Sr Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr Product Designer

Company: ForeFlight

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-08-26

Experience Level: 6+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for complex, high-impact aeronautical web products, driving user-centered solutions from discovery through delivery.

• Champion design vision and strategy, influencing product roadmaps and priorities through deep collaboration with product management and engineering teams.

• Leverage user research, data analytics, and AI-enhanced tools to inform design decisions, accelerate iteration cycles, and ensure the delivery of high-quality digital experiences.

• Contribute to the growth and maturity of the design team through mentorship, feedback, and active participation in process improvement initiatives.

• Ensure consistency and scalability of design across product lines by leading the evolution of the design system and shared patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of Sr Product Designer at ForeFlight is positioned as a leadership opportunity within the design function, requiring not only strong execution skills but also strategic influence and mentorship capabilities. The emphasis on complex, data-heavy, regulated domains and AI-enhanced tools indicates a need for a designer who can navigate sophisticated problem spaces and embrace modern design workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently lead complex design projects, from initial problem definition and user research through to final implementation and iteration, ensuring successful delivery of aeronautical web products.

• Drive user and business outcomes by collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineers to define product vision, shape innovative solutions, and ensure strategic alignment.

• Foster clarity in ambiguous project areas by proactively identifying opportunities, defining constraints, and evaluating critical tradeoffs to guide decision-making.

• Develop and iterate on a comprehensive set of high-quality design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed specifications.

• Utilize a blend of user research methodologies, product analytics, and AI-assisted design tools to gather insights, validate hypotheses, and optimize design solutions efficiently.

• Plan, execute, and analyze user research and usability testing sessions to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback, ensuring solutions meet user needs and expectations.

• Partner with engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to ensure faithful implementation of designs and uphold a high standard of user experience and product quality.

• Lead the strategic development and maintenance of ForeFlight's design system and shared component library, promoting consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products.

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to other designers on the team, fostering their professional growth and elevating the overall design craft.

• Actively influence product strategy and advocate for user needs in cross-functional discussions, contributing to roadmap planning and prioritization with data-driven insights.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of team culture, design processes, and operational efficiency through active participation and collaborative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level expectation for independent leadership, strategic contribution, and team mentorship. The emphasis on "complex, data-heavy product and user experience challenges" and "AI-enhanced tools" suggests the need for a designer adept at handling intricate information architecture and leveraging cutting-edge technology.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles in this domain, demonstrating a foundational understanding of design principles and user-centered methodologies.

Experience: 6+ years of professional experience in digital product design, with a proven track record of successfully designing and shipping complex digital products from concept to launch. Experience should include leading design initiatives, working within cross-functional teams, and demonstrating measurable impact on user and business outcomes.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product design, encompassing discovery, ideation, prototyping, user research, usability testing, and high-fidelity design.

• A robust portfolio showcasing a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-solving capabilities, and leadership in delivering impactful digital products.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and align stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.

• Proven ability to lead design efforts within cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering), driving projects from ambiguous beginnings to clear, actionable solutions.

• Strong capacity to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and drive consensus in complex project environments.

• Experience solving complex, data-heavy product and user experience challenges within regulated domains (e.g., healthcare, finance, aviation), with demonstrable positive impact.

• Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

• Solid understanding of established design systems, such as Material Design, and their application in creating scalable and consistent user interfaces.

• Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing findings from user research and usability testing.

• Proven experience leveraging AI tools and workflows to enhance personal productivity and streamline design processes, leading to improved outcomes. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing products with significant mapping or cartography components.

• A genuine interest in aviation or prior experience working within the aviation industry.

• Familiarity with data visualization techniques and tools for presenting complex information clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, strategic thinking, and leadership qualities. The specific mention of "complex, data-heavy product and user experience challenges in a domain such as healthcare, finance, or another complex, regulated domain" points towards a need for a designer who can handle intricate information architecture and regulatory considerations, with aviation being a highly preferred domain. The explicit mention of AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership for complex digital products, ideally within regulated or data-intensive industries.

