Senior Product Designer (Temporary)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Temporary)

Company: InStride Health

Location: Remote, US

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design for critical digital platform initiatives, focusing on enhancing clinical and operational workflows.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams to translate complex user needs into intuitive and scalable digital experiences.

• Leverage user research, data analysis, and design thinking methodologies to identify and resolve friction points within healthcare delivery processes.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of a robust Figma-based design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a temporary position, anticipated to last approximately six months (November 2026 - April 2027), designed to provide additional design capacity. While there's a possibility of extension or conversion, it is not guaranteed. The focus is on experienced designers who can quickly integrate and contribute to established product development cycles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead product design efforts for active product streams, partnering with Product Management to define problem spaces, navigate ambiguity, and proactively propose design trade-offs.

• Conduct thorough audits of existing clinical and operational workflows through user research, product data analysis, and design reviews to identify areas for improvement in clinical efficiency and patient outcomes.

• Propose, document, and maintain scalable components and dynamic patterns within InStride’s Figma design system, ensuring library organization and adherence to design standards for cross-functional production.

• Design system architectures capable of managing complex data, dynamic error states, and diverse user environments effectively.

• Create prototypes at appropriate fidelity levels (low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity interactive flows in Figma) to support user testing, stakeholder reviews, and Software Development Lifecycle phases.

• Integrate AI tools into the design workflow, including generative layout tools, AI-assisted content generation, and automated interaction generation, to accelerate exploration and discovery cycles.

• Independently lead user research and discovery for significant initiatives, scoping and executing the minimum viable research necessary to efficiently mitigate risk prior to development investment.

• Ensure all designs meet clinical safety and accessibility standards (WCAG), and conduct competitive audits to incorporate best-in-class UX patterns.

• Evaluate technical trade-offs with Engineering and Data partners, clearly communicating design rationale, logic, and component dependencies while balancing speed and complexity.

• Actively participate in sprint team ceremonies, design team reviews, and regular check-ins with management and cross-functional partners, managing project timelines and ensuring a consistent pipeline of validated, technically feasible design work.

• Deliver constructive critique in design reviews and mentor junior design team members on best practices and modern AI-enhanced design workflows.

• Document active design streams, design system changes, and open decisions to ensure a smooth handover at the conclusion of the assignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency within a healthcare context. The integration of AI tools and a proactive approach to research and risk mitigation are key differentiators for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer role.

Experience: 5+ years of end-to-end product design experience, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in health tech, digital health, or complex enterprise SaaS applications.

Required Skills:

• Master-level proficiency in Figma, including advanced features such as auto-layout, component variables, dynamic states, and leveraging modern plugin ecosystems.

• Demonstrated experience with comprehensive design system management, including tokenization, and scaling design libraries for enterprise-level applications.

• Hands-on experience integrating AI-driven prototyping or generative design tools to accelerate discovery and validation workflows.

• Proven track record of utilizing user research, product data, and competitive auditing to de-risk projects and inform product strategy.

• Strong knowledge of web and mobile accessibility standards (WCAG) and familiarity with clinical or data safety guidelines.

• Ability to build context quickly and contribute meaningfully within an established product organization within the initial weeks of employment.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Comfort navigating ambiguity and independently setting direction on complex problems. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the healthcare industry, specifically within digital health or mental health services.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and sprint-based workflows.

• Experience designing for complex, data-intensive enterprise applications.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies beyond basic usability testing, such as ethnographic research or in-depth interviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma mastery, design systems, and AI integration suggests a need for a designer who is not only skilled in traditional UX/UI but also forward-thinking and adaptable to new technologies. The "build context quickly" requirement points to a need for self-starters who can onboard efficiently.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio showcasing complex workflow design, demonstrating the ability to untangle intricate processes into user-friendly interfaces.

• Examples of systems thinking, illustrating how individual design elements connect within a larger product ecosystem and design system.

• Case studies that highlight measurable product outcomes, emphasizing data-driven improvements in efficiency, user satisfaction, or clinical impact.

• Demonstrations of design system contributions, such as scalable components, pattern libraries, or tokenization strategies. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of design process from discovery to delivery, including research methodologies, ideation, prototyping, and testing phases.

• Examples of how design decisions were informed by user data, clinical feedback, and technical constraints.

• Illustrations of collaboration with engineering and product teams to ensure successful implementation of designs.

• Evidence of maintaining design consistency and scalability through established design systems and component libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to handle complex design challenges, manage systems, and drive tangible results. The emphasis on "measurable product outcomes" and "systems thinking" is paramount, especially for a senior-level position.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The annualized base salary for this position is $114,000 to $127,000 USD.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401k with company match.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Paid holidays.

• Paid service days.

• 4-week paid sabbatical.

• 12-week paid parental leave.

• Health benefits commence on the first day of employment.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring standard business hours with sufficient overlap across US time zones to facilitate sprint ceremonies, design reviews, and cross-functional collaboration. An estimated 40 hours per week is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an annualized estimate. As this is a temporary role, the actual compensation structure (hourly rate vs. fixed term salary) and benefits eligibility might vary or be prorated. The benefits listed are comprehensive and indicative of a standard full-time employee package, which may be partially or fully available to this temporary role depending on the contract terms.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (specifically, pediatric mental health, anxiety, and OCD care).

