Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Waabi

Location: San Francisco, CA; Remote US & Canada; Toronto, ON

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Operations Technology

Date Posted: 2026-09-03

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Remote (US & Canada) / Hybrid (San Francisco, CA; Toronto, ON)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of Waabi's critical driverless commercial and operations ecosystem, focusing on fleet management software and the interfaces supporting AV operations.

• Design complex, information-dense workflows for real-time monitoring, dispatch, and remote assistance of autonomous vehicles (AVs).

• Contribute directly to production React codebases, leveraging AI-assisted coding tools for rapid iteration and delivery.

• Establish and grow Waabi's design culture, systems, and processes as the second product designer on the team.

• Drive end-to-end product design, from initial discovery and user research to final delivery and implementation in code.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the intersection of Product Design and Revenue Operations/Sales Operations, specifically focusing on the operational technology required to scale a complex autonomous vehicle business. The emphasis on "shipping directly in code" and designing "fleet management and remote assistance workflows" indicates a strong need for individuals who can bridge the gap between user experience design and operational efficiency, directly impacting the company's ability to manage and scale its autonomous fleet.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and define end-to-end workflows for operations staff, including dashboards, pre-mission checks, and remote assistance protocols for AVs.

• Conduct first-principles user research by observing operations staff, terminal staff, and fleet operators in their actual work environments to deeply understand their needs and streamline processes.

• Design intuitive human-to-AI interaction paradigms for fleet tracking, vehicle dispatch, remote assistance, and operational exception handling within autonomous systems.

• Build, extend, and maintain Waabi's design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product interfaces.

• Directly contribute to production React codebases, utilizing AI-assisted tools like Copilot and Cursor for efficient development and rapid iteration.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Operations teams to gather requirements and translate them into effective, user-centric design solutions.

• Design for safety-critical decision-making scenarios, ensuring operational tools support both efficiency and paramount safety standards for autonomous vehicles.

• Develop user interfaces for both fleet management software and potentially the interior/exterior interfaces of Waabi's autonomous vehicles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a unique blend of traditional UX/Product Design with a strong emphasis on operational efficiency, safety-critical systems, and direct code contribution. This role requires an individual who is not only a skilled designer but also a pragmatic builder deeply embedded in the engineering process, with a keen understanding of how design directly impacts operational scalability and safety in a high-stakes industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience in designing complex systems are paramount. A background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 5+ years of experience designing for information-dense, complex ecosystems such as healthtech, developer tools, or logistics.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in designing complex tools and information-dense ecosystems, demonstrating the ability to untangle complexity.

• End-to-end execution capability, from discovery and user research through to delivery and implementation in code.

• First-principles thinking to break down problems and build intuitive solutions for novel paradigms.

• Hands-on approach with comfort in ambiguous environments and eagerness to learn new domains (logistics, hardware integrations, autonomous tech).

• Strong design craft and judgment, balancing visual polish with usability and making user-centered tradeoffs.

• Builder's mindset: comfortable designing in code, working with component libraries, and leveraging AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Copilot, Cursor).

• Expertise in user workflow design and mapping complex operational processes.

• Proficiency in building and extending design systems for consistency and scalability.

• Experience with modern front-end development stacks, particularly React.

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills. Preferred Skills:

• Background in Autonomous Vehicles (AV), Robotics, or Logistics operations (e.g., experience with companies like Waymo, Cruise, Aurora, Nuro, or freight/logistics firms).

• Experience designing for real-time interfaces, including monitoring, dispatch, or command-and-control systems.

• Familiarity with industrial design, hardware interfaces, or physical operations environments (e.g., terminals, warehouses, test tracks).

• Experience scaling products from internal prototypes to external customer-facing solutions.

• Understanding of AI and machine learning concepts as they apply to user interfaces and operational workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years" requirement for designing complex systems, coupled with the emphasis on "shipping directly in code" and "AI-assisted coding tools," suggests that candidates with a strong technical aptitude and a "full-stack" design approach will be highly valued. The preference for AV/Robotics/Logistics backgrounds indicates a desire for candidates who can hit the ground running with domain-specific knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design processes for complex, information-dense applications, highlighting problem definition, user research, ideation, and final execution.

• Include examples of designing operational workflows, dashboards, or systems that improved efficiency, safety, or scalability.

• Demonstrate experience with design systems, including contributions to or extensions of existing systems.

