Senior Product Designer - Liverpool, United Kingdom
Speechify
Job Title: Senior Product DesignerCompany: SpeechifyLocation: Liverpool, United KingdomJob Type: Full-TimeCategory: Product Design / UX/UIDate Posted: 2026-02-08Experience Level: 5-10 YearsRemote Status: Remote Solely
- Drive the end-to-end product design process, from ideation and research to prototyping, development, and iterative refinement of consumer-facing features.
- Enhance and standardize user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) patterns across Speechify's mobile applications (iOS and Android) to ensure a cohesive and intuitive user journey.
- Redesign and optimize critical user flows, including onboarding and core feature interactions, to improve user adoption, engagement, and retention.
- Play a pivotal role in shaping the product roadmap by contributing strategic insights, user feedback, and design-led innovation.
- Contribute to the evolution of the design organization by refining design processes, advocating for best practices, and mentoring junior team members.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer within a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment. The emphasis on "pitch, prototype, test, build, ship, and refine" indicates a hands-on approach where designers are expected to own features from conception to launch. The mention of influencing the product roadmap and shaping the design org suggests a leadership track and strategic contribution beyond pure design execution. The "remote solely" and "asynchronous work culture" points to a need for strong self-management and communication skills in a distributed team.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Conceptualize, design, and deliver new product features, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives through a full design lifecycle.
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity prototypes and design specifications for new features and enhancements across iOS and Android platforms.
- Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather customer feedback to inform design decisions and identify areas for UX/UI improvement.
- Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to translate product requirements into elegant, functional, and user-friendly designs.
- Analyze user data and product metrics to identify key opportunities for optimizing user flows, engagement, and overall product performance.
- Contribute to the development and enforcement of design system components and UX/UI patterns to ensure consistency and scalability across all Speechify products.
- Actively participate in product strategy discussions, providing design perspectives and advocating for user-centric solutions.
- Refine and document design processes, contributing to the growth and maturity of Speechify's design function.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product thinking and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "refining UX/UI patterns" and "rethinking onboarding and core user flows" suggests a focus on improving existing product areas as well as developing new ones. The requirement to influence the product roadmap underscores the expectation for senior-level strategic input.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles, demonstrating a foundational understanding of design principles.Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a proven track record of designing and shipping consumer-facing products across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web).
Required Skills:
- Product Thinking: Demonstrated ability to understand product strategy, articulate design rationale (the "what" and "why"), and work collaboratively with Product Managers to identify key opportunities through analytics.
- User Research & Discovery: Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather actionable insights.
- Prototyping & Design Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
- UX/UI Design: Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, information architecture, and visual design across mobile (iOS, Android) and web platforms.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to effectively collaborate with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders, articulating design decisions and negotiating solutions.
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly, explain design rationale, and ask insightful questions.
- Customer-Centricity: Comfort and experience in engaging directly with customers to understand their needs and integrate their feedback into the design process.
Preferred Skills:
- Audio Technology/TTS Experience: Curiosity and understanding of audio technology, text-to-speech (TTS) applications, and their implications for user experience.
- Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, or contributing to design systems for consistency and scalability.
- Analytics Interpretation: Ability to interpret product analytics and user data to inform design decisions and measure impact.
- Micro-Interaction Design: Skill in designing subtle yet impactful micro-interactions to enhance user delight and usability.
- Typography & Information Design: Strong aesthetic sense and expertise in typography and information hierarchy for clear communication.
- End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies that detail your design process from problem identification and user research through to prototyping, testing, and final product delivery.
- Problem-Solving & Impact: Clearly articulate the challenges you addressed, your design solutions, and the measurable impact of your work on user behavior, engagement, or business metrics.
- Visual & Interaction Design: Demonstrate strong visual design skills, including typography, layout, and branding, alongside well-executed interaction design and micro-interactions.
- Prototyping & Iteration: Provide evidence of prototyping skills and how you used prototypes for testing and iteration to refine the user experience.
Process Documentation:
- User Research Methodology: Detail your approach to user research, including methods used, participant recruitment, and how insights were translated into design decisions.
- Design Process Flow: Illustrate your typical design process, highlighting key stages such as discovery, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and handoff.
- Collaboration & Handoff: Explain how you collaborate with product managers and engineers, and the artifacts you provide for seamless implementation.
- Metrics & Analytics Integration: Show examples of how you have used data and analytics to inform your design choices and measure post-launch success.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is crucial. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle, user-centered methodologies, and the ability to drive measurable impact. Case studies should explicitly show how the candidate navigated complex problems and collaborated with technical teams.