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size, but the nature of the role and the mention of a "product organization" suggest a growing, likely mid-sized tech company (potentially 50-250 employees).

Founded: The founding date is not provided.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will join the Product team, working within an established product organization.

• This role involves close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams.

• The designer will also partner with clinical and operational stakeholders within InStride Health.

• The designer will report to a manager within the design or product function, with opportunities to mentor junior designers. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company emphasizes leveraging product data and user research to inform design and product strategy.

• Agile Development: Participation in sprint team ceremonies indicates an agile development environment.

• User-Centric Design: A core focus on improving patient outcomes and clinical efficiency through user experience design.

• Innovation & Technology: Commitment to using technology, including AI, to solve problems in the mental health system.

Company Website: https://www.instride.health/

📝 Enhancement Note: InStride Health's mission to improve pediatric mental health care is central to its culture. The company values are "Give Heart," "Work Smart," "Have Humility," and "Embrace Community," which should guide interactions and work approach. The emphasis on technology and innovation suggests an environment that values smart solutions to complex problems.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role within the Product Design function. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead design initiatives without constant supervision. The focus is on delivering high-quality design work and contributing to product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a manager within the product or design department. They will work within cross-functional sprint teams, collaborating with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of InStride Health's digital platform. By improving clinical and operational workflows, the designer contributes to better patient outcomes, increased access to care, and overall operational efficiency, directly aligning with the company's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Deepening: Opportunity to deepen expertise in health tech UX, advanced Figma techniques, design systems at scale, and AI-assisted design workflows.

• Mentorship: Chance to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team's practices.

• Project Leadership: Lead significant product design initiatives, gaining experience in complex problem-solving and cross-functional leadership.

• Potential for Extension/Conversion: While not guaranteed, successful performance in this temporary role could lead to longer-term opportunities within InStride Health, potentially in a permanent capacity or on other projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary role, it offers significant opportunities for a seasoned designer to showcase their skills in a mission-critical area. The growth potential lies in honing specialized skills and demonstrating leadership within a fast-paced, impactful environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, allowing employees to work from their home office.

Office Location(s): Remote, US. The company emphasizes working remotely with periodic in-person retreats.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: The environment is built for remote work, relying heavily on digital communication and collaboration tools.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to InStride's digital platform and collaboration tools is essential. The role specifically mentions leveraging AI tools within the design workflow.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role requires constant interaction with various teams (Product, Engineering, Data, Clinical, Operations), fostering a collaborative atmosphere despite the remote setup.

• Focus on Efficiency: The company's "Work Smart" value suggests an environment that prioritizes efficient processes and outcomes.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours are expected, with sufficient overlap across US time zones to accommodate team ceremonies, design reviews, and cross-functional collaboration. This implies flexibility but requires availability during core working hours for team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature requires strong self-discipline and communication skills. The mention of "periodic in-person retreats" suggests opportunities for team building and deeper collaboration, which can be a significant perk for remote employees.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a conversation with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion focusing on experience, specific project examples, and understanding of InStride's mission and challenges.

• Portfolio Review / Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, highlighting relevant case studies that demonstrate complex workflow design, systems thinking, and measurable outcomes. A design challenge might be incorporated to assess problem-solving skills and design process in real-time.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Engineering Lead) to assess teamwork, communication, and ability to navigate technical trade-offs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to confirm fit and discuss final details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best align with the requirements: complex workflows, health tech/SaaS experience, design systems, and measurable impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges faced, the solutions you designed, and the quantifiable outcomes achieved.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly show how your designs integrate into a larger system or design library.

• Showcase AI Integration: If possible, include a project where you leveraged AI tools to accelerate your design process or generate novel solutions.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your design decisions, trade-offs made, and how you incorporated user feedback and technical constraints.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly outline your research and discovery methodologies, especially how you "build context quickly" and mitigate risk.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with InStride Health's mission, target users (children, teens, young adults, families), and the challenges in pediatric mental healthcare access.

• Practice Problem Framing: Be ready to break down a complex problem into smaller, manageable parts.

• Think Out Loud: For design challenges, articulate your thought process, assumptions, and rationale clearly.

• Focus on User Needs: Always tie your solutions back to user needs and business objectives.

• Consider Constraints: Acknowledge and address potential technical, time, or resource constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio that demonstrates complex workflow design, systems thinking, and measurable product outcomes" suggests that candidates should be prepared to go beyond superficial design presentations and delve into the strategic impact and process behind their work. The temporary nature might mean a more condensed interview process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Master-level proficiency is required for all aspects of UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system management. This includes auto-layout, component variables, and dynamic states.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are expected, possibly supplemented by other tools depending on fidelity needs.

