Financial Services - Technology Consulting - Product Designer - Senior - Washington, DC

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Financial Services Technology Consulting

Company: EY

Location: Washington, DC / McLean, VA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience Design / Technology Consulting

Date Posted: November 4, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (3+ years post-bachelor's or 2+ years post-master's)

Remote Status: On-site (Requires domestic and regional travel up to 80%)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for client workstreams within EY's Financial Services Organization (FSO) Technology Consulting practice.

• Specialize in designing AI-first, AI-enabled, and agentic experiences for complex, data-heavy financial services applications.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including researchers, technologists, product managers, and client stakeholders to deliver superior digital products.

• Utilize advanced AI tools and LLMs to accelerate design processes from problem framing to production-ready specifications, while maintaining critical judgment and accountability for design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within EY's Financial Services Organization (FSO) Technology Consulting, specifically within the Product and Experience Design (PxD) team. The emphasis on "AI-first design" and "designing AI-enabled and agentic experiences" indicates a forward-thinking approach to product development, requiring designers to be adept at integrating artificial intelligence into user journeys and workflows, particularly within the regulated financial services sector. The senior level implies a need for leadership, client-facing skills, and mentorship capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for assigned workstreams, from initial problem framing and user research to the delivery of high-fidelity, production-ready designs and detailed engineering specifications.

• Serve as the primary design contact for clients on a day-to-day basis, building strong relationships and effectively communicating design rationale and progress.

• Leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI-assisted prototyping tools (e.g., Claude, Cursor, Figma Make) to accelerate ideation, option generation, rapid prototyping, and synthesis of user feedback.

• Design intricate, role-based, and data-heavy user experiences for diverse internal and external client teams, ensuring usability and effectiveness across complex financial systems.

• Integrate AI-enabled and agentic system interactions into user flows, focusing on how users hand off work, supervise AI outputs, and manage trust, error, and correction states.

• Contribute to and evolve client design systems and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and scalability across digital products.

• Deliver design work within Agile development frameworks, collaborating with engineering and product management teams using tools like Jira, and translating design into clear specifications and acceptance criteria.

• Conduct lean user research to inform design decisions and drive consensus on success metrics with product owners and stakeholders.

• Present design concepts and outcomes clearly and persuasively to engineers, product owners, and senior business stakeholders, adapting communication style to the audience.

• Articulate the value of design to client stakeholders and internal teams, demonstrating ROI and the cost of not investing in user-centered and AI-integrated design.

• Assess and adapt to varying levels of client design and technology maturity, providing foundational UX or advanced AI-enabled product design as needed.

• Facilitate client workshops and coach client teams to build sustainable design capabilities post-engagement.

• Support business development activities, including proposal writing and client pursuit efforts.

• Mentor junior designers, fostering their professional growth and development within the PxD team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core product design skills and cutting-edge AI design expertise. The emphasis on "AI-first design," "agentic experiences," and "LLM usage" signifies a significant shift in traditional UX methodologies, requiring candidates to demonstrate practical application of these technologies. The senior level also mandates client relationship management, strategic communication, and mentorship, indicating a leadership component to the role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, UX Design, Interaction Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, or a closely related field, coupled with 3 years of progressive, post-baccalaureate work experience.

• Alternatively, a Master's degree in a relevant design discipline and 2 years of relevant work experience. Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in product design, with a strong emphasis on end-to-end design processes.

• Proven experience delivering complex, data-heavy, or workflow-driven products.

• Demonstrated experience working within Agile delivery teams, utilizing tools such as Jira.

• Experience in financial services (Banking and Capital Markets, Wealth and Asset Management, Insurance, or Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction) is highly desirable.

• Experience designing AI-powered or agentic product features that have reached production is a significant plus.

• Experience coaching client teams or building design capabilities within organizations is preferred. Required Skills:

• AI-First Design Craft: Proven ability to take projects from problem framing and research through user flows, high-fidelity design, and production-ready Figma files.

