Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Orion Sleep

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: 2026-08-03

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design strategy for Orion's mobile application and associated web features, driving user experience excellence.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and high-quality user interfaces across all product touchpoints.

• Leverage customer insights and personal design philosophy to craft an intuitive and engaging mobile app experience, contributing to overall product success.

• Champion design quality and establish best practices within a fast-paced, AI-centric product development environment.

• Utilize advanced AI design tools, including Figma Make and Claude Design, to enhance design workflows and product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for the "first product designer" at Orion, indicating significant ownership and the opportunity to build foundational design processes and systems from the ground up. The emphasis on AI tools and "agentic AI" suggests a forward-thinking approach where design processes are deeply integrated with AI capabilities, requiring candidates to be adaptable and innovative in their tool usage.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect and evolve the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) for the Orion mobile app and web platforms, ensuring a seamless and personalized sleep experience.

• Design and maintain a scalable design system, including component libraries, style guides, and documentation, to foster design consistency and accelerate development cycles.

• Conduct user research, analyze customer feedback, and translate insights into actionable design solutions that address user needs and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, software engineers, and AI specialists to define product roadmaps, iterate on designs, and ensure successful implementation.

• Set and uphold a high standard for visual design, interaction design, and overall product aesthetics, influencing the brand's design language.

• Proactively explore and integrate emerging AI design tools and methodologies to optimize the design process and explore novel user interactions.

• Lead design critiques and present design solutions to stakeholders, effectively articulating design rationale and potential impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: As the first product designer, the responsibilities extend beyond typical design tasks to include strategic contributions to product vision and establishing the design function's operational framework. The expectation to "balance customer insights and strong personal opinions" highlights the need for a designer who is both data-informed and possesses a clear, confident design perspective.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a strong focus on mobile application design and UI/UX. Demonstrated experience in building and scaling design systems is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in UI/UX design principles and methodologies.

• Extensive experience with design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.

• Proficiency in leveraging AI-powered design tools, such as Figma Make and Claude Design, for enhanced design workflows.

• Strong ability to build, maintain, and govern design systems.

• Excellent understanding of user-centered design principles and the ability to translate customer insights into tangible design solutions.

• Demonstrated experience in designing for mobile applications (iOS and/or Android).

• Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and drive projects to completion in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the health-tech or consumer electronics industry.

• Familiarity with sleep science and its application in product design.

• Experience working in a "zero-bureaucracy, move-fast" culture.

• Knowledge of AI and machine learning concepts as they apply to product experiences.

• Experience in a startup environment with a focus on rapid iteration and growth.

• Ability to articulate and advocate for design decisions with strong conviction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to use specific AI tools like "Figma Make and Claude Design" is a key differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their comfort and proficiency with these or similar AI-assisted design platforms. The "5-10 years" experience level is inferred from the "Senior" title and the expectation of building foundational design systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of design projects that showcase end-to-end product design capabilities, emphasizing mobile app and web feature design.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the design process, problem-solving approach, and impact of your design decisions.

• Examples of design systems you have built or significantly contributed to, including component libraries, style guides, and implementation examples.

• Projects that highlight your ability to integrate customer insights and data into the design process.

• Visual demonstrations of your proficiency with Figma and other relevant design and prototyping tools.

• Evidence of experience with AI design tools and how they were leveraged to enhance design outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from initial concept and user research to final implementation and iteration.

• Demonstrate how you approach the creation and maintenance of design systems, including documentation standards and collaboration protocols.

• Showcase methods for gathering, analyzing, and acting upon customer feedback and user data.

• Illustrate how you collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure design feasibility and successful product launches.

• Provide examples of how you have set and maintained high standards for design quality within a team or project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is the first product designer role, the portfolio should not only showcase past work but also provide a vision for how the candidate would establish and evolve Orion's design practice. Emphasis should be placed on foundational elements like design systems and process frameworks.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in San Francisco, California, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $160,000 and $220,000 annually. This estimate considers the high cost of living in San Francisco, the seniority of the role, and industry benchmarks for design talent in the tech sector. The specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, and the company's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package, reflecting the senior nature of the role and expertise required.

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage.

• Full benefits package, likely including dental, vision, retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), paid time off, and potential equity options.

• Opportunity to be the foundational product designer in a fast-growing, AI-focused health-tech company.

Working Hours: The role is designated as FULL_TIME, implying a standard 40-hour work week. However, given the "zero-bureaucracy move-fast culture," there may be an expectation of flexibility and dedication to project timelines, with potential for occasional extended hours during critical development phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general industry data for Senior Product Designers in San Francisco, as specific details were not provided. The "competitive compensation, healthcare, and full benefits available" mentioned in the original description are incorporated here.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health-Tech / Consumer Products (Smart Home Devices, Sleep Technology)

Company Size: The description implies a startup environment, likely early-stage with a focused founding team and potentially a small, agile group of early hires. The mention of "repeat founders with multiple 9 and 10-figure exits" suggests a well-funded and experienced leadership team, but the overall employee count is likely small and growing.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the context of repeat founders with significant exits suggests a relatively new venture focused on bringing innovative technology to market.

