Lead Product Designer Job San Francisco area,California USA,Design & Architecture

Job Summary

We're looking for a Lead Product Designer to join the Vertical Squad—a team focused on product experiences that expand how and where members earn Cash Back beyond the core online shopping flow. You will set the design direction for squad‑wide surfaces such as gift card redemption, dining, and in‑store shopping, translating operational complexity into simple, rewarding experiences for members.

Key Responsibilities

Design Ownership
:
Own end‑to‑end design for your product areas— from problem framing through shipped product. Set direction and voice the squad’s priorities.

Squad Vision
:
Develop and communicate a design vision that guides cross‑functional partners and aligns with squad objectives.

Problem Definition
:
Frame and scope work before UI, ensuring the right problems are addressed across distinct surfaces.

Systems Thinking
:
Design with awareness of vertical surfaces’ connections to Rakuten’s core shopping experience, ensuring cohesion.

Research & Validation
:
Partner with research or conduct research to validate direction, identify friction, and de‑risk before development.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration
:
Work closely with PM and engineering, define what is built and why, and communicate confidently to senior leadership.

Design Culture
:
Contribute to the broader design team’s culture—participate in critiques, share learnings, and elevate quality across squads.

AI‑Assisted Workflows
:
Leverage AI tools for research synthesis, rapid prototyping, ideation, or any step that accelerates and clarifies work.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

6+ years of professional design experience with significant experience in complex systems.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Design, Human‑Computer Interaction (HCI), Industrial Design, Computer Science, or related field.
Portfolio demonstrating end‑to‑end product design with clear evidence of process, decision‑making, and measurable outcomes.
Proficiency with design and prototyping tools, e.g., Figma, Claude Code.
A strong sense of visual and interaction design, with a track record of raising the bar.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in e‑commerce, marketplaces, or consumer‑scale products.
Active use of AI tools as part of a design workflow, ideally including AI coding tools for rapid prototyping.
Track record of influencing design quality and culture beyond your immediate squad through critiques, mentorship, or team‑level initiatives.

Compensation and Benefits

Base compensation: $ – $ annually (commensurate with experience). Eligible for discretionary bonus, health, vision, dental insurance, 401(k) matching, PTO, Volunteer Time Off (VTO), and other benefits as provided by the company.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Rakuten provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Rakuten considers applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws.

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