Director, Product Design

Who you are

You have over 5 years of experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing your ability to create user-centered designs that solve real problems. Your expertise in Figma allows you to produce high-fidelity prototypes and collaborate effectively with engineering and product teams. You have a proven track record of leading design projects from concept to execution, ensuring that user needs are met while aligning with business goals.

You excel in cross-functional collaboration, working closely with research, engineering, analytics, and marketing teams to iterate on designs based on user feedback and data insights. Your strong communication skills enable you to present your ideas clearly to stakeholders and facilitate productive discussions around design decisions. You are passionate about mentoring junior designers, helping them grow their skills and confidence in their design work.

You understand the importance of systems thinking in design, ensuring that your solutions are not only visually appealing but also functional and scalable. You are comfortable with mobile prototyping and have experience designing for various platforms, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are adaptable to changing priorities, always keeping the user at the forefront of your design process.

Desirable

Experience in the AI or tech industry is a plus, as it gives you a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in this space. Familiarity with design systems and the ability to contribute to their development will set you apart as a candidate. You are also open to exploring new design tools and methodologies, continuously seeking to improve your craft and the design process within your team.

What you'll do

As the Lead Product Designer at Handshake, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the user experience of our products in the AI economy. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including research, product, engineering, analytics, and marketing, to ship and iterate on strategic products that make a real impact for our customers and the business. Your leadership will help set the vision for design at Handshake, raising the bar on culture, operations, and execution of design work.

You will be responsible for hiring and growing the design team, fostering an environment of creativity and collaboration. Your ability to facilitate conversations with stakeholders will ensure that design decisions are informed by user needs and business objectives. You will strengthen the overall product organization's ability to experiment, iterate, and learn, working alongside product organization leads to develop well-informed design strategies.

Your role will involve conducting user research and usability testing to gather insights that inform your design decisions. You will create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that effectively communicate your ideas and solutions. You will also be involved in defining and maintaining design standards and guidelines, ensuring consistency across all products.

What we offer

At Handshake, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as mental health support and a wellness stipend. We believe in continuous growth and development, providing a learning stipend to support your professional journey. Our office in San Francisco is equipped with amenities such as free lunch and gym access, creating a comfortable and productive work environment.

We value work-life balance and offer flexible PTO, along with 15 holidays and 2 flex days to recharge. Team outings and referral bonuses foster a sense of connection and community within our team. Join us at Handshake and be part of a mission-driven company that is shaping the future of careers in the AI economy.