Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Spotnana

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States | New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-06-10T21:17:20

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of complex traveler-facing products and internal tools, focusing on AI-powered and conversational experiences.

• Shape product strategy and elevate the overall design quality across the team.

• Partner closely with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers to solve intricate user problems and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

• Mentor and influence other designers through collaboration, constructive feedback, and rigorous design critiques.

• Drive design initiatives across multiple workstreams, effectively balancing user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and leadership in design initiatives. The emphasis on AI and conversational experiences suggests a forward-thinking product approach, requiring designers to explore innovative interaction models beyond traditional interfaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design thoughtful and effective solutions for complex traveler-facing products and partner experiences, managing the entire design lifecycle from initial concept to final launch.

• Create high-fidelity user interfaces, interactive prototypes, and detailed design specifications that clearly communicate product ideas to engineering and product teams.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to identify and solve complex user problems, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, intuitive customer experiences.

• Lead and drive design initiatives across various product workstreams, adeptly balancing competing priorities such as user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

• Actively mentor and influence junior and peer designers through regular design critiques, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving sessions.

• Explore, conceptualize, and shape innovative AI-powered and conversational product experiences that aim to redefine how users plan and manage their travel.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to accessibility standards across all product touchpoints.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to inform design decisions and validate product concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and leadership. The "own" phrasing implies significant responsibility for design outcomes. The inclusion of "AI-powered and conversational product experiences" points towards a need for designers comfortable with emerging technologies and non-traditional user interfaces.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 5–7+ years of dedicated product design experience, encompassing user experience (UX), interaction design (IxD), and visual design (UI).

Required Skills:

• A robust portfolio that clearly demonstrates exceptional product thinking, sophisticated UI craft, and end-to-end design execution capabilities.

• Expertise in Figma and other modern prototyping tools, with a demonstrated enthusiasm for exploring and integrating AI-powered design tools and workflows.

• Proven experience in creating, implementing, and evolving comprehensive design systems to ensure product consistency and scalability.

• Proficiency in designing responsive experiences that adapt seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes.

• Strong understanding and application of accessibility principles to create inclusive and usable products for all users.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and effectively mentor fellow designers.

• Experience collaborating closely with product managers and engineers to deliver high-quality products within fast-paced, agile environments.

• Willingness and ability to work in an open office environment. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience within the travel industry, understanding its unique user needs and operational complexities.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and the ability to translate research findings into actionable design solutions.

• Experience designing conversational interfaces or AI-driven product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5-7+ years points to a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. The emphasis on Figma, AI, and design systems suggests a modern, tech-forward design team. The "willing and able to work in an open office environment" indicates a preference for in-person collaboration within their hybrid model.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 end-to-end product design projects that highlight your process, problem-solving skills, and design execution.

• Clearly articulate the problem statement, your role in the project, the design process followed, key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex user challenges and deliver elegant, user-centered solutions.

• Highlight projects that involve designing for both user-facing applications and potentially internal tools, showcasing versatility.

• Demonstrate proficiency in visual design principles, UI patterns, and the creation of high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing within project case studies.

• Illustrate how you collaborate with product managers and engineers throughout the product development lifecycle, including handoff processes.

• Show examples of how you have contributed to or utilized design systems, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Include examples of how you have explored or implemented AI-driven features or conversational interfaces, if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role. The emphasis on end-to-end execution, product thinking, and measurable outcomes is crucial for a senior-level position. The preference for Figma and AI suggests that examples showcasing these skills will be highly regarded.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $195,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Equity in the form of stock options, providing partial ownership and the opportunity to share in the company's growth.

• Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) options through Fidelity with a company match of up to 4%.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, with 100% coverage for employee premiums and 85% for eligible dependents, effective from the hire date.

• Life and disability insurance coverage.

• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) options for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses.

• Generous Paid Time Off: 20 vacation days annually, 10 company holidays, 4 company recharge/wellness days, and an end-of-year company shutdown.

• Up to 26 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.

• Monthly stipend for cell phone and internet expenses.

• Additional benefits including access to:

  • RocketLawyer's online legal platform

  • International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) membership

  • Pet Insurance through Fetch

  • Financial Wellness programs via Origin and SoFi

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Mutual of Omaha

  • Calm app subscription through Kaiser

  • Pre-tax parking and transit programs Working Hours: While not explicitly stated as standard office hours, the role is full-time, implying a typical commitment of approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature allows for flexibility in scheduling within the context of team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in the specified high-cost-of-living areas (Palo Alto and NYC). The benefits package is extensive and comprehensive, reflecting a strong commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security, which is attractive for senior talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Travel Technology, SaaS. Spotnana operates within the rapidly evolving travel technology sector, aiming to modernize business travel through a unified platform that integrates booking, servicing, and reporting. The company's focus on innovation, particularly with AI, suggests a culture that values forward-thinking and technological advancement.