• Clear articulation of design challenges, the user-centered problem-solving process, and the strategic thinking applied.

• Evidence of leadership and influence within cross-functional teams, showcasing collaboration and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrable impact through metrics and outcomes tied to user experience improvements and business objectives.

• Examples of how AI-enhanced tools or workflows were integrated to improve design efficiency or outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of workflow design and optimization, illustrating how processes were analyzed, improved, and implemented for efficiency.

• Examples of system implementation standards and how design systems were leveraged or contributed to.

• Documentation of how user research and data analysis were integrated into the design process to inform decisions and validate solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is a critical component. It should not only showcase visual design skills but also the candidate's ability to think strategically, lead projects, collaborate effectively, and drive measurable impact, particularly in complex, data-rich environments. The inclusion of AI-enhanced tool usage is a contemporary requirement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $131,000 - $160,000 USD per year. This range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in a major tech hub like Austin, Texas, reflecting the experience level, specialized domain knowledge (aeronautical products), and the inclusion of AI tool proficiency.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: With employer-paid health premiums, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs for employees.

• Open PTO Policy: Offers flexibility and autonomy in managing personal time off, promoting work-life balance.

• 401(k) with up to 10% Company Matching: A strong retirement savings benefit with immediate vesting, encouraging long-term financial planning.

• 12 Weeks Paid Paternal Leave: Supports new parents in taking extended time off to bond with their child.

• Flight Training Rewards: A unique and industry-specific benefit that supports professional development and personal interest in aviation.

Working Hours: The role is listed as FULL_TIME, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week. However, the "Open PTO Policy" suggests flexibility in managing workload and personal time, allowing for adjustments as needed to meet project demands while maintaining work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for a senior-level design role in a high-cost-of-living area like Austin. The benefits package is robust, with unique offerings like flight training rewards that align with the company's industry, and strong financial and family support. The "Open PTO Policy" suggests a culture of trust and autonomy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aviation Technology / Software. ForeFlight, as part of Jeppesen (a Boeing company), operates at the intersection of aviation and cutting-edge software development. This industry demands precision, reliability, and a deep understanding of user needs in a safety-critical environment.

Company Size: The exact size of ForeFlight isn't explicitly stated, but as part of Jeppesen/Boeing, it operates within a large enterprise structure while likely maintaining a more agile, focused product team environment. This offers the stability of a large corporation with the potential for impact within a specialized product unit.

Founded: Jeppesen was founded in 1934, and ForeFlight was founded in 2007. This blend suggests a company with a long-standing legacy in aviation data and services, combined with a modern, tech-forward approach to product development.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely comprises Product Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UI Developers, working in a matrixed structure.

• Designers will report to a Design Lead or Manager, with project assignments often aligned with specific product areas or feature teams.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Software Engineers, and potentially Data Scientists and Aviation Subject Matter Experts. Methodology:

• A user-centered design approach is paramount, with a strong emphasis on research, data analysis, and iterative development.

• The use of AI-enhanced tools suggests a commitment to leveraging technology for efficiency and innovation in design workflows.

• Design system methodology ensures consistency, scalability, and efficient development across ForeFlight's suite of aeronautical products.

Company Website: https://foreflight.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: ForeFlight's position within the aviation tech sector implies a culture that values accuracy, safety, and innovation. The blend of legacy (Jeppesen) and modern tech (ForeFlight) suggests an environment that respects established practices while embracing new technologies like AI. The "Sr Product Designer" role is positioned to influence this culture through design excellence and mentorship.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior," indicating a level of autonomy, leadership, and strategic contribution beyond that of a mid-level designer. A Senior Product Designer is expected to handle complex, ambiguous problems independently, mentor junior team members, and significantly influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Sr Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives, functioning as a key design voice within these cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is direct and significant, shaping the user experience of critical aeronautical software used by pilots and dispatchers worldwide. Success in this role contributes directly to ForeFlight's mission of providing best-in-class aviation tools, enhancing safety, efficiency, and user satisfaction in a demanding industry. The role's influence extends to product strategy, design system maturity, and the overall quality of the user interface and experience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as data visualization, cartography-heavy products, or complex information architecture within aviation.

