Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Headspace is on a mission to create a world where mental health is never an obstacle. They are seeking a Principal Product Designer to set the design direction for complex product surfaces, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful, human-centered designs.
Responsibilities
- Lead design strategy and execution for Headspace's most complex product areas , setting a high bar for interaction quality, visual craft, and member experience across consumer and B2B surfaces
- Define and drive design vision across multi-quarter workstreams, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and Clinical teams to ensure design thinking is embedded early and often in the product lifecycle
- Influence roadmap decisions and product strategy with evidence-based design rationale, representing the design perspective in cross-functional planning conversations
- Lead and conduct design research including generative studies, contextual inquiry, concept testing, and usability evaluations, to deeply understand member needs, behaviors, and mental models
- Partner with dedicated Research team members to define research agendas for your workstreams, and operate independently when research support is not available
- Apply behavioral design principles to create experiences that support habit formation, reduce friction, and drive meaningful engagement with mental health content and care
- Bring AI fluency to every stage of the design process , using AI-powered tools for prototyping, research synthesis, and rapid iteration to accelerate and elevate the quality of design work
- Mentor and elevate designers across levels , leading critique, sharing craft expertise in both design execution and research practice, and creating the conditions for others to do the best work of their careers
Skills
- 8+ years of experience designing thoughtful, human-centered products—ideally with exposure to emerging technologies or innovative problem spaces
- Exceptional visual design expertise with a strong portfolio showcasing high-impact, polished designs and a deep understanding of motion design principles
- Demonstrated AI fluency, actively uses AI tools (e.g. Claude, Figma Make, Cursor, generative prototyping tools, LLM-assisted research workflows) to accelerate and elevate design work, and can design AI-powered product experiences that feel natural, trustworthy, and human-centered
- Strong knowledge of iOS and Android patterns, behaviors, and interface design standards
- Proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools to create and communicate complex design ideas with clarity
- Experience designing interfaces for digital products, with a focus on crafting seamless, engaging, and accessible experiences
- A curious, strategic mindset with the ability to break down ambiguous challenges into actionable design solutions
- Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and clarify how design decisions align with broader team and company goals
- Proven ability to mentor, inspire, and cultivate a culture of design excellence while promoting a growth-oriented mindset
- 2+ years working in emerging technologies, AI-driven experiences, or other innovative product spaces
- Demonstrated design research competency, experience independently planning and executing generative and evaluative research methods (user interviews, usability testing, diary studies, concept testing) and translating findings into product-shaping insights is highly preferred
- Proven ability to lead engaging workshops and foster creativity across interdisciplinary teams
- Skilled in motion design and interaction design, creating dynamic and seamless user experiences
- Strong ability to explore, iterate, and refine ideas through prototyping, user testing, and experimentation
- Experience contributing to or working within design systems to ensure consistency and scalability
- Experience in healthcare or digital health is a plus, particularly where design work touched health behavior change, sensitive member journeys, or collaboration with clinical teams
Benefits
- Equity
- Benefits
- Stock awards
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage
- Monthly wellness stipend
- Retirement savings match
- Lifetime Headspace membership
- Generous parental leave
Company Overview
Headspace is a mental health company offering AI companionship, coaching, therapy, psychiatry, and mindfulness tools for everyday support. It was founded in 2010, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, USA, with a workforce of 501-1000 employees. Its website is https://www.headspace.com/.