Senior Product Designer at rebuild.work

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Rebuild.work

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-11T16:48:48

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead end-to-end product design, from customer discovery in the field to high-fidelity UI, driving the design-build-launch-iterate cycle.
Own the definition and execution of the company's design system, ensuring consistency and quality for users onboarding daily.
Conduct in-depth customer research, including interviews and usability testing, to generate insights that inform product strategy and company-wide decisions.
Champion the craft and quality bar for all shipped products, ensuring an exceptional customer experience in the critical moments of disaster recovery.
Collaborate closely with engineering, customer success, and leadership to navigate ambiguity and drive product development in a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the first designer at Rebuild.work, indicating a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to shape foundational design practices. The emphasis on "AI slop" and sweating details suggests a focus on meticulous, high-quality design execution. The "GTM Operations" category is inferred due to the role's direct impact on customer acquisition and retention through product experience, which is a key component of Go-To-Market strategy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Spearhead customer discovery initiatives by engaging directly with restoration contractors on active job sites to understand their workflows, pain points, and needs.
Translate user research and customer insights into compelling user journeys, wireframes, and high-fidelity UI designs that address complex real-world problems.
Develop, maintain, and evolve Rebuild’s design system, establishing key patterns and design principles to ensure a consistent, intuitive, and high-quality user experience across the platform.
Partner with engineering teams throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from initial concepting and design handoff to implementation support and iterative improvements.
Define and uphold the "craft bar" for Rebuild’s product, ensuring that all design output meets rigorous standards for usability, aesthetics, and effectiveness, particularly in high-stakes disaster recovery scenarios.
Own the user onboarding experience, aiming for efficiency and quality that enables dozens of agents to onboard daily with minimal friction.
Drive usability testing and gather feedback to continuously refine designs and product features, directly impacting customer satisfaction and product adoption.
Contribute to product strategy by providing critical user-centric insights that influence roadmap decisions and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," "customer discovery in the field," and "owning the craft bar." This suggests the role requires a proactive, hands-on approach to understanding the user's environment and translating those insights into tangible design solutions, aligning with typical Senior Product Designer expectations in early-stage, high-growth companies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is paramount.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in Product Design, with a significant portion spent in startup environments where ownership of ambiguous problems and end-to-end product development was a key responsibility.

Required Skills:

Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product design, from initial customer discovery and user research through to high-fidelity UI and execution.
Proven ability to conduct and synthesize qualitative user research (interviews, usability testing) into actionable insights that drive product decisions.
Proficient in developing and managing design systems, including defining patterns, components, and establishing best practices for platform-wide consistency.
Strong UI/UX design skills with a keen eye for detail, aesthetics, and user-centered problem-solving.
Experience working closely with engineering teams in an agile environment, effectively communicating design intent and navigating technical constraints.
Ability to lead customer discovery initiatives, including fieldwork on active job sites, to gain deep domain understanding.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present work, and influence stakeholders across the organization.
Experience in defining and raising the quality bar for product output. Preferred Skills:
Experience with mobile design and development, given the nature of field work for contractors.
Familiarity with AI tools for prototyping, ideation, and guiding engineering teams.
Basic understanding or practical experience in coding (writing more than 10 lines but less than 10,000) to better collaborate with engineers and understand technical feasibility.
Experience within the construction, insurance, or disaster recovery industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 Years" experience level is inferred from the "Senior" title and the expectation to "lead customer discovery," "own the design system," and "raise the standard for quality." The bonus points, particularly "written more than 10 lines of code but less than 10,000," indicate a desire for a designer who understands technical limitations and opportunities, a common trait in lean startup product teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase end-to-end product design case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (discovery, ideation, iteration), and the impact of your solutions.
Include examples of how you've conducted user research (fieldwork, interviews, usability testing) and translated findings into design decisions.
Present a strong understanding of design systems, including examples of how you've built, contributed to, or maintained one, demonstrating component libraries, style guides, and pattern documentation.
Demonstrate your ability to create high-fidelity UIs, prototypes, and user flows that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Highlight instances where you've worked closely with engineering teams through the design-build-launch-iterate cycle, showcasing collaboration and problem-solving. Process Documentation:
Be prepared to walk through the entire sequence of a past project: how it came to be, what it achieved, what you learned, what you would do again, and what you would have done differently.
Demonstrate experience in defining and improving processes related to design operations, such as user testing protocols, design system adoption strategies, or cross-functional design handoffs.
Show examples of how you've raised the standard for quality in shipped products and how you hold yourself and teams accountable to those standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end sequence of how the project came to be, what it achieved, what you learned, what you would do again, and what you would've done differently" is a direct quote from the job description, indicating a critical requirement for portfolio review. This signals a need for candidates who can critically assess their own work and demonstrate continuous learning and strategic thinking.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $215,000 annual salary. This estimated range is inclusive of multiple potential levels and will be narrowed during the interview process. The range is based on the provided figures and reflects typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in a high-cost-of-living area like New York City, especially within a well-funded Series A startup environment.

