Principal Product Designer

Principal Product Designer

Headspace is seeking a Principal Product Designer to lead the design direction for our most complex and high-stakes product areas. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategic vision, deep craft, AI-forward thinking, and rigorous user research. You will be a key part of a collaborative team, working closely with engineers, product managers, content creators, brand designers, and clinical experts to bring our mission of making mental health accessible to life.

If you are passionate about making a positive impact, enjoy solving meaningful challenges, and love creating features that delight and support our members, this role offers a unique blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on creation.

What You Will Do

• Lead design strategy and execution for Headspace's most complex product areas, setting a high standard for interaction quality, visual craft, and member experience across consumer and B2B platforms.
• Define and drive design vision across multi-quarter workstreams, ensuring design thinking is integrated early and often in the product lifecycle through close partnerships with Product, Engineering, Research, and Clinical teams.
• Influence roadmap decisions and product strategy by providing evidence-based design rationale and representing the design perspective in cross-functional planning.
• Lead and conduct design research, including generative studies, contextual inquiry, concept testing, and usability evaluations, to gain a deep understanding of member needs and behaviors.
• Partner with dedicated Research team members to define research agendas and operate independently when necessary.
• Apply behavioral design principles to create experiences that foster habit formation, reduce friction, and drive meaningful engagement with mental health content and care.
• Leverage AI fluency throughout the design process, utilizing AI-powered tools for prototyping, research synthesis, and rapid iteration to enhance design quality and speed.
• Mentor and elevate designers across all levels by leading critiques, sharing expertise in design execution and research, and fostering an environment where designers can do their best work.

What You Will Bring

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of experience designing thoughtful, human-centered products, ideally with exposure to emerging technologies or innovative problem spaces.
• Exceptional visual design expertise, demonstrated through a strong portfolio showcasing high-impact, polished designs and a deep understanding of motion design principles.
• Demonstrated AI fluency, actively using AI tools (e.g., Claude, Figma Make, Cursor, generative prototyping tools, LLM-assisted research workflows) to accelerate and elevate design work, and the ability to design AI-powered product experiences that are natural, trustworthy, and human-centered.
• Strong knowledge of iOS and Android patterns, behaviors, and interface design standards.
• Proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools for clear communication of complex design ideas.
• Experience designing interfaces for digital products with a focus on creating seamless, engaging, and accessible experiences.
• A curious, strategic mindset with the ability to break down ambiguous challenges into actionable design solutions.
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and align design decisions with broader team and company goals.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, inspire, and cultivate a culture of design excellence with a growth-oriented mindset.

Preferred Skills:

• 2+ years working in emerging technologies, AI-driven experiences, or other innovative product spaces.
• Demonstrated design research competency, with experience independently planning and executing generative and evaluative research methods and translating findings into product-shaping insights.
• Proven ability to lead engaging workshops and foster creativity across interdisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in motion design and interaction design.
• Strong ability to explore, iterate, and refine ideas through prototyping, user testing, and experimentation.
• Experience contributing to or working within design systems.
• Experience in healthcare or digital health, particularly related to behavior change, sensitive member journeys, or collaboration with clinical teams.

Location

This role is available remotely within the US. For candidates residing in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, a hybrid model is available, requiring 3 days per week in our San Francisco office. Candidates must permanently reside in the US.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary Range: $180,000 - $230,000 annually (plus equity).
• Total Rewards Package: Includes base salary, stock awards, comprehensive healthcare coverage, monthly wellness stipend, retirement savings match, lifetime Headspace membership, generous parental leave, and more.

Note: The specific salary range for your location will be discussed during the hiring process.

About Headspace

Headspace is dedicated to providing universal access to lifelong mental health support. We combine evidence-based content, clinical care, and innovative technology to deliver effective, personalized, and accessible support to millions worldwide. Our values—Make the Mission Matter, Iterate to Great, Own the Outcome, and Connect with Courage—guide our work, growth, and