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Product Designer

About the Role:

OpenRouter is building the world’s largest marketplace for LLMs, growing rapidly to meet the evolving needs of developers, enterprises, and AI enthusiasts. As our first designer, you'll join a small, highly technical team of 7.

This role is perfect for someone who is highly productive, has high agency, and is excited to own the entire design function, from UI/UX to product thinking, and enjoys working closely with founders and engineers. You’ll play a critical role in shaping our platform, building out our design system from scratch, and solving problems for our customers.

While we're not expecting you to directly implement designs in code, we are looking for someone who is excited to embrace modern AI tools that begin to move design closer to the code. Since we’re building a technical AI infrastructure product, the ideal candidate is someone who is excited about AI software and services and is excited to dig in and understand the value proposition of OpenRouter.

Key Responsibilities:

UI/UX & Design System:

  • Own the end-to-end design process: research, wireframing, prototyping, and final implementation.

  • Build and maintain a scalable design system, while still being focused on shipping.

  • Collaborate closely with engineering to ensure designs translate well into code.

  • Optimize usability and simplify complex AI workflows to create intuitive, developer-friendly experiences.

Product & Strategy:

  • Work directly with founders to refine product vision, user experience, and design priorities.

  • Contribute to product strategy by aligning business goals, user needs, and technical constraints.

  • Listen to our customers and iterate based on feedback.

Collaboration & Execution:

  • Partner with engineers to ship fast, functional, and delightful user experiences.

  • Use AI-powered design tools to move faster, automate repetitive tasks, and generate creative solutions.

  • Participate in product and design critiques, working asynchronously with the team over Slack, Notion, and Linear.

About You:

  • 5+ years of experience in Product Design, UI/UX, or a related field.

  • Strong background in end-to-end product design, from UX research to high-fidelity UI.

  • Fluent in TailwindCSS or comfortable working closely with utility-first design systems.

  • Excited about AI—you don’t need to be an ML expert, but you should be eager to design for technical users.

  • A startup mindset—you thrive in ambiguity, take ownership, and can move quickly with limited resources.

  • Strong communication skills—you know how to articulate design rationale and work effectively in a remote, async team.

What We Offer:

  • High-impact role: Shape the design language and UX of a rapidly growing AI infrastructure company.

  • Fast-moving, technical team: Work with experienced engineers and founders who prioritize execution.

  • Ownership & autonomy: You’ll own the design function and have the freedom to drive it as you see fit.

  • Competitive compensation: Salary + meaningful equity in an early-stage, high-growth startup.

If you’re a highly capable, product-minded designer who loves working close to the code, we’d love to hear from you.

Average salary estimate

$115000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$100000K
$130000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Product Designer, OpenRouter

At OpenRouter, we are on a mission to create the world's largest marketplace for LLMs, and we're looking for a talented Product Designer to join our dynamic team. As our first designer, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape our design function from the ground up. This role is perfect for someone with a strong background in UI/UX and a passion for building innovative products in the AI space. Collaborating closely with our founders and engineers, you'll own the entire design process—from research to prototyping and final implementation. You'll get to develop and maintain a scalable design system while simplifying complex AI workflows to deliver a seamless experience for our users. If you're excited about using AI-powered tools to enhance your design process and eager to dive deep into our product's value proposition, this is the role for you! You'll be part of a small, highly technical team where your input will directly influence our design language and user experience. You should have at least 5 years of experience in product design and a startup mindset that thrives in fast-paced environments. We're looking for someone who can communicate effectively in a remote setting and is eager to take ownership of their work. If you’re ready to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing company, we'd love to connect with you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Product Designer Role at OpenRouter
What does a Product Designer at OpenRouter do?

As a Product Designer at OpenRouter, you will own the entire design function, which encompasses research, wireframing, prototyping, and final implementation. You'll collaborate closely with engineers and founders to refine product vision, optimize usability, and create delightful user experiences in our growing AI infrastructure.

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What qualifications are needed to be a Product Designer at OpenRouter?

To be qualified for the Product Designer role at OpenRouter, candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in product design or UI/UX. A strong understanding of design systems, UX research, and AI software is essential, along with excellent communication skills for effective collaboration in a remote environment.

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How does one contribute to product strategy as a Product Designer at OpenRouter?

Contributing to product strategy as a Product Designer at OpenRouter involves aligning business goals, user needs, and technical constraints while collaborating closely with founders. Your insights from user feedback will directly influence design priorities and the overall product vision.

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What tools does a Product Designer at OpenRouter use?

At OpenRouter, Product Designers are encouraged to embrace modern AI-powered tools to enhance their workflow. While specific tools may vary, proficiency in design systems like TailwindCSS and familiarity with design automation tools will greatly aid in simplifying complex workflows and accelerating the design process.

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What kind of work environment can a Product Designer at OpenRouter expect?

A Product Designer at OpenRouter will thrive in a fast-paced, technical environment. The team is small yet highly skilled, allowing for significant ownership of design projects and close collaboration with engineers and founders, all within a remote and asynchronous setup.

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Common Interview Questions for Product Designer
Can you describe your design process as a Product Designer?

When responding to this question, outline a structured approach that includes stages such as user research, brainstorming, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing. Emphasize the importance of collaboration with engineering and product teams, especially in an AI-focused setting like OpenRouter.

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How do you ensure that your designs are user-focused?

Discuss techniques such as conducting user interviews, gathering feedback, and performing usability tests to ensure that the design meets user needs. Mention the role of continuous iteration based on user insights to refine the design further.

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What experience do you have with design systems?

Detail your experience in creating or working with design systems. Describe how you’ve contributed to maintaining a scalable design system that ensures brand consistency and enhances usability across different platforms or products.

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How do you deal with ambiguity in design requirements?

Explain your approach to navigating unclear design requirements by initiating discussions with stakeholders, using design sprints to explore possibilities, and prototyping to visualize solutions, showcasing how you embrace the startup mindset.

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What role does collaboration play in your design process?

Emphasize the collaborative aspect of design within a cross-functional team. Talk about how you engage with engineers and product managers to ensure designs are feasible and aligned with technical capabilities, especially in a fast-moving environment.

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Can you provide an example of a successful project you've completed?

Share a project that highlights your design process from start to finish, including the challenges faced, how you resolved them, and the impact of the final design on user experience or business goals.

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What tools do you find indispensable for product design?

Discuss your preferred design tools and any AI-powered solutions you utilize to enhance productivity. Highlight how these tools can streamline the design process and improve collaboration within the team.

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How do you approach feedback on your designs?

Explain your openness to receiving feedback and how you use it constructively. Discuss the importance of iterating on designs based on input from team members and users to achieve the best possible outcome.

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How do you stay updated on design trends and technologies?

Share your methods for keeping up with the latest trends, such as subscribing to design blogs, attending webinars, or participating in design communities, particularly in the context of AI and product design.

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Why do you want to work as a Product Designer at OpenRouter?

Express your excitement for the opportunity to work at OpenRouter, emphasizing your interest in AI technology and how your skills align with the company's mission to create a marketplace for LLMs, showcasing your enthusiasm for contributing to a visionary product.

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DATE POSTED
March 20, 2025

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