Lead Product Designer

Key Responsibilities

• Design Ownership: Own end-to-end design for your product areas — from problem framing through shipped product. You set the design direction, not just execute on it — and you're a voice in shaping what the squad works on and why.
• Squad Vision: Develop and communicate a design vision for the squad's product areas — one that gives your cross-functional partners a clear sense of where things are heading and why it matters.
• Problem Definition: Know how to frame and scope work before applying UI. With a portfolio that spans distinct surfaces, the ability to ask the right questions upfront — and identify what actually needs to be solved — matters as much as the design itself.
• Systems Thinking: Design with awareness of how the vertical surfaces connect to Rakuten's core shopping experience — building on established design patterns so the work feels cohesive and expected.
• Research & Validation: Partner with your embedded researcher or drive research yourself to validate direction early, identify friction, and de-risk before development.

Minimum Qualifications & Minimum Requirements

• 6+ years of professional design experience with significant experience working with complex systems
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in design, Human- Computer Interaction (HCI), Industrial Design, Computer Science, or related field
• Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design with clear evidence of process, decision-making, and measurable outcomes
• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools, e.g., Figma, Claude Code
• A strong sense of visual and interaction design, with a track record of raising the bar

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in e-commerce, marketplaces, or consumer-scale products
• Active use of AI tools as part of a design workflow, ideally including AI coding tools for rapid prototyping
• Track record of influencing design quality and culture beyond your immediate squad — through critiques, mentorship, or team-level initiatives

Five Principles for Success

• Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success
• Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
• Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
• Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
• Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team