Staff Product Designer

About the team and role We are looking for a Staff Product Designer to join the Personalisation Patterns team. This is a hands-on, horizontal role focused on systematizing quality and driving best practices across Pinterest’s key surfaces. You will shape the next generation of design systems and component libraries, partner with cross-functional teams, and help drive Pinterest’s mission effectively, at scale, and with a human-centric approach. This role is for a rare combination of skills: systems thinker + craft expert + design technologist.

Key Responsibilities

• System Quality Ownership: Own the development, evolution, and adoption of core design patterns, component libraries, and Gestalt subsystems (ensuring consistency, usability, and accessibility at scale).
• Horizontal Partnership: Serve as a strategic advisor and hands-on partner to product, engineering, and design teams (Personalization & Key Surfaces), helping them leverage best patterns and ship products with confidence.
• Systems Thinking Development: Apply methodical approaches to pattern creation, balancing usability, craft quality, accessibility, and business goals.
• Prototyping & Technicity: Rapidly visualize, prototype, and test ideas; translate abstract solutions into practical, scalable patterns (Figma, code, AI, and other tools).
• Craft Quality Maintenance & Elevation: Conduct quality audits, review flows and handoffs, and personally contribute to design when needed, always advocating for the highest standards.
• Mentorship & Influence Scaling: Inspire and guide other designers through critique, guidance, and sharing expertise.
• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Ensure design systems support diverse user needs and set a high bar for inclusivity.
• Communication & Influence: Clearly articulate design thinking, rationale, and vision, presenting work to teams, leadership, and executive stakeholders, driving consensus.

Candidate Requirements

• 8+ years of product design experience, with a significant portion dedicated to developing design systems or pattern libraries.
• A portfolio showcasing excellent UI design, systems thinking, component UIs, and real-world impact in large organizations.
• Staff/Principal level experience, with demonstrated horizontal influence, craft quality ownership, and cross-functional partnership (preferably in large consumer or platform environments).
• Design Technologist Mindset: Comfortable with Figma prototyping, AI (and optionally front-end code); curious about technical feasibility, accessibility, and optimizing design processes through systems and tools.
• Expert motion and visual design skills, with an understanding of how animation and transitions impact usability, comprehension, and user engagement.
• Excellent communication skills: Ability to synthesize ambiguity into clear design tasks and unite teams through clarity, documentation, and collaboration.
• Growth Mindset: Passion for continuous learning, experimentation, and mentorship.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and building systems for diverse audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in Design or related field (or equivalent experience).

Nice to Haves

• Experience leading platform or multi-product design system initiatives.
• Familiarity with personalization, large-scale consumer applications, or fast-scaling environments.
• Contributions to public design systems, open-source libraries, industry talks, or publications.

Working Conditions

• Fully remote
• Pinterest is an equal opportunity employer. We consider candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made for candidates with disabilities or religious needs.