Associate Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Product Designer

Company: Perpay

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design

Date Posted: May 20, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the customer experience through innovative design solutions, directly impacting financial stability for everyday Americans.

• The Associate Product Designer will collaborate closely with product, engineering, brand, and marketing teams to deliver user-centric, visually appealing, and on-brand digital experiences.

• A strong emphasis is placed on bringing designs to life with high-quality visual execution, motion design, and attention to micro-interactions, contributing to a cohesive and engaging user journey.

• The position requires a proactive, "builder's mindset" with the ability to drive projects forward in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, demonstrating grit and a hustle mentality in ambiguous situations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Associate Product Designer," the description indicates a strong need for visual craft and motion design, suggesting a hybrid role that bridges UX/UI with a significant visual and interactive component. The emphasis on "early-career" and the inclusion of internships and academic projects as valid experience point to a role designed for individuals early in their design careers, with significant potential for growth within the team.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Contribution: Apply design thinking methodologies to conceptualize and execute design solutions that address both user needs and business objectives across Perpay's product suite.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Brand Designers, and Marketing teams to ensure seamless integration of design elements and a unified brand experience across all touchpoints.

• Visual & Motion Design Execution: Develop high-fidelity visual designs, craft engaging motion graphics, and refine micro-interactions to enhance user experience and product appeal.

• Design System Stewardship: Uphold and contribute to the evolution of Perpay's design system and visual language, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital platforms.

• Research Support: Assist in user research initiatives, including planning, participant recruitment, insight synthesis, and translating research findings into actionable design improvements.

• Prototyping & Iteration: Create interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts, gather feedback, and iterate on designs based on user testing and stakeholder input.

• Brand Alignment: Ensure all design outputs are consistent with Perpay's brand identity, mission, and values, particularly its commitment to financial inclusion and customer empowerment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "small, but mighty, design team" mentioned, the responsibilities imply a broad scope for an Associate Product Designer. They will likely be involved in the full product development lifecycle, from ideation and research to final visual execution and implementation support. The need to "stretch" established design systems suggests opportunities for creative problem-solving and contributing to design system evolution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for this level.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience in product design, including internships, freelance work, or academic projects that showcase design capabilities.

Required Skills:

• Product Thinking: Demonstrated ability to understand user needs and translate them into effective product solutions.

• Visual Craft: Strong visual design skills, including layout, typography, color theory, and branding.

• Motion Design: Proficiency in creating engaging animations and micro-interactions to enhance user experience.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Deep understanding and hands-on experience with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop.

• Design System Familiarity: Experience working with and applying established design systems, with an understanding of their importance for consistency and scalability.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: A proactive and analytical approach to identifying and solving design and user experience challenges.

• Builder's Mindset: Initiative to own problems, drive work forward, and a willingness to contribute to shipping solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with marketing asset design or brand-related design projects.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and synthesizing insights.

• Understanding of or experience with artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can augment the design process.

• Experience in the fintech or financial services industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "0-2 years" experience level, combined with the mention of internships and academic projects, suggests the company is open to candidates with strong foundational skills and a demonstrable passion for design, rather than extensive professional history. The "builder's mindset" and "hustle mentality" are key cultural indicators for this role, emphasizing proactivity and ownership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is critical, showcasing a minimum of 2-3 well-documented projects.

• Each project should clearly demonstrate both product thinking (problem identification, user research, ideation, user flows) and visual craft (high-fidelity UI mockups, visual design execution, style guides).

• Projects should highlight your ability to solve user and business problems, not just create aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

• Include examples of motion design, micro-interactions, or interactive prototypes to showcase dynamic design skills.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process for each portfolio project, detailing the steps taken from understanding the problem to delivering the final design.

• Explain the rationale behind your design decisions, referencing user insights, business goals, and design principles.

• Demonstrate how you collaborated with stakeholders (e.g., product managers, engineers) during the design process.