Benefits:

Generous equity compensation, offering significant ownership and upside potential.
Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance to support employee health and well-being.
Flexible Vacation policy, allowing employees to take time off as needed to recharge and maintain work-life balance.
Exposure to a strong investor network, providing opportunities for professional development and industry connections.
Continuous learning opportunities through fireside chats and thoughtful programming, fostering a culture of growth.
A vibrant office culture with regular events and engaging activities designed to build team cohesion.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected given the nature of startup environments and the need for deep customer engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated in the job description. The benefits listed are also directly from the provided text. The "approximately 40 hours per week" is a standard assumption for full-time roles, but the "startup environments" context implies potential for longer hours when needed.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS for Restoration Contractors), with a strong focus on AI and Climate Tech.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, post-Series A funding, indicating a growing but still lean team. This means a high degree of individual impact and the need for adaptability.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the Series A funding in Q3 2026 suggests a relatively recent establishment, likely within the last 1-3 years prior to that date.

Team Structure:

The product team is small and highly collaborative, with this role being the first dedicated designer.
Expect close collaboration with Engineering, Customer Success, and Leadership (likely including founders).
Reporting structure will likely be to a Head of Product or directly to a Founder, given the early stage.
Cross-functional collaboration is essential, requiring designers to interface with all parts of the company. Methodology:
Data-driven approach, leveraging AI to improve efficiency and accuracy in disaster restoration.
Focus on "sweating the details" to differentiate from "AI slop," emphasizing meticulous design and execution.
Iterative product development ("design-build-launch-iterate") is central to their process.
Customer-centricity is paramount, with a commitment to understanding and serving restoration contractors directly on job sites.

Company Website: rebuild.work

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a mission-driven focus on addressing the impact of natural disasters and climate change through technology. The "Series A in Q3 2026" indicates a significant growth phase, suggesting a need for experienced individuals who can build and scale processes. The emphasis on "AI slop" versus "sweating the details" is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a high degree of autonomy, ownership, and the ability to lead complex initiatives from conception to completion. It implies a significant contribution to product strategy and a mentorship capacity for junior team members as the team grows.

Reporting Structure: Likely reporting to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or a Founder. This direct line to leadership allows for significant influence on product direction and strategy.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and profound impact on Rebuild's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by shaping the user experience, driving product adoption, and ensuring customer satisfaction. A well-designed product that simplifies complex processes for restoration contractors will be key to acquiring and retaining customers, thereby directly influencing revenue growth and market penetration. The design of the core product offering, particularly the AI-powered estimate generation, is central to the company's value proposition.

