Senior Product Designer, New Ventures

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, New Ventures

Company: GameChanger

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-25

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (within the US, with specific state exclusions)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle, from ideation to execution, for innovative new ventures within GameChanger.

• Drive user-centered design solutions for both mobile (iOS/Android) and web platforms, ensuring intuitive and impactful user experiences.

• Leverage AI tools extensively throughout the design process, from concepting and research synthesis to rapid prototyping and identifying automation opportunities.

• Conduct frequent customer interactions, gather qualitative and quantitative data, and translate insights into actionable design improvements.

• Foster a collaborative environment, working closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams to shape product strategy and drive successful launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within a "New Ventures" group, implying a focus on innovation, exploration of new market opportunities, and potentially a higher degree of ambiguity and rapid iteration compared to established product lines. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a forward-thinking design team that values efficiency and cutting-edge methodologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design process for new product initiatives, from initial concepting and user research through to final UI/UX implementation and post-launch analysis.

• Develop high-fidelity UI mockups, interactive prototypes, and detailed user flows for both native mobile applications (iOS and Android) and web interfaces.

• Conduct rigorous user research, including interviews, usability testing, and data analysis, to deeply understand user needs and pain points in the youth sports domain.

• Integrate AI tools into the design workflow to enhance efficiency in tasks such as generative design, research synthesis, persona development, and testing hypothesis validation.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing specialists, to define product strategy, scope, and feature sets.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of GameChanger's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across new and existing products.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, and design sprints to drive innovation and align team members on design solutions.

• Advocate for design best practices, provide constructive feedback in design critiques, and mentor junior designers on the team.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design process improvement and the adoption of new tools or methodologies to enhance team productivity and output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Help evolve and grow the design practice at GameChanger" indicates this role is not just about execution but also about shaping the future of design within the company. This includes contributing to the design system and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is generally expected for a Senior Product Designer role.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles and a proven track record of shipping successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading the end-to-end design process for complex digital products, from discovery to delivery.

• Proficient in user research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and data analysis for synthesizing insights.

• Strong command of UI/UX design principles and best practices for both mobile (iOS and Android native experiences) and web platforms.

• Experience in crafting intuitive design flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs using industry-standard design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Proven ability to integrate and leverage AI tools within the design workflow to enhance efficiency, ideation, and problem-solving.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Experience in facilitating design sprints, workshops, and brainstorming sessions.

• Ability to break down large, complex problems into manageable, measurable components.

• Portfolio showcasing at least two detailed case studies demonstrating impact, process, collaboration, and reflection. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience or strong personal investment in sports (fan or player), particularly youth sports.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Experience in a "New Ventures" or product innovation setting.

• Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better collaborate with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "real knowledge of and personal investment in sports" suggests that domain expertise, or at least a strong passion for the youth sports ecosystem, will be a significant differentiator for candidates. The emphasis on AI tools is also a key differentiator, with the company looking for candidates who can help mature their AI practice.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of two comprehensive case studies that detail your design process, from problem definition to solution and impact.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the initial problem, your role, the research conducted, design decisions made, challenges encountered, and measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrate your ability to take complex data and systems and simplify them into understandable and usable interfaces.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs for both mobile and web applications.

• Highlight your experience with user research, user testing, and how you've translated findings into design improvements.

• Showcase your proficiency in using AI tools within your design process, providing specific examples of how they aided your work.

• Include examples of your contributions to design systems or your approach to maintaining design consistency. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your structured approach to design, including how you initiate projects, conduct research, iterate on designs, and collaborate with teams.

• Demonstrate your ability to document design decisions and rationale, making them accessible and understandable to non-design stakeholders.

• Show how you measure the impact of your design work, using metrics to demonstrate success and identify areas for further optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that "isn't just high-fidelity mockups; it showcases impact, process, sketches, collaboration, and reflection" indicates a preference for designers who understand the entire product development lifecycle and can articulate their strategic thinking, not just their visual design skills. The inclusion of AI tool usage in case studies is a specific requirement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $160,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Unlimited vacation policy.

• Paid volunteer opportunities.

• Technology stipend: $4,000 every 2 years for technology upgrades.

• WFH stipend: $500 annually for home office setup.

• Monthly physical, mental, wellness & learning stipend through Holisticly.

• Monthly lifestyle stipend through Fringe.

• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, prescription, FSA, HRA, HSA, with family/dependent coverage.

• Retirement savings: Traditional and Roth 401K plans through Vanguard, with immediate company match.

• Life insurance: basic, supplemental, and dependent coverage.

• Disability leave: short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Generous company-paid parental leave: up to 20 weeks for birthing parents, up to 12 weeks for non-birthing parents.

• Family building benefits through Progyny.

• DICK'S Sporting Goods and family of brands teammate discount.

