Lead Product Designer

Customers trust the Alation Data Intelligence Platform for self-service analytics, cloud transformation, data governance, and AI-ready data, fostering data-driven innovation at scale. With more than $340M in funding – valued at over $1.7 billion and nearly 600 customers, including 40% of the Fortune 100 — Alation helps organizations realize value from data and AI initiatives.

Alation has been recognized in 2024 as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces for the fifth time, a testament to our commitment to creating an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative environment. 

Collaboration is at the forefront of everything we do. We strive to bring diverse perspectives together and empower each team member to contribute their unique strengths to live out our values each day. These are: Move the Ball, Build for the Long Term, Listen Like You’re Wrong, and Measure Through Customer Impact. 

Joining Alation means being part of a fast-paced, high-growth company where every voice matters, and where we’re shaping the future of data intelligence with AI-ready data. 

Join us on our journey to build a world where data culture thrives and curiosity is celebrated each day!

Job Description:

Alation is the leading data platform for enterprise companies empowering their workforce to find, understand, and trust data. We’re looking for a Lead Product Designer who is equal parts strategic thinker, problem solver, and researcher. You’ll shape the user experience across multiple product teams, driving discovery, ideation, and concept testing to create impactful, scalable design solutions. If you thrive on ambiguity, ask the right questions, and connect the dots between user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, we want to talk to you.

This role will primarily focus on improving data discovery for data analysts at enterprise organizations. You will drive innovation in catalog search, navigation, and discovery capabilities while identifying opportunities to integrate AI into the experience.

We work in a hybrid model—you’ll join us in our Redwood City office on Tuesdays and Thursdays to collaborate, connect, and enjoy a team atmosphere!

While we value global talent, we are currently unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Who You Are:

• Curious and resourceful. You identify problems quickly and take the initiative to find solutions, leveraging your expertise or learning new methods as needed.

• Business-aware. You design with desirability, viability, and feasibility in mind, ensuring functionality aligns with broader business objectives.

• Independent, yet collaborative. You work autonomously while actively seeking and providing feedback to peers and stakeholders.

• Analytical and creative. You dig deep into technology to understand and challenge constraints.

• Bold and scientific. You embrace risk, test hypotheses, and use outcomes to guide the next steps.

• Growth-minded. You view mistakes as learning opportunities and continuously refine your approach.

• A natural leader. You guide teams through user-centered activities, influence through storytelling and sound reasoning, and foster open discussions.

What You'll Do:

• Become an expert in customer and user needs around data discovery through competitive and primary research.

• Develop and evaluate concepts via iterative prototyping, concept testing, and hypothesis-driven design.

• Partnering with PMs and tech leads, driving product discovery, and synthesizing insights to identify opportunities for innovation.

• Work independently with your squad while considering the larger user experience.

• Communicate and justify design decisions effectively to business and technical stakeholders.

• Mentor and elevate the design team, increasing their effectiveness and impact.

• Lead UX efforts across one to two squads, ensuring a cohesive and thoughtful experience.

• Leverage systems thinking to design experiences that scale, integrate seamlessly, and contribute to a unified product ecosystem.

• Challenge assumptions, reframe problems, and advocate for users through compelling storytelling and well-reasoned arguments.

What You Need:

• 7+ years of product design experience in complex, interconnected systems, ideally in B2B or enterprise applications.

• A portfolio showcasing selected work or case studies that demonstrate your strengths and impact.

• Strong research and discovery skills from either a dedicated UX research background or research-driven design practice.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.

• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and ability to advocate for users.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling designs.

• Excellent verbal and visual communication skills to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Familiarity with AI-driven design tools and workflows is a plus, as we anticipate AI handling high-fidelity UI execution in the near future.

Portfolio Submission

Please include a portfolio showcasing:

• 2-3 projects demonstrating your range and expertise

• Thought processes around constraints, trade-offs, and risks

• Reflections on project outcomes

#LI-WR1

Compensation Pay Range:

Salary Information

The base salary range is specific to the United States.  The salary of the final candidate selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to internal equity, experience, education, work location, specialty and training.  If the final candidate has a different level of experience, the base salary target range may be lower or higher than what is published.

Alation, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to that individual’s race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.                                   
 

The Company will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to permit qualified applicants who have a need for an accommodation to participate in the hiring process (e.g., accommodations for a job interview) if so requested.  
 

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