Company Size: Spotnana is a growing company. While the exact current number isn't provided, the description of hiring and expanding the design team suggests it's beyond the startup phase and scaling towards a more established tech company structure. This implies opportunities for impact and influence but also the need for adaptable individuals.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company is described as "growing" and at a "pivotal moment," indicating it is likely a relatively young, venture-backed company experiencing significant growth.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is expanding, with this role being a key addition to elevate design quality and strategy.

• Designers collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers, indicating a highly cross-functional and integrated product development process.

• The presence of a "Senior Product Designer" role suggests a hierarchy or mentorship structure within the design team, with opportunities for designers to influence and guide others. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Implied by the need to deliver "meaningful business impact" and the overall tech-focused nature of the company.

• Agile Product Development: The mention of "fast-paced environments" and close collaboration with engineering suggests an agile or iterative development approach.

• User-Centricity: Core to product design, with responsibilities focused on solving "complex user problems" and delivering "exceptional customer experiences."

• Innovation & AI Integration: A significant focus on exploring and shaping AI-powered and conversational experiences highlights a commitment to leveraging emerging technologies.

Company Website: Spotnana.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Spotnana appears to be a dynamic, growth-stage company in the travel tech space. The culture likely values innovation, collaboration, and a user-centric approach, with a strong emphasis on leveraging technology, including AI, to redefine travel experiences. The hybrid work model suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the Senior Product Designer level. This typically means an individual contributor role with significant autonomy and responsibility. Senior designers are expected to lead complex projects, mentor junior team members, influence product strategy, and contribute to the overall design vision and quality of the product. They are often seen as experts in their domain and are capable of driving projects with minimal supervision.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or Director of Product. They work in close partnership with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the user experience of Spotnana's platform, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction. By designing intuitive and efficient travel solutions, this role contributes to the company's mission of simplifying travel for travelers, agents, and enterprises. The focus on AI and future experiences also positions this role to drive innovation and competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design role as the company scales.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-driven design, conversational interfaces, or specific areas of travel technology.

• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and influencing the direction of the product.

• Mentorship Development: Enhanced opportunities to mentor designers, contribute to design team growth, and potentially lead design critiques and workshops.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead design initiatives that span multiple product areas and collaborate with broader leadership teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior role, the growth path is geared towards increased leadership, strategic influence, and potentially specialization. The company's growth stage offers fertile ground for individuals looking to make a significant impact and shape the future of a product and its design organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, with employees expected to work from Spotnana's offices in New York City (115 Broadway) or Palo Alto, CA (375 Forest Ave). This indicates a commitment to in-person collaboration and the benefits of a physical workspace, balanced with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• New York City, NY: 115 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. Located in the Financial District, offering accessibility via public transportation.

• Palo Alto, CA: 375 Forest Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, providing proximity to a hub of technological innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and mention of working "alongside teammates" suggests an emphasis on team interaction, brainstorming sessions, and spontaneous collaboration within the office.

• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to standard office amenities and likely the latest design software and hardware necessary for their work. The emphasis on Figma and modern prototyping tools suggests a tech-forward workspace.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid nature means designers will have opportunities for both focused individual work (potentially remote) and collaborative team sessions (in-office). The "open office environment" comment suggests an open-plan layout designed to foster interaction.

Work Schedule: The position is full-time. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility, but specific days in the office will likely be determined by team needs and manager direction to maximize collaborative benefits. The company operates on "ASAP!" hiring, suggesting a dynamic pace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific office locations is key. Candidates should be comfortable commuting to either NYC or Palo Alto and engaging in in-office collaboration. The "open office environment" note suggests a preference for transparency and accessibility among team members.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A conversation with the recruiting team to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Chat: A more in-depth discussion with members of the Design and Product organizations. This will focus on your experience, design philosophy, product thinking, and a walkthrough of your portfolio. Expect to discuss specific projects, your role, design decisions, and outcomes.

• Case Study Presentation/Challenge: Potentially a design challenge or a presentation of a specific portfolio piece that demonstrates your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and ability to articulate design rationale.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.

• Final Round: May involve discussions with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking and overall fit with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design execution, strong product thinking, and UI craft.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the context, your process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), key decisions, and the impact/outcomes. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight Process: Showcase your design thinking, not just the final polished screens. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, including design systems, prototyping, and any advanced techniques.

• Address AI/Conversational Design: If you have relevant experience or strong concepts in these areas, highlight them. Even speculative work can demonstrate forward-thinking.

• Be Ready for Questions: Prepare to answer questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, collaboration challenges, and your approach to mentorship.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Spotnana's product, the travel tech industry, and common user pain points for travelers and travel managers.

• Practice Problem Solving: Be ready to tackle ambiguous problems. Focus on defining the problem clearly, exploring potential solutions, and articulating your rationale.

• Structure Your Presentation: If given a design challenge, structure your presentation logically: problem definition, assumptions, proposed solutions, rationale, and next steps.