Working Hours: While specific hours are not detailed, the role is listed as FULL_TIME and is remote-first. The company offers a technology and wellness stipend, suggesting a focus on employee well-being and productivity regardless of location, implying flexibility within standard working hours for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for base compensation. The total compensation package also includes "incentive, equity, and benefits for eligible roles," which can significantly increase overall compensation, especially for senior positions. The remote-first nature with specific state exclusions indicates a structured approach to remote work compliance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focusing on Youth Sports technology. GameChanger aims to be the "first and best place to experience the youth sports moments" for its community.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the raw data, the mention of "remote-first, dynamic tech company based in New York City" and the breadth of benefits suggest a mid-to-large size organization with a significant employee base and established HR/benefits infrastructure.

Founded: The company was founded to address challenges in youth sports, indicating a mission-driven organization with a passion for sports and community building.

Team Structure:

• This Senior Product Designer will be part of the "New Ventures" group, suggesting a smaller, agile, and potentially cross-functional team focused on innovation and future growth initiatives.

• The role requires close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing specialists.

• The team likely operates with a high degree of autonomy and a focus on rapid iteration and hypothesis testing. Methodology:

• The team emphasizes a user-centered approach, frequently engaging with customers and using research insights to inform design decisions.

• There's a strong push towards leveraging AI tools throughout the design process, indicating an adoption of modern, efficient, and potentially experimental workflows.

• Design sprints and workshops are utilized for collaborative problem-solving and idea generation.

• The company values questioning the status quo and advocating for change, suggesting an environment that encourages proactive contribution and strategic thinking.

Company Website: https://gc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: GameChanger's mission to impact youth sports through technology is a core cultural driver. The "New Ventures" team likely embodies a startup-like culture within a larger, stable tech company, balancing innovation with established operational processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy where individuals are expected to lead design efforts, mentor others, and significantly influence product strategy. It's a step towards leadership within the design function.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or potentially a Director of Product within the New Ventures group. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, as the Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping new products and services that drive GameChanger's future growth. Their work will directly influence user engagement, adoption rates, and ultimately, the company's success in new markets within the youth sports ecosystem. The focus on AI tools also positions them to influence how technology adoption impacts operational efficiency and design team maturity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team or a specific product area.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, mobile UX, or product strategy within the youth sports domain.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Transition into Product Management or other strategic roles by leveraging their deep understanding of user needs and product development.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, contributing to the overall growth of the design practice.

• Innovation: Play a key role in shaping the future direction of GameChanger through the New Ventures initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "New Ventures" context suggests a fast-paced environment with potential for rapid career progression for high-impact individuals. The emphasis on AI also offers an opportunity for designers to become early adopters and experts in a rapidly evolving field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: GameChanger is a "remote-first" company with an option to work from their office in Manhattan, NY. This suggests a hybrid-friendly approach where remote work is the default, but an office space is available for those who prefer or need it for collaboration.

Office Location(s): New York, NY. The company also operates remotely across the US, with specific state exclusions.

Workspace Context:

• Remote: Candidates can expect a fully remote setup within the US, supported by a WFH stipend and technology stipend to ensure a comfortable and productive home office environment.

• Office: The Manhattan office is described as "well-furnished, modern," suggesting a professional and collaborative workspace for those who choose to utilize it.

• Collaboration: Regardless of location, the environment fosters close collaboration with cross-functional teams, likely facilitated through digital tools and scheduled meetings. The "remote-first" approach means digital collaboration tools are paramount.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, implying a standard 40-hour work week. However, the "remote-first" and "unlimited vacation" policies suggest a culture that values results and employee well-being, potentially offering flexibility in daily work hours as long as responsibilities are met and collaboration is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first policy combined with specific state exclusions (AK, DE, HI, IA, LA, MS, MT, OK, and SC) means candidates must ensure they reside in an eligible state for remote employment. This is a critical compliance factor for the company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company mission.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, often with a focus on specific case studies. This may be accompanied by a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual design exercise to assess problem-solving skills and design process.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Marketing leads to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work within a team.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager to discuss strategic fit, leadership potential, and overall alignment with the team and company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly articulate how you've used AI tools in your projects, the specific benefits, and the outcomes achieved. This is a key differentiator for this role.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Use metrics to demonstrate how your design decisions led to improved user engagement, conversion rates, retention, or other key business objectives.

• Showcase Process: Detail your thought process, research methodologies, iteration stages, and how you collaborated with stakeholders. Don't just show the final screens; explain the journey.

• Tailor to Youth Sports: If you have sports-related experience, emphasize it. If not, demonstrate how you quickly gain fluency in new domains and your passion for the company's mission.

• Clarity and Storytelling: Structure your portfolio as compelling narratives for each case study. Make it easy for reviewers to understand the problem, your solution, and the impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with the youth sports landscape and GameChanger's existing products.

• Think Holistically: For any design challenge, consider the user, the business goals, and technical constraints.

