Principal Product Designer - BFF

Bumble•New York, NY

57d•$240,000 - $257,000

About The Position

Bumble Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage people of all ages, colour, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, people with disabilities, and neurodivergent people to apply. We're happy to make any reasonable adjustments that will help you feel more confident throughout the process, please don't hesitate to let us know how we can help. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example: she/her, he/him, they/them, etc). At Bumble, our mission is to build equitable relationships across love, life, and work. With the all-new BFF app, we're reimagining how people make friends, find community, and share experiences. From matchmaking to communities, events, and shared moments, BFF is where people can truly find their people. We're looking for a Principal Product Designer to join our BFF Design team. In this role, you'll serve as a principal advisor and thought leader, setting the vision for how millions of people around the world discover and grow meaningful friendships. You'll shape strategy, guide cross-functional leadership, and lead high-impact initiatives that define the future of Bumble BFF-and influence the broader company strategy. As one of the most senior designers in the organization, you'll not only deliver world-class design work but also elevate the craft, influence, and reputation of the design org internally and externally.

Requirements

15+ years of hands-on product design experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience), with a portfolio showcasing mobile-first consumer products at a global scale.
Recognized as an expert and thought leader in product design, with proven ability to influence both internal strategy and the external design community.
Depth across the full design process: interaction design, systems thinking, visual craft, prototyping, and user validation.
Exceptional skills in visual design, UX principles, typography, and interaction patterns.
Proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools, and comfort working at multiple levels of fidelity.
Strong communicator who can inspire, persuade, and align executives and cross-functional leaders while fostering a collaborative design culture.
A track record of mentoring and elevating other designers, amplifying the impact of design across the org.
A mindset that balances innovation, craft, and pragmatism-you know when to push for excellence and when to move fast.

Nice To Haves

Experience building or scaling products in social, community, or consumer tech spaces.
Expertise in design systems, multi-platform design (iOS, Android, web), or integrating research into design strategy.
Familiarity with engineering workflows and technical constraints, with the ability to collaborate deeply with engineers.
Experience leading design within high-growth startups or global-scale consumer platforms.

Responsibilities

Define the future of BFF and beyond: Lead the design vision and strategy for initiatives that shape not only the BFF experience, but also influence Bumble's broader ecosystem. Connect product opportunities to strategic company goals, shaping experiences that are inclusive, human, and market-differentiating.
Serve as a principal advisor: Act as the go-to design partner for senior product and engineering leadership, guiding critical decisions with deep expertise in design practices, user behavior, and cultural trends.
Solve ambiguous, critical problems: Partner with product, research, and engineering leaders to tackle complex, ambiguous challenges. Devise solutions with limited information and long-term impact, utilizing judgment and creativity to establish new standards for forming friendships.
Drive cross-functional and company-level alignment: Influence and inspire executives and senior stakeholders across multiple functions. Ensure design has a strong voice in strategic planning, and that business, technical, and user perspectives are integrated into every roadmap decision.
Advance the state of design practice: Raise the bar for craft and usability across Bumble. Introduce new design methodologies, tools (including AI-powered ones), and practices that evolve how we prototype, validate, and ship at scale.
Mentor and multiply impact: Coach and inspire designers across levels. Provide feedback, share best practices, and foster a culture of curiosity, rigor, and innovation that grows the next generation of design leaders.
Represent Bumble externally: Act as an ambassador for Bumble Design by speaking at conferences, publishing thought leadership, and building formal networks with key decision makers across the design community.
Lead through craft: Move fluidly across fidelity-from whiteboard explorations to refined, pixel-perfect details. Model how to balance speed, polish, and pragmatism in a fast-moving environment.