Product Design Manager

Details

Over 7,500 companies—from scrappy startups to global brands—use Customer.io's platform to send billions of emails, push notifications, in-app messages, and SMS every day. Customer.io powers automated communication that people actually want to receive by helping teams send smarter, more relevant messages using real-time behavioral data.

This role is for a Design Manager to lead product and systems designers through a pivotal stage of growth. You will report to the VP of Product & Design and act as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for major initiatives including an information architecture (IA) overhaul and an app redesign. The focus is on shifting from reactive design delivery to a proactive, systematized, and quality-first design culture that delivers powerful, thoughtful experiences.

Responsibilities

• Own high-impact design initiatives (IA overhaul, app UI evolution, and new AI workflows) as the design DRI.
• Manage and mentor a team of 3–6 product and systems designers.
• Drive design rituals (standups, reviews, async feedback) for alignment and velocity.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers on strategy, roadmap, and delivery.
• Uphold design quality across UX, UI, accessibility, and usability.
• Evolve the company design system (Pluma) with scalable, documented components.
• Shape culture around feedback, inclusivity, and async-first communication.

Requirements

• 10+ years in product design; 5+ years managing or mentoring designers.
• Proven leadership of complex initiatives (information architecture, redesigns, cross-platform work).
• Experience with design systems, component libraries, and Figma workflows.
• Strong communicator, especially in remote and async environments.
• Comfortable navigating 0→1 and iterative product design processes.
• Skilled in accessibility, responsive UI, and UX best practices.
• Background in B2B SaaS, MarTech, or data-rich product environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Transparent salary ranges: $170,000–$195,000 USD starting (or equivalent local), with zone-based ranges:
  • Zone 1: $204,000–$234,000 USD
  • Zone 2: $187,000–$214,000 USD
  • Zone 3: $170,000–$195,000 USD
• Inclusive benefits package with 100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, mental health, and supplemental insurance premiums for you and your family.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, unlimited PTO, stipends for remote work and wellness, a professional development budget, and more.

Interview Process & Notes

• Process: recruiter call (30 min) → HR Business Partner (30 min) → portfolio walkthrough + strategy Q&A with panel (1 hr) → hiring manager (1 hr).
• Final candidates will complete background checks and employment verifications.
• Virtual interviews conducted via Zoom (video required).
• Offers extended in writing on official Customer.io letterhead. For questions contact [email protected].

Company & Culture

Customer.io is a product-led company focused on delivering magical communications at scale. The company emphasizes empathy, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and async-first teamwork.