Senior/Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior/Staff Product Designer

Company: Jobgether (Partner Company)

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-18

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for shaping digital products aimed at modernizing U.S. Air Force operations and driving organizational transformation.

• You will be a primary advocate for users, influencing product direction and design execution through human-centered design, systems thinking, and lean-agile delivery.

• The position involves owning UI/UX design across the entire product lifecycle, from initial concepts and research to implementation and ongoing iteration.

• Collaboration is key, with close partnerships with product managers, engineers, researchers, and government stakeholders to create meaningful and accessible user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior/Staff" designation suggests a need for candidates who can operate independently, mentor junior designers, and contribute strategically to product and design leadership. The target audience is experienced product designers with a proven track record in complex environments, particularly those involving government or large-scale enterprise transformations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define scalable, end-to-end user flows incorporating strong information architecture, systems thinking, design principles, and accessibility standards.

• Create intuitive and elegant user interfaces within Figma, while also evolving existing visual systems with clear design rationale.

• Own the UI/UX design process throughout the product lifecycle, from ideation and discovery to implementation and iteration.

• Partner with product managers, engineers, researchers, and government stakeholders to shape product strategy and define solutions for new and evolving capabilities.

• Identify creative approaches to reach and understand users, especially when direct access is limited, and integrate user insights into product and design decisions.

• Plan, conduct, synthesize, and effectively communicate generative and evaluative user research to inform product direction and design choices.

• Facilitate design workshops and effectively communicate design decisions to diverse audiences, including users, teammates, stakeholders, and government partners.

• Apply human-centered design principles to agile transformation efforts, fostering a more customer-centric approach within government teams.

• Contribute to product strategy by balancing user needs, organizational priorities, technical constraints, and delivery timelines.

• Drive design excellence and demonstrate product design leadership through hands-on execution, collaboration, and mentorship.

• Coach and enable government partners in adopting human-centered design practices and product-oriented ways of working.

• Work effectively within cross-functional teams, including product, design, engineering, research, operations, and government stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "legacy modernization," "new capability development," and "complex multi-vendor environments" indicates a need for designers who can navigate ambiguity, integrate with existing systems, and manage design across diverse platforms and teams. The mention of "coaching government partners" highlights a strong mentorship and enablement component to the role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on UI/UX design, interaction design, and information architecture. Experience in complex, enterprise-level, or government-adjacent environments is highly beneficial.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to design scalable end-to-end interaction flows with robust information architecture, adherence to accessibility standards, and common design patterns.

• Strong UI design capabilities, including proficiency in visual systems, typography, iconography, illustration, branding, and microinteractions.

• Experience utilizing established design methodologies (e.g., Double Diamond) and creating documentation/storytelling materials for stakeholder understanding.

• Proven ability to plan, synthesize, and communicate generative and evaluative user research.

• Strong product mindset, capable of contributing to strategy, prioritizing user/organizational needs, and aligning design with lean-agile methodologies.

• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate and defend design rationale to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated product design leadership and a commitment to high-quality execution.

• Experience collaborating within cross-functional teams and delivering products through iterative development cycles.

• Ability to coach government partners on human-centered design principles.

• Proficiency with Figma and modern product design workflows. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with legacy modernization and/or enterprise digital transformation projects.

• Military or Department of Defense (DoD) experience.

• Experience delivering technology in government, regulated industries, or public-benefit environments.

• Demonstrated ability to remain accountable, aligned, and effective while working on remote teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior/Staff" title implies a need for candidates who can not only execute but also strategize, mentor, and influence. The preference for government/DoD experience suggests familiarity with the unique constraints and stakeholders within such environments. The requirement for U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a CAC card are critical non-negotiables.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio featuring 1-2 relevant work samples that robustly demonstrate product design expertise, showcasing end-to-end design processes.

• Acceptable formats include a website, slide deck, or uploaded portfolio. The portfolio should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• The portfolio must highlight your ability to define scalable user flows, create intuitive interfaces, conduct user research, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrate experience with Figma and modern design workflows within your project examples. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you've documented design processes, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Include evidence of your ability to synthesize user research and translate insights into actionable design improvements.

• Provide examples of how you've applied design principles, accessibility standards, and common design patterns in your work.

• Demonstrate your approach to collaborating with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to shape strategy and solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior/Staff role, the portfolio should go beyond just showcasing final UIs. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, user advocacy, research capabilities, and leadership in design execution. Highlighting experience in complex environments or government projects will be particularly impactful.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Senior Product Designer: $150,000 – $185,000 annually

• Staff Product Designer: $170,000 – $203,000 annually

• Other career levels compensation range from $90,000 to $230,000, dependent on seniority. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Disability & Life Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

• Savings Accounts: Dependent care FSA, healthcare FSA, and health savings account (HSA) options.

• Retirement Savings: Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) matching up to 10% of salary with no vesting period.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Approximately 25 days of flexible paid time off annually, plus 11 paid federal holidays.

• Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid time off for eligible new parents (birth, adoption, foster care).