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in the UK, particularly in a remote tech startup setting, a competitive annual salary range would likely be between £60,000 and £85,000 GBP. This estimate considers the cost of living in the UK, the specialized skills required, and the high-growth startup environment.
- Competitive Salary: As estimated above, reflecting experience and market value.
- Remote Work Flexibility: A fully remote work environment with the ability to work asynchronously, promoting work-life balance.
- Impactful Product: The opportunity to work on a product that significantly impacts users' lives, especially those with learning differences.
- Innovation Focus: Exposure to cutting-edge AI and audio technology in a rapidly evolving domain.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and potentially contributing to shaping the design organization.
- Dynamic Startup Culture: A fast-paced, innovative environment where contributions are highly visible and valued.
- Inclusive Workplace: Commitment to diversity and inclusion, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all employees.
Working Hours: Speechify operates on an asynchronous work culture, suggesting flexibility beyond traditional 9-to-5. While the role likely requires an equivalent of 40 hours per week for effective contribution and collaboration, the emphasis is on output and results rather than strict time-tracking. Core collaboration hours may be established to facilitate team interaction.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on general UK tech industry standards for senior design roles. Actual compensation would depend on Speechify's specific compensation philosophy, the candidate's experience, and negotiation. The emphasis on asynchronous work and a "revolutionary industry" implies a benefits package focused on flexibility, impact, and professional growth.
Industry: Technology (Software, AI, EdTech, Accessibility)Company Size: Approximately 200 employees. This size indicates a stage where processes are being formalized, but agility and individual impact remain high. For operations professionals, this means opportunities to influence systems and processes, but also a need for adaptability and self-direction.Founded: Speechify was founded with a mission to remove reading barriers, leveraging technology to make information accessible. This foundational purpose drives a culture focused on impact and innovation.
Team Structure:
- Distributed & Async: Speechify operates as a 100% distributed company with no physical offices, fostering an asynchronous work culture. This requires strong self-management, clear documentation, and effective communication tools.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Designers work closely with Product Managers, Engineers (Frontend, Backend, AI), and potentially researchers. Collaboration is key to translating ideas into functional products.
- Lean & Agile: As a high-growth startup, the team likely operates with lean methodologies, emphasizing rapid iteration, data-driven decision-making, and adaptability to market changes.
Methodology:
- User-Centric Design: A strong focus on understanding user needs, particularly those with learning differences, and incorporating feedback throughout the design process.
- Data-Informed Decisions: Leveraging analytics and user data to guide product development and identify areas for optimization.
- Iterative Development: Employing an agile approach to design and development, with continuous shipping and refinement of features.
- AI & Audio Innovation: Actively exploring and integrating advancements in AI and audio technology to enhance the product offering.
Company Website: speechify.com
📝 Enhancement Note: Speechify's commitment to a remote, asynchronous culture is a defining characteristic. This implies that communication, documentation, and self-discipline are paramount for success. The company's mission around accessibility and learning differences suggests a culture that values purpose-driven work and inclusivity.
Operations Values:
- Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible and supporting learning. This translates to a focus on creating meaningful and impactful user experiences.
- User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users, especially those with learning differences, driving design decisions to meet their specific needs.
- Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new technologies (AI, audio) and push creative boundaries to solve problems.
- Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share work, provide feedback, and work effectively across functions in a remote setting.
- Bias for Action & Iteration: A fast-paced environment that values shipping, learning, and iterating quickly based on feedback and data.
- Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily asynchronous, relying on clear written messages, documentation, and well-organized project updates.
- Proactive Communication: Team members are expected to be proactive in sharing updates, asking questions, and flagging potential issues.
- Peer Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback, where designers, PMs, and engineers openly share insights to improve the product.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong partnerships between design, product, and engineering are essential for successful product development.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are directly tied to Speechify's mission and its operational model (remote, asynchronous). Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values in their communication and approach.
- Balancing Innovation and Iteration: The need to constantly innovate with new AI features while also refining existing user flows and ensuring a stable, intuitive experience.
- Designing for Diverse Needs: Catering to a wide range of users, including those with specific learning differences (dyslexia, ADD), which requires careful consideration of accessibility and usability.
- Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively collaborating and driving consensus in a fully distributed, asynchronous environment, requiring exceptional communication and documentation skills.
- Pacing in a High-Growth Startup: Adapting to rapid changes, shifting priorities, and the need to deliver high-quality work at a fast pace.
