Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Radical AI

Location: New York, NY

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-04

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Shape user experiences for a cutting-edge AI-driven laboratory platform, focusing on intuitive design for complex scientific data and workflows.

• Drive the design of both digital interfaces and hardware-adjacent displays, ensuring seamless integration and usability in a physical lab environment.

• Establish and maintain a robust design system to ensure consistency and scalability as the product and company grow.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including software engineers, roboticists, mechanical engineers, and scientists to translate technical requirements into elegant design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is Senior Product Designer, the description emphasizes a direct partnership with the Director of Digital Experience and a need to "shape experiences across our lab informatics platform, Sentinel, and hardware-facing lab display interfaces." This suggests a role that bridges traditional product design with elements of GTM operations by ensuring the user experience of the core product aligns with market needs and operational efficiency. The emphasis on "execution-focused" and "shipping fast" also points towards a pragmatic, results-oriented approach crucial for GTM success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of core features for Sentinel, the lab informatics platform, including multi-step experiment workflows, detailed composition analysis views, and interactive dashboards tailored for scientists and lab operators.

• Design user interfaces for lab display screens and tablet applications, optimizing for real-time data visualization and ease of use within a dynamic physical lab setting.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system, including component libraries, design tokens, and clear documentation, to ensure design consistency and facilitate efficient development across the product suite.

• Conduct user research and usability testing in collaboration with end-users (scientists, roboticists, mechanical engineers) to deeply understand their workflows, validate design concepts, and iteratively improve product functionality.

• Champion design best practices and advocate for user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle, from ideation to implementation.

• Collaborate closely with software engineers to ensure designs are technically feasible and implemented accurately, providing detailed specifications and design assets.

• Contribute to the strategic product roadmap by identifying opportunities for design innovation that enhance user productivity and drive scientific breakthroughs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of deep UX/UI design for a complex technical product and strategic input into product development. The emphasis on "Sentinel (core lab informatics platform)" and "lab display interfaces" indicates a focus on the operational efficiency and user experience of the scientific process itself, aligning with GTM principles of solving critical customer pain points.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is expected for a Senior role. Experience:

• Minimum of 4+ years of professional product design experience, encompassing both User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design.

• Proven track record of successfully shipping complex digital products, with a portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design ownership. Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional information architecture and data visualization skills, effectively making complex data clear, meaningful, and actionable for users.

• Figma Expertise: Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including advanced prototyping capabilities, component library management, and collaborative design workflows.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse technical teams, including software engineers, scientists, roboticists, and mechanical engineers, translating their needs into intuitive designs.

• Ambiguity Tolerance: Comfort and proficiency in navigating ambiguous environments, with the ability to propose informed design directions and iterate rapidly based on user feedback and evolving technical constraints.

• User-Centric Approach: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies, with a commitment to user advocacy throughout the design process.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex design challenges in data-rich environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Frontend Familiarity: Working knowledge of frontend development concepts and tooling, such as HTML/CSS/JavaScript, or experience with frameworks like Svelte or React, enabling closer collaboration with engineering or in-browser prototyping.

• Touch/Tablet Interface Design: Experience specifically designing for touch-based interfaces and tablet form factors.

• Scientific/Industrial Software: Background in designing for scientific, laboratory, or industrial software applications.

• Hardware + Software Integration: Experience in designing for products that integrate both hardware and software components.

• Agentic Interfaces: Familiarity or interest in designing interfaces for agentic systems or AI-driven workflows.

• Futuristic UI: An eye for cutting-edge, forward-thinking UI design aesthetics.

• 3D Modeling & Rendering: Experience with 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, or real-time rendering.

• Motion Design: Proficiency or strong interest in motion design and creating engaging interactive experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Openness to learning frontend concepts" is a critical point for operations roles, indicating a need for designers who can bridge the gap between design and development, facilitating faster iteration and better alignment with engineering, which is vital for GTM velocity. The emphasis on data visualization and information architecture is paramount for a product dealing with extensive experimental data.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Information Architecture & Data Visualization: Showcase specific examples of how you have structured complex data sets and presented them in clear, actionable ways through intuitive interfaces. This should include case studies demonstrating your ability to make dense information digestible and meaningful for technical users.

• End-to-End Product Design: Present detailed case studies that illustrate your involvement from initial concept and user research through to final UI/UX design and iteration based on user feedback. Highlight your role in the entire product development lifecycle.