• Provide evidence of direct code contributions or a strong understanding of front-end development (React preferred) and how design is implemented.

• Present case studies that detail the challenges, your design solutions, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, particularly in observing users in their actual environments and translating those observations into actionable design insights.

• Document your methodology for breaking down complex problems and defining clear, user-centric workflows.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and operations teams to ensure successful design implementation and adoption.

• Explain how you approach building and maintaining design systems for scalability and consistency.

• Showcase your iterative design process, especially how you leverage code and AI-assisted tools for rapid prototyping and validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the requirement to "ship directly in code," a portfolio that includes links to live products, GitHub repositories, or detailed case studies demonstrating code integration will be significantly advantageous. The emphasis on "operations ecosystem" and "fleet management" means case studies should ideally reflect experience in complex operational tools or systems that drive efficiency and manage large-scale processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,300 - $200,000 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is determined based on several factors in accordance with Waabi's compensation practices, reflecting the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries across all US locations for this Senior Product Designer role. It accounts for the experience level (5-10 years), the highly specialized nature of the role (combining design with direct code contribution in a cutting-edge industry), and the cost of living in potential work locations like San Francisco and Toronto.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation and equity awards, providing ownership and upside in a high-growth tech startup.

• Comprehensive Health and Wellness benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for full-time employees.

• Unlimited Vacation policy, promoting work-life balance and employee autonomy.

• Flexible hours and Work from Home support, enabling personalized work schedules and environments.

• Daily drinks, snacks, and catered meals provided when working in the office, enhancing the in-office experience.

• Regularly scheduled team-building activities and social events (on-site, off-site, and virtual) to foster camaraderie and company culture.

• Additional compensation includes an annual performance bonus, aligning individual contributions with company success.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time). The role offers flexible hours and work-from-home support, allowing for adaptability around core business needs and personal schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is quite broad, suggesting that compensation will be heavily influenced by the candidate's specific experience, the depth of their technical skills (especially in React and AI-assisted coding), and their domain expertise in areas like autonomous vehicles or logistics. The inclusion of equity awards and an annual performance bonus indicates a performance-driven compensation structure common in tech startups. The "Unlimited Vacation" policy, while offering flexibility, often requires proactive management to ensure adequate time off is taken.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Autonomous Transportation / Physical AI / Technology. Waabi is at the forefront of developing AI technology for commercial autonomous trucking and robotaxis, aiming to revolutionize logistics and transportation through advanced robotics and machine learning.

Company Size: Waabi is a rapidly growing tech startup, indicated by its expansion across multiple offices and its search for key roles like a Senior Product Designer. The team is likely dynamic, agile, and focused on rapid innovation and execution.

Founded: Founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, Waabi leverages deep expertise in AI to tackle complex real-world problems in transportation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is currently small, with the hiring manager and this Senior Product Designer being the second dedicated designer. This presents an opportunity to shape the team's direction and processes.

• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with Product Management, Engineering (particularly front-end developers), AI Researchers, and Operations teams.

• The reporting structure likely places the Senior Product Designer under a Head of Product or Design Lead, with direct interaction with senior leadership given the strategic nature of the role. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, observation, and data analysis to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Agile Development: Integration with engineering workflows means designs will be iterated upon and shipped rapidly using agile methodologies.

• First-Principles Approach: Encouragement to question existing paradigms and build solutions from fundamental truths, especially relevant in a nascent industry like autonomous transportation.

• Code-Centric Design: A strong emphasis on designing directly in code and leveraging AI-assisted tools reflects a modern, efficient product development approach.

Company Website: www.waabi.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and intellectually stimulating, driven by a mission to transform transportation. The small design team size means this role will have significant influence and responsibility in shaping the design function and its impact on the business. Candidates should be comfortable with ambiguity and eager to contribute to building foundational processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior Product Designer position, indicating a mid-to-senior level of experience. It requires the ability to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (as the team grows), and independently drive complex projects from conception to delivery. The role goes beyond typical product design by requiring direct code contribution and a deep understanding of operational workflows.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to the first Product Designer hired or a Head of Product/Design, working closely with engineering leads and operations stakeholders. This structure facilitates direct influence and rapid feedback loops.

Operations Impact: The designs created will have a direct and substantial impact on Waabi's operational efficiency, safety, and scalability. By designing critical fleet management software and human-to-robot interfaces, this role is instrumental in enabling the company to safely and effectively deploy and manage its autonomous vehicle fleet at scale, directly influencing revenue potential and operational costs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a lead or management role as the design team expands, shaping the future of design at Waabi.