• Design System Tools: Experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems, including tokenization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar for analyzing user behavior and product data to inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret and potentially contribute to dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Looker) to understand user metrics and clinical outcomes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within a CRM context (e.g., Salesforce for sales/support, or patient management systems) can be beneficial.

• Workflow Automation: Understanding of how designed workflows translate into automated processes within the platform.

AI & Emerging Technologies:

• Generative Design Tools: Experience with AI tools for layout generation, content creation, or automated interaction design.

• AI-Assisted Design: Familiarity with AI plugins or features within design tools that enhance productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Figma mastery and experience with AI integration highlights the need for a designer who is technically adept and forward-thinking. Proficiency in these areas is not just preferred but essential for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Give Heart: Approach all patient and family interactions with compassion and empathy. Treat colleagues with the same care you would want for your loved ones.

• Work Smart: Employ innovative thinking, leverage technology, and embrace diversity of thought to solve complex problems within the mental health system. Aim for efficiency and effectiveness in all tasks.

• Have Humility: Maintain a growth mindset, be open to feedback, and collaborate effectively by leaving egos aside. Celebrate diversity and recognize that every voice contributes to success.

• Embrace Community: Foster a sense of belonging. Support team members, acknowledge shared challenges, and believe in collective effort and mutual support.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, Data, and clinical/operational teams, fostering strong working relationships to achieve shared goals.

• Open Communication: Maintain clear, consistent, and transparent communication regarding design rationale, project status, and potential trade-offs.

• Constructive Critique: Provide and receive actionable critique in design reviews, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share best practices, tips, and insights, particularly regarding modern AI-enhanced design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply embedded in its mission. Candidates should demonstrate how their work ethic and collaborative approach align with these values, especially "Work Smart" (efficiency, technology use) and "Give Heart" (empathy in a healthcare context).

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The role requires designers to independently navigate complex problem spaces and set direction with general guidance, which can be challenging but offers significant autonomy.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: As a temporary role supporting a team leave, there will be pressure to deliver high-quality work quickly, requiring efficient processes and strong prioritization skills.

• Integrating AI Tools: Effectively adopting and integrating new AI tools into existing workflows to enhance productivity without compromising design integrity or user experience.

• Complex Healthcare Workflows: Designing for intricate clinical and operational processes in healthcare demands a deep understanding of user needs, regulatory considerations, and potential safety implications.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Health Tech Expertise: Gain hands-on experience in a critical sector of health technology, understanding its unique design challenges and opportunities.

• Master AI-Enhanced Design: Become proficient in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to accelerate the design process and explore innovative solutions.

• Advance Design System Skills: Contribute to and learn from an established, scalable design system within an enterprise context.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and take ownership of significant product design initiatives, developing leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in dynamic tech environments, particularly in specialized fields like health tech. The growth opportunities are directly tied to overcoming these challenges and expanding skill sets in high-demand areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to quickly build context in a new domain or product. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on your ability to onboard efficiently and your discovery methods.)

• "How do you balance the need for speed in delivery with the importance of thorough user research and design validation, especially in a temporary role?" (Prepare to discuss your approach to MVP research and risk mitigation.)

• "Walk us through a complex workflow you designed. What were the user pain points, how did you address them, and what were the measurable impacts on efficiency or outcomes?" (Be ready to present a detailed case study from your portfolio.)

• "How have you integrated AI tools into your design workflow? What benefits did you see, and what were the challenges?" (Showcase your experience with generative design or AI-assisted tools.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to InStride Health's mission of improving pediatric mental healthcare?" (Connect your personal values or career goals to the company's mission.)

• "How do you embody our core values of 'Give Heart,' 'Work Smart,' 'Have Humility,' and 'Embrace Community' in your professional work?" (Prepare specific examples for each value.)

• "Describe your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data). How do you ensure alignment and manage differing priorities?" (Highlight your communication and stakeholder management skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcomes.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design decisions (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "increased user engagement by Y%", "improved clinical efficiency by Z%").

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Clearly illustrate how your designs fit into a larger design system or product architecture. Use visual aids to show component relationships.

• Highlight Figma & AI Proficiency: Point out specific Figma features (auto-layout, variables) and AI tools you used and how they contributed to the project's success.

• Prepare for Technical Q&A: Be ready to discuss technical trade-offs, accessibility considerations (WCAG), and clinical safety aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design craft but also strategic thinking, process rigor, and alignment with InStride Health's mission and values. The ability to articulate measurable impact and showcase experience with modern tools (Figma, AI) will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating complex workflow design, systems thinking, and measurable outcomes, particularly in health tech or enterprise SaaS. Ensure it showcases your Figma and AI tool proficiency.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5+ years of end-to-end product design experience, emphasizing achievements and responsibilities relevant to this role. Use keywords such as "Figma," "Design Systems," "User Research," "WCAG," and "AI-assisted design."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, quantifying impact, and articulating your design rationale. Prepare for questions related to InStride's mission and values, as well as your experience with complex workflows and AI tools.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research InStride Health's mission, values, and product offerings. Understand the challenges within pediatric mental health care and how technology can provide solutions. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.