Senior Product Designer, Space

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Space

Company: Anduril Industries

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-28

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design process for critical space domain awareness capabilities, focusing on mission planning and command & control experiences.

• Collaborate closely with specialized stakeholders including space systems engineers, technical product managers, and operators to translate complex requirements into intuitive user interfaces.

• Drive the evolution of Anduril's design system to accommodate the unique challenges and requirements of the space domain, ensuring consistency and reusability across programs.

• Shape the future of operator workflows for internal R&D and external customer programs, influencing the direction of cutting-edge defense technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a specialized "Space" business line, indicating a focus on a niche but high-impact area of defense technology. The designation of "Senior Product Designer" implies a need for significant autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. The emphasis on "Space Domain Awareness" and "Mission Planning" suggests a need for designers comfortable with complex, data-intensive, and high-stakes operational environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle, from initial problem discovery and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and delivery, for space mission planning and command & control systems.

• Partner with existing product designers within the Space team to collaboratively define and refine design principles and the overall design direction for the space domain.

• Proactively identify opportunities to leverage and adapt existing design system components from Anduril's Maritime and Aerial Autonomy platforms for space-specific applications, maximizing reuse and efficiency.

• Lead discovery sessions and collaborative workshops with internal operators and external stakeholders (e.g., Space Force Guardians) to deeply understand user needs and synthesize findings into actionable design solutions.

• Develop comprehensive design documentation, including user journeys, workflows, and high-fidelity mockups, to ensure clarity and facilitate effective communication with engineering, product management, and other cross-functional teams.

• Contribute to the evolution of Anduril's core operating system, Lattice OS, by developing and implementing design solutions at the edge of the space domain.

• Participate actively in design critiques and knowledge-sharing sessions across the broader Anduril design community to foster learning and maintain design consistency.

• Collaborate closely with the design systems team to ensure that domain-specific design extensions align with and contribute to the overall platform's integrity and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on hands-on design execution, strategic thinking regarding design system utilization, and deep collaboration with technical and operational teams. The requirement to adapt existing design systems for a new domain (space) is a key operational challenge that successful candidates must address.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX) Design, or a related design field is expected, often demonstrated through a Bachelor's or Master's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 4+ years of progressive experience in product design, UX, or HCI, with a proven track record of delivering technically informed and high-quality design solutions.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in visual and interaction design, with a portfolio showcasing the ability to design complex technical workflows that prioritize precision, clarity, and meticulous attention to detail.

• Proven systems thinking capabilities, including the ability to map intricate user journeys across diverse user types and operational contexts.

• Strong proficiency in prototyping tools and methodologies to effectively drive decision-making processes.

• Exceptional communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate the rationale behind design decisions and navigate complex stakeholder requirements across engineering, product, and business functions.

• Ability to work independently on feature-level design tasks while proactively seeking guidance for more ambiguous or complex challenges.

• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret (TS) clearance with SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) eligibility. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing user-centered software for technical operators in domains such as aerospace, industrial control systems, logistics, robotics, or similar complex operational environments.

• Familiarity with workflows involving the planning, commanding, visualization, or monitoring of distributed systems, particularly in aerospace or defense contexts.

• A history of delivering high-quality design work within fast-paced, mission-critical environments characterized by shifting priorities and inherent ambiguity.

• Experience contributing to and extending established design systems to meet unique domain-specific needs.

• Proven ability to lead user research initiatives, including customer discovery, usability testing, and the synthesis of complex feedback loops.

• Strong facilitation skills for leading workshops, driving cross-functional alignment, and supporting strategic decision-making.

• Experience designing for constrained environments or high-stakes, safety-critical applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The clearance requirement is a critical qualification for this role, indicating its sensitive nature. The preference for experience in aerospace, industrial control, or robotics strongly suggests the type of complex, data-driven, and operator-focused environments the candidate will be designing for, aligning with the operational demands of space systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 4 years of product design experience with a strong emphasis on technical solutions and high-craft execution.

• Include detailed case studies demonstrating the end-to-end design process, from problem definition and user research to final visual and interaction design.

• Feature examples of designing complex technical workflows where precision, clarity, and attention to detail were paramount.

• Highlight your systems thinking approach, illustrating how you map user journeys across multiple user types and operational contexts.

• Present examples of strong prototyping skills used to drive decision-making.