• LLM & AI Tool Proficiency: Regular and demonstrated use of LLMs in the design process. Comfort and proficiency with AI-assisted design and prototyping tools such as Claude, Cursor, or Figma Make.

• Agentic Experience Design: Expertise in designing user interactions with AI and agentic systems, including managing uncertainty, confidence, error states, and human-in-the-loop controls.

• Advanced Figma Skills: Mastery of Figma, including advanced prototyping, component creation, auto-layout, and contribution to design systems.

• Design Systems: Experience leveraging, contributing to, and evolving design systems and brand guidelines.

• Data-Heavy & Workflow Design: Ability to design complex, data-intensive, and workflow-driven user experiences.

• Agile Delivery: Experience working effectively in Agile development environments and collaborating with engineering teams.

• Client Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to present and defend design decisions to senior stakeholders.

• Problem Framing & Synthesis: Strong ability to frame complex problems, generate creative options, and synthesize user and stakeholder feedback.

• Mentorship: Experience mentoring junior designers and supporting their professional development.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and their impact on design decisions.

• Experience in the financial services industry.

• Experience designing AI-powered features that have successfully launched into production.

• Experience facilitating client workshops and coaching design teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize practical application of AI in design, not just theoretical knowledge. The requirement for a portfolio showcasing "end-to-end product design: problem framing, interaction design, visual craft and outcomes" is critical. Advanced Figma proficiency and experience with AI tools like Claude, Cursor, or Figma Make are specifically called out. The travel requirement up to 80% is a significant factor for candidates to consider.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, demonstrating end-to-end product design capabilities. This includes evidence of:

  • Problem Framing: How you identified and defined user or business problems.
  • Interaction Design: User flows, wireframes, and prototypes illustrating user journeys.
  • Visual Craft: High-fidelity mockups showcasing aesthetic quality and attention to detail.
  • Outcomes: Quantifiable results and impact achieved through your design solutions, not just finished screens.

• Demonstrate the practical application of AI tools (LLMs, AI-assisted prototyping) within your design process and their impact on outcomes.

• Showcase experience designing complex, data-heavy, or workflow-driven products, illustrating how you managed and visualized intricate information.

• Include examples of contributions to or utilization of design systems and brand guidelines. Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process clearly, particularly how they integrate AI tools at various stages:

  • Problem Framing & Ideation: How AI assists in understanding challenges and generating initial concepts.
  • Prototyping & Iteration: How AI tools are used for rapid prototyping and iterating based on feedback.
  • Synthesis & Documentation: How AI aids in synthesizing research findings and preparing documentation for engineering.

• Provide examples of how you have defined and measured success metrics for design initiatives, linking them to business or user outcomes.

• Illustrate experience with Agile delivery processes, including documentation of specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is heavily weighted towards demonstrating practical, end-to-end design work, with a specific emphasis on the integration and impact of AI tools. Simply showcasing polished screens will not suffice; candidates must prove their ability to frame problems, iterate, and deliver measurable outcomes, all while leveraging AI effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary range for this position in the Washington DC Metro Area (including McLean, VA) is $120,200 to $180,600 USD per year.

• Individual salaries are determined by a multitude of factors, including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical and Dental Coverage: Ensuring employee health and well-being.

• Pension Plan: A retirement savings plan to support long-term financial security.

• 401(k) Plan: Additional retirement savings options with potential employer contributions.

• Flexible Vacation Policy: Employees determine their vacation time based on personal circumstances, promoting work-life balance.

• Paid EY Holidays: Designated paid holidays throughout the year.

• Winter/Summer Breaks: Specific periods allocated for extended time off.

• Personal/Family Care Leave: Provisions for time off to support personal or family needs.

• Total Rewards Package: A holistic approach to compensation and benefits recognizing the value employees bring.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available depending on project demands and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to the Washington DC Metro Area. EY offers a robust benefits package, including a flexible vacation policy that emphasizes employee autonomy and well-being, which is a key differentiator.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Services / Technology Consulting / Financial Services

Company Size: EY is a global leader in professional services, employing over 365,000 people worldwide across 150+ countries and territories. This large scale offers extensive opportunities for professional development and global exposure.