• Domain Expertise: Deep dive into the complex domains of autonomous vehicles, robotics, AI, and logistics operations, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Technical Skill Development: Enhance proficiency in React development and AI-assisted coding tools through direct application in production environments.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in defining the user experience and operational strategies for a groundbreaking technology company.

• Product Ownership: Take ownership of significant product areas, driving their design vision and execution from start to finish.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique growth trajectory for designers who are interested in the operational and technical aspects of product development. The blend of design, coding, and operational focus creates a specialized skill set that is highly valuable in emerging technology sectors, paving the way for leadership roles in product, design, or even operations strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Waabi offers both office-based (San Francisco, Toronto) and fully remote (US & Canada) options, indicating a flexible and modern work environment. The offices are likely designed to foster collaboration and innovation, with amenities to support employees.

Office Location(s):

• San Francisco, CA, USA

• Toronto, ON, Canada

• Remote within the US & Canada Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: For those in office, the workspace is designed to encourage interaction between design, engineering, product, and operations teams.

• Technology Enabled: Access to modern development tools, including AI-assisted coding platforms, and robust IT infrastructure to support remote and hybrid work.

• Operations Immersion: Opportunities to engage with operations teams, potentially through site visits or simulations, to gain first-hand understanding of the AV operational environment.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility in hours and the option for remote work. This allows operations professionals to manage their time effectively while ensuring critical operational design tasks are completed and systems are monitored.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and remote options provide significant flexibility. For those opting for hybrid, the office environment is likely geared towards fostering innovation and collaboration, crucial for a company operating at the cutting edge of technology. The emphasis on "observing users in their actual environment" suggests that designers, regardless of location, will be expected to spend time understanding the real-world operational context.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's unique requirements (design craft, coding ability, operational focus).

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where candidates present their work, focusing on complex systems, operational workflows, and ideally, examples of code contributions or design-in-code. Expect to discuss your design process, decision-making, and problem-solving approach.

• Technical/Design Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or a discussion around a hypothetical operational challenge, assessing your ability to think critically, design user-centric solutions, and articulate your rationale. This might involve sketching workflows or discussing technical implementation.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, and operations stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and understanding of the broader business context.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion to assess cultural fit, long-term vision, and alignment with the team's growth trajectory.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight "Design in Code": Prioritize projects where you contributed directly to production code (React preferred) or have a strong understanding of implementation. Showcase your process for building and maintaining design systems.

• Showcase Complex Workflows: Focus on case studies that demonstrate your ability to design for complex, information-dense operational environments, such as fleet management, dispatch, or remote assistance systems.

• Emphasize First-Principles Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you break down novel problems and arrive at intuitive solutions, especially in new domains like autonomous vehicles.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative outcomes that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on efficiency, safety, or user experience.

• Tailor to Waabi: Research Waabi's mission and technology. Frame your experience in terms of how it aligns with their goals of scaling autonomous transportation and solving complex operational challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare to discuss scenarios involving real-time monitoring, human-robot interaction, and safety-critical decision-making in an operational context.

• Be ready to articulate your approach to designing for ambiguity and rapidly evolving technology.

• Practice explaining complex design decisions and trade-offs clearly and concisely, particularly how they relate to operational constraints and business objectives.

• Familiarize yourself with the basics of React and component-based design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping directly in code" and "AI-assisted tools" means candidates should be prepared to discuss their coding contributions and comfort level with modern front-end development workflows. The portfolio should ideally include examples that demonstrate an understanding of operational efficiency and safety-critical design, rather than just consumer-facing applications.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (or similar industry-standard tools for UI/UX design and prototyping).

• Development: React (primary focus for front-end), JavaScript, HTML, CSS.

• AI-Assisted Coding: GitHub Copilot, Cursor (or similar AI coding assistants).

• Design Systems: Experience with building, maintaining, and utilizing component libraries.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) for understanding user behavior and product performance.

• Experience in data visualization and dashboard design to present operational metrics effectively. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design integrates with operational workflows that may involve CRM or other back-end systems is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Confluence).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of React and AI-assisted coding tools (Copilot, Cursor) is critical. Candidates should highlight their proficiency in these areas. Experience with design systems is also paramount for ensuring scalability and consistency across Waabi's growing product suite.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Boldness: A culture that encourages pushing boundaries and developing groundbreaking technology in AI and autonomous systems.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to deeply understanding user needs, particularly those of operations staff, to create effective and intuitive tools.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across disciplines (design, engineering, product, operations) are essential for success.