• Include case studies that illustrate how your designs led to positive outcomes or solved specific user pain points.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "product thinking" and "visual craft" means the portfolio should not only look good but also tell a compelling story about the problem-solving process and the user impact of the designs presented. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design decisions in detail, justifying them with logic and data from their process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

For an Associate Product Designer in Philadelphia, PA, with 0-2 years of experience, the estimated salary range is typically between $65,000 and $85,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific skills, the strength of the portfolio, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Meaningful Compensation & Equity: Competitive base salary and potential for company equity.

• Premium Medical Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance with a fully paid base plan and affordable premium for buy-up options.

• Retirement Savings: 4% employer match on 401k contributions.

• Work-Life Balance: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, offering flexibility.

• Holiday Flexibility: Designated "remote weeks" around major holidays, plus additional holidays like Memorial Day Weekend (MDW) and Labor Day Weekend (LDW).

• On-Site Perks: High-quality catered lunches provided by local chefs four days a week.

• Wellness: Gym subsidy to support physical health.

• Connectivity: Paid cell phone and service plan.

• Financial Support: Student loan repayment program to assist with educational debt.

• Relocation Assistance: Support for candidates relocating to Philadelphia.

• Employee Discounts: Generous discounts on Perpay products and services.

Working Hours: The role is primarily on-site with an expected 40-hour work week. While not a remote position, the company offers sensible flexibility for personal needs and designated remote weeks around major holidays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for entry-level product design roles in major US metropolitan areas, adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living and the specific benefits package offered by Perpay, which is quite generous for an early-stage company. The emphasis on "meaningful compensation and equity" suggests that compensation will be competitive and tied to company growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech, Financial Services, E-commerce, Certified B Corporation. Perpay operates at the intersection of these sectors, aiming to improve financial stability for consumers with subprime credit through innovative products.

Company Size: Growth-stage startup. Perpay is described as Philadelphia's most impactful growth-stage startup, indicating a dynamic, evolving environment with significant growth potential.

Founded: Perpay has been operational for "the past decade," suggesting a stable yet rapidly evolving company with established product-market fit and a profitable operating model.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "small, but mighty," implying close-knit collaboration and a high degree of individual impact.

• The Associate Product Designer will report within this small design team, likely to a Design Lead or Head of Design.

Methodology:

• Design Thinking: Core to the design approach, focusing on understanding user and business problems deeply.

• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly detailed for design, the company's success is built on an "efficient operating model," suggesting data informs decisions. Research insights are expected to be applied to designs.

• Agile Development: The mention of "rapid product development" suggests an agile or iterative approach to product creation.

• In-Person Collaboration: The company culture strongly emphasizes in-person collaboration from their Philadelphia office to foster rapid development and strong relationships.

Company Website: https://www.perpay.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Perpay's B Corp status is a significant cultural indicator, highlighting a commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. This mission-driven aspect is a key differentiator and likely appeals to candidates seeking purpose-driven work. The emphasis on in-person collaboration in their "home away from home" office space is a deliberate choice to foster creativity and teamwork.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Associate Product Designer is an entry-level position, designed for individuals starting their professional design careers. It offers a foundational role within the product development lifecycle, with significant opportunities to learn and grow.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Product Designer will likely report to a Senior Designer, Design Lead, or Head of Design, within a small, focused design team. This structure allows for direct mentorship and guidance.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on Perpay's mission by designing user experiences that improve financial stability for customers. Every design decision contributes to customer acquisition, retention, and the overall success of products like the Perpay Marketplace, Perpay+, and the Perpay Credit Card. The impact is measured through user engagement, conversion rates, and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in visual design, motion design, user research, or specific product areas.

• Design System Contribution: Potential to contribute to the growth and evolution of Perpay's design system as experience is gained.

• Product Ownership: As experience grows, opportunities to take ownership of specific product features or even entire product areas.

• Leadership Track: For exceptional performers, a path towards Senior Product Designer, Design Lead, or management roles within the design team.

