Staff Product Designer

StubHub
Full-timeβ€’$250k-325k/year (USD)β€’New York, United States

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: StubHub, Inc.

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-09-08T14:50:23

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Up to 2 days remote per week)

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Drive user experience excellence by establishing and maintaining shared design approaches, reusable solutions, and clear guidance across multiple product lines.

  • Bridge the gap between user experience considerations and overarching product and business objectives by translating high-level needs into actionable experience principles and strategic focus areas.

  • Streamline design team operations by defining and implementing practical workflows for work requests, prioritization, documentation, and knowledge sharing to foster enhanced collaboration.

  • Facilitate the coordination of large, multi-faceted design initiatives, ensuring seamless alignment of timelines, dependencies, and scope across interconnected product areas.

  • Measure and analyze design effectiveness by partnering with stakeholders to define success metrics, utilizing product signals, testing outcomes, and observed user behavior to ensure designs meet and exceed expectations.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Staff" level designer, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant influence on design strategy, process, and team enablement. The emphasis on "shared approaches," "reusable solutions," and "clear guidance" suggests a strong focus on design systems, design operations, and scaling design practices across StubHub's product portfolio. The mention of AI-assisted tools points towards a forward-thinking approach to design workflows.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Define and uphold design standards, patterns, and reusable components to ensure consistency, scalability, and quality across all digital products.

  • Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders to translate user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective user experiences.

  • Conduct and leverage quantitative and qualitative research methods, including usability testing, analytics review, and user feedback analysis, to inform and validate design decisions.

  • Identify and propose design improvements for existing digital products by analyzing usability issues, user behavior, and product performance metrics.

  • Mentor and provide constructive feedback to other designers through critiques, reviews, and collaborative sessions to foster their professional growth and elevate overall design quality.

  • Contribute to product planning by providing insights into the user experience impact of priorities, sequencing, and trade-offs, particularly for interconnected products.

  • Evaluate, integrate, and build AI-powered design tools and workflows to accelerate the design-to-development cycle and promote team-wide adoption of emerging technologies.

  • Develop and maintain shared design resources, including internal tools, design libraries, and prototyping setups, to enhance designer and engineer efficiency and promote pattern reuse.

  • Ensure a high level of usability, accessibility, and consistency across products by actively reviewing design work and identifying areas for refinement.

  • Act as a key point of contact for user experience-related inquiries during planning and review discussions, advocating for user needs in decision-making processes.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution in design execution and a strategic, enabling role focused on process, mentorship, and technology adoption within the design function. The explicit mention of AI-assisted tools and workflows is a critical differentiator for this role.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or U.S. equivalent in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, User Experience Design, or a related field.

  • Alternatively, 7 years of professional experience in Product Design, Web Design, or any role performing digital and human-centered design may be accepted in lieu of a Bachelor's degree plus 5 years of experience. Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Product Designer, Web Designer, or in a related human-centered design role. Required Skills:

  • 5 years of professional experience designing user experiences across multiple platforms, including desktop web and mobile applications (Android and iOS).

  • 5 years of professional experience leveraging quantitative and qualitative research methods (usability testing, analytics review, user feedback) to inform and validate design decisions.

  • 5 years of professional experience enhancing and iterating on existing digital products by identifying usability issues and proposing design improvements aligned with user needs and product objectives.

  • 5 years of professional experience collaborating cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, researchers, and stakeholders to define design requirements, establish priorities, and deliver high-quality product experiences.

  • 5 years of professional experience defining and applying design systems, patterns, and standards to ensure consistency, scalability, and quality across digital products.

  • 5 years of professional experience guiding and providing design feedback to other designers through critiques, reviews, and collaborative working sessions.

  • 3 years of professional experience utilizing design and prototyping tools such as Figma and Sketch to create layouts, visual designs, interfaces, and interactive prototypes.

  • 3 years of professional experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor) to build and test user flows.

  • 2 years of professional experience evaluating, integrating, and building AI-powered design tools and workflows, including AI-assisted prototyping platforms and AI-optimized design system architectures, to accelerate design velocity and enable team-wide adoption of emerging technologies. Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with AI-powered design and research tools beyond basic assistance.

  • Deep understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their practical application in design.

  • Proven ability to contribute to product strategy and roadmap development from a user-centered perspective.

