Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

Location: Burbank, CA, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 8+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the future of sports fandom across digital products and platforms for Bleacher Report, a leading digital destination for next-generation sports fans.

• Shape product vision, influence strategy, and create alignment across multiple teams, platforms, and customer journeys within the Sports and Entertainment organization.

• Act as a highly influential individual contributor, elevating design quality, mentoring other designers, and raising the bar for UX Design and execution.

• Partner closely with Design Operations, Product, Engineering, User Research, Data, and business leaders to solve ambiguous problems and deliver impactful customer and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, focusing on the Bleacher Report brand. The emphasis on "sports fandom," "next-generation sports fans," and understanding "sports audience behaviors" indicates a specialized domain within product design, requiring a deep appreciation for the sports media landscape and its unique user engagement patterns. The "Staff" title signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic influence and mentorship expectations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead highly complex, cross-functional initiatives that span multiple products, platforms, and customer experiences, ensuring cohesive and impactful design solutions.

• Partner closely with Design Operations, Product Managers, Engineers, User Researchers, and Business Stakeholders to define and deliver customer-centered solutions that align with business objectives.

• Translate customer insights, business objectives, and technical constraints into intuitive, engaging, and scalable digital experiences.

• Create detailed workflows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that clearly communicate product direction, user flows, and design intent to stakeholders.

• Leverage customer research, analytics, experimentation (A/B testing), and market insights to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring data-driven product development.

• Contribute to and evolve comprehensive design systems, patterns, and reusable components to enhance consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products.

• Apply systems thinking to understand and optimize the broader sports fan ecosystem, identifying interdependencies and opportunities for improvement.

• Participate actively in roadmap discussions, identifying opportunities to enhance customer engagement, drive business outcomes, and innovate within the sports media landscape.

• Collaborate effectively across diverse teams to ensure high-quality execution and successful delivery of design initiatives from concept to launch.

• Mentor and support other designers through constructive feedback, collaborative design sessions, and leading design critique forums to foster skill development and design excellence.

• Explore and integrate emerging technologies, including AI-powered experiences and AI-assisted workflows, to enhance both customer experiences and internal team effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "highly complex, cross-functional initiatives" and "systems thinking" points to a need for a designer who can navigate intricate product ecosystems and influence beyond a single feature. The explicit mention of "AI-powered experiences and AI-assisted workflows" indicates a forward-looking approach to design and a requirement for candidates to be comfortable with emerging technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a Staff level Product Designer.

Experience: 8+ years of experience designing digital consumer products and experiences, with a proven track record of leading complex, ambiguous, and strategically important initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven track record leading complex, ambiguous, and strategically important initiatives from conception to delivery.

• End-to-End Design: Strong portfolio demonstrating comprehensive end-to-end product design work, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.

• Customer-Centered Problem Solving: Ability to translate customer insights and business objectives into intuitive and engaging user experiences.

• Strategic Influence: Experience influencing product strategy and driving alignment across multiple teams and diverse stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Business).

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong communication, facilitation, storytelling, and stakeholder management skills to effectively articulate design rationale and vision.

• Data-Informed Design: Experience leveraging research, customer insights, analytics, and experimentation (e.g., A/B testing) to shape product direction and validate design decisions.

• Visionary & Practical Execution: Ability to balance long-term product vision with practical, iterative execution.

• Emerging Technologies: Experience with AI-native products, AI-powered experiences, personalization systems, or emerging technologies is strongly preferred.

• Mentorship: Demonstrated success mentoring and developing other designers is preferred.

• Large-Scale Platforms: Experience designing large-scale consumer platforms, ecosystems, or multi-product experiences is preferred.

• Industry Relevance: Experience in sports, media, entertainment, streaming, gaming, or consumer technology is preferred.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for live sports, highlights, second-screen experiences, stats platforms, community features, or socially driven fan experiences.

• Proficiency with motion design, advanced prototyping tools, or storytelling techniques that effectively bring concepts to life.

• Strong understanding of personalization engines, notification strategies, content discovery algorithms, or fan engagement patterns specific to digital media.

• A genuine passion for sports and sharp instincts for understanding and catering to distinct fan bases and communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8+ years of experience" and the emphasis on "leading complex, ambiguous, and strategically important initiatives" clearly position this as a senior, Staff-level role. The preference for "AI-native products, AI-powered experiences, personalization systems, or emerging technologies" indicates a focus on innovation and future-proofing the product. The specific "preferred" skills related to sports content consumption patterns are critical for candidates targeting this niche.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design work, with a clear emphasis on complex, ambiguous, and strategically significant initiatives.

