Open to opportunities

Jacob McDaniel

@jacobmcdaniel

I build AI-native product experiences, design systems, and high-performing teams that turn complex workflows into measurable growth.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to lead AI-native product design, build scalable design systems and teams, and turn complex customer behavior into measurable business outcomes.

I've led product design across Charles River Labs, Vrbo by Expedia Group, Netspend, and my own &Pixels products, connecting product strategy, user research, design systems, and hands-on technical execution.

At Charles River Labs, I built and mentored a distributed team of 17 designers, created an enterprise design system that reduced inconsistencies by 80%, and cut engineering execution time by 25% across 24+ platforms. At Vrbo, I transformed Escapia's B2B SaaS experience, improved user satisfaction by 65%, reduced onboarding time by 35%, and helped turn a rates engine into a product generating $4M per week in added bookings for beta customers.

I'm now building AI-native workflows and products with Figma, React, Next.js, Claude, and Cursor—while founding VetDiscounts.org and leading &Pixels Labs. I enjoy translating complex multi-sided behaviors into clear roadmaps, scalable systems, and production-ready experiences.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder & Executive Director

Current

VetDiscounts.org

Feb 2026 - Present (6 months)

Founded and scaling a 501(c)(3) marketplace platform, defining product strategy, user experience, and brand identity. Architected and coded the responsive web platform using Next.js and React.

Next.js React AI Native Development Evaluative Research Product Strategy UX Design Brand Identity