• Performance-Based Rewards: Annual salary increases, annual performance bonuses, spot bonuses, and stock options.

• Business Development & Sales Incentives: Opportunities for business development and sales bonuses.

• Employee Referral Program: Bonuses for successful employee referrals.

• Professional Development: $2,000 annual allowance for professional development.

• Technology & Merchandise Allowances: $750 annual allowance for technology-related purchases and a $100 annual merchandise allowance.

Working Hours: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "fully remote and flexible work environment" suggests a degree of autonomy in managing work hours, provided tasks and project deadlines are met. Occasional travel may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are competitive for senior-level design roles in the US. The extensive benefits package, particularly the 401(k) match with no vesting period and generous PTO, indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and financial security. The professional development and technology allowances are valuable for staying current in the design field.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Government & Public Sector, Software, Consulting. The partner company focuses on modernizing government technology, particularly within the U.S. Air Force, applying commercial best practices to public sector challenges.

Company Size: While Jobgether is a platform, the partner company's size is not explicitly stated but likely operates as a medium-to-large entity given the scope of government contracts and the need for specialized roles. This implies a structured but potentially agile operational environment.

Founded: The founding date of the partner company is not provided, but their focus on modernization suggests they are likely established enough to secure significant government contracts, yet agile enough to adapt to evolving technological landscapes.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely consists of product designers, UI/UX specialists, and potentially researchers, working in close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Government Stakeholders.

• Reporting structure would likely involve a Design Lead or Director for senior/staff designers, with direct collaboration across product and engineering teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, requiring seamless integration with various disciplines to deliver complex solutions for government modernization initiatives. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial for informing product and design decisions, especially in government contexts where impact measurement is key.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are applied through lean-agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development and continuous improvement.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely integrated to streamline processes and enhance product delivery within the government framework.

Company Website: [Partner Company Website Not Provided - Jobgether acts as a conduit]

📝 Enhancement Note: The partner company operates within the highly specialized niche of government technology modernization. This means the culture likely balances a need for rigorous process and compliance with a drive for innovation and user-centricity. Experience in navigating government procurement and stakeholder management is a significant cultural asset.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior/Staff level, indicating a high degree of autonomy, strategic contribution, and potential for mentorship. Designers at this level are expected to lead complex projects, influence product strategy, and contribute to the overall design vision and process improvement.

Reporting Structure: Senior/Staff Product Designers will likely report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and directly with government stakeholders, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical/organizational realities.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly contributing to the modernization of critical U.S. Air Force systems. This involves enhancing user experience for military personnel, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring the successful adoption of new technologies, thereby impacting national security and operational readiness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in human-centered design, systems thinking, and agile methodologies within a unique government context. Potential to specialize in areas like legacy system modernization or new capability design.

• Industry Learning: Access to professional development budgets for conferences, workshops, and training focused on design, government technology, and agile practices.

• Leadership Potential: Clear pathways for advancement to Principal Designer, Design Lead, or management roles, with opportunities to mentor junior designers and influence design strategy across multiple projects. The role also offers chances to lead design initiatives within government modernization efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level often implies a technical leadership track, where individuals are recognized as subject matter experts and can drive significant technical and strategic initiatives without necessarily managing people directly, though mentorship is common. The unique environment of government contracts offers specialized career growth not found in typical commercial tech.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote role, offering significant flexibility. While there's no physical office requirement for daily work, occasional travel to U.S. Air Force bases (quarterly at most) may be required for research, stakeholder meetings, or user engagement.

Office Location(s): The role is based in the United States, and while remote, the occasional travel requirement means candidates must be located within the U.S. to access Air Force bases.

Workspace Context:

• The remote nature fosters an independent work environment, requiring strong self-discipline and time management.

• Access to necessary operations tools and technology will be provided or supported through allowances, enabling effective digital collaboration and design execution.

• Opportunities for team interaction will occur through virtual meetings, collaborative design sessions, and project-specific communication channels, fostering a connected remote team culture.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, but the fully remote and flexible nature allows for some autonomy in scheduling, provided project deadlines and collaborative needs are met. This flexibility is beneficial for balancing deep work sessions with virtual team interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully remote" aspect is a significant draw, but candidates must be prepared for the occasional travel and the unique demands of working within a government contracting environment, which may have different communication cadences and approval processes than purely commercial settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely conducted via Jobgether's AI matching and potentially a brief recruiter screen.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on your design process, strategic thinking, and execution. You may be asked to present specific case studies and potentially complete a design challenge or take-home exercise relevant to government modernization scenarios.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with product managers, engineers, and potentially senior designers or government partners to assess collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a hiring manager or executive, focusing on leadership potential, strategic vision, and overall fit for the role and company mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 1-2 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, particularly those involving complex problem-solving, user advocacy, and measurable impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed (research, ideation, iteration), key design decisions and rationale, and the final outcomes/impact. Quantify results where possible.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Explicitly demonstrate your skills with Figma, including component libraries, design systems, and collaborative features, within your project examples.

