Principal Product Designer
Explicitly requires experience with vibe coding and involves coded prototypes and AI-driven design workflows.
About the Role
Principal Product Designer on Microsoft's AI Design & Research team to define system-level experience strategy and drive scalable, human-centered AI experiences across Copilot, Edge, Bing and other surfaces. This hybrid IC role focuses on prototyping (including coded and motion-rich explorations), evolving design systems, and aligning cross-functional leaders to ship cohesive products.
Job Description
Role
Microsoft’s AI Design & Research team is hiring a Principal Product Designer to shape end-to-end, AI-powered web experiences across Copilot, Edge, Bing, and emerging surfaces. This principal-level individual contributor will operate at both strategic and execution levels, owning experience architecture, design systems, and high-fidelity prototyping to drive coherence across products.
Location & Work Arrangement
- Hybrid role: in office 4x a week
- Office locations: Mountain View, CA; Redmond, WA; New York City
Key Responsibilities
- Define and drive end-to-end experience strategy for complex, high-visibility product areas
- Translate AI capabilities into intuitive, trustworthy, and human-centered interactions
- Rapidly prototype across fidelity levels, including interactive, motion-rich, and coded explorations
- Lead system-level thinking and evolve design systems for coherence, flexibility, and long-term scalability
- Establish experience principles and reusable patterns across teams and surfaces
- Partner closely with product and engineering leaders to shape roadmaps and clarify tradeoffs
- Elevate visual craft, motion, interaction detail, and micro-interactions across the organization
- Navigate ambiguity to invent v1 experiences while balancing experimentation with sustainable systems design
- Influence cross-team alignment and drive quality at scale
- Champion accessibility, inclusive design, and usability as required standards
Requirements
- Degree and experience: Master’s in Industrial Design/Product Design/HCI/UX/Interaction Design or related field AND 6+ years experience in product or service design; OR Bachelor’s in those fields AND 8+ years experience; OR equivalent experience
- 6–8+ years of experience designing complex consumer products at scale
- Demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous, zero-to-one initiatives to production
- Deep expertise in design systems, scalable interaction models, and cross-surface coherence
- Strong visual and interaction craft, including motion and advanced prototyping
- Fluency with modern AI tools and emerging design workflows
- Experience with vibe coding and comfort experimenting with coded prototypes or adjacent technical exploration
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-disciplinary alignment
- Exceptional storytelling and the ability to articulate experience strategy clearly
- Resume must include a link to a design portfolio (include password if applicable)
Compensation
- Typical U.S. base pay range listed for this role: USD $139,900 - $274,800 per year
- Different ranges may apply in specific locations (example: San Francisco Bay Area and NYC metropolitan area: USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year)
Notes
- Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation
- Portfolio link is required with application