Team Structure:

• The company is led by experienced founders with a strong track record in consumer products and health-tech.

• The initial team likely comprises individuals with deep expertise in technical fields (software engineering, AI), product development, operations, manufacturing, and sleep science.

• As the "first product designer," this role will be pivotal in establishing the design function and will likely work very closely with product management and engineering leadership.

• Collaboration is expected to be direct and cross-functional, with an emphasis on shared ownership and rapid decision-making. Methodology:

• AI-Centric Development: A core methodology is the heavy reliance on AI tools, particularly "agentic AI tools" for software engineering, and advanced AI design tools for product design. This suggests a culture of innovation and efficiency through automation.

• Zero-Bureaucracy, Move-Fast: The company operates with minimal hierarchy and process overhead, encouraging rapid iteration, experimentation, and swift decision-making.

• Ownership & Empowerment: Team members are hired for their expertise and are empowered to take complete ownership of their domains, fostering a culture of accountability and autonomy.

• Data-Informed Design: While emphasizing "strong personal opinions," the process also values "customer insights," indicating a blend of intuition and data-driven decision-making.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as highly autonomous and fast-paced, with a significant reliance on AI. This suggests that candidates who thrive in environments with minimal structure and a high degree of personal responsibility will be a good fit. The "zero-bureaucracy" aspect means that processes are likely to be established by the team members themselves.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a "Senior" level, implying a significant degree of autonomy, expertise, and the capacity to influence product direction. As the first product designer, the individual will have the unique opportunity to define and build the entire design function, setting the stage for future design hires and processes. This is a high-impact role with the potential to shape the core user experience of a novel product.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, as the first product designer, this role will likely report directly to a founder or Head of Product/Engineering. The emphasis on "complete ownership" suggests a flat reporting structure where direct communication with leadership is common.

Operations Impact: The product designer's impact will be direct and substantial. By shaping the user experience of the Orion smart mattress cover and its accompanying app, this role will directly influence customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall product satisfaction. The success of the "personalized smart mattress cover" hinges on an intuitive, effective, and delightful user interface and experience, making the designer's contribution critical to the company's success in the health-tech and consumer product markets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Leadership: Opportunity to build and lead the product design function from its inception, establishing design principles, processes, and hiring future design talent.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in defining the product roadmap and user experience strategy for a cutting-edge AI-powered sleep technology.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design tools, health-tech product development, and advanced UX research methodologies.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Gain invaluable experience in a high-growth startup environment led by successful serial entrepreneurs.

• Product Ownership: High degree of autonomy and ownership over significant product areas, leading to substantial career development and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the "first product designer" status are critical indicators of growth potential. This role offers not just design execution but also the chance to build a design practice, which is a significant career advancement opportunity beyond typical senior individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "on-site" in San Francisco, indicating a physical office presence is required. Given the startup nature and "zero-bureaucracy" culture, the office environment is likely to be dynamic, collaborative, and potentially lean, designed to foster quick communication and teamwork.

Office Location(s): The office is located in San Francisco, California. Specific details about the office amenities or exact location within San Francisco are not provided but can be assumed to be in a prime tech hub area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: Expect a workspace designed for frequent, informal interactions with product managers, engineers, and founders. The emphasis on "move-fast" suggests an environment where collaboration is key to rapid progress.

• Technology-Rich: As a company heavily invested in AI and advanced technology, the workspace will likely be equipped with modern technology and tools necessary for cutting-edge product development.

• Innovation-Focused: The environment will likely encourage creative problem-solving and experimentation, aligning with the company's mission to innovate in sleep technology.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, implying a standard 40-hour work week. However, the "move-fast" culture suggests that flexibility and commitment to project deadlines are valued, potentially leading to periods of more intense work. The on-site requirement means predictable work hours will be spent at the company's San Francisco office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in San Francisco is a key factor. Candidates must be able to commute to and work from the San Francisco office regularly. The description of the culture suggests a work environment that is more about impact and speed than rigid schedules.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, design skills, and alignment with the company's AI-centric approach.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session with hiring managers or team leads to walk through your portfolio. Expect to discuss your design process, problem-solving strategies, and the impact of your past work, with a particular focus on mobile app design and design system development.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a case study related to a real-world problem Orion might face. This will assess your practical design skills, ability to work with constraints, and how you leverage customer insights and AI tools.

• Cultural Fit & Collaboration: Interviews to assess your fit within Orion's "zero-bureaucracy, move-fast" culture, your ability to take ownership, and your collaboration style with cross-functional teams.

• Founder/Leadership Interview: A final discussion with one of the founders to gauge strategic thinking, vision, and long-term fit within the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase AI Integration: Clearly highlight projects where you've utilized AI tools (like Figma Make, Claude Design) to enhance your design process or outcomes. Explain how and why you used them.

• Design System Expertise: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to your experience with design systems. Show examples of components, guidelines, and how you’ve ensured adoption and consistency.

• Problem-Solution Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your thought process, the design solutions you developed, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved user engagement, conversion rates, efficiency gains).

• Mobile-First Focus: Given the emphasis on the mobile app, ensure your portfolio prominently features strong examples of mobile UI/UX design.