- Emerging Technologies: Deep dive into AI and audio technology, staying at the forefront of innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.
- Accessibility Design Expertise: Developing specialized skills in designing for inclusivity and learning differences, becoming a leader in this domain.
- Product Strategy Contribution: Gaining experience in influencing product roadmaps and strategic decision-making at a growing company.
- Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership responsibilities within the design team.
- Remote Work Best Practices: Honing skills in asynchronous communication, self-management, and effective remote collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing tech company operating remotely in an innovative space. The growth opportunities are significant for a senior individual looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career.
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your design insights. What was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data use, and collaboration with PMs.)
- "How would you approach redesigning the onboarding flow for a text-to-speech app like Speechify to maximize user activation?" (Prepare to outline your process, user research, and key design considerations.)
- "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced and how you navigated it, including any trade-offs you had to make." (Emphasize problem-solving, decision-making rationale, and iterative design.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission and our focus on accessibility?" (Research Speechify's mission, target audience, and the impact of TTS technology.)
- "How do you approach collaboration in a remote, asynchronous environment?" (Highlight your experience with tools and strategies for effective remote teamwork.)
- "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints?" (Demonstrate your understanding of product development trade-offs.)
- Structure: Use a clear, chronological structure for each case study: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Solution -> Testing -> Outcome.
- Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Include screenshots of the live product if applicable.
- Narrative: Tell a compelling story about your role and contributions. Explain why you made certain decisions.
- Metrics: Quantify your impact with data whenever possible. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the metrics you aimed to influence and how you would measure success.
- Interactivity: Be prepared to zoom in on specific UI elements or interactions if asked.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, and strong collaborative skills, all within the context of Speechify's mission and remote work environment.
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely given industry trends and Speechify's focus on collaboration), Sketch, Adobe XD.
- User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), and potentially usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com).
- Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.
- Communication: Slack (essential for remote teams), Zoom, Google Meet for real-time and asynchronous communication.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or custom internal dashboards to track user behavior, feature adoption, and engagement metrics.
- Data Visualization: Potentially tools for creating charts and reports, or direct use of analytics platform dashboards.
CRM & Automation:
- CRM: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for understanding user lifecycle and customer segmentation.
- Integration Tools: Awareness of how design impacts integrations with backend systems or third-party services.
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design collaboration tools like Figma is almost a given. Experience with product analytics platforms is crucial for demonstrating a data-driven approach to design.
Operations Values:
- Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible and supporting learning. This translates to a focus on creating meaningful and impactful user experiences.
- User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users, especially those with learning differences, driving design decisions to meet their specific needs.
- Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new technologies (AI, audio) and push creative boundaries to solve problems.
- Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share work, provide feedback, and work effectively across functions in a remote setting.
- Bias for Action & Iteration: A fast-paced environment that values shipping, learning, and iterating quickly based on feedback and data.
- Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily asynchronous, relying on clear written messages, documentation, and well-organized project updates.
- Proactive Communication: Team members are expected to be proactive in sharing updates, asking questions, and flagging potential issues.
- Peer Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback, where designers, PMs, and engineers openly share insights to improve the product.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong partnerships between design, product, and engineering are essential for successful product development.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are directly tied to Speechify's mission and its operational model (remote, asynchronous). Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values in their communication and approach.
- Balancing Innovation and Iteration: The need to constantly innovate with new AI features while also refining existing user flows and ensuring a stable, intuitive experience.
- Designing for Diverse Needs: Catering to a wide range of users, including those with specific learning differences (dyslexia, ADD), which requires careful consideration of accessibility and usability.
- Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively collaborating and driving consensus in a fully distributed, asynchronous environment, requiring exceptional communication and documentation skills.
- Pacing in a High-Growth Startup: Adapting to rapid changes, shifting priorities, and the need to deliver high-quality work at a fast pace.
- Emerging Technologies: Deep dive into AI and audio technology, staying at the forefront of innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.
- Accessibility Design Expertise: Developing specialized skills in designing for inclusivity and learning differences, becoming a leader in this domain.
- Product Strategy Contribution: Gaining experience in influencing product roadmaps and strategic decision-making at a growing company.
- Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership responsibilities within the design team.
- Remote Work Best Practices: Honing skills in asynchronous communication, self-management, and effective remote collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing tech company operating remotely in an innovative space. The growth opportunities are significant for a senior individual looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career.
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your design insights. What was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data use, and collaboration with PMs.)