• Communicate Your Thought Process: Clearly articulate your thinking process, demonstrating how you approach complex problems and make design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application of design skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative ability. A well-prepared, impactful portfolio that tells a clear story is critical. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with modern tools like Figma and their understanding of emerging trends like AI in design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Modern Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, other tools might be used for specific prototyping needs, though Figma is the central hub.

• Design Systems Tools: Likely integrated within Figma or managed via dedicated platforms to ensure consistency and scalability across products.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not specified, Product Designers at this level often utilize product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• They would also consume reports and dashboards created by data analysts or operations teams to inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but awareness of how design impacts user journeys within CRM or automated workflows could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. The emphasis on modern tools suggests an expectation for designers to be up-to-date with industry best practices and efficient workflows. While not direct end-users, understanding the role of analytics in product development is crucial for data-informed design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Future-Forward Thinking: A strong emphasis on exploring and shaping AI-powered and conversational product experiences, indicating a culture that embraces new technologies and challenges the status quo.

• User-Centricity: A core value, as evidenced by the focus on designing "exceptional customer experiences" and solving "complex user problems."

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The hybrid model and explicit mention of partnering closely with PMs and Engineers highlight the importance of working effectively in cross-functional teams.

• Excellence & Quality: The goal to "elevate design quality across the team" and deliver "high-quality user interfaces" suggests a commitment to craftsmanship and high standards.

• Mentorship & Growth: An expectation for senior designers to mentor others, fostering a culture of learning and development within the design team.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work intimately with Product Managers and Engineers, participating in strategy discussions and development cycles.

• Feedback-Oriented: The emphasis on design critiques and influencing others through feedback suggests an open and iterative communication style.

• Problem-Solving Focused: The team likely prioritizes tackling complex challenges collaboratively, leveraging diverse perspectives to find optimal solutions.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in "fast-paced environments" implies a preference for agile methodologies, rapid iteration, and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Spotnana appears to foster a culture that values innovation, user empathy, and strong teamwork. For a Senior Product Designer, contributing to this collaborative and forward-thinking environment, while also upholding high design standards and mentoring others, will be key to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Tackling complex travel workflows and internal tools requires deep user understanding and the ability to simplify intricate processes.

• Emerging Technologies: Staying at the forefront of AI and conversational design requires continuous learning, experimentation, and the ability to translate abstract concepts into tangible user experiences.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing the needs and expectations of users, product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Elevating Design Standards: Contributing to and driving improvements in design quality and consistency across a growing product suite.

• Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team cohesion within a hybrid work model.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Conversational Design Expertise: Deepen skills in designing cutting-edge AI-driven products and conversational interfaces.

• Travel Industry Domain Knowledge: Gain specialized expertise in the nuances of the travel technology sector.

• Design Leadership Development: Opportunities to formally or informally lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to design strategy.

• Exposure to Rapid Growth: Experience working in a scaling tech company, offering insights into organizational growth and product evolution.

• Cross-functional Skill Enhancement: Further develop collaboration and communication skills by working closely with product, engineering, and potentially business operations teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex design problems, working with emerging technologies, and contributing to a rapidly scaling company. The challenges are framed as opportunities for learning and skill development, particularly in the areas of AI and advanced product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Vision & Strategy: "How would you approach designing the future of AI-powered travel planning?" or "Where do you see the biggest opportunities for AI to improve the traveler experience?" Discuss how you would translate Spotnana's product vision into design solutions.

• Problem-Solving & Design Process: "Walk me through a complex problem you solved using design. What was your process, what trade-offs did you make, and what was the impact?" Be prepared to discuss your approach to ambiguity and constraints.

• AI & Conversational Design: "How do you think about designing conversational interfaces? What are the key principles and challenges?" or "How would you integrate AI features into a travel booking platform to enhance user experience?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Spotnana's Mission: "What excites you about Spotnana's mission to redefine travel?" Research their product and market position.

• Design Team Impact: "How have you influenced design quality or mentored other designers in previous roles?" Be ready to share examples of your leadership and collaborative style.

• Hybrid Work: "How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication within a hybrid team environment?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin each case study with a clear problem statement and your specific role.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your process and final designs. Explain the why behind your design decisions.

• Quantify Outcomes: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction improvements, task completion times).

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with PMs and Engineers, including any challenges and how you overcame them.

• Address AI/Innovation: Clearly articulate any work or ideas related to AI, conversational design, or future-forward experiences.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Respect the interviewer's time and keep your presentations focused and engaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration capabilities, and an understanding of Spotnana's domain and technological direction. A strong portfolio is essential, and candidates should be ready to articulate their process and impact thoroughly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.gem.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5-7+ years of experience, specific skills in Figma, UX, UI, interaction design, design systems, and any relevant travel industry or AI/conversational design experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest end-to-end projects that showcase product thinking, UI craft, and your design process. Ensure it clearly articulates your role, challenges, solutions, and impact.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen projects, focusing on storytelling, design decisions, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and AI design.

• Research Spotnana: Understand their product, mission, and the travel tech landscape. Familiarize yourself with their current design aesthetic and potential areas for innovation.

⚠️ 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.