• Case studies that demonstrate a deep understanding of customer-centered problem-solving, user research integration, and the translation of insights into tangible product solutions.

• Examples of how you've influenced product strategy, driven alignment across multiple teams, and managed diverse stakeholder expectations.

• Visualizations of your design process, including workflows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs, that clearly communicate product direction and user intent.

• Evidence of leveraging data, analytics, and experimentation to inform design decisions and measure impact. Process Documentation:

• Detailed case studies that articulate the "why" behind design decisions, linking them to specific customer needs and business objectives.

• Examples of how you have contributed to or evolved design systems, demonstrating an understanding of scalability, consistency, and reusability.

• Demonstrations of systems thinking, illustrating how you've approached designing for interconnected products or platforms within a larger ecosystem.

• Documentation of your approach to mentoring and developing other designers, including feedback mechanisms and collaborative critique processes.

• Evidence of exploring and integrating emerging technologies, such as AI-powered features or AI-assisted workflows, within your design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Product Designer role, the portfolio must go beyond just showcasing final UI. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership in navigating ambiguity, cross-functional collaboration, and a data-informed approach. The inclusion of work related to emerging technologies like AI is a significant differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $129,500 - $240,500 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is provided in compliance with local law and reflects Warner Bros. Discovery's compensation philosophy. The specific salary within this range will be determined by factors such as external market data, internal equity, the candidate's location, skillset, years of experience, and performance. Given the Staff level, the experience requirements (8+ years), and the location in Burbank, CA (a high cost of living area), this range aligns with industry benchmarks for senior product design roles in major media and tech companies.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance Coverage

• Employee Wellness Program

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k)

• Paid Holidays

• Sick Time

• Vacation Time

• Potential for annual bonuses, short-term and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected for project needs and collaboration across different time zones or with global teams, common in the media and entertainment industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Staff Product Designer in the Los Angeles area, reflecting the seniority and specialized nature of the role. The inclusion of bonuses and incentives suggests a performance-driven compensation structure. The benefits package is standard for a large, established corporation like Warner Bros. Discovery.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, Sports, Digital Content, Technology. Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment company with a vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, including sports properties.

Company Size: Large enterprise, with tens of thousands of employees globally. This indicates a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact due to the scale of operations.

Founded: Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. This creates a dynamic environment that blends legacy content creation with modern digital strategies.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team: The role sits within the Sports and Entertainment organization, specifically focusing on Bleacher Report. The immediate team likely includes a Director of Product Design, fellow Product Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, User Researchers, and Data Analysts.

• Reporting Structure: The Staff Product Designer reports to the Director, Product Design. This implies a hierarchical structure where strategic direction is set by leadership, and senior individual contributors are responsible for execution and influence.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role demands extensive collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, User Research, Data Science, Design Operations, and Business Leaders to define and deliver product experiences.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by customer research, analytics, and experimentation.

• Systems Thinking: Focus on understanding and optimizing the broader sports fan ecosystem.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Implied through close collaboration with Engineering and a focus on delivering customer-centered solutions.

• Design Systems: Emphasis on building and utilizing reusable components for consistency and scalability.

• Innovation: Exploration of emerging technologies like AI to enhance experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's recent formation suggests a culture that may be integrating different operational philosophies. The focus on "storytellers," "creators," and "dreamers" points to a creative and forward-thinking environment, balanced with the structured approach of a large media conglomerate. The emphasis on "Guiding Principles" suggests a value-driven culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying a high level of expertise, autonomy, and influence. Staff designers are expected to tackle the most ambiguous and strategically critical problems, mentor others, and elevate the overall design practice within the organization.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Director, Product Design. This indicates a clear leadership structure within the design team, providing guidance and strategic direction, while the Staff Designer is empowered to lead significant initiatives.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the user experience of millions of sports fans through Bleacher Report's digital products. By shaping product vision and strategy, the designer influences customer engagement, content consumption patterns, and ultimately, business outcomes for the Sports and Entertainment division.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into Principal Product Designer roles, leading larger strategic initiatives or managing broader product areas.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in sports media, fan engagement, and emerging technologies like AI within a leading industry player.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop stronger strategic partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Business leaders, influencing company-wide product direction.

• Mentorship Development: Further hone leadership and mentorship skills by guiding junior and mid-level designers, potentially leading to formal management tracks if desired.

