Product Designer (Core Product)
Product Designer (Core Product)

Product Designer (Core Product)

Full-Time 85000 - 95000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Own the UX design process, simplifying complex workflows and creating impactful prototypes.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing AI startup backed by top investors, shaping the future of enterprise data.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, 24 days holiday, work-from-anywhere weeks, and top-spec equipment.
  • Why this job: Be the first Product Designer, making a real impact in a high-autonomy, fast-paced environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in product design, strong communication, and ability to simplify complexity.
  • Other info: Work directly with founders and enjoy team events and free office dinners.

The predicted salary is between 85000 - 95000 ÂŁ 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 first 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):

  • 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 perfect clarity before starting.
  • Prefer long cycles and big “reveals.”
  • Want fully remote work (we move faster in-person).

What We Offer:

  • Salary: ÂŁ85,000 – ÂŁ95,000 + 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 (30 minutes)
  • Stage 2: Portfolio deep dive (60 minutes)
  • Stage 3: On-site working session (60-90 minutes)
  • Final Stage: Founders Interview - A conversation with Anders (CEO) and Marcus focused on values alignment and long-term vision (60 minutes).
  • Following Mutual Fit: Reference checks and offer stage.

Product Designer (Core Product) employer: Kernel

At Kernel, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a high-autonomy, high-trust environment where you can make a significant impact as our first Product Designer. Located in the heart of London, we provide competitive salaries, equity options, and generous holiday allowances, alongside opportunities for professional growth by working directly with our founders. Join a small, dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration, and enjoy unique perks like free office dinners and team events while contributing to cutting-edge AI solutions.
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Contact Detail:

Kernel Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Product Designer (Core Product)

✨Tip Number 1

Get your portfolio in shape! Make sure it showcases your best work and highlights how you've simplified complex designs. We want to see your thought process, so include case studies that explain your decisions and outcomes.

✨Tip Number 2

Practice your pitch! You’ll need to communicate clearly during interviews, especially when discussing your design choices. Run through your portfolio with a friend or mentor to get feedback on how you present your work.

✨Tip Number 3

Be ready for hands-on tasks! In the interview process, you might be asked to prototype quickly or solve design challenges on the spot. Brush up on your Figma skills and be prepared to think on your feet.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to connect with us! Apply through our website and show your enthusiasm for the role. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about joining our team and making an impact at Kernel.

We think you need these skills to ace Product Designer (Core Product)

User Experience (UX) Design
Interaction Design
Information Architecture (IA)
Prototyping (Figma, v0, Figma Make)
User Research
Synthesis of Insights
Collaboration with Engineers
Communication Skills
Design Principles and Patterns
Problem-Solving Skills
Simplifying Complexity
Fast Iteration
Attention to Detail
Visual Design

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Impact: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight the meaningful product work you've done. We want to see how your decisions and outcomes have made a difference in your previous roles.

Simplify Complexity: Remember, we’re all about simplifying complexity here at Kernel. Use your application to demonstrate how you've tackled complex problems and made them easier for users. This is key for the Product Designer role!

Be Clear and Concise: We love clear communication! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Avoid jargon and focus on what really matters – your skills and experiences that align with our mission.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

How to prepare for a job interview at Kernel

✨Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into Kernel's product and its unique selling points. Understand how their AI-powered data works and think about how you can simplify complexity in design. This will show your genuine interest and help you connect your skills to their needs.

✨Showcase Your Process

During the portfolio deep dive, be ready to walk through your past projects. Focus on how you approached simplifying complex problems and the impact of your designs. Use clear examples that highlight your decision-making process and outcomes.

✨Prototype Like a Pro

Since rapid prototyping is key for this role, come prepared with examples of your prototypes. Whether it's Figma or any other tool, demonstrate how you quickly iterate based on feedback. This will showcase your ability to move fast and adapt, which is crucial for Kernel.

✨Align with Their Values

In the final stage with the founders, focus on values alignment. Research Kernel’s mission and culture, and be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. This conversation is about long-term vision, so express your enthusiasm for being part of their journey.

Product Designer (Core Product)
Kernel

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