• Leadership: Progress to a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, taking on greater responsibility for team management, strategy, and mentorship.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a deeper understanding of product management, engineering processes, and the intricacies of the aviation industry, potentially leading to product strategy roles.

• Industry Influence: Become a recognized expert in aviation UX/UI design, contributing to industry best practices and potentially speaking at conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr" title implies a clear path for career advancement within ForeFlight or the broader Boeing/Jeppesen organization. The emphasis on mentorship and influencing product strategy points towards opportunities for leadership development. The unique industry context also offers growth potential through specialized domain expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a culture that values in-person collaboration, spontaneous discussions, and direct team interaction.

Office Location(s): Austin, Texas (78702). This location is known for its vibrant tech scene, offering a dynamic environment for professionals. The specific office space likely supports collaborative work, with areas for team meetings, design critiques, and focused individual work.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with designers working closely with product managers and engineers in co-located or easily accessible teams.

• Access to modern design tools (e.g., Figma) and potentially other productivity software will be standard.

• Opportunities for informal knowledge sharing, design critiques, and team-building activities are likely part of the daily rhythm.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule is expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The "Open PTO Policy" suggests flexibility within this framework, allowing designers to manage their time effectively to balance project demands with personal well-being. This flexibility is crucial for deep work required in complex design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be beneficial for complex design problem-solving and team cohesion. Austin's tech hub status provides a rich ecosystem for talent and innovation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: An in-depth session with design leadership and potentially other senior designers to present your portfolio, discuss your process, and evaluate your strategic thinking and impact. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to assess collaboration skills, communication, and ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard session focused on problem-solving, ideation, or critiquing a design. This will assess your design process and ability to articulate your rationale.

• Final Round: May involve interviews with higher-level management to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, and overall strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, leadership, and impact, especially those involving complex data or regulated domains.

• Storytelling: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your role and process, the challenges encountered, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes.

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

• Highlight Impact: Clearly articulate the business and user value of your work, backed by data and metrics where possible. Emphasize how your designs solved a real problem.

• Address AI Integration: If applicable, clearly explain how AI tools were used to enhance your design process, efficiency, or outcomes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, trade-offs, and how you handled ambiguity or conflict.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, ensure you thoroughly understand the problem statement and target users.

• Focus on Process: For whiteboard exercises, focus on articulating your thought process, asking clarifying questions, and demonstrating how you would approach problem-solving.

• Prioritize and Justify: Be prepared to make trade-offs and justify your decisions, showing an understanding of business constraints and user needs.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining complex ideas concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior role will be rigorous, focusing not just on design execution but on strategic thinking, leadership, and collaborative capabilities. The portfolio review is a critical gate, requiring candidates to demonstrate not only their skills but also their ability to articulate their impact and process, including any use of AI tools.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Proficiency is essential for creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and collaborating with design and engineering teams.

• Design Systems: Strong understanding and experience in either building, contributing to, or utilizing established design systems (like Material Design) for consistent and scalable UI/UX.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for planning, conducting, and analyzing user interviews and usability tests (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics for understanding user behavior and product performance, informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a designer's tool, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation platforms impact user journeys and data flow can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Material Design indicates the primary technology stack for design. The role also implies a need to work with data and user feedback, suggesting familiarity with analytics and research tools is advantageous for a data-informed design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring that design decisions are grounded in user needs and validated through research.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing product analytics, user research, and AI-driven insights to guide design strategy and measure impact, moving beyond subjective opinions.

• Collaboration and Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work together openly, sharing feedback and insights to achieve common goals.