• Innovation & Emerging Tech: Opportunity to be at the forefront of integrating AI and other advanced technologies into consumer-facing sports products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title is crucial here, indicating a path beyond senior individual contributor to potentially Principal or even Director-level roles, or specialized technical leadership. The emphasis on mentoring suggests a development path for those interested in leadership. The opportunity to work with emerging tech like AI is a significant growth vector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Burbank, CA, at Bldg. 700, Second Century, Tower 1. Given the "Hybrid" work arrangement, this implies a modern office space designed for collaboration, with dedicated areas for focused work and team meetings.

Office Location(s): Primarily Burbank, California, a hub for media and entertainment companies. This location offers proximity to industry peers and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is likely equipped with meeting rooms, brainstorming spaces, and open areas to facilitate interaction between designers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, prototyping tools, collaboration platforms, and potentially high-performance computing for complex design tasks.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person collaboration, design critiques, and team-building activities, alongside remote collaboration tools for seamless hybrid work.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the hybrid nature and the demands of the media/entertainment industry may require flexibility. The focus on digital products and live content means that team members might need to be available for critical launches or to monitor real-time events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid arrangement suggests a need for self-discipline and effective remote communication skills, while also valuing in-person collaboration for strategic discussions and team cohesion. The Burbank location places the designer within a significant ecosystem for the entertainment industry.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, highlighting specific case studies that demonstrate their end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. This may include a take-home design challenge or an on-the-spot exercise focused on a relevant problem.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, User Researchers, and potentially business stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate diverse perspectives.

• Staff-Level Discussion: A deeper dive into strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, mentorship experience, and how the candidate approaches ambiguous problems and influences product direction. This might involve a discussion with senior design leadership or directors.

• Final Round/Executive Interview: Potential interview with a VP or other senior executive to assess cultural fit and alignment with the company's overall vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-4 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience with complex, ambiguous problems, end-to-end product design, and strategic influence. Prioritize projects relevant to consumer digital products, ideally in media, sports, or entertainment.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, the solutions you designed, and the impact of your work (quantified where possible).

• Showcase Your Process: Clearly articulate your design methodology, including user research, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration. Explain the "why" behind your choices.

• Highlight Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the business and customer value of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, user satisfaction).

• Address Ambiguity: For a Staff role, be prepared to discuss how you navigate unclear requirements, define problems, and drive clarity in complex situations.

• Demonstrate Mentorship: If applicable, include examples or discuss your approach to mentoring and elevating the skills of other designers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Bleacher Report's current app and website, its target audience, and the competitive landscape in sports media.

• Practice Problem Framing: Be ready to deconstruct ambiguous problems, ask clarifying questions, and define project scope and objectives.

• Articulate Strategy: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for specific fan behaviors, live content consumption, or community features.

• Focus on User Needs: Ensure any proposed solutions are grounded in user needs and supported by potential research or data insights.

• Consider AI Integration: Think about how AI could enhance sports fandom experiences, content discovery, or fan interaction within the Bleacher Report ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Staff Product Designer is rigorous, focusing heavily on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to influence product direction. The portfolio is paramount and must clearly demonstrate these capabilities, with a strong preference for sports-related or complex consumer digital product experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Framer, or Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities for interactive user flows.

• User Research & Testing Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or internal tools for qualitative and quantitative feedback.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, Confluence for workflow management and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel for tracking user behavior and product performance.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (Google Cloud) for creating dashboards and reports to communicate insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within a broader CRM context (e.g., personalized content delivery) is beneficial.

• Design Systems Tools: Zeplin, Storybook for managing design system components.

• AI/ML Platforms: Familiarity with concepts or platforms related to AI-powered personalization, content recommendation engines, or generative AI for content creation assistance would be a strong plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools like Figma is a given. The emphasis on analytics and data visualization tools indicates that designers are expected to be data-informed. A forward-thinking approach would include familiarity with AI/ML concepts relevant to personalization and content delivery in a media context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Storytelling: A deep appreciation for narrative and how to craft compelling experiences that resonate with audiences.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging bold ideas and exploring new ways to engage users.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing user needs and delivering exceptional experiences.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights to inform strategy and validate design choices.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to high standards in all aspects of product development.

• Passion for Sports: A genuine enthusiasm for sports and understanding of fan culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be integrated within product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the development lifecycle.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive critique and open communication to foster continuous improvement in design quality and product effectiveness.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings across the design team and broader organization.