• AI Application: Be prepared to discuss how AI could be applied to solve the challenge or improve the process, aligning with the team's focus.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a cross-functional team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "New Ventures" and AI, expect interview questions that probe your comfort with ambiguity, your ability to innovate, and your forward-thinking approach to design tools and methodologies. Be ready to defend your design choices with data and user insights.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Likely Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD. Figma is increasingly the industry standard for collaborative design.

• AI Tools: Candidates are expected to have experience with AI tools for design. This could include AI-powered research synthesis tools, generative design platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Stable Diffusion for ideation), AI assistants for content creation, or AI-driven prototyping tools.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to track user behavior, feature adoption, and engagement metrics.

• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Looker, or internal dashboards for reporting and presenting findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding customer journeys and data flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI tools" is critical. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific AI tools they've used, how they integrated them into their workflow, and the tangible benefits they provided. This is a key area where the company is looking for expertise and innovation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on achieving ambitious goals and making a meaningful impact on youth sports and the company's future growth.

• User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users, with a commitment to frequent customer interaction and using insights to drive design decisions.

• Innovation & Agility: A willingness to question the status quo, embrace new technologies (especially AI), and adapt quickly in a "New Ventures" environment.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and working effectively with cross-functional partners to achieve shared objectives.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of seeking and providing meaningful feedback, with an emphasis on evolving the design practice and individual skills.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers, influencing product strategy from conception through execution.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages open design critiques and the sharing of inspirational resources, fostering growth and learning.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are grounded in user research and data analysis, leading to objective discussions and strategic alignment.

• Proactive Contribution: Team members are encouraged to advocate for change and identify opportunities to positively impact the team and product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to blend the mission-driven passion of youth sports with the dynamic, innovative spirit of a tech startup, especially within the New Ventures team. They value proactive individuals who are not afraid to challenge norms and drive progress.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in "New Ventures" often means dealing with evolving requirements, undefined problems, and the need to establish new product directions from scratch.

• Domain Fluency: Rapidly learning and becoming an expert in the youth sports domain to design effective solutions.

• AI Integration Maturity: Helping to mature the team's AI practice, which may involve experimentation, evangelism, and defining best practices.

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Designing for new opportunities while keeping future scalability and GameChanger's broader ecosystem in mind.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on vision, strategy, and design execution, especially in a fast-paced environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Becoming an expert in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools for design, positioning oneself at the forefront of design technology.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gaining significant experience in shaping new product lines and influencing business strategy.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially lead design initiatives.

• Industry Immersion: Deepening understanding of the youth sports technology market and its challenges.

• Design System Contribution: Playing a key role in building and refining a scalable design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are opportunities for growth. For example, mastering AI tools can lead to specialized career paths, and navigating ambiguity builds resilience and strategic thinking skills essential for senior roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for an unfamiliar domain. How did you quickly gain fluency and what was the outcome?" (Focus on research, learning speed, and impact.)

• "Walk us through a complex problem you solved using design. How did you break it down, what was your process, and what was the measurable impact?" (Demonstrate problem-solving, process, and results.)

• "How have you integrated AI tools into your design workflow? Provide a specific example of how AI helped you achieve a better outcome or increased efficiency." (Crucial for this role; be ready with concrete examples.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints when designing a new feature or product?" (Assess strategic thinking and trade-off management.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about GameChanger's mission in youth sports?" (Show genuine passion and understanding of the company's purpose.)

• "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback within a design team and with cross-functional partners?" (Assess collaboration and growth mindset.)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote-first environment. What strategies do you use to stay productive and connected?" (Evaluate remote work effectiveness.)

• "How would you contribute to evolving and maturing a design practice at a company like GameChanger?" (Gauge initiative and leadership potential.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, challenges, and the final impact (with metrics).

• Emphasize AI Usage: Dedicate a section or highlight throughout your case studies where and how you utilized AI tools, the specific benefits, and what you learned.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, prototypes, final UI) to illustrate your process and solutions.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect to be asked detailed questions about your design choices, research methodologies, and how you handled specific challenges.

• Connect to GameChanger: Whenever possible, draw parallels between your experience and GameChanger's mission or the challenges of the youth sports domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared for a discussion on how AI tools are changing the design landscape and your perspective on their future role. This is a key area to demonstrate forward-thinking and proactive engagement with emerging technologies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link (jobs.ashbyhq.com).

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, strong user research, native mobile/web experience, and crucially, your innovative use of AI tools in the design process. Ensure at least two detailed case studies are prominent.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly showcase your 5+ years of experience, specific achievements in product design, and keywords related to user research, mobile/web design, AI tools, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify your impact where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact. Prepare specific examples for common behavioral and situational questions, with a strong emphasis on your experience with AI tools and your understanding of GameChanger's mission.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research GameChanger, its mission in youth sports, its products, and its culture. Understand the "New Ventures" context and how your skills can drive innovation in this area.

⚠️ 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.