• Craftsmanship and Quality: A dedication to high standards in design execution, attention to detail, and delivering polished, reliable user experiences.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing a mindset of learning and iteration, actively seeking ways to enhance design processes, tools, and team effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working as a close partner with Product Management and Engineering, engaging in shared problem-solving and decision-making.

• Influence through Rationale: Presenting design proposals with clear rationale, supported by user data, research findings, and strategic alignment.

• Constructive Feedback: Participating actively in design critiques and providing/receiving feedback in a constructive manner to elevate the quality of work.

• Mentorship and Support: Senior designers are expected to actively support and guide junior team members, fostering a positive and growth-oriented team dynamic.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values suggest a culture that is rigorous, collaborative, and focused on delivering high-quality, impactful products. The emphasis on data, user-centricity, and continuous improvement aligns with modern product development best practices, especially in a complex domain like aviation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling complex, ill-defined problems in a domain with specific technical and regulatory requirements.

• Data-Heavy Interfaces: Designing intuitive user experiences for complex, data-rich applications where information density and clarity are paramount.

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Advocating for the user while understanding and working within technical limitations and business objectives.

• Driving Design System Adoption: Championing the use and evolution of the design system across multiple teams and product areas to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Mentoring and Elevating Design Craft: Effectively guiding and supporting other designers while also maintaining personal design execution and innovation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge of aviation operations, regulations, and user workflows to create more effective and empathetic designs.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Explore and implement advanced UX strategies, data visualization techniques, and AI-assisted design workflows.

• Leadership Skills: Develop skills in team management, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership through direct experience and potential mentorship programs.

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend industry conferences (aviation or design-focused) and contribute to the broader design community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a resilient, adaptable designer capable of handling complexity and driving change. The growth opportunities are geared towards developing deep domain expertise and leadership capabilities within a specialized, high-impact field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design for a complex, data-heavy product. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you approach defining solutions in ambiguous spaces? Can you provide an example of how you drove clarity for a project?" (Highlight your ability to structure problem-solving and create alignment.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders or senior leadership on a design decision. What was your strategy, and what was the result?" (Demonstrate your communication and persuasion skills.)

• "How do you incorporate user research and data into your design process, especially when dealing with complex user needs?" (Showcase your user-centered and data-informed approach.)

• "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to or leveraged them to ensure consistency and scalability?" (Assess your understanding of system thinking and its practical application.)

• "How have you used AI-enhanced tools in your design workflow? What benefits did they provide, and what are your thoughts on their future role in design?" (Gauge your familiarity and forward-thinking approach to AI in design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about ForeFlight and the aviation industry specifically?" (Show genuine curiosity and research.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers, especially when there are differing opinions or priorities?" (Assess your teamwork and conflict-resolution skills.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and productive team culture?" (Understand your role in team dynamics and mentorship.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your key contributions, the challenges, the solutions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "Increased user task completion by X%," "Reduced errors by Y%," "Improved user satisfaction scores by Z points").

• Showcase Your Process: Visually demonstrate your journey from research and ideation to detailed design and testing. Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the decisions you made, the constraints you worked under, and why you chose certain solutions over others.

• Highlight AI Integration: If AI tools were used, explain how and why they were beneficial. Was it for idea generation, content creation, workflow automation, or something else?

• Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within time limits, and is engaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating the "why" and "how" behind your design decisions, not just the "what." For a senior role, demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to drive impact in complex environments is crucial. The specific mention of AI tools means candidates should be ready to discuss their practical application.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the ForeFlight careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, experience with complex/data-heavy products, and any application of AI-enhanced design tools. Prioritize case studies showing measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements, leadership, and specific skills mentioned in the job description (Figma, user research, design systems, working in regulated domains).

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a strong narrative, focusing on your problem-solving process, strategic contributions, and quantifiable outcomes. Prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools in design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with ForeFlight's products, mission, and the aviation industry. Understand their user base (pilots, dispatchers) and the critical nature of their software.

⚠️ 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.