• Cross-Functional Development: Exposure to and learning from product management, engineering, and marketing functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "growth-stage startup" environment at Perpay offers accelerated career progression for high performers. The small team size means individuals can gain broad experience quickly, taking on more responsibility as they demonstrate capability. The company's mission-driven nature also provides a unique avenue for professional fulfillment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Perpay operates from a dedicated office space in center-city Philadelphia, described as a "comfortable 'home away from home' space." This suggests a well-designed, welcoming environment conducive to focused work and collaboration.

Office Location(s): Center-city Philadelphia, offering river views. This prime location provides access to urban amenities and a vibrant work setting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office is designed to foster "in-person collaboration," rapid product development, and strong team relationships.

• Inspirational Setting: Features like "river views" and a comfortable atmosphere aim to inspire creativity and productivity.

• Technology & Tools: Access to necessary design software (Figma, Adobe Suite) and likely a supportive IT infrastructure. The company also mentions leveraging AI tools.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and other team members is expected.

Work Schedule: Primarily on-site, with sensible flexibility for personal needs. While the core work is in the office, Perpay acknowledges the need for balance and offers official remote weeks around major holidays. The standard work week is approximately 40 hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "on-site" work model is a key characteristic. Candidates must be willing and able to work from the Philadelphia office regularly. The "sensible flexibility" suggests a balance between in-office presence and personal life needs, rather than strict rigid hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application & Portfolio Screening: Initial review of resumes and portfolios to assess foundational skills, visual craft, and product thinking.

2. Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: A conversation focused on design philosophy, experience, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit. Expect discussion around portfolio projects.

3. Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise to evaluate practical design skills, process, and ability to work within constraints. This might involve a specific problem related to Perpay's products.

4. Cross-Functional Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, or other stakeholders to assess collaboration style and ability to communicate design rationale.

5. Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, CEO) to discuss career aspirations, alignment with Perpay's mission, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Showcase Process: Don't just show final screens. Include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations to demonstrate your thought process.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results wherever possible (e.g., "improved conversion by X%", "reduced user errors by Y%"). If exact metrics aren't available, articulate the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Visual Craft & Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, well-organized, and free of errors. Demonstrate attention to detail.

• Tailor to Perpay: Understand Perpay's mission and products. If possible, subtly tailor your project selection or presentation to align with their focus on financial stability and their target audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process for solving a given problem.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying them with user-centered principles and business objectives.

• If a take-home challenge is given, manage your time effectively to deliver a thoughtful, well-presented solution.

• For live exercises, think aloud and communicate your thought process clearly with the interviewer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely structured to evaluate both design competency and cultural fit. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating skills, so candidates should invest significant time in its preparation and be ready to present and defend their work. A "builder's mindset" and "hustle mentality" will be assessed throughout the process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential for this role.

• Adobe Illustrator: Used for creating vector graphics, icons, and other visual assets.

• Adobe Photoshop: Employed for image editing, manipulation, and creating raster-based graphics.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Emerging Tools:

• AI Tools for Designers: The job description specifically mentions familiarity with AI tools that designers can leverage. This could include AI-powered design assistants, content generation tools, or research aids. Candidates should be aware of current trends in AI for design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Illustrator, and Photoshop indicates these are the foundational design tools. The inclusion of AI tools signals Perpay's forward-thinking approach to design technology, encouraging candidates to be aware of and experiment with emerging tools that can enhance productivity and creativity.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to improving the financial stability of everyday Americans, particularly those with subprime credit. This purpose is central to Perpay's identity.

• Impact-Oriented: Focus on creating tangible positive outcomes for customers and the business. Designs are expected to contribute to these impacts.

• Collaborative: Emphasis on in-person teamwork, open communication, and shared problem-solving.

• Ownership & Grit: Encourages individuals to take initiative, drive projects forward, and persevere through challenges.

• Customer-Centric: Deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of Perpay's customer base.