  • Experience in marketplace or e-commerce platforms, particularly in the live events industry.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The extensive experience requirements, particularly in specific toolsets and AI integration, clearly define the senior and specialized nature of this Staff Product Designer role. The blend of individual contribution and team enablement is evident in the required skill set.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant product design projects, with a strong emphasis on projects that demonstrate end-to-end design thinking from problem definition to final implementation and impact.

  • Highlight projects that involved the creation, enhancement, or application of design systems, illustrating your understanding of consistency, scalability, and pattern utilization.

  • Include case studies that detail your process for leveraging quantitative and qualitative research, user testing, and analytics to inform and validate design decisions, with clear articulation of insights gained.

  • Present projects where you collaborated cross-functionally, demonstrating your ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to achieve product goals.

  • Feature examples of how you have mentored or provided feedback to other designers, illustrating your contribution to team growth and design quality.

  • Showcase projects that involved the integration or exploration of AI-assisted design tools or workflows, detailing the problem solved, the tools used, and the impact on efficiency or outcomes. Process Documentation:

  • For each portfolio project, clearly document the design process followed, including problem framing, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, iteration, and final design specifications.

  • Detail how design decisions were informed by data (analytics, user feedback, A/B test results) and how success was measured post-launch.

  • Explain your approach to contributing to or utilizing design systems, including pattern definition, component creation, and maintaining design consistency.

  • Articulate your experience with implementing and iterating on AI-assisted design tools, outlining the workflow improvements or new capabilities enabled.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, not just to showcase design output but also the candidate's process, strategic thinking, and ability to influence design operations and embrace new technologies like AI. The emphasis on process documentation and measurable impact is key.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $250,000 - $325,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

  • Equity (Stock options or grants)

  • 401(k) retirement plan

  • Paid time off (PTO)

  • Paid parental leave

  • Comprehensive health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for telecommuting up to 2 days per week.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Staff Product Designer role in a major tech hub like New York City, reflecting the seniority and specialized skills required. The benefits package is standard for a company of StubHub's size and industry. The hybrid work arrangement offers a degree of flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Live Events Ticketing / Technology Marketplace. StubHub operates within a dynamic and competitive digital marketplace, connecting buyers and sellers of tickets for live events globally. This industry demands continuous innovation in user experience, trust, and transaction efficiency.

Company Size: StubHub is a significant player in the global ticketing market, implying a mid-to-large sized organization with established processes and a substantial user base. This size suggests opportunities for impact across large-scale initiatives and potential for specialized roles within design and operations.

Founded: StubHub was founded in 2000, indicating a mature company with a long history of operation and adaptation within the evolving digital landscape. This longevity suggests a stable yet innovative environment.

Team Structure:

  • The Staff Product Designer will likely be part of a broader Product Design team, potentially organized by product area or platform.

  • This role will report into a Design leadership position (e.g., Head of Product Design, Design Manager) and will work closely with Product Management, Engineering, UX Research, and potentially Marketing and Data Science teams.

  • The emphasis on "shared approaches" and "guidance" suggests a collaborative team environment where best practices are actively shared and adopted. Methodology:

  • Data-driven decision-making is paramount, utilizing product signals, testing results, and user behavior analytics.

  • A strong focus on user-centered design principles, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of all product development.

  • Iterative design processes, with continuous feedback loops from research, testing, and post-launch analysis to refine user experiences.

  • Exploration and adoption of new technologies, including AI-assisted design and research tools, to optimize workflows and enhance design capabilities.

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

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: StubHub's position as a global marketplace suggests a complex ecosystem requiring sophisticated design solutions. The emphasis on innovation, user trust, and efficient transactions will shape the design challenges and opportunities. The integration of AI tools points to a company that is actively looking to leverage cutting-edge technology.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, typically requiring 5-10 years of experience. It signifies a high level of expertise, autonomy, and influence. Staff designers are expected to tackle complex, ambiguous problems, drive design strategy, and mentor junior team members. They often operate with significant independence, contributing to the overall design vision and operational efficiency of the design team.

Reporting Structure: The Staff 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, acting as a key partner in the product development lifecycle.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the user experience of millions of customers, influencing key metrics such as conversion rates, user satisfaction, engagement, and retention. By establishing consistent design patterns and efficient workflows, the Staff Product Designer contributes to the operational efficiency of the design and development teams, reducing friction and accelerating time-to-market for new features and improvements. The focus on AI integration also aims to optimize design operations and reduce repetitive tasks.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership in Design Operations: Opportunity to lead initiatives for design system development, process improvement, and tool adoption, shaping how design is done at StubHub.

  • Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-assisted design tools and workflows, becoming a go-to expert in this emerging area.

  • Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy and business objectives by contributing to roadmap planning and strategic decision-making.

  • Mentorship and Team Development: Formalize mentorship of junior designers, contributing to their skill development and career growth.

  • Potential for Principal/Group Design Lead: With proven impact and leadership, potential to advance to Principal Product Designer or a Group Design Lead role overseeing multiple product areas.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "Staff" designation implies a significant level of responsibility and impact. Growth opportunities will likely involve taking on more strategic initiatives, expanding leadership scope, and potentially moving into management or principal-level individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: StubHub operates from a modern office space, as indicated by their New York City address at 3 World Trade Center. This suggests a professional, collaborative, and well-equipped work environment conducive to innovation and teamwork.

Office Location(s): 3 World Trade Center – 175 Greenwich Street, 59th Floor, New York, NY 10007. This prime Manhattan location offers excellent accessibility via public transportation and is situated in a vibrant business district.

Workspace Context:

  • The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with open workspaces, meeting rooms, and dedicated areas for focused work.

  • Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch) and potentially advanced hardware for design and testing.

  • Opportunities for regular interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Research) within the office setting.

  • The hybrid work model allows for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote focus, catering to diverse working styles.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with the flexibility of telecommuting up to two days per week. This schedule aims to balance project demands with employee well-being and personal needs.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model at a prestigious New York City address indicates a company that values both in-person collaboration and employee flexibility, aligning with modern workplace trends.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume to assess basic qualifications and experience.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Interview: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio to the design team or hiring manager. This will involve walking through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, design decisions, the challenges faced, and the impact achieved. Be prepared to discuss your experience with design systems, research methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration.

  • Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical design exercise or case study may be assigned. This could involve solving a specific problem, critiquing an existing design, or outlining a design strategy. The focus will be on your problem-solving approach, design thinking, and ability to articulate your rationale.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially UX Researchers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work effectively within a team.

  • Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions focused on your experience, leadership potential, mentorship capabilities, and alignment with StubHub's company culture and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience with complex problem-solving, design systems, cross-functional collaboration, and ideally, your work with AI-assisted tools.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made (and why), the challenges you overcame, and the measurable impact of your design. Use visuals effectively.

  • Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion times).

  • Highlight AI Experience: Explicitly discuss your experience with AI-assisted design tools, detailing how you leveraged them to improve efficiency, explore more solutions, or enhance design outcomes.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, how you collaborate with engineers, and your understanding of the StubHub business.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Business: Research StubHub's market, competitors, and user base to understand the context of their products.

  • Focus on Process: For any design challenge, clearly articulate your thought process, research methods, and decision-making criteria.

  • Consider AI: Think about how AI tools could be applied to solve the challenge or improve the process.

  • Prioritize and Scope: Demonstrate your ability to prioritize design efforts and manage scope effectively.

  • Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work and solutions concisely and effectively.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Staff level role is rigorous, emphasizing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and proficiency with emerging technologies. A well-prepared portfolio that highlights AI tool usage will be a significant advantage.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch. Proficiency in creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and design specifications is essential.

  • AI-Assisted Development Tools: Cursor (explicitly mentioned), and likely others used for code generation, debugging, or workflow acceleration.

  • Design Systems Tools: Experience with tools or platforms used to manage and distribute design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or built-in Figma capabilities).

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Web Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior, conversion funnels, and engagement metrics.

  • Product Analytics Tools: Platforms such as Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo for deeper insights into user interactions within the product.

  • Data Visualization Tools: Potentially Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and reports to communicate findings.

CRM & Automation:

  • While not directly a design tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide context on how user data is managed and utilized, influencing design decisions related to user journeys and personalization.

  • Integration Tools: Understanding how different systems connect (e.g., via APIs) can be beneficial for designing seamless user experiences across platforms.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Cursor and AI-assisted development tools, alongside industry-standard design software like Figma and Sketch, indicates a modern and forward-thinking technology stack. Proficiency in these areas is critical.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that all design decisions prioritize the user experience.

  • Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, and Research to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive product experiences.

  • Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Embracing new technologies and methodologies, such as AI-assisted design, to drive efficiency and enhance design capabilities.

  • Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing data and research to guide design strategy, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design solutions.

  • Excellence & Quality: Striving for high standards in design execution, ensuring consistency, usability, accessibility, and overall product quality.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with diverse teams, actively participating in planning, feedback sessions, and problem-solving.

  • Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing among team members.

  • Process-Oriented: A focus on defining and refining workflows to ensure efficient and effective design operations, with an emphasis on reusable patterns and shared resources.

  • Mentorship and Support: A culture that supports the growth and development of designers through guidance, feedback, and collaborative learning.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: StubHub's culture likely emphasizes innovation, customer focus, and strong teamwork, especially given their position in a competitive tech landscape. The Staff Product Designer is expected to embody and promote these values within the design team and across cross-functional partnerships.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design systems remain robust, scalable, and adopted effectively across a growing product portfolio and team.

  • Integrating AI Seamlessly: Evaluating, integrating, and scaling AI-assisted design tools and workflows without compromising quality or user experience, and ensuring team adoption.

  • Balancing Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a cohesive user experience across diverse platforms while allowing for feature innovation and experimentation.

  • Cross-functional Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and ensuring alignment on design priorities and trade-offs with Product and Engineering.

  • Measuring Design Impact: Developing and refining metrics to clearly demonstrate the value and ROI of design initiatives, especially those involving new technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • AI Design Specialization: Becoming a leader in the application of AI tools within the design process, potentially influencing future technology adoption.

  • Design Operations Leadership: Taking on more formal responsibility for design operations, process optimization, and tooling strategy.

  • Strategic Product Influence: Contributing to higher-level product strategy and roadmap development, impacting the direction of StubHub's offerings.

  • Mentorship and Team Enablement: Developing leadership skills through guiding and mentoring junior and mid-level designers.

  • Industry Exposure: Potential for attending relevant conferences or training focused on AI in design, UX strategy, and product development.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities to tackle complex design challenges at scale and to pioneer the use of AI in design, aligning with the company's forward-thinking approach.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you defined and scaled a design system. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, collaboration, and impact.)

  • "How would you approach integrating AI-assisted design tools into our existing workflow? What criteria would you use to evaluate new AI tools?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI's role in design operations and strategic evaluation.)

  • "Walk us through a complex product design challenge you faced. How did you use research and data to inform your decisions, and what was the outcome?" (Emphasize problem-solving, user-centricity, and measurable results.)

  • "How do you ensure consistency and quality in design across multiple platforms and products, especially when working with distributed teams?" (Highlight your approach to design governance and collaboration.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about StubHub's mission and the live events industry?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

  • "How do you approach mentoring junior designers, and what do you believe are the key elements of a strong design team culture?" (Demonstrate leadership potential and understanding of team dynamics.)

  • "StubHub uses AI-assisted tools. What are your thoughts on the role of AI in product design, and how do you see it evolving?" (Articulate your perspective on AI in design and its future.)

  • "Describe a situation where you had to advocate for user needs against competing business priorities. How did you approach it?" (Assess your ability to balance user advocacy with business realities.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the key challenges, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), the solutions you developed, and the measurable impact.

  • Quantify Everything: Use data and metrics to support your claims about user satisfaction, conversion rates, efficiency gains, etc.

  • Showcase AI Integration: Dedicate time to explaining how you used AI tools, what benefits they provided (speed, exploration, efficiency), and what you learned.

  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, trade-offs, technical constraints, and your collaboration with engineering.

  • Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating senior-level strategic thinking, hands-on execution, leadership potential, and a clear understanding of how to leverage modern technologies like AI to drive design excellence and operational efficiency.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your experience with design systems, cross-functional collaboration, user research methodologies, and your proficiency with Figma, Sketch, and AI-assisted development tools like Cursor. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

  • Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your strongest projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, ability to solve complex problems, experience with design systems, and specifically, your utilization of AI-assisted design tools. Be ready to articulate the ROI and impact of your work.

  • Research StubHub: Understand StubHub's business, their user base, their market position, and their current product offerings. Familiarize yourself with their design aesthetic and any recent product updates or news.

  • Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your portfolio presentation and prepare concise answers to common behavioral and situational interview questions, with a specific focus on your experience with AI tools and your mentorship capabilities.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a design-related field and at least 5 years of professional experience in digital and human-centered design. Extensive experience with design systems, prototyping tools, and quantitative/qualitative research methods is required.