Microsoft

Director of Product Design

Microsoft • $165K — $296K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or Bachelor's Degree in a relevant design field with 7+ or 9+ years of product design experience, respectively.
  • 5+ years of people management experience overseeing design teams.
  • Experience in UX design, user research, and product management development.
  • Expertise in user-centered design principles and lifecycle management.
  • Strong communication and storytelling abilities for stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a diverse team of designers and researchers.
  • Define and execute the product design and research strategy for GSPT.
  • Champion inclusive design and ensure alignment with user needs and business goals.
  • Develop AI prototypes to enhance design processes and team skills.
  • Establish a comprehensive UX research strategy using mixed methods.
  • Build collaborative relationships across cross-functional teams to drive product alignment.
  • Oversee the timely delivery of high-quality design and research initiatives.

Benefits

  • Inclusive and collaborative team culture.
  • Opportunities for career development through coaching and mentorship.
  • Flexibility to work in a distributed team environment.
  • Access to modern design tools and innovative practices in AI and UX.
  • Support for continuous learning and professional growth.
Full Job Description
Overview

The Global Skilling Product Team (GSPT) is on a mission to build world-class skilling products and experiences that inspire customers, partners, Microsoft sellers, and future generations. Our goal is to reach 100M+ learners globally through impactful skilling, upskilling, and reskilling solutions.

We are looking for a Director of Product Design to lead and scale a multidisciplinary team of designers, researchers and customer experience program managers. This leader will shape the end-to-end experience strategy, ensuring our products are human-centered, inclusive, and insight-driven.

This role is well suited to someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, design, research, and leadership and is passionate about building products that create meaningful global impact.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse team of UX designers, researchers and customer experience program managers.
  • Foster an inclusive, psychologically safe, and collaborative environment where all voices are valued.
  • Support career development through coaching, feedback, and sponsorship.

Design Vision & Strategy
  • Define and drive the end-to-end product design and research strategy aligned with GSPT goals.
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to shape roadmaps, priorities, and long-term vision.
  • Ensure alignment between user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

AI driven design development:
  • Embrace, evolve and help team grow their AI skills for design and research.
  • Familiarity modern design tools to accelerate their time to land designs with their. stakeholders.
  • Build AI prototypes built on real code to help teams bring their ideas to life faster.

User-Centered Design Excellence
  • Champion inclusive and accessible design practices across all products and experiences.
  • Oversee the full design lifecycle: research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
  • Embed a deep understanding of diverse user needs, behaviors, and contexts.

Research & Insights
  • Establish and scale a robust UX research strategy using qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Translate insights into actionable recommendations that influence product decisions.
  • Advocate for data-informed decision-making across stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with engineering, product, marketing, and business stakeholders.
  • Build dependable relationships and drive alignment across distributed, global teams.
  • Communicate effectively with executive stakeholders on vision, progress, and impact.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Stay current with industry trends in design, research, and emerging technologies.
  • Identify opportunities to innovate and evolve design systems, tools, and processes.
  • Drive a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.

Operational effectiveness
  • Oversee multiple initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes.
  • Implement scalable processes for design and research operations.
  • Measure success through user impact, product adoption, and business outcomes.

People Management
  • Managers enable success through empowerment, accountability, and inclusion-by modeling, coaching, and caring:
  • Model: Champion our culture by living our values, demonstrating inclusive behaviors, and applying leadership principles in everyday actions.
  • Coach: Set clear, meaningful goals and outcomes; support collaboration across teams and boundaries; and foster continuous learning, adaptability, and growth.
  • Care: Build and sustain diverse, high-performing teams by recognizing individual strengths, understanding aspirations, and investing in each person's development and well-being.

Other
  • Embody our culture and values.


Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 7+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 9+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
  • 5+ years people management experience.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 12+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 15+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
  • 12+ years of experience across product management, UX design, and/or user research.
  • 8+ years people management experience with a focus on coaching and development.
  • 8+ years' experience shipping products, services, or games and/or delivering to customers as a result of an end-to-end design process.
  • 5+ years in a leadership role managing multidisciplinary teams.
  • Proven track record of delivering user-centered, impactful products at scale.
  • Experience working in agile and distributed team environments.
  • Background in skilling, education technology, or learning platforms a plus.
  • Familiarity with inclusive design, accessibility standards, and global user experiences.
  • Proficient in:
    • Design strategy and lifecycle management.
    • Human-centered design principles.
    • Research methodologies (qualitative & quantitative)
    • Modern design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch)
    • Proficient communication, storytelling, and stakeholder management skills.


Product Design M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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