About Us
Academia.edu is the world’s leading platform for researchers and scholars to share their work, discover research and connect with fellow academics globally. Our bold vision: to democratize and accelerate the world's research, enhancing the speed of scientific discovery and technological progress for the benefit of everyone. We imagine a world where accessing academic papers is effortless, keeping track of cutting-edge research is seamless and collaborating with researchers is easier than ever before. Our platform empowers hundreds of millions of scholars worldwide to push the boundaries of human understanding. We believe in the power of knowledge to change lives and the world, and our commitment to this mission drives everything we do.
Join us as we continue to redefine what's possible in the world of research. Discover careers that challenge, inspire and propel you toward a future where your ideas can truly change the world. At Academia.edu, we're not just shaping the future of research—we're shaping the future of possibilities.
Your Role: Staff Product Designer on the Premium Products Team
As a Staff Product Designer on the Premium Products Team, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the product experience for millions of academic researchers. Your daily tasks will include: Engaging with researchers to deeply understand their needs; Collaborating with Product Managers to define product strategies and roadmaps; and Crafting entirely new products and services. The projects you'll be involved with will be substantial in scale, offering you ample opportunity to make a significant impact.
Example projects include:
1) A comprehensive product overhaul for our Premium product suite.
2) Research and design of new Premium products.
3) Design leadership for other products relating to researchers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Proactively identify and champion product & design opportunities for academic researchers, fostering alignment within the Premium Product Team.
- Advocate for user-centric design principles, UX frameworks, and best practices within the Premium Product Team and the broader organization.
- Mentor and guide junior designers, nurturing their growth within the field of Product Design.
- Create designs that effectively address academic author needs while meeting business goals.
- Conduct quantitative A/B tests and iterate on designs based test results.
- Solicit feedback from the Product Manager and the Design Team to refine design iterations.
- Conduct user interviews to gather valuable feedback and insights on designs and user experiences.
- Partner closely with the Product Managers and cross-functional teams to align on the product roadmap and UX requirements.
- Collaborate with Data Analysts to analyze user data and test results, translating findings into actionable insights to inform design decisions.
- Work closely with Engineers to ensure the smooth implementation of design solutions.
- Engage in regular design feedback sessions with the Design Team, fostering a culture of collaboration and improvement.
- Contribute to the refinement of design tools and processes, optimizing productivity and effectiveness.
Requirements:
- At least 8 years of overall design experience.
- Proven end-to-end design ability (UX strategy and design execution).
- Proven ability to design new, large, and complex products with positive results.
- Solid understanding of design patterns, usability principles, and ethical design practices.
- Experience with quantitative A/B testing methodologies and optimization strategies.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in leading design initiatives within cross-functional teams.
- Willingness to adapt and evolve team processes as the organization grows and learns.
- A strong portfolio showcasing your exceptional design work, with a particular emphasis on end-to-end product design.
What's in it for you?
- Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents
- Generous Time Off: 21 paid vacation days, 12 paid company holidays, and unlimited sick days; paid parental leave and other leaves for life’s needs; 6-week paid sabbatical every 4 years
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible daily schedules within a hybrid work environment, annual remote-office budget, and monthly WFH internet stipend
- Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary, 401k plan, and stock options
- Mission-Driven Company: Join a mission-driven company to accelerate and democratize the world’s research
Join us at Academia.edu and help us propel research into the future while making a profound impact on the academic community worldwide. We have a physical office where many work, which is located near MUNI & BART in beautiful downtown San Francisco. The office is stocked with snacks, drinks, and catered lunches.
Diversity and Inclusion
Academia is a proud equal-opportunity employer and we are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
What We Do
Academia.edu has built and is expanding the premier distribution and peer review platform for academic research. Guided by our mission to democratize and accelerate the world’s research, Academia aims to make every academic paper ever published available for free online and accessible by anyone in the world. This is just the start of our long-term vision and we are growing fast!
Academia’s platform has registered more than 250 million users (still growing at 2-3M monthly), and has many millions of unique visitors every month, including over 100M logged-in monthly active users (MAU). We have over 300,000 paying premium subscribers, which has contributed to us being profitable YOY the last three years in a row.
Academia has attracted $39 million in investment from leading VC firms including Khosla Ventures, True Ventures, Spark Capital, and Tencent. Our work has garnered favorable attention from trade and mainstream media including UK Times, Fortune, Wired, EdTech, Venture Beat, San Francisco Business Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, TechCrunch, Scientific American, and Forbes.
Academia is a proud equal opportunity employer and we are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Why Work With Us
At our San Francisco office, experience a blend of picturesque workdays and remote flexibility. Our consistent positive cash flow, strategic executive hires, and recent $23M series D funding underline our stability and innovation. Engage with a passionate team; we've grown to ~110 employees with ~45 dedicated engineers.
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Academia.edu Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
All new employees based in North America to work hybrid: 2 days in-office on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our San Francisco, California office and may work from home for the rest of week.
