Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: Harvey

Location: Canada (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-12

Experience Level: Senior/Staff (8+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with hybrid expectation for Toronto team members)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of complex, AI-driven product experiences, ensuring intuitive user interfaces that foster trust and understanding of AI outputs.

• Drive the evolution and application of a comprehensive design system to maintain visual consistency and scalability across Harvey's enterprise platform.

• Conduct rigorous user research to identify critical pain points and opportunities, directly influencing product strategy and design decisions.

• Collaborate intimately with AI researchers, engineers, and product managers to translate sophisticated business objectives into user-centered design solutions.

• Champion a high standard of design excellence and promote best practices for designing within an AI-centric product development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Staff Product Designer, implying a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and influence over product strategy and design execution. The emphasis on "founding member of our Toronto team" suggests a potential for leadership or mentorship as the team grows, despite the role being defined as an individual contributor. The remote nature within Canada is a key differentiator, though the mention of a hybrid arrangement for the Toronto office suggests a preference for local team cohesion for those in proximity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle for multiple initiatives, from initial ideation and concept development through detailed design execution and post-launch iteration.

• Develop high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and detailed user flows to effectively communicate complex interactions and user journeys.

• Actively participate in user research activities, including interviews, usability testing, and data analysis, to gather actionable insights and validate design hypotheses.

• Contribute to and help maintain the product's design system, ensuring its growth, consistency, and efficiency in supporting rapid product development.

• Articulate and advocate for design decisions with clear rationale, leveraging data, user insights, and product goals to influence stakeholders across engineering, product, and research.

• Strategize and implement design solutions that effectively integrate AI capabilities, making advanced technology accessible and understandable to a professional services audience.

• Foster a collaborative design culture, providing constructive feedback to peers and actively participating in design critiques to elevate the overall quality of work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, typical of a Staff Designer. The focus on AI integration is a critical element, requiring a designer to think beyond traditional UI/UX to encompass explainability, trust, and user control over AI-generated outputs. The mention of shaping the design system and promoting best practices indicates a role that contributes to the foundational elements of the design team's capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles of this seniority. Candidates are expected to demonstrate equivalent practical experience.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

Required Skills:

• Interaction Design: Deep expertise in crafting intuitive and efficient user interactions for complex applications, with a strong portfolio showcasing problem-solving through interaction.

• Visual Design: A keen eye for visual aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout, ensuring a polished and professional user interface.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar, for user testing and stakeholder communication.

• User Research: Demonstrated experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research (e.g., interviews, usability tests, surveys) to inform design strategies.

• Design Systems: Strong understanding and practical experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• AI Interface Design: Experience or a strong aptitude for designing interfaces that effectively present, explain, and allow users to interact with AI-generated content and insights.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, AI researchers, and other stakeholders in a collaborative, agile environment.

• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present work compellingly, and influence decision-making.

• End-to-end Product Design: Mastery of the entire design process, from user discovery and ideation through to detailed design and launch.

• User-centered Design: A foundational commitment to understanding user needs and translating them into effective and delightful product experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the legal tech or professional services software industry.

• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their application in user-facing products.

• Experience working in a startup or high-growth technology company.

• Contributions to the design community (e.g., speaking, writing, open-source projects).

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience, coupled with the "Staff" title, indicates a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy and strategic influence. The emphasis on AI interface design is a critical differentiator for this role, suggesting that candidates with prior experience in this emerging area will be highly competitive. The ability to "change altitude" between detailed design and big-picture thinking is a hallmark of senior product designers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 of your strongest product design projects, demonstrating end-to-end ownership and impact.

• Projects should highlight complex problem-solving, user-centered design methodologies, and a clear understanding of user needs.

• Include examples of interaction design, visual design, and prototyping, clearly articulating your role and contributions.

• Demonstrate experience with design systems, including how you've contributed to or utilized them.

• Showcase specific examples of how user research insights informed your design decisions and led to tangible improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies within the portfolio should detail the design process followed, including discovery, ideation, iteration, and validation phases.

• Explain the methodologies used (e.g., design sprints, user interviews, A/B testing) and the rationale behind their selection.

• Quantify the impact of your designs using relevant metrics (e.g., user engagement, task completion rates, conversion improvements, reduction in support tickets).

• Document challenges faced during the design process and how they were overcome through creative problem-solving and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to showcase not just execution but also strategic thinking, problem-definition skills, and the ability to drive impact. Interviewers will be looking for evidence of end-to-end ownership, sophisticated interaction design, and a deep understanding of how design contributes to business objectives, especially within an AI-driven product context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Staff Product Designers with 8+ years of experience in Canada, particularly in tech hubs like Toronto, the estimated annual salary range is CAD $140,000 - $190,000. This estimate accounts for the seniority of the role, the specialized nature of AI product design, and the high cost of living in major Canadian cities. Factors such as candidate experience, specific skill sets (especially in AI/ML interfaces), and negotiation will influence the final offer.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick days, and public holidays.

• Stock options or equity grants, providing an opportunity to share in the company's success.

• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and learning resources.

• Remote work stipend to support home office setup and ongoing expenses.