Founded: Ernst & Young was founded in 1989 through the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young. The company has a long-standing history of providing auditing, tax, consulting, and advisory services.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Product and Experience Design (PxD) Team, a competency within EY's FSO Technology Consulting practice.

• PxD teams are multidisciplinary, composed of designers, researchers, technologists, and strategists who work collaboratively.

• As a Senior Product Designer, you will act as the design lead for a workstream, working within a project team that includes product managers, engagement team members, and other designers.

• You will report to engagement leaders or senior design managers, with opportunities to mentor junior designers. Methodology:

• AI-First Design: The team prioritizes AI in its design process, starting with LLMs and moving quickly to prototypes.

• Human-Centered Design: Despite the AI focus, the approach remains grounded in understanding user needs and business objectives to create superior experiences.

• Agile Delivery: Work is conducted within Agile teams, emphasizing iterative development and close collaboration with engineering.

• Research-Informed Design: Lean research is conducted to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Client Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working side-by-side with clients, understanding their needs, and facilitating workshops.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: EY's FSO Technology Consulting practice is positioned as a leader in transforming the financial services industry through innovation. The PXD team's "AI-first" methodology signifies a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology, making this an exciting environment for designers focused on AI-enabled products. The global scale of EY provides unparalleled opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and clients.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer

• This level signifies a transition from individual contributor to a leadership role within design projects. Senior designers are expected to own significant portions of client engagements, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the strategic direction of design initiatives. They are responsible for end-to-end design ownership, client communication, and the successful delivery of design solutions. Reporting Structure:

• You will likely report to an Engagement Manager or Senior Manager within FSO Technology Consulting.

• You will lead design for your specific workstream, collaborating daily with product managers, engineers, and other consultants.

• You will also have opportunities to mentor and guide junior designers on your project team. Operations Impact:

• Senior Product Designers at EY directly influence client business outcomes by transforming their operations and customer experiences through innovative digital solutions.

• Your work will contribute to the modernization of financial institutions, helping them navigate complex challenges, adopt new technologies like AI, and achieve greater efficiency and competitive advantage.

• The role involves making critical design decisions that impact client revenue, customer satisfaction, and operational effectiveness, particularly in AI-driven applications. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-enabled product design, agentic systems, or specific financial services sub-sectors.

• Leadership: Progress to roles such as Design Lead, Senior Design Manager, or Head of Product Design, managing larger teams and more complex client programs.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain exposure to broader technology consulting, strategy, and business development activities within EY.

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities for continuous learning through EY's extensive training programs, workshops, and access to industry conferences.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and coaching skills by mentoring junior designers, contributing to the growth of EY's design talent pool.

• Business Development: Contribute to pursuits and proposals, developing skills in client relationship management and business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Product Designer role at EY is a pivotal step for designers looking to lead impactful projects, specialize in emerging technologies like AI within a critical industry, and develop leadership skills. The growth path clearly leads towards management and strategic design leadership within a global consulting framework.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Consulting environment, often client-site based or within EY offices. The role requires significant travel to client locations.

Office Location(s): The primary advertised locations are Washington, DC, and McLean, VA. However, due to the nature of consulting, work will frequently be performed at client sites across domestic and regional locations.

• Washington, DC: EY has offices in the DC metro area, providing a base for administrative tasks, team meetings, and collaboration when not on client sites.

• McLean, VA: Similarly, the McLean office serves as a hub for EY professionals in the region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: You will work within multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas are shared and debated.

• Dynamic: The consulting nature means working on diverse projects with varying timelines and client needs, requiring adaptability.

• Technology-Rich: Access to EY's internal technology resources and the expectation to utilize advanced design and AI tools.

• Client-Facing: A significant portion of your time will be spent interacting directly with clients, both virtually and on-site.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected.

