Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: Tempus AI

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-03

Experience Level: 10+ Years (AI inferred)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end vision and design of AI-enabled care platform workflows, focusing on improving guideline-based patient care for clinicians.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering leadership, and other stakeholders to shape technology-forward business strategies and influence product roadmaps.

• Leverage systems thinking to design complex, platform-level AI capabilities that address information fatigue and resource limitations faced by clinical users.

• Act as a strategic thought leader, fostering a culture of documentation, knowledge sharing, and rigorous research validation for all design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Staff-level Product Designer, implying a significant level of autonomy, strategic influence, and mentorship responsibility. The emphasis on "platform-level, end-to-end workflows" and "systems thinking" suggests a need for a designer who can operate beyond individual features and consider the broader ecosystem and user journeys. The "AI inferred" experience level of 10+ years aligns with this senior designation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic thought-leader, partnering with product management and senior leadership to define and champion the product vision, particularly concerning AI-driven healthcare solutions.

• Manage and maintain precision in all communications, serving as a leader and proponent of clear, unambiguous articulation of complex ideas to diverse stakeholders.

• Foster a culture of comprehensive documentation and knowledge-sharing across multiple teams, business stakeholders, and their respective technical counterparts, actively demonstrating these behaviors.

• Anticipate, identify, and proactively mitigate potential roadblocks in design and implementation initiatives that span across cross-functional teams.

• Support and mentor other designers within the team, providing regular, constructive design feedback and guiding them on best practices and strategic alignment.

• Effectively lead and facilitate workshops involving cross-functional teams (engineering, product, operations) to accurately resolve requirements, define scope, and influence roadmaps in alignment with broader platform objectives.

• Work collaboratively with product and engineering counterparts to define, scope, and iterate on complex problems, ensuring a shared understanding and cohesive approach.

• Routinely connect with key stakeholders across the organization to align on goals, objectives, and design approaches, ensuring buy-in and transparency.

• Consistently leverage the broader design team for feedback, constructive critique, and involvement in the design process, fostering a collaborative environment.

• Serve as a reliable subject matter expert on the platform's strategy, key use cases, and workflows, capable of articulating these in tandem with underlying business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution, cross-functional leadership, and team mentorship typical of a Staff-level Product Designer. The emphasis on "precision in communication," "documentation and knowledge-sharing," and "leading workshops" points to the critical need for strong soft skills and process orientation in this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level.

Experience: Approximately 8+ years of experience in fast-paced creative environments, with a proven track record of designing for complex technical domains and highly technical users.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional product design skills with a strong ability to implement strategic and conceptual thinking, evidenced by a compelling portfolio.

• Proven experience designing for highly technical user groups, such as data scientists, machine learning engineers, bioinformaticians, and translational researchers, who rely on coding tools and ad hoc workflows.

• Demonstrated ability to lead workshops and facilitate cross-functional collaboration with engineering, product, and operations teams to resolve requirements and influence roadmaps.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a systems thinking approach to design complex, platform-level AI capabilities and end-to-end workflows.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with extensive experience presenting to senior leadership and articulating complex ideas clearly and concisely.

• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Cursor, and other comparable industry-standard software.

• A proactive and collaborative mindset, with a demonstrated ability to bring together and align various department leaders and stakeholders.

• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments, with a willingness to lean on subject matter experts in complex, technical domains. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the healthcare industry or a strong understanding of the challenges surrounding healthcare data.

• Familiarity with AI capabilities and their application within clinical care settings.

• Experience in fast-paced, technology-forward environments with a focus on rapid iteration and integration of emerging technologies.

• A demonstrated growth mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and professional improvement.

• Preference for progress over perfection, balancing strategic vision with timely execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8+ years" of experience aligns closely with the "10+ years" inferred AI experience level, suggesting a highly senior role. The emphasis on "highly technical users" and specific tool mentions like "Cursor" are critical for candidates to highlight. Industry experience is listed as ideal, indicating a strong preference but not a strict requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A compelling portfolio showcasing high-quality product design work, with a strong emphasis on strategic and conceptual thinking.

• Demonstrate experience designing complex, end-to-end workflows, particularly for technical users and platform-level solutions.

• Include case studies that highlight the application of systems thinking and the design of AI capabilities.

• Clearly articulate your role, the problems you solved, your design process, and the impact of your solutions, supported by relevant metrics or outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have fostered a culture of documentation and knowledge-sharing within design and cross-functional teams.

• Illustrate your approach to defining and scoping problems collaboratively with product and engineering.

• Provide evidence of your ability to manage and mitigate roadblocks in complex initiatives that span across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff-level designer, the portfolio needs to go beyond visual execution. The focus should be on strategic impact, complex problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership in process improvement and documentation, especially within a technical and AI-driven context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,000 - $175,000 USD per year (for Illinois-based roles)

Benefits:

• Incentive Compensation: Performance-based bonuses or other variable pay structures.