• Parental leave policy.

• Opportunities for growth and advancement within a rapidly scaling company.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours is expected. While Harvey operates with intensity and a focus on outcomes, there is an acknowledgment of the need for work-life balance. The hybrid model (3 days in office, 2 days remote) for the Toronto team suggests a structured approach to in-person collaboration, while remote flexibility is a key offering for Canadian employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on publicly available compensation data for senior/staff product designers in Canada, considering the company's industry (AI/SaaS) and growth stage. The inclusion of stock options is typical for a high-growth startup environment. The hybrid arrangement for Toronto team members is a crucial detail for candidates in that region.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Harvey operates in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Legal Tech sectors, focusing on transforming professional services with agentic AI. This is a high-growth, cutting-edge field that requires innovation and a deep understanding of complex domain challenges.

Company Size: Harvey is a rapidly scaling company that was founded in 2021. While specific employee numbers fluctuate, it's positioned as a significant player with over 1000 customers in 60+ countries, indicating a substantial operational footprint and a growing team.

Founded: Founded in 2021, Harvey is a relatively young but fast-moving company that has achieved significant product-market fit and investor support. This means the culture is likely dynamic, adaptable, and geared towards rapid growth and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely to be integrated within product squads, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI Researchers.

• As a "founding member of our Toronto team," this role may have opportunities to influence team structure and processes as the Canadian presence grows.

Methodology:

• Harvey emphasizes an "end-to-end" approach, meaning designers are involved from the initial problem definition and research through to implementation and iteration.

• The use of "agentic AI" and an "enterprise-grade platform" suggests a focus on robust, scalable, and sophisticated solutions.

• A data-driven approach is implied, with insights from user research and product performance informing design decisions.

• The company culture values intensity, ownership, and a high bar for excellence.

Company Website: https://www.harvey.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: Harvey's positioning as a leader in AI for professional services is a key cultural driver. The "generational company" ambition suggests a long-term vision and a commitment to significant impact. The emphasis on customer proximity and urgency in problem-solving points to a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Staff Product Designer role, signifying a senior individual contributor position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex design initiatives. Staff designers are expected to mentor junior team members, influence product strategy, and drive significant improvements in user experience and product outcomes.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Staff Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned product teams.

Operations Impact: The Staff Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the success of Harvey's AI platform by ensuring its usability, trustworthiness, and effectiveness for professional services users. Their work will influence customer adoption, retention, and the overall perception of the product's capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Managerial role as the design team expands, particularly in the Toronto region.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI interface design, complex enterprise software, or specific domains within professional services.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the future product roadmap and design vision for Harvey.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide junior designers, contributing to the development of the design team's capabilities.

• Company Growth: Participate in the rapid growth of a venture-backed startup, offering potential for significant career advancement and financial rewards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title is critical here. It signifies a level of expertise and influence beyond a Senior Designer, often involving mentorship, strategic input, and ownership of major product areas. The "founding member of our Toronto team" aspect suggests potential for organic growth into leadership as the company establishes its Canadian presence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Harvey operates with a hybrid work model. For team members based in Toronto, this means a structured hybrid arrangement: 3 days per week in the Toronto office and 2 days working from home. For other locations in Canada, the role is explicitly remote.

Office Location(s): While the primary mention is of a Toronto office for the hybrid arrangement, specific details about the Toronto office location and amenities are not provided. The company also has a global presence with customers in 60+ countries.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model in Toronto encourages in-person collaboration, fostering team cohesion and spontaneous idea generation for 3 days a week.

• The remote aspect for other Canadian employees, and 2 days for Toronto staff, offers flexibility and the ability to work from a home office environment.

• As an AI company, the workspace is likely to be equipped with modern technology and tools necessary for design, research, and development.

• Collaboration tools will be essential for seamless communication between remote and in-office team members.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes moving fast and operating with intensity, but also aims to balance this with employee well-being. Flexibility is inherent in the remote/hybrid structure, allowing for some autonomy in managing daily schedules, provided work is completed efficiently and collaboratively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between the Toronto hybrid model and other remote Canadian roles is important. Candidates should clarify expectations if they are in or relocating to Toronto. The "intensity" mentioned in the company description suggests a demanding but potentially rewarding work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience and fit. Portfolio is key.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your background, experience, and alignment with the role and company culture. Focus on your "why Harvey" and your approach to designing with AI.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A deep dive into your portfolio, where you'll present specific case studies. Be prepared to discuss your design process, rationale, challenges, and the impact of your work. This may include a specific design exercise or a more in-depth discussion of your past projects.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and AI Researchers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate design into the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end capabilities, problem-solving skills, and experience with complex systems, especially AI.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, key decisions made, challenges overcome, and the measurable impact of your design.

• Highlight AI Design: If you have experience designing AI interfaces, make this a focal point. Explain how you approached user trust, explainability, and control. If not, demonstrate your understanding of these challenges and your approach to tackling them.

• Showcase Process: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration phases. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Visual Craft: Ensure your presentation is visually clean, well-organized, and reflects your design sensibility.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Harvey's Mission: Research Harvey's product, target market (legal and professional services), and their approach to AI.