• Figma Mastery: Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma by including examples of complex component libraries, interactive prototypes, and how you've used the tool for collaborative design workflows. Highlight any design system work.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Examples: Provide evidence of how you have successfully partnered with engineers, scientists, or other technical stakeholders. Describe the challenges and how your design contributions facilitated their work.

• Problem/Solution Focus: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process and rationale, and the measurable impact or outcome of your design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Include examples or descriptions of how you have designed or optimized complex user workflows, particularly in data-intensive or multi-step processes.

• System Implementation Standards: Showcase any experience in establishing design standards, component libraries, or design systems that facilitated scalable and consistent product development.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how your designs have been informed by data or how you have contributed to measuring the success or impact of design changes, especially concerning user efficiency or data comprehension.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior product design role, especially one that touches on operational aspects of a lab platform, the portfolio should emphasize not just aesthetic design but also the strategic thinking behind it. Demonstrating how design decisions impact efficiency, data accuracy, and scientific output is crucial. The emphasis on "shipping fast" and "working close to complex technical domains" means portfolio pieces should reflect this pragmatic, iterative approach.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $157,000 - $206,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families, with 100% of premiums covered.

• Wellness Support: Access to mental health and wellness resources.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, complemented by 14+ company holidays annually.

• Company-Wide Shutdown: A two-week paid time off period at the end of the year.

• Retirement Savings: 401K plan.

• Equity: Stock options or grants, providing ownership in the company's growth.

Working Hours:

• The role is based in New York City, with an expectation of working in-office five days a week. While a standard 40-hour workweek is typical, the emphasis on "shipping fast" and "moving fast" may imply a dynamic work environment that can require dedication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in New York City, reflecting the experience level and the high-impact nature of being the first dedicated designer in a rapidly growing tech company. The benefits package is notably generous, particularly the 100% health insurance coverage and the company-wide shutdown, which are strong indicators of a company culture that values employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Scientific Discovery Platforms, Materials Science, Biotechnology.

Company Size: The description implies a growing startup environment, likely in the Seed to Series A/B stage, where the first dedicated designer is being hired. This suggests a team size that is agile and rapidly evolving.

Founded: Radical AI was founded with the mission to revolutionize R&D by drastically reducing the time and cost of scientific discovery. The company is built on a foundation of integrating AI with autonomous robotics.

Team Structure:

• The design function is nascent, with this Senior Product Designer reporting directly to the Director of Digital Experience. This indicates a lean, high-impact structure where design has direct access to leadership and strategic decision-making.

• The team comprises software engineers, scientists, roboticists, and mechanical engineers, highlighting a highly interdisciplinary and technical environment.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with designers expected to "sit in on engineering reviews" and "work close to complex technical domains." Methodology:

• Agile Iteration: The company emphasizes moving fast, iterating quickly, and valuing "taste, pragmatism, and clear thinking over process overhead." This suggests an agile, lean methodology focused on rapid prototyping and user feedback.

• Data-Driven Design: The platform's core is data-rich software, implying that design decisions will be heavily influenced by experimental data analysis and scientific outcomes.

• AI & Robotics Integration: The company's unique approach of combining AI with autonomous robotics means design challenges will involve integrating human interaction with automated systems and complex scientific processes.

Company Website: radical-ai.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at Radical AI is characterized by speed, innovation, and deep technical integration. For a designer, this means an environment that requires adaptability, a willingness to learn complex technical concepts, and a focus on delivering tangible results quickly. The "first dedicated designer" aspect means significant opportunity to shape the design function.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of individual contribution. The emphasis on being the "first dedicated designer" suggests a significant opportunity for foundational impact and leadership within the design discipline as the company scales. The role requires not just execution but also the establishment of design processes and systems.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report directly to the Director of Digital Experience. This close reporting line suggests direct mentorship and significant visibility with leadership. It also implies a need for strong communication and strategic thinking to effectively partner with the Director.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts the company's core value proposition: accelerating scientific discovery. By making complex lab informatics and real-time data displays intuitive and efficient, the designer contributes directly to the speed and success of research experiments. This operational efficiency for scientists and lab operators is key to Radical AI's market differentiation and value delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company grows, there will be opportunities to build and lead a design team, establish the design function's strategy, and mentor junior designers.

• Product Strategy: Close collaboration with leadership and engineering provides a pathway to influence product strategy and contribute to long-term vision, especially in areas where design can unlock new capabilities or user segments.

