article date). This implies a dynamic, agile, and potentially less hierarchical structure.

Team Structure:

• The product and design teams are likely lean and highly collaborative, working directly with executive leadership.

• The Senior Product Designer will report into a Head of Product or Design Lead, and will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with frequent interaction between design, product, engineering, and research. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, with an emphasis on user research and analytics to inform product direction.

• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed to quickly build, test, and deploy new features.

• A strong focus on design systems and reusable components to maintain velocity and consistency in a fast-growing product.

• Embracing rapid iteration and learning from experimentation is crucial given the nature of AI development.

Company Website: https://mirage.app/homepage

📝 Enhancement Note: Mirage appears to be a high-growth, venture-backed startup at the forefront of AI in creative media. This suggests a culture that values innovation, speed, user-centricity, and strong technical and design talent. The "early member of our team" phrasing implies a significant opportunity for impact and shaping the company's future.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor others. This level typically involves owning significant product areas, influencing strategy, and contributing to the design team's growth.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or potentially a VP of Product. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams, acting as a key design voice within product development squads.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on Mirage's core product offering – an AI-native video platform. By shaping user experiences and interaction paradigms, this designer will influence user adoption, engagement, and retention, directly contributing to the company's mission of democratizing video creation and improving professional workflows. Their work will be critical in turning complex AI capabilities into intuitive and delightful user experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role as the team expands, taking on more direct people management and strategic design leadership responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven product design, generative media, and complex interaction models, becoming a recognized expert in a cutting-edge field.

• Strategic Influence: Further shape product vision, strategy, and roadmap for a high-growth, venture-backed startup, gaining experience in high-level decision-making.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and mentoring skills by guiding junior designers and influencing cross-functional teams.

• Impact at Scale: Contribute to a product used by potentially millions of creators, seeing the direct impact of design work on a large user base.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior role in an early-stage, well-funded startup, the growth potential is substantial. The emphasis on shaping the product and design function offers a unique opportunity for career advancement beyond typical individual contributor paths, potentially leading to leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Mirage requires all roles to be in-person at their NYC HQ. This suggests a collaborative, in-office environment focused on fostering direct interaction, spontaneous collaboration, and a strong team culture.

Office Location(s): Union Square, New York City. This is a well-connected and vibrant area, offering excellent access to public transportation and a variety of amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement points to a workspace designed for high levels of interaction, brainstorming, and team-based problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to modern design and prototyping tools (as listed in requirements), likely high-performance workstations, and robust collaboration software.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for face-to-face collaboration with product managers, engineers, researchers, and executive leadership, fostering a cohesive and efficient workflow.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the startup environment and on-site expectation may lead to dynamic scheduling. The company provides benefits like catered lunches and dinner stipends, which support employees working extended hours when necessary. The overall emphasis is on delivering high impact in a collaborative, in-person setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit "in-person at our NYC HQ" policy is a key differentiator. This indicates a preference for a highly collaborative, synchronous work environment, common in early-stage startups where rapid iteration and close team alignment are paramount.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio to assess fit for the Senior Product Designer role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Expect to present your portfolio, walking through key case studies and demonstrating your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and design process. You may also be given a design challenge to assess your approach to a specific problem relevant to Mirage's product.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with a founder or senior executive to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit within the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, your role, your process, and the measurable impact of your work. Use data and user insights to support your claims.

• Strategic Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives that showcase your ability to think strategically, frame problems, and drive solutions from concept to launch.

• Design System Expertise: If applicable, dedicate a section or case study to your experience with design systems, highlighting their impact on efficiency and consistency.

• AI/Generative Media Relevance: If you have experience in AI, generative media, or video editing tools, highlight these projects prominently.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly communicates your design thinking and execution.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with Mirage's AI-native video platform, its target users, and its unique value proposition.

• Think Strategically: For any design challenge, focus on understanding the core problem, identifying user needs, and proposing a strategic solution that aligns with Mirage's goals.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to explain your thought process, the trade-offs you considered, and why you made specific design decisions.