• AI Design Principles: Familiarize yourself with current best practices and challenges in designing user interfaces for AI-powered applications.

• Problem-Solving Frameworks: Be ready to discuss how you approach ambiguous problems and break them down into actionable design steps.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've collaborated effectively with diverse teams (engineers, PMs, researchers) to achieve product goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and the ability to present it compellingly is paramount for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not only their design craft but also their strategic thinking, problem-definition skills, and their understanding of AI's impact on user experience. The "founding member" aspect might also lead to questions about initiative and cultural contribution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma is the industry standard and highly likely to be the primary tool. Proficiency in Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar is also valuable.

• Collaboration: Tools like Slack, Zoom, and potentially Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication and meetings.

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking tasks and project progress.

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

• Design System Management: Tools or methodologies for managing design tokens, components, and documentation (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) for understanding user behavior and product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms impact the user journey and product adoption can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the specific tool stack isn't detailed, proficiency in modern design and collaboration tools is expected for a Staff Product Designer. Figma is almost certainly a core requirement. Understanding how design impacts broader product metrics tracked by analytics tools is also a key expectation for senior roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & High Bar: A commitment to delivering high-quality work and pushing for the best possible outcomes, reflecting the "high bar" mentioned in the job description.

• Ownership & Intensity: Taking full responsibility for projects and operating with focus and drive to achieve ambitious goals.

• Customer Centricity: Staying close to customers to understand their problems and ensure solutions are relevant and impactful.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies and methodologies, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to solve complex problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be embedded within product teams, working closely with PMs, engineers, and researchers.

• Iterative Design: A culture of continuous feedback, iteration, and improvement, where designs are constantly refined based on user insights and team input.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and constructive dialogue to ensure alignment and facilitate problem-solving.

• Mission-Driven: A shared passion for Harvey's mission to transform professional services with AI, fostering a sense of purpose and collective effort.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes ambition, speed, and quality. The mention of "intensity" suggests a demanding but highly rewarding environment for those who thrive on challenge and impact. The AI focus means a culture of continuous learning and adaptation is likely paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in AI: A core challenge is creating interfaces that build user trust and confidence in AI-generated outputs, especially in high-stakes professional services.

• Translating Complexity: Simplifying highly complex AI capabilities and professional service workflows into intuitive and user-friendly experiences.

• Pace of Innovation: Keeping up with the rapid advancements in AI technology and integrating them effectively into the product roadmap.

• Balancing Ambition with Execution: Maintaining a high pace of execution while ensuring the quality and thoughtfulness of design solutions in a fast-growing company.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team cohesion across different work arrangements and potentially time zones within Canada.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Becoming an expert in designing for AI, a highly sought-after skill.

• Industry Immersion: Gaining deep knowledge of the legal and professional services industries.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor, lead design initiatives, and potentially grow into management roles.

• Startup Experience: Gaining invaluable experience in a high-growth startup environment, understanding rapid scaling, product-market fit, and venture capital dynamics.

• Professional Networking: Building relationships within the AI and design communities through company events and external opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working at the forefront of AI and enterprise software. These challenges also represent significant growth opportunities for a motivated designer. The company's rapid growth provides a fertile ground for career advancement and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex, regulated industry like legal services. What were the key considerations?" (Focus on understanding domain constraints and user needs.)

• "How do you approach building user trust in AI-generated outputs? Can you walk me through an example from your portfolio or a hypothetical scenario?" (Prepare to discuss explainability, transparency, and user control.)

• "Imagine you need to design an interface for an AI assistant that helps lawyers review contracts. What are the critical user flows and potential pitfalls?" (Demonstrate your ability to break down complex problems and think through user journeys.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Harvey and our mission to transform professional services with AI?" (Research the company's impact and align your values.)

• "How do you handle ambiguity and operate effectively in a fast-paced, startup environment?" (Highlight your adaptability, proactivity, and resilience.)

• "Describe your experience working in hybrid or remote teams. What strategies do you use to ensure effective collaboration?" (Emphasize communication and proactive engagement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

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

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and diagrams. Annotate key design decisions.

• Quantify: Present metrics and data that demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

• AI Focus: If applicable, clearly articulate your approach to designing AI interfaces, addressing challenges like trust, explainability, and user control.

• Storytelling: Engage your audience by telling a compelling story about the problem you solved and the value you delivered. Practice your presentation to ensure a smooth and confident delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of strong design craft, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of AI's implications for user experience. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, defend their design decisions, and showcase their ability to collaborate and drive impact in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 8+ years of experience in product design, emphasizing end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and any experience with AI interfaces or enterprise software. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 3-5 projects that showcase your interaction design, visual design, user research, and design system contributions. Pay special attention to projects demonstrating how you've tackled complex problems and, if possible, designed for AI. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., via a link) and clearly presents your process and impact.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on the problem, your role, process, solution, and measurable impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to designing with AI and how you build user trust.

• Research Harvey: Understand Harvey's mission, product, target market (legal/professional services), and their approach to AI. Prepare thoughtful questions about the company, the team, and the role.

⚠️ 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.