Principal Product Designer, Core

BetterUp

Principal Product Designer at BetterUp shaping core product experiences and driving AI integration. Lead design excellence and influence cross-functional strategy for impactful human transformation.

Posted 4/21/2026full-timeAustin • Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $230,000 - $285,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Architect the design vision for BetterUp’s core product experiences—identifying the highest-leverage opportunities, defining the strategic direction, and ensuring continuity across complex, multi-surface journeys
Drive design quality and craft standards across the product, raising the bar for the entire Design org through rigorous critique, deep collaboration, and principled decision-making
Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Research to shape roadmaps from the earliest stages—bringing design perspective to problem framing, not just solutions
Lead complex, ambiguous design challenges from 0→1 and 1→n, navigating organizational complexity with clear thinking and strong point of view
Build and maintain scalable design systems and foundational patterns that enable speed and coherence across teams
Mentor and elevate senior designers, providing thoughtful feedback that develops taste, confidence, and craft
Influence VP-level and executive stakeholders with clarity and conviction, earning trust as a thought partner on product and design strategy
Represent the design function in cross-functional planning, helping align design investment with company priorities.

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of product design experience, including time at a consumer or B2B SaaS company where design played a central role in product strategy
A portfolio that demonstrates exceptional craft, systems thinking, and the ability to operate across the full design spectrum—from early concept to polished execution
Proven track record of leading complex, multi-year design initiatives with measurable impact on product outcomes and user experience
Deep experience influencing product and engineering direction at the senior leadership level
Strong design systems sensibility—you understand how foundational decisions compound across a product at scale
Experience designing products at the intersection of human behavior and technology; familiarity with AI-native product patterns is a strong plus
Exceptional communication and storytelling skills—you make complex ideas clear and compelling to any audience
A growth mindset and genuine curiosity about how AI tools can enhance design craft and process.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Access to BetterUp coaching; one for you and one for a friend or family member
A competitive compensation plan with opportunity for advancement
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Flexible paid time off
All federal/statutory holidays observed
4 BetterUp Inner Workdays
5 Volunteer Days to give back
Learning and Development stipend
Company wide Summer & Winter breaks
Year-round charitable contribution of your choice on behalf of BetterUp
401(k) self contribution

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

product designdesign systemssystems thinkinguser experienceAI-native product patternsdesign strategycomplex design initiativespolished executionproblem framingdesign critique

Soft Skills

communication skillsstorytelling skillsmentoringcollaborationinfluencingstrategic thinkingclear thinkinggrowth mindsetcuriositydecision-making