• Demonstrate your ability to communicate the "why" behind design decisions, showing navigation of complex stakeholder requirements. Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly outline the problem decomposition process and how user research (e.g., discovery sessions, workshops) informed design decisions.

• Detail the iterative design process, including how feedback was incorporated and how prototypes were used to validate concepts.

• Document the collaboration process with engineering and product management, illustrating how design was integrated into the development lifecycle.

• Showcase how you have leveraged or extended design systems, demonstrating an understanding of consistency, reusability, and domain-specific adaptations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, especially given the emphasis on "high-craft, technically informed solutions" and designing for complex technical workflows. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their process rigorously, demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but a deep understanding of user needs, system complexity, and cross-functional collaboration within a defense technology context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $166,000 - $220,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive equity grants are included as part of the total compensation package.

• Top-tier benefits available at little to no cost to employees, ensuring support in health, recovery, and overall well-being.

• Comprehensive benefits package includes Health Insurance.

• Access to a robust employee well-being program.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, with the expectation of flexibility required for mission-critical environments and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior-level design role in a high-cost-of-living area like Seattle, especially within the defense technology sector. The inclusion of equity grants is a significant component of total compensation, reflecting the company's growth-oriented model. The mention of "mission-critical environments" and "shifting priorities" implies that while a standard work week is expected, some flexibility and dedication beyond typical hours may be necessary, a common operational characteristic in this industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology. Anduril Industries is at the forefront of modernizing military capabilities by integrating advanced technology, AI, and autonomy into defense systems.

Company Size: Anduril Industries is a rapidly growing company, indicative of a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. While specific numbers fluctuate, it's a significant player in the defense tech sector, suggesting ample resources and ambitious projects.

Founded: Anduril was founded with the mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities, operating with the agility and innovation of a 21st-century tech company within the defense industry. This foundational ethos drives a culture of rapid development, cutting-edge technology, and a mission-first approach.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the centralized Software Product Design & Research team, acting as a hub connecting various Anduril product ecosystems.

• This specific position is deployed to support the Space organization, working alongside peer designers focused on this domain.

• You will collaborate closely with specialized stakeholders including space systems engineers, technical product managers, and operators in mission-critical environments.

• You will maintain full access to the broader design community for critique, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, fostering a connected design practice despite domain specialization. Methodology:

• Design processes emphasize a mission-first mentality, rapid iteration, and leveraging AI-powered operating systems like Lattice OS for real-time command and control.

• Focus on bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to military applications.

• Design work aims to ensure products and workflows scale thoughtfully across platforms, mission types, and domains.

Company Website: https://www.anduril.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of advanced technology innovation and a mission-driven purpose within the defense sector. The structure emphasizes both specialized domain expertise (Space) and cross-functional integration through a central design team. This model requires designers to be adaptable, collaborative, and capable of working within a rigorous, fast-paced, and technically complex environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a seasoned professional expected to drive significant design initiatives independently, influence product strategy, and potentially mentor junior team members. The role demands a high degree of autonomy in execution while also requiring strategic input on team principles and design direction.

Reporting Structure: While the role is embedded within the Space organization for day-to-day collaboration, the designer likely maintains a reporting line to design leadership within the centralized Software Product Design & Research team. This dual reporting structure allows for specialized domain focus while ensuring adherence to broader design standards and career development pathways.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the operational effectiveness of space missions and the capabilities of military personnel (e.g., Space Force Guardians). By designing intuitive and efficient command & control and mission planning experiences, this role contributes to enhanced situational awareness, faster decision-making, and ultimately, mission success in critical, high-stakes environments. The role also influences the scalability and adaptability of Anduril's technology across different domains.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in space systems, mission planning, and command & control design within a leading defense technology company.

• Design System Leadership: Contribute significantly to the evolution of a sophisticated design system, potentially leading efforts to adapt it for new domains.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the design direction and principles for a critical business vertical, influencing product strategy and team methodology.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Enhance skills in collaborating with highly technical engineering teams, product managers, and military operators, honing expertise in complex stakeholder management.

