Product Designer

ABOUT BEACON AI We’re a fast-moving team of aviators, engineers, and operators building an AI platform to make flying safer, more efficient, and more capable. Backed by top investors, we’ve secured a dozen Department of Defense contracts and partnered with major airlines to deliver mission-critical systems. We operate without silos or heavy processes. Small, focused teams own what they build, ship quickly, and learn fast, pushing the boundaries of how humans and AI work together in aviation. Role Overview We are looking for a Product Designer who wants their work to matter. At Beacon AI, you will shape how pilots interact with AI in the cockpit, designing experiences where clarity, speed, and precision are not just good design principles, they are safety critical. This is a rare opportunity to define a product from the ground up in one of tech's most consequential domains. Key Responsibilities - Own the end-to-end product design process for Beacon AI's pilot assistant, from discovery and user research through wireframes, prototypes, and final specs handed off to engineering - Conduct research and usability testing with pilots and aviation professionals to deeply understand workflows, mental models, and safety critical needs - Translate complex AI-driven data and alerts into interfaces that are instantly clear and actionable in high-pressure cockpit environments - Build and maintain a scalable design system that ensures consistency and speed across the product - Partner closely with engineering and strong product sense to ship polished, well-considered experiences iteratively - Contribute to brand and visual identity as a secondary responsibility, supporting marketing and web presence as needed What Will Make You Successful - You have experience as a sole or founding designer, leading design end to end, moving quickly from concept to execution, and driving products from 0 to 1 without the structure of a large design team - You have strong product design instincts and can move fluidly from research and strategy to high-fidelity execution - You are fluent in Figma and comfortable owning a design system end to end - You ask "why" before you ask "what does it look like" and you push back when a brief is not solving the right problem - You are energized by complexity and ambiguity, not intimidated by it - You have a genuine curiosity about aviation, aerospace, or safety critical industries Bonus Points - 3+ years of experience in product design, ideally with complex, data-heavy or safety-critical products such as aviation, aerospace, defense, medical devices, or enterprise software - Proficiency in Figma or similar modern design tools with a strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design work - Experience designing for AI-powered products and understanding how to make machine-generated insights feel trustworthy and intuitive to end users - Familiarity with motion design, micro-interactions, or basic HTML and CSS is a plus Work Location This is a hybrid role based in San Carlos, CA, with 3+ days per week onsite and the option to work remotely on remaining days. Perks & Benefits (Full-Time Employees) - Healthcare: 100%* of employee medical premiums covered; 25% for dependents - Time Off: 3 weeks PTO plus 13+ paid company holidays - Stipends: Monthly phone and wellness benefits - 401(k): Offered (no current employer match, but we are committed to enhancing this benefit in the future). Due to U.S. export control regulations, we can only hire U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, lawful permanent residents, or individuals granted asylum or refugee status). We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers. All work must be performed in the United States. Beacon AI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protecte