• Consider Technical Constraints: Demonstrate an awareness of potential technical limitations and how they might influence design choices, especially with AI technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, emphasizing strategic thinking, hands-on design capabilities, and cultural fit. A strong portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end ownership and measurable impact is crucial, as is the ability to articulate design decisions within the context of AI and generative media.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Deep proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools is a requirement. This typically includes:

  • Figma: Widely used for collaborative UI design, prototyping, and design system management.
  • Sketch: Another popular vector design tool for macOS.
  • Adobe XD: Part of the Adobe Creative Suite, offering design and prototyping capabilities.
  • Principle/After Effects: For more advanced animation and micro-interaction prototyping.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Slack, Jira, Asana, or Trello for communication and task management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior, track feature adoption, and measure impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards, potentially using tools like Tableau or Looker (though direct experience may not be required, understanding the output is key).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct "operations" role, understanding how product design impacts user acquisition and retention funnels will involve some awareness of CRM and marketing automation principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "modern design and prototyping tools" strongly suggests Figma as a primary tool, given its industry prevalence. Familiarity with user research and product analytics platforms is also crucial for a data-driven design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, driving design decisions based on user insights and empathy.

• Innovation & Experimentation: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, and fostering a culture of experimentation to push creative boundaries.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of user delight.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to share ideas, feedback, and challenges across teams.

• Impact & Ownership: A drive to make a tangible impact on the product and business, taking ownership of projects and seeing them through to successful completion.

• Agility & Adaptability: Thriving in a fast-paced environment, adapting quickly to change, and embracing ambiguity.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with product managers and engineers from the outset of a project.

• Design Critique Culture: Regular, constructive feedback sessions are essential for elevating design quality and fostering learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and insights across the team and broader organization.

• Iterative Design Process: Embracing feedback and data to continuously refine and improve designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Mirage appears to be driven by innovation, user focus, and a high degree of collaboration, characteristic of successful tech startups, especially those in cutting-edge fields like AI. The emphasis on "AI-native" and "generative media" suggests a forward-thinking and experimental approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Staying ahead of the curve with the fast-paced advancements in AI and generative media requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Defining New Interaction Paradigms: Creating intuitive interfaces for complex AI capabilities is a frontier challenge, requiring innovative thinking.

• Balancing Ambiguity with Execution: Navigating unclear product requirements and technical possibilities while delivering polished, user-ready experiences.

• Scaling Design Systems: Growing a design system to support a rapidly expanding product suite and team requires robust planning and execution.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across diverse teams (product, engineering, research, executive).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/ML: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies and their application in creative tools.

• Advanced Interaction Design: Develop expertise in designing for novel interfaces and generative capabilities.

• Strategic Product Leadership: Grow into a role with significant influence over product strategy and roadmap.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Develop leadership skills by guiding junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design function.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending relevant conferences or participating in industry discussions on AI and creative technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working at the forefront of AI and in a startup environment. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a chance to shape a product category and advance rapidly in one's career.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame an ambiguous problem. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your structured thinking, research methods, and problem definition.)

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business objectives when designing a product?" (Highlight your ability to make trade-offs and articulate rationale.)

• "Walk us through your process for developing or evolving a design system. What were the key challenges and successes?" (Emphasize your systems thinking and scalability approach.)

• "How do you influence product strategy and roadmap decisions as a designer?" (Showcase your strategic thinking and ability to communicate vision.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Mirage's mission and the future of AI in video creation?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of the company's domain.)

• "How do you approach mentorship and providing design feedback to peers or junior designers?" (Highlight your leadership and collaborative skills.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment, especially concerning collaboration and team dynamics." (Align your answer with the on-site, collaborative culture.)

• "How do you stay current with emerging design trends and AI technologies?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly state the problem and your objective for each case study.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, flows) to illustrate your design process and solutions.

• Explain Your Role and Process: Detail your specific contributions, the methodologies you used (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), and the rationale behind your decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics and data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, engagement, task completion).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, challenges, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of design principles within the context of AI and product development. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring clear storytelling and evidence of impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership, strategic problem framing, and measurable impact, especially if you have experience with consumer-facing digital products, design systems, or AI-related projects.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of experience, focusing on accomplishments and responsibilities that align with the job description's requirements for product strategy, design leadership, and complex initiative ownership.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Prepare to present your portfolio case studies with a focus on impact and rationale, and be ready to discuss your experience with AI and generative media.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Mirage, its product (Captions by Mirage), its AI capabilities, and its recent press coverage to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the company's mission and market position.

⚠️ 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.