At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UX design, simplify complex workflows, and prototype innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a fast-growing AI startup backed by top investors like OpenAI and Slack.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, 24 days holiday, and work-from-anywhere options.
- Other info: Collaborate closely with founders in a high-autonomy, fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Be a founding designer and shape the future of enterprise AI products.
- Qualifications: Experience in early-stage startups and a strong portfolio of impactful design work.
The predicted salary is between 102000 - 153000 £ per year.
Kernel provides enterprise RevOps teams with AI-powered company data for their CRMs. We raised $14M in Series A funding from top VCs and operators at Plaid, OpenAI, and Slack to build an AI-native alternative to Dun & Bradstreet's entity and hierarchy data. RevOps teams at Navan, Gong, Mistral, and AlphaSense use Kernel to run their organizations. At Kernel, we process 7B+ tokens a day and run 1.8M+ agents daily, all on an architecture that’s intentionally simple: one database, one queue. It’s minimalism built for massive scale.
The role involves being Kernel’s Founding Product Designer - a foundational hire with end-to-end ownership of core product UX. Your mission is to simplify complexity and make a powerful product feel effortless through clearer workflows, sharper mental models, fewer decisions, and more confidence.
What You’ll Do:
- Own core UX end-to-end: flows, IA, interaction design, and visual craft.
- Run ground-truth discovery: lead user interviews, synthesize fast, turn insight into shipped changes.
- Prototype quickly: use whatever gets to a high-signal prototype (Figma, v0, Figma Make, etc.).
- Ship with engineering + PM: tight loops, high quality in production, iterate fast.
- Build the design foundation: principles, patterns, lightweight system - without slowing the team down.
- 5% “other stuff”: occasional help with decks/narrative when it moves the business.
What we’re looking for (impact > seniority):
- Founding designer experience is a plus, but not a requirement - what matters most is early-stage startup experience and tangible examples of transforming a business through design.
- You’ve shipped meaningful product work and can walk through decisions + outcomes.
- You’re strong at simplifying complexity (not just polishing UI).
- You can run discovery independently and get to the truth.
- You move fast, communicate clearly, and collaborate tightly with engineers.
- You have taste and execution: prototype → production details.
This role may not be for you if you:
- Need other designers to work best.
- Need perfect clarity before starting.
- Prefer long cycles and big “reveals.”
- Want fully remote work (we move faster in-person).
What We Offer:
- Salary: £120,000 – £180,000 base + equity
- 24 days holiday per year + bank holidays
- 2 weeks work-from-anywhere
- Pension plan
- Top-spec equipment and central London office
- High-autonomy, high-trust environment with a small team shipping at pace
- Free dinner at the office
- Team events and dinners
- Work directly with the founders to scale the systems that power enterprise AI
- Visas & Relocation: We sponsor visas for exceptional candidates and provide relocation support for those moving to London.
Interview Process:
- Stage 1: Introductory Call with De-Vene (45 minutes)
- Stage 2: Founding Team Conversation with Marcus (30 min)
- Stage 3: Take-Home Assessment with Remote Working Session with Stefan & Sam (60 minutes)
- Final Stage: Founders Interview - A conversation with Anders (CEO) and Marcus (co-founder) focused on values alignment and long-term vision (45 minutes).
- Following Mutual Fit: Reference checks and offer stage.
Founding Product Designer employer: Kernel
At Kernel, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Solutions Engineer, you'll enjoy the autonomy to manage multiple projects while working alongside talented professionals in a dynamic environment. We offer robust employee growth opportunities, competitive benefits, and a commitment to staying at the forefront of AI data systems, making this an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Product Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Kernel inside out! Familiarise yourself with our product and the challenges we solve for RevOps teams. This will help you speak confidently about how your design skills can simplify complexity in our workflows.
✨Tip Number 2
Show us your process! When you’re preparing for interviews, be ready to walk us through your past projects. Highlight how you’ve transformed businesses through design and how you tackle user discovery independently.
✨Tip Number 3
Prototype like a pro! We love seeing quick, high-signal prototypes. Bring examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to iterate fast and collaborate closely with engineers to ship quality products.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re all about moving fast, so don’t hesitate – we want to see what you can bring to the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Design Process:When you apply, make sure to highlight your design process. We want to see how you tackle complexity and turn it into simplicity. Share examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to create clear workflows and effective user experiences.
Be Authentic:We love authenticity! Don’t just tell us what you think we want to hear. Be yourself and share your genuine thoughts on design and how you approach problem-solving. This helps us understand if you’re the right fit for our team.
Keep It Concise:While we appreciate detail, we also value clarity. Make sure your application is concise and to the point. Highlight your key achievements and experiences without overwhelming us with too much information.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kernel
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Kernel's product and its unique selling points. Understand how it simplifies complexity for RevOps teams and be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with this mission.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to walk through your past projects, focusing on how you transformed complex ideas into user-friendly designs. Highlight specific examples where your design decisions led to tangible outcomes, as this will resonate well with the team.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since you'll be working closely with engineers and PMs, be ready to discuss how you communicate and collaborate in a fast-paced environment. Share examples of how you've iterated quickly based on feedback and maintained high quality in production.
✨Be Ready for Discovery Discussions
Kernel values independent discovery, so prepare to talk about your experience leading user interviews and synthesising insights. Think of a few key questions you would ask users to uncover their needs and how you would turn those insights into actionable design changes.
