Tech Challenge Product Designer

Who We Are

Since opening in 1998, The Tech Interactive has been an integral part of the San Francisco Bay area and is proud to serve families and young people through hands-on activities, experimental labs, and design challenge experiences. 

Here at The Tech our mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone! We are a team of diverse individuals committed to creating learning experiences that empower young folks to innovate with creativity, curiosity, and compassion. We believe that technology is leading and transforming lives all over the world and we want to help develop the next generation of problem-solvers.

If you join our team, we know you will have a fulfilling and rewarding role focused on giving back to our community, especially those that have been historically marginalized and underserved. 

Position Overview

The Tech Challenge Product Designer will join our Research & Development team to lead the design of next-generation learning solutions. This role combines creative design expertise with a strong grounding in learning research and experimentation to envision and prototype innovative products aligned with scaling our flagship program: The Tech Challenge. The ideal candidate is a design thinker who thrives in the discovery and prototyping phases–testing new ideas, experimenting with emerging technologies, and creating experiences that are both engaging and effective for learners. The role works closely with counterparts from learning products, product marketing, partnership success, and operations to ensure products are continually improving and responsive to student needs. This exempt role reports to the Director of R&D.

Responsibilities 

• Design and Innovation
• • Lead the design of experimental learning products from concept sketches and wireframes to polished prototypes
  • Apply design thinking methodologies to translate research insights into intuitive and engaging learning experiences
  • Explore emerging technologies (AI, adaptive platforms, gamification) and integrate them into product experiments
• Research and Development
• • Collaborate with data analysts to inform product design through evidence-based practices
  • Conduct rapid prototyping, user testing, and iteration to validate hypotheses
  • Document design experiments, insights, and outcomes to inform the broader product roadmap
• Design Challenge Learning Approach
• • Serve as the advocate for design challenge learning, ensuring design decisions prioritize usability, accessibility, and learning impact
  • Collect and synthesize feedback from learners to refine prototypes and influence future product directions
  • Incorporate principles of equity, inclusivity, and accessibility into all designs
• Collaboration and Communication
• • Work closely with content developers to move prototypes into scalable solutions
  • Present design concepts, research findings, and recommendations to stakeholders
  • Partner with product owners to ensure R&D outputs align with long-term product strategy

Requirements and Skills 

• 4-7 years of experience in product design, UX/UI design, or learning experience design (with R&D or innovation experience preferred)
• Portfolio showcasing design work in digital learning, educational technology, or related fields
• Proficiency with design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.) and prototyping platforms
• Knowledge of learning sciences, instructional design, or human-centered design principles
• Experience with usability testing, rapid prototyping, and iterative design cycles
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and explore open-ended problems
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, or related field; advanced degree a plus. 

Working Conditions and Schedule