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): Equity grants that vest over time, aligning employee success with company growth.

• Medical Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Additional benefits may be offered depending on the position.

Working Hours: The standard full-time work week is typically 40 hours. Given the hybrid nature and the seniority of the role, flexibility may be expected for critical deadlines or collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to Illinois. Salary expectations can vary significantly based on location, especially in high cost-of-living areas like California, Colorado, or New York, as noted by the employer. The benefits package, including RSUs, is typical for a senior role in a growth-oriented tech company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Precision Medicine / Artificial Intelligence

Company Size: Large (based on typical "Staff" level roles and global presence implied by multiple location types, though not explicitly stated in provided data)

Founded: Tempus was founded in 2015, indicating a company that is established but still in a phase of significant growth and innovation, particularly in applying AI to healthcare.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a larger Product or Technology organization, with Staff Designers working closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other specialized design roles.

• Reporting structure for a Staff Designer typically involves reporting to a Design Lead, Director of Design, or VP of Product, while also being embedded within product-specific teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, requiring seamless integration with product management, engineering, data science, clinical operations, and potentially commercial teams. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are central to Tempus' mission, leveraging real-world evidence and AI to drive clinical decisions. Design work will be informed by user research, product analytics, and clinical outcomes.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be critical for designing intuitive and efficient user experiences within complex healthcare workflows.

• Automation and efficiency practices are key, especially with the focus on AI-enabled platforms to streamline processes for clinicians and researchers.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Tempus operates at the cutting edge of healthcare technology, merging AI with clinical data. This implies a culture that values innovation, data-driven decision-making, scientific rigor, and a strong sense of mission. The "Staff" designation suggests a collaborative environment where senior individual contributors are expected to influence direction and mentor others.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer - This is a senior individual contributor role, often one or two levels below Principal or Director. It signifies deep expertise, strategic influence, and the ability to lead complex projects autonomously and mentor others. Responsibilities extend beyond execution to include strategic input, process improvement, and cross-functional leadership.

Reporting Structure: A Staff Product Designer typically reports to a Design Manager, Director of Design, or a Head of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives, acting as a peer leader within their product team.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the usability and effectiveness of Tempus' AI-enabled care platform. By designing intuitive and efficient workflows, the Staff Designer will directly influence how clinicians access and utilize critical information, ultimately impacting patient care decisions, treatment efficacy, and the company's ability to achieve its strategic business targets in precision medicine.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Potential to deepen expertise in AI-driven healthcare design, become a recognized thought leader in specific therapeutic areas, or transition into a formal leadership role (e.g., Design Lead, Manager) as the team grows.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape product roadmaps and the future direction of Tempus' platform by contributing strategic design thinking and user advocacy.

• Mentorship & Skill Development: Develop leadership and mentorship skills by guiding junior designers, contributing to design system evolution, and staying abreast of emerging technologies and design methodologies in AI and healthcare.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title is a key indicator of career trajectory. Candidates should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor, rather than just execution skills. The growth opportunities highlight a path towards deeper specialization or management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with a significant presence in the Chicago office. This suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, United States. The company also has a global presence, implying potential for interaction with teams in other locations.

Workspace Context:

• The Chicago office likely offers a modern workspace designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms equipped for workshops and presentations.

• Access to advanced design tools (Figma, Cursor) and internal platforms will be standard. Emphasis on collaboration suggests an environment where designers are integrated with product and engineering teams, fostering direct communication and rapid feedback loops.

• Opportunities for interaction with a diverse range of professionals, including data scientists, engineers, clinicians, and leadership, will be frequent.

Work Schedule: While the standard is 40 hours, the hybrid model and the nature of a Staff role in a dynamic tech company may require flexibility. Core working hours will likely be established for team collaboration, with the understanding that work may extend beyond these for critical project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" status is explicitly mentioned. Candidates should be prepared for a mix of remote and in-office work, understanding that in-office days are likely for collaborative activities and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Review: You will be asked to present your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key projects that demonstrate your strategic thinking, systems design capabilities, and impact, especially those involving complex technical users or AI. Be prepared to discuss your process, rationale, and outcomes in detail.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard session may be used to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to articulate solutions under pressure. This will likely focus on a specific problem relevant to Tempus' platform.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers and stakeholders to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, Director of Design) to discuss your strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your ability to tackle complex, end-to-end workflows and design for technical users. Highlight your role in strategic decision-making and problem definition, not just execution.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Include projects where you've demonstrated an understanding of broader systems, user journeys across platforms, and the integration of AI capabilities.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the impact of your designs on business objectives and user outcomes.

• Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your design process, the challenges you faced, your rationale for key decisions, and how you collaborated with stakeholders.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you mentored junior designers, influenced roadmaps, or fostered better collaboration across teams.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate problems related to clinician workflow optimization, data interpretation for AI insights, or user adoption of new healthcare technologies.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, focusing on user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

• Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and justify your design decisions, demonstrating an understanding of both user experience and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Staff" level means the interview process will heavily scrutinize strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to handle complex, ambiguous problems. The portfolio review is paramount and should demonstrate end-to-end ownership and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Mastery is expected for creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and design systems.