• Domain Expertise: Deep immersion in AI, robotics, and scientific research offers specialized domain knowledge that is highly valuable in niche technology sectors.

• System Design: Opportunity to build and evolve a sophisticated design system from early stages, setting standards for future product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "first dedicated designer" status is a significant growth opportunity, allowing the individual to shape design processes, culture, and team structure. The role demands not only strong execution but also the strategic foresight to build scalable design foundations, which is critical for long-term career progression in product design and potentially design leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an in-office role based in a physical lab environment in New York City. The description emphasizes "working close to complex technical domains" and designing for "usability in a physical lab environment," suggesting a hands-on, integrated workspace.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY. Specifics about office amenities or neighborhood are not provided, but being in NYC implies access to a vibrant tech and design community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The environment is designed for close collaboration, with designers expected to be physically present with engineers, scientists, and roboticists. This fosters direct communication and rapid feedback loops.

• Integrated Technology: The workspace will feature advanced AI and robotics equipment, alongside the digital platform (Sentinel) and hardware interfaces. Designers will work with cutting-edge technology daily.

• User Proximity: Being in the lab allows for constant interaction with the end-users of the product, facilitating a deep understanding of their needs and workflows in real-time.

Work Schedule: The role requires an in-office presence five days a week. While the company values "shipping fast" and "moving fast," suggesting a dynamic pace, the core work schedule is tied to the physical lab operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial for this role, as it necessitates direct physical interaction with the lab environment, the hardware, and the end-users. This is not a typical remote design role; it's about deep integration into a scientific and engineering workflow.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio through the provided link.

• Initial Screening: A review of the application and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the company's needs, particularly focusing on data visualization and complex information architecture.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: Likely a session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discusses their process, and potentially tackles a design problem related to the company's domain. This will be a key opportunity to showcase problem-solving skills and collaboration approach.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with software engineers, scientists, or other team members to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Leadership Interview: A conversation with the Director of Digital Experience and potentially other senior leaders to discuss strategic vision, impact, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problems you solved, your design process, and the quantifiable outcomes or improvements achieved (e.g., increased efficiency, reduced errors, improved data comprehension).

• Showcase Data Visualization: Include projects where you successfully translated complex data into understandable and actionable interfaces. Highlight your approach to information architecture for data-rich products.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Present examples of well-structured component libraries, interactive prototypes, and any design system work.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with engineers and domain experts. Describe challenges faced and how you navigated them through collaboration.

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio case studies as narratives, guiding the reviewer through the problem, your solution, and the results.

• Tailor to Radical AI: If possible, subtly hint at how your skills can address the specific challenges of designing for AI-driven labs and complex scientific workflows.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your thought process for designing complex workflows and data interfaces.

• Understand the company's mission and the technical domains they operate in (AI, robotics, scientific discovery).

• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely, especially when explaining technical or data-heavy concepts.

• Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and how you approach scalability and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping fast" and "working close to complex technical domains" means interviewers will likely probe for a candidate's ability to make quick, informed decisions and adapt to technical constraints. A portfolio that shows iterative design and practical problem-solving will be highly valued.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required expert-level skill. This will be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems Tools: Figma's component libraries, potentially supplemented by tools like Zeroheight or Storybook for documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, a data-rich platform implies the use of analytics tools for user behavior tracking and performance monitoring. Candidates may be expected to integrate design with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or internal dashboards.

• Data Visualization Libraries: Understanding of how data is presented in tools like D3.js, or libraries built on top of it, would be beneficial, even if not directly coding.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Senior Product Designer role's primary responsibilities, but understanding how product usage data might feed into CRM or marketing automation systems could be a plus. Collaboration & Project Management:

• Tools like Slack for communication, Jira or Asana for task management, and Google Workspace for documentation are standard in tech environments and likely used here.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is Figma expertise. However, the "openness to learning frontend concepts" and the nature of the product suggest that familiarity with web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS, Svelte, React) is highly advantageous, enabling better collaboration with engineers and potentially some level of in-browser prototyping.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Speed: A core value is rapid innovation and quick iteration to achieve scientific breakthroughs. Expect a fast-paced environment where speed-to-market is critical.

• Pragmatism & Clarity: Valuing "taste, pragmatism, and clear thinking over process overhead" means a focus on practical, effective solutions that are easy to understand and implement.