Growth Opportunities:

Design Leadership: As the first designer, there's a significant opportunity to build and lead the design function, potentially growing into a Head of Design or Design Lead role as the company scales.
Product Strategy Influence: Directly contribute to shaping the product roadmap and company strategy through deep customer understanding and design expertise.
Domain Expertise: Develop deep expertise in the restoration, insurance, and AI/climate tech sectors, becoming a subject matter expert.
Mentorship: As the team expands, mentor and guide future designers, fostering a strong design culture.
System Building: Own and evolve the company's design system, a critical asset for scaling product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation combined with being the "first designer" points to a role with significant foundational impact and leadership potential. The "Operations Impact" section is framed through the lens of how product design contributes to GTM success, directly influencing revenue and market share.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in New York City. This suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, team building, and a structured work environment conducive to deep focus.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY, USA. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and talent pool.

Workspace Context:

A collaborative environment where designers work closely with engineers and other product team members.
Expect access to standard design tools and technologies, with potential for input on tool selection.
Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional teams, including customer success, which is crucial for understanding user needs directly.
The emphasis on "office culture programming" and "fun events" suggests a company that values team cohesion and employee engagement.

Work Schedule: While the standard is approximately 40 hours per week, the startup environment may require flexibility. The emphasis on "sweating the details" and customer discovery might involve occasional off-hours engagement or travel to job sites.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement in NYC, coupled with the emphasis on "office culture," indicates a company that values in-person collaboration and team synergy, which is common for early-stage startups aiming to build a strong, cohesive culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: Likely a brief conversation to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the mission.
Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: This is a critical stage. Be prepared to present 1-2 detailed case studies, walking through the "entire sequence of how the project came to be, what it achieved, what you learned, what you would do again, and what you would've done differently." Expect in-depth questions about your design process, decision-making, and problem-solving approach.
Skills Assessment/Exercise: Potentially a design challenge or exercise, either take-home or live, to evaluate specific skills like UI design, problem-solving, or design system thinking.
Cross-functional Interviews: Meet with engineers, customer success, and potentially founders to assess collaboration style, communication, and alignment with company values.
Final Round: May involve a discussion with leadership focusing on strategic thinking, vision for design at Rebuild, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business impact and user outcomes of your work. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).
Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Detail your research methods, ideation stages, iteration process, and how you incorporated feedback. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.
Design System Expertise: If applicable, showcase your contributions to design systems. Explain the principles you followed and how you ensured scalability and consistency.
Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative. Start with the problem, explain your approach, highlight your contributions, and conclude with the results and learnings.
Tailor to Rebuild: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with complex problem-solving, working in ambiguous environments, and a passion for real-world impact, aligning with Rebuild's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Domain: Research the restoration contractor industry, common pain points, and the role of technology (especially AI) in this space.
Design System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you'd approach building or evolving a design system for a platform serving this user base.
Customer Empathy: Practice articulating how you would approach understanding and designing for users in demanding, real-world environments.
Problem Decomposition: Prepare to break down complex, ambiguous problems into manageable design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end sequence" and "what you learned" is a direct indicator that the interview process will deeply scrutinize the candidate's thought process and ability to reflect on their work, a hallmark of senior-level roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, given industry standard and collaboration needs), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.
User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or internal tools).
Design System Management: Potentially tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal documentation platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