• Career Advancement: Potential pathways to Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or specialized roles focusing on UX Research, Design Strategy, or specific technology domains within Anduril.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for career growth by combining deep product design expertise with a specialization in a cutting-edge, mission-critical domain (space defense). The combination of individual contribution, strategic influence, and potential leadership development makes it attractive for senior designers looking to make a significant impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Seattle, Washington, implying an on-site or hybrid work arrangement. Anduril likely provides modern office spaces designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington, United States. This location suggests access to a vibrant tech talent pool and proximity to potential collaborators and customers within the aerospace and defense sectors.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will foster collaboration with a dedicated Space design team, as well as engineers and product managers.

• Access to advanced design tools and technologies necessary for high-fidelity prototyping and complex workflow design.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with operators and stakeholders in mission-critical environments, providing invaluable context and feedback.

• A culture that encourages knowledge sharing and critique within the broader Anduril design community.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the nature of defense technology and mission-critical operations may require flexibility. Designers are expected to be responsive to project needs and deadlines, particularly during critical development or deployment phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Seattle suggests a collaborative and immersive work environment. The emphasis on working with operators implies that the role may involve site visits or direct observation of how the products are used in real-world, high-stakes scenarios, which is a key aspect of the operational context for designers in this field.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills, experience, and alignment with the role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely present several key case studies from your portfolio, detailing your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your approach to complex technical workflows, stakeholder management, and systems thinking.

• On-site/Virtual Interviews: This will involve discussions with hiring managers, peer designers, and potentially product managers and engineers from the Space team. Expect questions focused on your design philosophy, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and experience in defense or similarly complex domains.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A practical exercise, either live or take-home, to assess your ability to tackle a specific design problem relevant to the space domain, focusing on process, execution, and communication.

• Final Round: May involve discussions with senior leadership, further assessing cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex technical workflows, systems thinking, and end-to-end design ownership. Prioritize projects where you had significant impact and can articulate the "why" behind your decisions.

• Detail Your Process: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the research conducted, design iterations, key challenges, solutions, and measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Technical Acumen: Showcase your ability to design for technical operators and complex systems. Emphasize precision, clarity, and attention to detail in your visual and interaction design.

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Illustrate how you consider user journeys across multiple touchpoints and operational contexts. Show how you've leveraged or extended design systems.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle ambiguity, your collaboration style, and your experience with defense or similar high-stakes environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Anduril's mission and products, particularly their work in space, autonomy, and AI.

• Understand the core challenges of mission planning and command & control systems: data visualization, real-time updates, complex decision-making, and user trust.

• Practice articulating your design process and decisions clearly and concisely. Be ready to present your thinking verbally and visually.

• Consider how you would approach designing for users in high-pressure, mission-critical situations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their design process and strategic thinking. Given the defense context and the need for clearance, expect a thorough vetting process. The prompt for "space domain awareness" and "mission planning" suggests a need for candidates to demonstrate an understanding of operational contexts beyond typical consumer or enterprise software.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, given industry trends and collaborative nature), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Axure RP (for more complex workflow simulations).

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Dovetail (for synthesis).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Jira, Confluence, Slack, Miro.

Analytics & Reporting: While direct analytics tool usage might be more on the Product Management side, designers should be comfortable interpreting data related to user behavior, task completion rates, and system performance as provided by engineering and product teams. Familiarity with dashboard concepts and data visualization principles is beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant for this design role, but an understanding of how underlying systems (like Lattice OS) function and integrate is crucial for designing cohesive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly list tools, standard industry tools for product design and UX are implied. Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for collaborative design. Familiarity with tools used in complex technical environments and understanding how design integrates with systems like Lattice OS is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission First: A strong commitment to the company's overarching mission of transforming military capabilities. This translates to prioritizing impactful solutions that directly support operational effectiveness.

• Technical Excellence & Innovation: Driving advancements in AI, autonomy, computer vision, and networking. This means a culture that embraces cutting-edge technology and rigorous engineering.

• Speed & Agility: Bringing advanced technology to the military in months, not years. This fosters a fast-paced environment that values rapid iteration and efficient execution.

• Integrity & Trust: Essential in the defense sector, ensuring reliability and security in all systems and operations.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams—designers, engineers, product managers, and military operators—to achieve complex goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with engineering and product management, participating in problem decomposition sessions and iterative development.

• Domain Specialization with Centralized Support: Designers are embedded within specific business lines (like Space) but remain connected to a central design community for critique, knowledge sharing, and adherence to broader design principles.

• Data-Informed & Operator-Centric: Design decisions are informed by user research, operational context, and data, with a primary focus on the needs and workflows of technical operators.

