Director, Product Design

The Director of Product Design at Harness is responsible for leading the design team to develop intuitive, scalable interfaces that improve software delivery processes. This role includes cross-functional collaboration, mentoring designers, advocating for design excellence, and creating a clear design vision that aligns with Harness’ objectives.

Candidates aspiring for the Director, Product Design role at Harness should possess several years of experience leading design teams, expertise in designing for developer tooling or enterprise software, and excellent visual and interaction design skills. Familiarity with design tools like Figma and the ability to balance detail-oriented design with broader strategic goals are also crucial.

In the Director, Product Design role, you play a pivotal part in fostering a high-performance, customer-obsessed team culture. By mentoring your team, inspiring them to achieve their best work, and promoting collaboration with other departments, you'll help cultivate an environment where creativity and innovation thrive at Harness.

The work environment for the Director, Product Design at Harness is dynamic and collaborative, bringing together various departments to drive effective design solutions. With a focus on customer-centric design and fast-paced iteration, you’ll be surrounded by a team of talented professionals motivated to redefine best-in-class software design and development processes.

Candidates for the Director, Product Design position at Harness can expect a competitive salary ranging from $225,000 to $275,000 USD, along with comprehensive healthcare benefits, flexible work schedules, and generous time-off policies, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to thrive in a rewarding and supportive environment.

In your response, outline your approach to understanding user needs, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. Emphasize collaboration with stakeholders and how you incorporate feedback to refine design solutions, highlighting your experience in leading successful projects.

Explain how you evaluate each project's objectives, considering both user experience and business outcomes. Discuss your strategies to ensure a balanced approach and how you advocate for users' needs while still achieving business objectives.

Enumerate factors such as usability, efficiency, and the ability to support complex workflows. Draw from your experience to illustrate how these elements are crucial for enhancing developer experiences and productivity in your designs.

Share your perspective on constructive criticism and how you leverage feedback to improve your work. Highlight your open-mindedness and collaboration skills, explaining how you integrate different viewpoints to refine design outcomes.

Mention specific tools like Figma or Sketch, discussing how they've aided collaboration and streamlined your design process. Illustrate your proficiency by sharing particular projects where these tools enhanced efficiency or effectiveness.

Choose a relevant project where you encountered obstacles or limitations; discuss how you identified the issue, your approach to problem-solving, and the final results. Highlight the impact of your solution on the product and user experience.

Discuss your methods of keeping current, such as following industry blogs, participating in design communities, attending conferences, or engaging in continuous learning. Showcase your commitment to staying relevant in the dynamic design landscape.

Explain how storytelling enhances your ability to communicate design concepts and connect with stakeholders. Provide an example of how you've used storytelling to clarify complex projects or gain buy-in from cross-functional teams.

Discuss how you work closely with product and engineering teams to understand the overall vision and objectives. Explain the importance of regular check-ins and iterations to keep design work aligned with evolving project goals.

Share your strategies for collecting user feedback, such as usability testing, surveys, or interviews. Highlight your analytical skills in interpreting data and how you translate findings into actionable improvements in your design work.