• Showcase Government/Enterprise Context: If possible, include projects that touch upon enterprise transformation, legacy system modernization, or similar complex environments to demonstrate relevant experience.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to discuss your design choices, defend your rationale, and articulate how you would approach similar challenges in the U.S. Air Force context.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research U.S. Air Force modernization efforts, common challenges in government technology adoption, and principles of human-centered design in public sector contexts.

• Focus on Process: For any design challenge, emphasize your structured approach, user research integration, iterative design, and clear communication of your thought process.

• Systems Thinking: Be prepared to think about how your design fits into a larger ecosystem of systems and stakeholders.

• Accessibility & Scalability: These are critical for government projects; ensure your design thinking incorporates these principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "U.S. citizenship is required" and "eligibility for a Common Access Card (CAC)" means that the application and interview process will likely include thorough vetting and background checks. Candidates should be prepared for a more extensive onboarding process if selected.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as the primary tool for UI/UX design. Proficiency in creating scalable interfaces, component libraries, design systems, and using collaborative features is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has strong prototyping capabilities, experience with other dedicated prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting and synthesizing user research (e.g., UserTesting.com, Dovetail, Maze) is expected.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web and product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact is valuable.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that help visualize data and research findings for stakeholders (e.g., Tableau, Looker, or even advanced Figma capabilities) is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM or other enterprise systems is beneficial.

• Familiarity with lean-agile project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) is expected for collaboration within development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is mastery of Figma. The other tools are more about general proficiency in modern product development workflows and understanding how design integrates with data, research, and project management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs, even in complex government environments.

• Excellence & Rigor: A drive for high-quality design execution, adherence to principles, and meticulous attention to detail, especially critical in government projects.

• Collaboration: A strong belief in working effectively within cross-functional teams, fostering open communication and shared problem-solving.

• Impact & Purpose: A desire to contribute to meaningful public-interest technology and government modernization initiatives, understanding the broader impact of their work.

• Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Embracing change, learning new approaches, and staying current with design trends and technologies, particularly in evolving government sectors.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with product managers, engineers, researchers, and government partners to ensure design solutions are aligned with technical feasibility, business goals, and user needs.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback loops within the design team and with other disciplines to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings from research and design work to elevate the team's collective capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a blend of innovation and responsibility. Working with government entities requires a degree of formality and process adherence, but the goal of modernization implies a forward-thinking and adaptable approach. Candidates who can balance these aspects will thrive.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Bureaucracy: Understanding and working within the unique processes, procurement cycles, and stakeholder landscapes of government agencies.

• Legacy System Modernization: Designing for and integrating with older, complex systems while introducing modern user experiences.

• Limited User Access: Developing effective research and design strategies when direct, continuous access to end-users (e.g., military personnel) might be constrained.

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Reconciling potentially conflicting requirements from users, government stakeholders, technical teams, and organizational priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Expertise: Gaining deep experience in designing for national security, defense, or public sector technology, which is a niche but highly valuable skill set.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to learn about the defense sector, government IT modernization trends, and work on projects with significant societal impact.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers and contribute to the strategic direction of design within the partner company and its government engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working in the government contracting space. The growth opportunities are directly tied to developing specialized expertise and making a tangible impact on critical national infrastructure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders with competing priorities. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your communication, negotiation, and user advocacy skills.)

• "How do you approach designing for users when direct access is limited? What methods do you use to gather insights and validate designs?" (Prepare to discuss research techniques for constrained environments.)

• "Walk us through a complex design problem you solved. What was the challenge, your process, and the impact of your solution?" (Be ready to present a detailed case study from your portfolio.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working on U.S. Air Force modernization projects?" (Show genuine interest in the mission and impact.)

• "How do you approach coaching or enabling non-designers (like government partners) on human-centered design principles?" (Highlight your mentorship and communication skills.)

• "Describe your experience working in a fully remote, cross-functional team environment. How do you ensure alignment and productivity?" (Emphasize your self-management and collaboration strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your key decisions, and the results. Use visuals effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., improved task completion time, increased user satisfaction, reduced errors) to demonstrate the value of your design work.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Point out specific Figma features or workflows you used that enhanced efficiency or design quality.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your rationale for specific design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the government contract requirement, expect questions that probe your understanding of security, compliance, and working within regulated environments. Demonstrating a proactive and responsible approach to these aspects will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Jobgether platform.

• Customize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your years of experience, key skills in UI/UX, Figma proficiency, information architecture, user research, and any experience with enterprise or government projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 strong case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and ability to deliver user-centered solutions. Ensure it's easily accessible and clearly articulates your contributions and impact.

• Research the Partner Company: If possible, research the specific partner company to understand their mission and any publicly available information about their work with the U.S. Air Force. This will help you tailor your application and interview responses.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear communication, strong storytelling, and articulating your design rationale and impact. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with the unique demands of government modernization.

⚠️ 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.