- "How would you approach redesigning the onboarding flow for a text-to-speech app like Speechify to maximize user activation?" (Prepare to outline your process, user research, and key design considerations.)
- "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced and how you navigated it, including any trade-offs you had to make." (Emphasize problem-solving, decision-making rationale, and iterative design.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission and our focus on accessibility?" (Research Speechify's mission, target audience, and the impact of TTS technology.)
- "How do you approach collaboration in a remote, asynchronous environment?" (Highlight your experience with tools and strategies for effective remote teamwork.)
- "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints?" (Demonstrate your understanding of product development trade-offs.)
- Structure: Use a clear, chronological structure for each case study: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Solution -> Testing -> Outcome.
- Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Include screenshots of the live product if applicable.
- Narrative: Tell a compelling story about your role and contributions. Explain why you made certain decisions.
- Metrics: Quantify your impact with data whenever possible. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the metrics you aimed to influence and how you would measure success.
- Interactivity: Be prepared to zoom in on specific UI elements or interactions if asked.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, and strong collaborative skills, all within the context of Speechify's mission and remote work environment.
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely given industry trends and Speechify's focus on collaboration), Sketch, Adobe XD.
- User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), and potentially usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com).
- Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.
- Communication: Slack (essential for remote teams), Zoom, Google Meet for real-time and asynchronous communication.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or custom internal dashboards to track user behavior, feature adoption, and engagement metrics.
- Data Visualization: Potentially tools for creating charts and reports, or direct use of analytics platform dashboards.
CRM & Automation:
- CRM: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for understanding user lifecycle and customer segmentation.
- Integration Tools: Awareness of how design impacts integrations with backend systems or third-party services.
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design collaboration tools like Figma is almost a given. Experience with product analytics platforms is crucial for demonstrating a data-driven approach to design.
Operations Values:
- Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible and supporting learning. This translates to a focus on creating meaningful and impactful user experiences.
- User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users, especially those with learning differences, driving design decisions to meet their specific needs.
- Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new technologies (AI, audio) and push creative boundaries to solve problems.
- Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share work, provide feedback, and work effectively across functions in a remote setting.
- Bias for Action & Iteration: A fast-paced environment that values shipping, learning, and iterating quickly based on feedback and data.
- Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily asynchronous, relying on clear written messages, documentation, and well-organized project updates.
- Proactive Communication: Team members are expected to be proactive in sharing updates, asking questions, and flagging potential issues.
- Peer Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback, where designers, PMs, and engineers openly share insights to improve the product.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong partnerships between design, product, and engineering are essential for successful product development.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are directly tied to Speechify's mission and its operational model (remote, asynchronous). Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values in their communication and approach.
- Balancing Innovation and Iteration: The need to constantly innovate with new AI features while also refining existing user flows and ensuring a stable, intuitive experience.
- Designing for Diverse Needs: Catering to a wide range of users, including those with specific learning differences (dyslexia, ADD), which requires careful consideration of accessibility and usability.
- Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively collaborating and driving consensus in a fully distributed, asynchronous environment, requiring exceptional communication and documentation skills.
- Pacing in a High-Growth Startup: Adapting to rapid changes, shifting priorities, and the need to deliver high-quality work at a fast pace.
- Emerging Technologies: Deep dive into AI and audio technology, staying at the forefront of innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.
- Accessibility Design Expertise: Developing specialized skills in designing for inclusivity and learning differences, becoming a leader in this domain.
- Product Strategy Contribution: Gaining experience in influencing product roadmaps and strategic decision-making at a growing company.
- Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership responsibilities within the design team.
- Remote Work Best Practices: Honing skills in asynchronous communication, self-management, and effective remote collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing tech company operating remotely in an innovative space. The growth opportunities are significant for a senior individual looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career.
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your design insights. What was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data use, and collaboration with PMs.)
- "How would you approach redesigning the onboarding flow for a text-to-speech app like Speechify to maximize user activation?" (Prepare to outline your process, user research, and key design considerations.)
- "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced and how you navigated it, including any trade-offs you had to make." (Emphasize problem-solving, decision-making rationale, and iterative design.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission and our focus on accessibility?" (Research Speechify's mission, target audience, and the impact of TTS technology.)
- "How do you approach collaboration in a remote, asynchronous environment?" (Highlight your experience with tools and strategies for effective remote teamwork.)
- "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints?" (Demonstrate your understanding of product development trade-offs.)
- Structure: Use a clear, chronological structure for each case study: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Solution -> Testing -> Outcome.
- Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Include screenshots of the live product if applicable.