• Open Critique and Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive criticism and continuous improvement through regular design reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of rapid technological advancement and a serious, mission-driven purpose. Designers are expected to be highly collaborative, technically adept, and comfortable operating in an environment where design directly impacts critical national security operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Translating highly technical, data-intensive space operations (mission planning, sensor network command & control) into intuitive and effective user experiences.

• Domain Adaptation: Extending and adapting an existing design system (originally for ground, maritime, and air) to meet the unique requirements of the space domain, ensuring consistency while addressing new challenges.

• Ambiguity and Shifting Priorities: Working in a fast-paced, mission-critical defense environment where requirements and priorities can evolve rapidly.

• Stakeholder Management: Navigating complex requirements and expectations from diverse stakeholders, including engineers, product managers, and military operators (e.g., Space Force Guardians).

• Security Clearance Requirements: The need to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance can be a process in itself and may limit certain aspects of collaboration or information sharing during the interim.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Gain deep insights into the intricacies of space operations, mission planning, and command & control systems.

• Advanced Design System Contribution: Play a pivotal role in evolving a sophisticated design system for a new, critical domain, enhancing your expertise in scalable design.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Hone skills in working with highly technical teams (aerospace engineers, AI/ML specialists) and understanding their workflows.

• Mission-Critical Design Experience: Build a portfolio with impactful projects in a high-stakes, defense-related industry, differentiating your career trajectory.

• Potential for Leadership: Opportunities to influence design strategy, mentor junior designers, and grow into lead roles within specialized domains or the broader design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant, requiring a designer who is not only skilled but also adaptable, resilient, and capable of deep problem-solving in a technically demanding and operationally critical field. The growth opportunities are substantial for those who thrive in such environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a complex technical workflow for operators. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure precision and clarity?" (Focus on process, user research, and technical detail).

• "How would you approach adapting an existing design system for a new, highly specialized domain like space operations? What are the key considerations?" (Assess systems thinking, domain understanding, and strategic adaptation).

• "Walk us through a project where you had to navigate conflicting requirements from engineering, product, and end-users. How did you achieve alignment and deliver a successful outcome?" (Evaluate stakeholder management, negotiation, and problem-solving).

• "Imagine you're designing a mission planning tool for Space Force Guardians. What are the critical user needs and operational considerations you'd prioritize in the initial discovery phase?" (Test your ability to think critically about the specific domain and user context). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Anduril's mission and our work in the defense technology sector, specifically within space?" (Assess your alignment with the company's purpose and values).

• "How do you see your role contributing to Anduril's culture of rapid innovation and mission-first execution?" (Evaluate your understanding of the company's operational ethos).

• "Describe your experience working within a centralized design team that also has embedded specialists. How do you balance domain-specific needs with broader organizational standards?" (Gauge your collaboration style and understanding of team structures). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, begin with the problem statement and business/user goals, detail your process and key decisions, showcase the solution, and conclude with the impact and learnings.

• Emphasize Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially in areas of technical complexity, systems thinking, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Showcase Technical Design: Highlight visual and interaction design elements that demonstrate precision, clarity, and an understanding of complex technical workflows.

• Demonstrate Process Rigor: Explain your research methods, iterative design steps, and how you used prototyping to drive decisions.

• Connect to Anduril: Where possible, draw parallels between your past experiences and the challenges and opportunities at Anduril, particularly in complex operational or technical domains.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical constraints you considered, and how you validated your solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design craft, but also strategic thinking, technical understanding, and the ability to operate effectively within a mission-critical, defense-oriented context. Emphasizing your process, problem-solving approach, and understanding of complex operator workflows will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer, Space position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that highlight experience with complex technical workflows, systems thinking, and end-to-end design ownership. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, solutions, and measurable impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to emphasize your 4+ years of product design/UX/HCI experience, highlighting skills in visual and interaction design, technical workflow design, systems thinking, and stakeholder management. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear narrative, detailed process explanation, and articulation of your design rationale. Be ready to discuss your experience with complex technical operators and potentially defense-adjacent domains.

• Research Anduril: Understand Anduril's mission, products (especially Lattice OS), and their presence in the defense technology market, with a particular focus on their space initiatives. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

• Clarify Clearance Status: Be prepared to discuss your eligibility and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS clearance with SCI eligibility.

⚠️ 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.