• Agile & Iterative: A willingness to adapt, iterate, and refine designs based on feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's "Guiding Principles" are central to its culture. Candidates should research these principles (mentioned as being available on wbd.com/guiding-principles/) and be prepared to discuss how they align with their own values and work approach. The emphasis on sports fandom suggests a culture that values passion and deep domain understanding.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling complex, ill-defined problems with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Balancing Vision & Execution: Maintaining a long-term product vision while delivering iterative improvements in a fast-paced environment.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and collaboration from diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Data, Business) with potentially different objectives.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in AI, personalization, and digital media consumption trends.

• Scalability & Consistency: Designing for a large, global audience across multiple platforms while maintaining brand consistency and a cohesive user experience.

• Deepening Domain Expertise: Continuously understanding the nuances of sports fandom, content consumption, and the evolving media landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like complex systems design, AI-driven UX, and advanced prototyping.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential support for attending relevant design, media, or technology conferences and pursuing certifications.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship from senior design leaders and the opportunity to mentor junior designers, fostering leadership growth.

• Exposure to Leading Brands: Working with iconic brands like Bleacher Report provides a unique platform for professional development and portfolio enhancement.

• Innovation Labs/Projects: Potential involvement in exploring cutting-edge technologies and their application to sports fandom.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a Staff-level role in a large, dynamic organization. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly in the areas of advanced design techniques, leadership, and exposure to cutting-edge technology within the sports media domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, ambiguous initiative from start to finish. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, strategic thinking, and impact.)

• "How do you influence product strategy and gain alignment across diverse stakeholders (e.g., Product, Engineering, Business)?" (Highlight collaboration, communication, and negotiation skills.)

• "Walk us through a design challenge where you had to balance a long-term vision with immediate execution needs." (Demonstrate your ability to prioritize and iterate.)

• "How do you leverage customer research, data, and experimentation to inform your design decisions?" (Emphasize your data-informed approach and validation methods.)

• "Tell us about your experience with AI-native products or AI-powered experiences. How do you see AI impacting the future of sports fandom?" (Showcase your understanding of emerging tech and its application.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Warner Bros. Discovery, Bleacher Report, and the sports media industry specifically?" (Research the company's mission, recent news, and Bleacher Report's position in the market.)

• "How do your design philosophies align with our 'Guiding Principles'?" (Prepare to connect your values and work approach to the company's stated principles.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Highlight your ability to be a strong, integrated team member.)

• "How do you approach mentoring other designers and elevating the quality of design within a team?" (Showcase your leadership and team development potential.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career and then dive into 2-3 key case studies. For each case study:

  1. The Challenge: Clearly define the problem you were solving and the business/user context.
  2. Your Role & Responsibilities: Specify your contributions, especially in a leading or strategic capacity.
  3. The Process: Detail your methodology (research, ideation, design, testing, iteration).
  4. Key Decisions & Rationale: Explain the critical choices you made and why.
  5. The Solution: Showcase your final designs (wireframes, mockups, prototypes).
  6. The Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion, user satisfaction).

• Focus on Staff-Level Attributes: Emphasize your strategic thinking, ability to handle ambiguity, cross-functional leadership, and impact.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design choices, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation, not a lecture. Be enthusiastic and passionate about your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate a Sports-Related Problem: Be ready to design a feature or improve an experience related to live sports viewing, fan engagement, content discovery, or social interaction within a sports context for Bleacher Report.

• Define Success Metrics: Think about how you would measure the success of your proposed solution.

• Consider Technical Constraints: Acknowledge that real-world products have technical limitations and factor those into your thinking.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of different design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation guidance emphasizes demonstrating strategic depth, leadership, and domain-specific understanding. Candidates should be ready to not only showcase their design skills but also their ability to influence product direction and mentor others within a complex media environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience in digital consumer product design, emphasizing leadership in complex initiatives, strategic influence, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 2-4 case studies that best showcase end-to-end design process, problem-solving for ambiguous challenges, and impact. Ensure they demonstrate your ability to influence product strategy and work with diverse stakeholders. Prioritize projects relevant to consumer digital products, ideally in media, sports, or entertainment.

• Practice Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse walking through your case studies, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design process, explaining your rationale, and highlighting the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your experience with emerging technologies like AI.

• Research WBD & Bleacher Report: Understand the company's mission, its "Guiding Principles," and Bleacher Report's position in the sports media landscape. Familiarize yourself with their current digital products and target audience.

⚠️ 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.