• Collaboration & Interdisciplinarity: Working closely with diverse technical teams (engineers, scientists, roboticists) is fundamental. Open communication and mutual respect across disciplines are key.

• User Focus: Despite the technical complexity, the emphasis is on making data and workflows intuitive for scientists and lab operators. User needs drive design decisions.

• Data-Driven: The platform's foundation in AI and experimentation means a strong reliance on data for decision-making, both in scientific outcomes and product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Collaboration is expected to be deeply integrated, with designers working alongside engineers and scientists in the lab. This is not a siloed design function.

• Direct Feedback Loops: Expect frequent, direct feedback from users and stakeholders, requiring adaptability and a willingness to iterate quickly.

• Shared Ownership: The culture appears to promote a sense of shared ownership over product quality, with design and engineering working in tight partnership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a lean, agile, and highly collaborative approach. For a designer, this means being comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in communication, and focused on delivering practical, high-impact solutions within a technically demanding environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for advanced AI, robotics, and scientific experimentation requires a steep learning curve to understand the intricate workflows and data involved.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Creating cutting-edge interfaces that are also intuitive for busy scientists and lab operators is a constant challenge.

• Establishing Design Foundations: As the first dedicated designer, building out processes, systems, and a design culture from the ground up presents a significant undertaking.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: The company's fast-paced nature means frequent changes and a need to adapt designs quickly, potentially without exhaustive research on every iteration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Technical Immersion: Gain unparalleled exposure to AI, robotics, and scientific research methodologies, becoming an expert in a highly specialized and future-forward field.

• Design System Development: Opportunity to build a robust design system from its early stages, establishing best practices and scalability for a growing product suite.

• Cross-functional Skill Enhancement: Develop strong skills in communicating with and understanding the needs of engineers, scientists, and roboticists, enhancing overall product development acumen.

• Leadership Potential: With the opportunity to shape the design function, there's a clear path toward design leadership and team building as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the inherent complexity of the domain and the need to establish design practices in a nascent team. However, these challenges are directly linked to significant growth opportunities in specialized domain expertise and design leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you designed a complex data visualization or information-rich interface." Prepare a case study that clearly outlines the problem, your approach to structuring and visualizing data, the tools you used, and the impact. Focus on how you made complex information accessible.

• "How would you approach designing an interface for real-time data from robotic experiments?" Think about the constraints of a physical lab environment, the need for immediate feedback, and how to balance detailed data with critical alerts. Consider touch interfaces and dashboard design.

• "Describe your experience building or contributing to a design system." Be ready to discuss component libraries, design tokens, documentation, and how you ensure adoption and consistency across teams. Highlight how you've balanced scalability with the need for rapid iteration. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Radical AI's mission to accelerate scientific discovery?" Research the company's technology and its potential impact. Show genuine enthusiasm for solving complex problems in science and AI.

• "How do you handle working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where you're shipping quickly?" Discuss your approach to iteration, prioritization, and decision-making under pressure. Highlight your ability to remain pragmatic and focused on outcomes.

• "Describe your experience collaborating with engineers and non-design stakeholders." Be ready to provide specific examples of how you communicate design rationale, incorporate feedback, and build strong working relationships with technical teams. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, key design decisions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Data & UX: Emphasize your strengths in information architecture and data visualization, showcasing how you make complex data intuitive.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to briefly demonstrate your Figma capabilities, perhaps by showing component libraries or interactive prototypes.

• Focus on Impact & Iteration: Demonstrate how your designs have led to tangible improvements and how you've iterated based on feedback.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be ready to explain the "why" behind your design decisions, especially when dealing with complex technical constraints or data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "shipping fast" and the technical domain, interviewers will likely be looking for a candidate who is not only a strong designer but also a pragmatic problem-solver who can collaborate effectively and make informed decisions quickly. A portfolio that demonstrates this capability will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating strong information architecture, data visualization, and experience with complex, data-rich applications. Highlight any work on design systems or user interfaces for scientific/technical domains.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 4+ years of product design experience, your expertise in Figma, and your ability to collaborate cross-functionally. Use keywords like "UX," "UI," "Information Architecture," "Data Visualization," "Design Systems," and "Figma." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, handling ambiguity, and working in fast-paced environments. Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clarity and conciseness.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review Radical AI's website and mission. Understand their core technology (AI, robotics, self-driving labs) and the impact they aim to achieve. Consider how your design skills can directly contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.