While not directly owned by the designer, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is beneficial for understanding user behavior and product performance.
Experience using data to inform design decisions is highly valued. CRM & Automation:
Understanding of CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation workflows can provide context for how the product integrates into the broader customer lifecycle and sales process.
Familiarity with how design impacts user adoption within these systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tools are not listed, but Figma is the de facto standard for modern product design teams, especially in startups. The inclusion of "AI tools" in preferred skills suggests potential exploration of AI-assisted design workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Detail-Oriented Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality execution and meticulous attention to detail, setting Rebuild apart from generic AI solutions.
Customer Obsession: A deep drive to understand and serve the needs of restoration contractors, often requiring direct engagement in their work environments.
Impact-Driven: Focus on solving real-world problems that have a tangible positive effect on people's lives and livelihoods, especially in the context of disaster recovery.
Ambiguity Tolerance & Ownership: Thriving in uncertain environments and taking full responsibility for driving initiatives to completion.
Collaborative Spirit: Working effectively across disciplines to achieve shared goals and foster innovation.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative, with designers working hand-in-hand with engineers, product managers, and customer success.
Open communication and feedback loops are encouraged to ensure alignment and continuous improvement.
Cross-functional influence is key, requiring designers to articulate their vision and rationale effectively to diverse stakeholders.
A culture that values strong opinions, but also the flexibility to adapt them based on new information or team consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values are inferred from the company description's emphasis on "sweating the details," "customer discovery in the field," and solving significant real-world problems. The "strong opinions, loosely held" mindset is a direct quote suggesting a culture that encourages bold ideas but also pragmatism and adaptability.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Defining Design from Scratch: As the first designer, establishing design processes, standards, and a cohesive design system for a growing company will be a significant undertaking.
Navigating Ambiguity: Working in an early-stage startup means dealing with evolving priorities, undefined processes, and broad problem spaces.
Field Research Logistics: Conducting research on active, potentially hazardous job sites presents logistical and safety challenges.
Balancing Detail with Speed: Maintaining a high bar for quality while iterating quickly in a fast-paced startup environment.
AI Integration Nuances: Effectively integrating AI capabilities into the user experience in a way that is intuitive, trustworthy, and genuinely helpful, avoiding the pitfalls of "AI slop."

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and lead a design team, defining its structure, culture, and processes.
Strategic Impact: Directly influence product strategy and company direction through user-centric insights.
Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in the critical intersection of climate tech, AI, and the construction/restoration industry.
Cross-functional Skill Building: Gain experience working closely with engineering and business functions, enhancing overall product development acumen.
Mentorship: Learn from experienced founders and investors, and potentially mentor future design hires.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are derived from the role's description as the first designer in an early-stage startup focused on complex, real-world problems. The growth opportunities focus on leadership, strategic influence, and domain expertise, aligning with the senior nature of the role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Walk us through the entire sequence of how a project came to be, what it achieved, what you learned, what you would do again, and what you would've done differently." (Prepare 1-2 detailed case studies focusing on this structure).
How would you approach defining and building a design system for Rebuild.work, considering our mission and user base?
Describe a time you had to lead customer discovery in a challenging or ambiguous environment. What was your approach, and what were the outcomes?
How do you balance the need for detailed, high-quality design with the rapid iteration cycles typical of a startup?
How do you ensure your design decisions are data-informed and user-centric, especially when dealing with complex technical constraints or novel AI capabilities? Company & Culture Questions:
What interests you about Rebuild.work's mission to help restoration contractors and address the impact of natural disasters?
How do you embody the value of "sweating the details" in your design work?
Describe your experience working in a startup environment. How do you thrive in ambiguity and take ownership?
How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture?
What are your thoughts on the responsible use of AI in product design and development? Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Results -> Learnings.
Highlight Your Contributions: Clearly delineate what you specifically did versus what the team accomplished.
Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user journey maps) to illustrate your process and solutions.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).
Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making rationale at every stage of your process. Be honest about trade-offs and challenges.
Connect to Rebuild: Articulate how your experience and approach align with Rebuild's specific needs and mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation is heavily informed by the direct quotes and implied expectations from the job description, particularly the emphasis on end-to-end ownership, detailed process walkthroughs, and a strong sense of mission alignment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position at Rebuild.work:

Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.gem.com.
Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies that best showcase your ability to handle ambiguous problems, conduct user research in challenging environments, and deliver high-quality UI and design systems. Ensure each case study clearly follows the "Problem -> Role -> Process -> Solution -> Results -> Learnings" structure.
Optimize Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to startups, end-to-end product design, user research (especially in the field), design systems, and AI-assisted design. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your thought process, decision-making, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss what you learned and what you would do differently.
Research Rebuild.work: Deeply understand the company's mission, the restoration contractor industry, their current product offering, and their commitment to quality over "AI slop." Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company vision.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Senior Product Designer