• Execution & Impact: A focus on delivering tangible results and making a real-world impact through technology, with an emphasis on shipping functional, high-quality products.

• Safety & Responsibility: Given the nature of autonomous vehicles, a profound commitment to safety and ethical considerations is embedded in all aspects of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work intimately with engineers, often embedding within development teams to ensure seamless design implementation and rapid iteration.

• Direct Feedback Loops: Expect frequent feedback from peers, cross-functional partners, and potentially end-users through direct observation and testing.

• Shared Ownership: A culture where design, product, and engineering share ownership of product outcomes, fostering a collaborative problem-solving environment.

• Continuous Learning: Encouragement to learn from each other and from the rapidly evolving field of AI and autonomous technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping directly in code" and "AI-assisted coding" suggests a culture that values technical proficiency and pragmatic execution over traditional design handoffs. The company's mission in autonomous transportation also implies a strong underlying value of safety and responsibility.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Novelty: Creating intuitive interfaces for entirely new paradigms of human-robot interaction and autonomous operations.

• Balancing Complexity and Usability: Designing for highly information-dense, safety-critical environments where operational efficiency and user comprehension are paramount.

• Rapid Iteration & Code Contribution: The expectation to ship directly in code and iterate rapidly requires a high degree of technical skill and adaptability.

• Scaling Design Systems: Building and maintaining a robust design system that can support a rapidly expanding product suite and team.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively bridging the gap between design, engineering, AI research, and the realities of physical operations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Physical AI: Gain unparalleled expertise in the cutting-edge field of autonomous transportation and its operational complexities.

• Advanced Technical Skills: Develop advanced proficiency in React, AI-assisted coding, and modern front-end development practices.

• Design Leadership: Shape the design function at a pivotal stage of growth, influencing team structure, processes, and culture.

• Strategic Product Input: Contribute to high-level product strategy and roadmap decisions for a transformative technology.

• Industry Exposure: Work alongside world leaders in AI, automotive, and logistics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant and require a candidate who is not only a skilled designer but also a proactive problem-solver comfortable with technical challenges and ambiguity. The growth opportunities are substantial for individuals seeking to make a high-impact contribution in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex, information-dense system. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your ability to untangle complexity and your end-to-end execution.)

• "How do you approach designing for safety-critical operations? What are the key considerations?" (Demonstrate your understanding of risk assessment and user-centric safety design.)

• "Walk us through a project where you contributed directly to the codebase. What was your role, what tools did you use, and how did your code contribution impact the design outcome?" (Highlight your "builder's mindset" and technical contribution.)

• "Imagine you need to design a remote assistance interface for an autonomous truck driver. What are your first steps, and what key features would you prioritize?" (Assess your first-principles thinking and operational workflow design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Waabi and the autonomous transportation industry specifically?" (Showcase your research and genuine interest in the company's mission.)

• "How would you contribute to building Waabi's design culture as the second designer on the team?" (Demonstrate your understanding of team dynamics and process development.)

• "How do you balance design excellence with the need for rapid iteration and delivery in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Highlight your pragmatic approach and understanding of startup realities.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Start with your most impactful projects that align with Waabi's needs (complex systems, operational workflows, code contributions).

• Focus on Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your research/discovery phase, your design process, the trade-offs you made, and the final outcome/impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and ideally, examples of your code contributions or how your designs were implemented.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, technical implementation, and your collaboration process.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, faster task completion).

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with AI-assisted coding tools and demonstrate how they've integrated code into their design process. The emphasis on "operations ecosystem" means case studies should ideally showcase an understanding of how design impacts business operations and efficiency, not just user satisfaction.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

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

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience with complex systems, operational workflows, React development, AI-assisted coding tools, and design system contributions. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your ability to design for information-dense environments, your end-to-end process, and any direct code contributions. Ensure it reflects your "builder's mindset" and first-principles approach.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through 2-3 key portfolio projects, focusing on the problem, your process, design decisions, and impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to operational design and human-AI interaction.

• Research Waabi: Understand their mission, technology, and the challenges of autonomous transportation. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, culture, and the role's impact.

⚠️ 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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