• Cursor: A specialized IDE for developers, particularly those working with AI/ML. While not a direct design tool, familiarity with the technical environment and workflows of users who rely on such tools is crucial for designing effective solutions. Knowledge of how developers interact with code and AI models will inform design decisions.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Principle) may be beneficial for specific use cases.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a direct requirement for the designer, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) and reporting dashboards will be essential for validating design decisions and measuring impact. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of a Product Designer, but an understanding of how user data flows through systems and impacts downstream processes can be beneficial for designing integrated experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is a given. The mention of "Cursor" is significant and implies a need for designers to understand the workflow and environment of highly technical users, potentially including those who code and work with AI models directly. This is a differentiating factor for applicants.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Precision & Accuracy: Reflecting the critical nature of healthcare data and AI in clinical decisions, a strong emphasis on detail and accuracy in design and communication is paramount.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering a culture where teams work together openly, share knowledge, and align on goals is essential for success in a complex, cross-functional environment.

• Innovation & Impact-Driven: A commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology like AI to solve real-world healthcare challenges and make a tangible impact on patient care.

• User-Centricity: Relentless focus on understanding and meeting the needs of clinicians and researchers, even when dealing with complex technical domains.

• Growth Mindset: An environment that encourages continuous learning, adaptation, and improvement, especially given the rapidly evolving nature of AI and healthcare.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers are expected to be embedded within product and engineering teams, working as peers to define problems and solutions.

• Facilitative Leadership: The role involves leading workshops and discussions to drive alignment and resolve requirements across departments.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that values constructive feedback, with designers actively seeking input from peers, stakeholders, and users.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging documentation and open communication to ensure shared understanding and collective learning across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in precision medicine and AI heavily influences its culture. Expect a driven, intellectually curious, and mission-oriented environment that values rigorous problem-solving and collaborative innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Designing for complex, evolving AI capabilities and healthcare workflows requires comfort with uncertainty and the ability to define solutions in less-than-defined spaces.

• Balancing Technical Users and Clinical Needs: Designing for highly technical users (e.g., data scientists) while ensuring the platform effectively serves clinical decision-making presents a unique design challenge.

• Information Fatigue: Addressing the critical issue of information overload for clinicians by designing intuitive and efficient ways to access and act on AI-generated insights.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring alignment and buy-in from diverse stakeholders (product, engineering, clinical, leadership) on design strategy and roadmap priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI & Healthcare: Gain in-depth knowledge of AI applications in precision medicine and the intricacies of healthcare data and workflows.

• Advanced Design Leadership: Develop skills in strategic design thinking, mentorship, and influencing organizational direction.

• Industry Conferences & Networking: Opportunities to attend relevant conferences in design, AI, and healthcare technology to stay abreast of trends and best practices.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior leaders within Tempus or to mentor junior designers, fostering professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are directly tied to Tempus' mission and the nature of a Staff-level role. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they would approach these challenges and leverage the growth opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical user group. What were the unique challenges, and how did you ensure your design met their needs?" (Focus on your process, user research, and understanding of technical workflows.)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-enabled feature that needs to integrate seamlessly into a clinician's existing workflow while managing information fatigue?" (Demonstrate systems thinking, user empathy, and problem decomposition.)

• "Tell us about a time you had to influence senior leadership or cross-functional stakeholders to adopt your design vision. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Tempus and our mission in precision medicine and AI?" (Research Tempus' impact, recent news, and connect it to your personal career goals.)

• "How do you foster collaboration and knowledge sharing within a design team and with cross-functional partners?" (Provide specific examples of your approach and its effectiveness.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you maintain productivity and collaboration." (Showcase your adaptability and proactive communication strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

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

• Emphasize Strategy & Systems: Beyond UI/UX, focus on how your design decisions addressed strategic business goals and the overall system architecture or user journey.

• Showcase Technical User Design: If applicable, explicitly highlight projects where you designed for technical users, detailing your approach to understanding their specific needs and workflows.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your rationale, trade-offs considered, and how you handled pushback or unexpected findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to navigate complex technical and user challenges. Your portfolio presentation is your key opportunity to showcase these aspects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Tempus Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex, end-to-end workflow design, systems thinking, and designing for highly technical users. Prioritize case studies showing strategic impact and collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 8+ years of experience, emphasizing leadership, mentorship, strategic influence, and proficiency with tools like Figma. Use keywords from the job description, such as "AI-enabled care platform," "systems thinking," and "stakeholder management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic rationale, and collaborative approach. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions related to leadership, problem-solving, and working in hybrid environments. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure clarity and impact.

• Company Research: Deeply research Tempus AI's mission, values, products, and recent achievements. Understand their role in precision medicine and AI to articulate your motivations and demonstrate cultural alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.