Senior Product Design Fellow
Office of Technology and Innovation
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Job summary
The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) in New York City is hiring a Senior Product Design Fellow to design and ship resident-facing products end-to-end. This hands-on role spans user research, interaction design, visual design, and content design, pairing closely with product managers, engineers, policy teams, and city staff to move from problem statements to working solutions.
The 18-month grant-funded fellowship emphasizes accessible, scalable design, shared design systems, and fast,
Qualifications
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- An associate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and six years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and eight years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end design on resident-facing products, from concept to launch, owning user research, interaction design, content design, and visual design.
- Move quickly through rapid prototyping, usability testing, MVP iteration, pilot, and public launch, making pragmatic tradeoffs between scope, quality, and timing.
- Plan and conduct user research with New Yorkers, including interviews, usability sessions, and field visits, and synthesize findings into actionable choices for the team.
- Design clear user flows, information architecture, wireframes, and high-fidelity interfaces, and help build prototypes to test interactions.
- Practice plain-language content design, turning complex eligibility rules, legal language, and agency processes into product copy that is clear, accurate, and easy to act on.
- Partner with product managers, engineers, user researchers, and other OTI employees on day-to-day product decisions, and contribute to scoping and prioritization.
- Work directly with agency staff, policy advisors, and legal counsel to translate complex rules and regulations into experiences that are easy to use.
- Build accessibility into the design process from the start and partner with engineers to ship products that meet the city’s quality and accessibility standards.
- Contribute to a shared design system and reusable patterns that make the next product faster to design than the last one.
- Shape the design culture of a small, mission-driven team, including mentorship, and onboarding for future hires.
- Perform special projects and initiatives related to this grant as assigned.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED POSITION WITH A TENURE OF 18 MONTHS ENDING JULY 2028
The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) leverages technology to drive opportunity, improve public safety, and help government run better across New York City. From delivering affordable broadband to protecting against cybersecurity threats and building digital government services, OTI is at the forefront of how the city delivers for New Yorkers in the 21st century. Follow us on social media @NYCOfficeofTech, and visit to learn more.
At OTI, we offer great benefits, and the chance to work on projects that have a meaningful impact on millions of people. You’ll have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with other passionate professionals who share your drive and commitment to making a difference through technology.
The Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crew, at the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, builds the technology, products, and services needed to deliver a more affordable New York City. We design, build, and launch exceptional public-facing products for New Yorkers. The PIT Crew is hiring Senior Fellows for an 18-month tour of public service in City government, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. Senior Fellows will bring deep technical and product delivery expertise into City government to build high-priority, public-facing products for New Yorkers. During this 18-month period, the fellowship team will embed with the PIT Crew and partner closely with City agencies to launch multiple public-facing products that demonstrate tangible, measurable impact and make New Yorkers’ lives better and more affordable. The team will pilot modern design and technology best practices to pilot a new way of working in City government, delivering high-quality user experiences to New Yorkers, faster and more cost effectively.
We are hiring a Senior Product Design Fellow to design and ship resident-facing products end-to-end. This is a hands-on role spanning user research, interaction design, visual design, and content design. You will pair closely with product managers, engineers, other designers, policy teams, and other city employees to move from problem statements to working products and services for New Yorkers; lead design across the full process: framing the problem, conducting user research, building prototypes, designing interfaces, and partnering with product managers and engineers through build and launch; lead modern design practices for the team: how we conduct research, how we use shared design systems, and how we produce quality products and services at pace and scale.
Responsibilities will include, but not limited to:
- Lead end-to-end design on resident-facing products, from concept to launch, owning user research, interaction design, content design, and visual design.
- Move quickly through rapid prototyping, usability testing, MVP iteration, pilot, and public launch, making pragmatic tradeoffs between scope, quality, and timing.
- Plan and conduct user research with New Yorkers, including interviews, usability sessions, and field visits, and synthesize findings into actionable choices for the team.
- Design clear user flows, information architecture, wireframes, and high-fidelity interfaces, and help build prototypes to test interactions.
- Practice plain-language content design, turning complex eligibility rules, legal language, and agency processes into product copy that is clear, accurate, and easy to act on.
- Partner with product managers, engineers, user researchers, and other OTI employees on day-to-day product decisions, and contribute to scoping and prioritization.
- Work directly with agency staff, policy advisors, and legal counsel to translate complex rules and regulations into experiences that are easy to use.
- Build accessibility into the design process from the start and partner with engineers to ship products that meet the city’s quality and accessibility standards.
- Contribute to a shared design system and reusable patterns that make the next product faster to design than the last one.
- Shape the design culture of a small, mission-driven team, including mentorship, and onboarding for future hires.
- Perform special projects and initiatives related to this grant as assigned.
Day – Due to the necessary duties of this position in a 24/7 operation, candidate may be required to work various shifts such as weekends and/or nights/evenings.
Brooklyn, NY
APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OVERSIGHT APPROVAL
OTI participates in E-Verify
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
An associate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and six years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and eight years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above.
The successful candidate should possess the following skills and experience: - 5+ years of professional product design experience, with a portfolio showing user-facing digital products you have shipped. - End-to-end design experience. You are comfortable owning research, interaction design, content design, and visual design, even if you have a stronger affinity for some of them. - Direct, hands-on experience taking a product from concept through launch, not only iterating on existing flows. - Experience working on small, cross-functional product teams alongside product managers, engineers, and researchers. - Working fluency with modern design tools (Figma) and practices, including prototyping, design systems, version control for design files, and design handoff to engineering. - Strong written and verbal communication. You can explain design decisions to non-designers, write clear documentation, and represent the team in conversations with agency partners and senior stakeholders. - Experience planning and moderating user research, including interviews with members of the public. - Hands-on experience designing complex, regulated, or legacy environments, where the rules are messy, the data is imperfect, and the constraints are real. - Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508) and experience shipping products that meet them. - Familiarity designing with localization and internationalization in mind. - Content design and plain-language experience, especially in contexts where users have low trust, limited time, or limited patience for jargon. - Experience with mobile-first responsive design and designing for users on low-end devices and slow connections. - Experience handling user data with appropriate privacy and ethical considerations built into the design. - Experience contributing to or maintaining a shared design system. - Comfort with ambiguity. Ability to define problems, ask the right questions, and turn it into a buildable plan. PORTFOLIO * Please share a portfolio of your recent work, either via website link or upload a PDF (including any passwords to access). We’re interested in comprehensive case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process and product impact.
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at
New York City Residency is not required for this position
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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