Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Product Designer

at Epoch AI

🏢 About Epoch AI

Epoch AI is a research-focused nonprofit that forecasts the trajectory of advanced AI development, making it a compelling place for designers who want to contribute to understanding and shaping the future of AI. The team is small, remote-first, and deeply interdisciplinary, offering the chance to work on cutting-edge topics with high societal impact.

About This Role

As the first and only Senior Product Designer, you will own the entire design function, from UI/UX to data visualization, translating complex AI research into intuitive products. Your work will directly influence how researchers, policymakers, and the public understand AI progress, making this role both challenging and impactful.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a sync with researchers to understand new findings, then you'd sketch wireframes for a data dashboard. After lunch, you could conduct user interviews with economists or AI researchers, and end the day refining a design system or mentoring a junior designer. The work is highly autonomous, with a mix of deep focus and collaborative sessions.

🚀 Application Tools

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🎯 Who Epoch AI Is Looking For

  • A senior product designer with 5+ years of experience, including a strong portfolio showcasing data visualization and complex information design.
  • Comfortable working autonomously in a remote, research-driven environment, with the ability to define design strategy from scratch.
  • Experienced in user research and design systems, with a track record of mentoring other designers.
  • Passionate about AI and its societal implications, with the curiosity to learn from researchers and translate technical concepts into clear, engaging visuals.

📝 Tips for Applying to Epoch AI

1

Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects involving data visualization, especially if you've worked with scientific or technical data.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your design philosophy to Epoch AI's mission of forecasting AI progress.

3

Demonstrate your ability to work independently by describing a project you led from concept to launch with minimal oversight.

4

Showcase any experience with interactive data products or dashboards, as this is a core part of the role.

5

Prepare a brief case study of how you've simplified complex information for a non-expert audience.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for AI and understanding of Epoch AI's research focus on AI forecasting and timelines.", 'Your experience in data visualization and making complex data accessible.', 'Your ability to establish design processes and standards in a small team or startup-like environment.', "Specific examples of how you've mentored other designers and led design strategy."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read several of Epoch AI's published research reports (e.g., on compute trends, AI timelines) to understand their data and audience.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the key concepts in AI forecasting, such as scaling laws, compute budgets, and parameter counts.
  • → Explore their current website and data products to identify design opportunities and areas for improvement.
  • → Look into the backgrounds of team members (e.g., researchers, engineers) to understand the collaborative dynamic.
Visit Epoch AI's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for designing a data visualization that communicates a complex AI trend.
2 How would you approach user research for a product aimed at AI researchers and policymakers?
3 Describe a time you had to advocate for design decisions in a technical or research-focused team.
4 How would you establish a design system from scratch for a new set of data products?
5 What's your experience with remote collaboration tools and async communication?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic portfolio without data visualization examples or evidence of simplifying complex information.
  • Focusing too much on visual aesthetics without demonstrating understanding of user research and usability.
  • Not showing initiative or examples of leading design projects end-to-end in a small team context.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Epoch AI!

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