• Express Strong Opinions: Be prepared to defend your design choices with clear rationale, demonstrating your "strong personal opinions" balanced with data.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Orion's product and the health-tech/sleep-tech market.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale concisely.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach building a design system from scratch or scaling an existing one.

• Prepare to discuss how you would balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints, especially in an AI-driven context.

• Think about how you would integrate AI tools into a design challenge scenario.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous and focused on practical application, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is critical, especially for demonstrating experience with design systems and AI tools.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Proficiency is essential, including advanced features like Figma Make for AI-assisted design.

• Claude Design: A specific AI tool for design, indicating a focus on generative design, ideation, or other AI-driven design assistance.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools for creating interactive mockups and user flows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar platforms for understanding user behavior, tracking key metrics, and informing design decisions.

• User Feedback Tools: Familiarity with tools for collecting and analyzing qualitative user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets, user interview platforms).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct requirement for a Product Designer, understanding how design impacts CRM data (e.g., lead generation through app features) and automated user journeys can be beneficial. Familiarity with how design integrates with marketing automation platforms or customer engagement tools could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Figma Make and Claude Design" is a critical technology requirement. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience and approach to using these specific AI-powered design tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & AI Integration: A strong emphasis on leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to drive product development and design innovation. This means embracing new tools and methodologies.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Team members are empowered to take full responsibility for their areas of expertise, fostering a proactive and results-oriented mindset.

• Speed & Agility: A "move-fast" culture that prioritizes rapid iteration, experimentation, and efficient execution over lengthy processes.

• Strong Opinions, Data-Informed: A culture that encourages passionate advocacy for design ideas, grounded in customer insights and data analysis.

• Zero Bureaucracy: A commitment to minimal hierarchy and process, enabling quick decision-making and direct communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Synergy: Close collaboration with engineering, product management, and AI specialists is fundamental. Designers are expected to be integrated team members, not isolated contributors.

• Direct Communication: Open and direct communication channels are likely preferred, facilitating quick feedback loops and problem-solving.

• Shared Ownership: A collective responsibility for product success, where design is seen as an integral part of the entire product lifecycle, from conception to launch and beyond.

• Empowered Design: The design team (even if just one person initially) is expected to proactively identify opportunities, propose solutions, and champion best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values individuals who are proactive, take initiative, and are comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change. The "strong opinions" aspect suggests a culture that welcomes healthy debate and diverse perspectives, provided they are well-reasoned.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: As the first product designer, establishing the entire design framework, processes, and design system for a new product can be challenging but rewarding.

• AI Tool Integration: Mastering and effectively integrating novel AI design tools into a workflow to maximize efficiency and innovation requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Navigating the "move-fast" culture while maintaining high design quality and a robust design system.

• Defining a New Product Category: Contributing to the definition and user experience of a novel product in the smart sleep technology space.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across a team heavily focused on engineering and AI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in creating scalable and maintainable design systems.

• AI in Design: Become a leader in leveraging AI tools for product design, potentially shaping future workflows.

• Health-Tech Innovation: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for health and wellness products.

• Startup Leadership: Develop skills in building and managing a design function within a fast-growing startup.

• Entrepreneurial Acumen: Learn from experienced founders with a proven track record of building successful companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and growth opportunity lies in the foundational nature of the role. Candidates who are self-starters and enjoy building something new will find this role particularly attractive.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a comprehensive design system from the ground up for a new mobile application in the health-tech space?"

• "Describe a time you had to balance strong personal design opinions with conflicting customer feedback or business requirements. What was your approach?"

• "Given our focus on AI-driven tools like Figma Make and Claude Design, how would you integrate these into your design process to accelerate development and enhance user experience?"

• "How would you define and measure 'design quality' within a fast-paced, zero-bureaucracy startup environment?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Orion's mission and our approach to sleep technology using AI?"

• "How do you envision your role in fostering a strong design culture within a technically-led team?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with product managers and software engineers in a startup setting."

• "How do you stay current with emerging trends in product design, AI, and health-tech?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation as a compelling story for each project, highlighting the problem, your unique approach, the solutions, and the impact.

• AI Tool Demonstration: Be prepared to show how you've used Figma Make or Claude Design, explaining the specific benefits and outcomes achieved.

• Design System Deep Dive: Have clear examples ready for your design system work, detailing its structure, components, and governance.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, reduced churn, improved task completion rates).

• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time; be thorough but concise in your explanations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI design tools extensively, as this is a key differentiator for Orion. Also, demonstrate your ability to operate autonomously and drive initiatives in a startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to prominently feature your experience in mobile app design, design systems, and the use of AI design tools like Figma Make and Claude Design. Prepare specific case studies that highlight your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, key skills in UI/UX, and any relevant accomplishments in health-tech or consumer products. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design system philosophy, and how you leverage AI. Prepare to discuss your "strong opinions" and how you'd apply them at Orion.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Orion Sleep's product, mission, and the competitive landscape of sleep technology and AI in consumer products. Understand their "zero-bureaucracy, move-fast" 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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