• Innovation: A desire to build new offerings and deepen impact through creative solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Hands-On & Integrated: Design is not siloed; it's deeply integrated with product, engineering, brand, and marketing. Expect frequent, direct collaboration.

• Feedback-Rich: Openness to feedback and a willingness to iterate on designs based on input from peers and stakeholders.

• Fast-Paced: The environment requires quick iteration and the ability to move projects forward efficiently.

• Relationship-Focused: The emphasis on in-person work fosters strong interpersonal relationships and a sense of team camaraderie.

📝 Enhancement Note: Perpay's B Corp status and mission are not just corporate statements but are deeply embedded in their culture. Candidates who are passionate about social impact and financial inclusion will find strong alignment here. The "home away from home" office culture suggests a desire for a positive, supportive, and engaging workplace.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: As with any product role, finding the optimal balance between creating exceptional user experiences and achieving business objectives will be a continuous challenge.

• Designing for Subprime Consumers: Understanding the unique needs, constraints, and behaviors of individuals with subprime credit requires empathy and careful research to avoid assumptions.

• Rapid Iteration in a Growth Environment: The fast-paced nature of a growth-stage startup means designs may need to be developed and iterated upon quickly, sometimes with incomplete information.

• Evolving Design System: Contributing to and maintaining a design system in a rapidly growing product suite requires careful planning and consistent application.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Direct mentorship from experienced designers within a small team setting.

• Broad Experience: Exposure to the full product development lifecycle and various design disciplines (UX, UI, motion, branding).

• Industry Exposure: Hands-on experience in the dynamic fintech and B Corp sectors.

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to hone skills in Figma, motion design, visual design, and potentially explore AI tools for design.

• Career Advancement: Clear potential for growth into senior roles within Perpay as the company scales and the design team expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for an early-career role in a fast-growing company. The key is to view these challenges as opportunities for learning and skill development, which Perpay actively supports through its culture and growth opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a project in your portfolio from start to finish. What was the problem, your role, your process, and the outcome?" Be ready to dive deep into your decision-making.

• Problem-Solving: "How would you approach designing a new feature to help users build credit history with Perpay+?" Focus on your methodology: research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

• Collaboration: "Describe a time you disagreed with a product manager or engineer about a design decision. How did you handle it, and what was the resolution?"

• Design Philosophy: "What does 'good design' mean to you, especially in the context of financial services?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "Why are you interested in Perpay's mission to improve financial stability?" Be prepared to articulate your personal connection or enthusiasm for this purpose.

• Team Fit: "How do you prefer to receive feedback on your work?" "What kind of work environment do you thrive in?"

• Startup Mentality: "How do you handle ambiguity or working on projects with unclear requirements?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: Aim for 3-5 minutes per project presentation. Focus on the most critical aspects of your process and impact.

• Visual Aids: Use clear, high-resolution mockups and functional prototypes. If demonstrating motion, ensure it's smooth and impactful.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your contributions, especially in team projects.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your work, from initial problem framing to final pixel placement.

• Practice: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth, confident delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should research Perpay's products (Marketplace, Perpay+, Credit Card) and their B Corp status thoroughly. Understanding their target audience and the unique challenges of serving consumers with subprime credit will be crucial for answering strategy questions effectively. Demonstrating a "builder's mindset" and "hustle mentality" through your answers and portfolio will be highly valued.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently showcases your product thinking and visual craft, with clear documentation of your design process for 2-3 key projects. Tailor your presentation to highlight skills relevant to Perpay's mission and products.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience, skills, and any projects (internships, academic, personal) that demonstrate your capabilities. Use keywords from the job description such as "Product Design," "Figma," "Motion Design," and "Design Thinking."

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your passion for Perpay's mission, and how your skills align with the company culture and the "builder's mindset." Be ready to present your portfolio with confidence.

• Research Perpay: Understand Perpay's business model, products, B Corp status, and target audience. Familiarize yourself with their brand and mission to articulate your interest and fit effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.