- Narrative: Tell a compelling story about your role and contributions. Explain why you made certain decisions.
- Metrics: Quantify your impact with data whenever possible. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the metrics you aimed to influence and how you would measure success.
- Interactivity: Be prepared to zoom in on specific UI elements or interactions if asked.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, and strong collaborative skills, all within the context of Speechify's mission and remote work environment.
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely given industry trends and Speechify's focus on collaboration), Sketch, Adobe XD.
- User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), and potentially usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com).
- Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.
- Communication: Slack (essential for remote teams), Zoom, Google Meet for real-time and asynchronous communication.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or custom internal dashboards to track user behavior, feature adoption, and engagement metrics.
- Data Visualization: Potentially tools for creating charts and reports, or direct use of analytics platform dashboards.
CRM & Automation:
- CRM: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for understanding user lifecycle and customer segmentation.
- Integration Tools: Awareness of how design impacts integrations with backend systems or third-party services.
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design collaboration tools like Figma is almost a given. Experience with product analytics platforms is crucial for demonstrating a data-driven approach to design.
Operations Values:
- Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Speechify's mission of making reading accessible and supporting learning. This translates to a focus on creating meaningful and impactful user experiences.
- User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users, especially those with learning differences, driving design decisions to meet their specific needs.
- Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new technologies (AI, audio) and push creative boundaries to solve problems.
- Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share work, provide feedback, and work effectively across functions in a remote setting.
- Bias for Action & Iteration: A fast-paced environment that values shipping, learning, and iterating quickly based on feedback and data.
- Asynchronous First: Communication is primarily asynchronous, relying on clear written messages, documentation, and well-organized project updates.
- Proactive Communication: Team members are expected to be proactive in sharing updates, asking questions, and flagging potential issues.
- Peer Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback, where designers, PMs, and engineers openly share insights to improve the product.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong partnerships between design, product, and engineering are essential for successful product development.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are directly tied to Speechify's mission and its operational model (remote, asynchronous). Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values in their communication and approach.
- Balancing Innovation and Iteration: The need to constantly innovate with new AI features while also refining existing user flows and ensuring a stable, intuitive experience.
- Designing for Diverse Needs: Catering to a wide range of users, including those with specific learning differences (dyslexia, ADD), which requires careful consideration of accessibility and usability.
- Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively collaborating and driving consensus in a fully distributed, asynchronous environment, requiring exceptional communication and documentation skills.
- Pacing in a High-Growth Startup: Adapting to rapid changes, shifting priorities, and the need to deliver high-quality work at a fast pace.
- Emerging Technologies: Deep dive into AI and audio technology, staying at the forefront of innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.
- Accessibility Design Expertise: Developing specialized skills in designing for inclusivity and learning differences, becoming a leader in this domain.
- Product Strategy Contribution: Gaining experience in influencing product roadmaps and strategic decision-making at a growing company.
- Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership responsibilities within the design team.
- Remote Work Best Practices: Honing skills in asynchronous communication, self-management, and effective remote collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing tech company operating remotely in an innovative space. The growth opportunities are significant for a senior individual looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career.
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your design insights. What was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data use, and collaboration with PMs.)
- "How would you approach redesigning the onboarding flow for a text-to-speech app like Speechify to maximize user activation?" (Prepare to outline your process, user research, and key design considerations.)
- "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced and how you navigated it, including any trade-offs you had to make." (Emphasize problem-solving, decision-making rationale, and iterative design.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Speechify's mission and our focus on accessibility?" (Research Speechify's mission, target audience, and the impact of TTS technology.)
- "How do you approach collaboration in a remote, asynchronous environment?" (Highlight your experience with tools and strategies for effective remote teamwork.)
- "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints?" (Demonstrate your understanding of product development trade-offs.)
- Structure: Use a clear, chronological structure for each case study: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Solution -> Testing -> Outcome.
- Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Include screenshots of the live product if applicable.
- Narrative: Tell a compelling story about your role and contributions. Explain why you made certain decisions.
- Metrics: Quantify your impact with data whenever possible. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the metrics you aimed to influence and how you would measure success.
- Interactivity: Be prepared to zoom in on specific UI elements or interactions if asked.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, and strong collaborative skills, all within the context of Speechify's mission and remote work environment.
Company Website: speechify.com
⚠️ 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
The ideal candidate should have experience in research, discovery, prototyping, and delivery of consumer-facing products across multiple platforms. They should also possess strong collaboration skills and be customer-centric, with a focus on effective communication.