• However, consulting roles often require flexibility to meet client deadlines and project demands, which may involve working longer hours or adjusting schedules as needed. The 80% travel expectation also significantly influences the work schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is characteristic of a top-tier professional services firm, emphasizing client delivery and collaboration. The high travel requirement (up to 80%) is a critical aspect of the on-site nature of this role and will significantly impact the candidate's daily work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition may conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where your submitted portfolio will be reviewed by senior designers and hiring managers. Be prepared to walk through your case studies in detail.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or a live case study presentation focusing on problem-solving, AI integration, and design process.

• Behavioral Interviews: Interviews focused on assessing your experience, leadership potential, collaboration style, client communication skills, and how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflict, challenging feedback).

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members and stakeholders to evaluate fit and collaboration potential.

• Final Round: Potentially an interview with senior leadership to discuss strategic fit and overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the required skills, especially AI integration and end-to-end design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (emphasizing AI usage), your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Highlight AI Impact: Explicitly showcase how you used LLMs and AI tools to enhance your design process, from ideation to synthesis, and what impact this had.

• Showcase Problem Framing: Demonstrate your ability to move beyond surface-level solutions and tackle complex problems effectively.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Use clear headings and concise descriptions.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a case study, thoroughly research EY, the financial services industry, and current trends in AI and product design.

• Focus on Process: Be prepared to explain your thought process, decision-making, and how you would approach the problem using the required tools and methodologies (especially AI).

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence, especially when explaining complex AI concepts.

• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewers about the team, projects, challenges, and EY's approach to AI in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes practical design skills and the ability to articulate them through a portfolio. The integration of AI into the design process is a key differentiator, and candidates must be prepared to demonstrate this expertise effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is mandatory for UI design, prototyping, component creation, and design system contributions.

• AI-Assisted Design & Prototyping Tools:

  • LLMs (e.g., Claude): For problem framing, content generation, ideation, and synthesis.
  • AI Prototyping Tools (e.g., Cursor, Figma Make): For rapid prototyping, generating design options, and potentially live-coded prototypes.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira: Experience delivering in Agile teams using Jira or equivalent tools for task management, sprint planning, and bug tracking.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with standard collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Confluence) for team communication and knowledge sharing.

Design Systems & Visual Design:

• Design System Tools: Experience working with and contributing to established design systems.

• Standard Design Software: Familiarity with other design and illustration tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) may be beneficial.

Emerging Technologies:

• AI/ML Concepts: Understanding of how AI and machine learning are applied in user experiences, particularly agentic systems and explainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily weighted towards Figma and cutting-edge AI design tools. Proficiency with LLMs and AI-assisted prototyping is not just preferred but a core requirement, indicating EY's commitment to integrating AI into their design workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: EY's overarching mission is "Building a better working world," which translates into a focus on creating value for clients, people, society, and the planet.

• Data-Driven & AI-Enabled: A strong emphasis on leveraging data, AI, and advanced technology to deliver innovative solutions and shape the future.

• Client-Centric: A commitment to understanding and meeting client needs, often working side-by-side to achieve shared goals.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse teams work together to solve complex challenges.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding high ethical standards and building trust in capital markets and client relationships.

• Continuous Improvement: Encouraging ongoing learning, skill development, and adaptation to new technologies and methodologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Multidisciplinary: Designers work closely with researchers, technologists, product managers, and business consultants, requiring strong cross-functional communication.

• Client-Facing: Collaborative engagement with clients is paramount, involving workshops, feedback sessions, and co-creation.

• Mentorship-Oriented: Senior team members are expected to mentor and develop junior talent, fostering a culture of shared learning.

• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration within Agile teams emphasizes rapid iteration, feedback loops, and adaptive planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: EY's culture is built around its global purpose and values, with a strong emphasis on innovation through technology (especially AI), client partnership, and collaborative teamwork. The "All in" mentality suggests a dedicated and engaged workforce committed to achieving impactful results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Uncertainty: Effectively designing user experiences that manage the inherent uncertainty, confidence levels, and potential errors of AI and agentic systems.

• Client Maturity Levels: Adapting design approaches to clients with varying levels of design and technology maturity, particularly in adopting AI.

• High Travel Expectations: Balancing client-site work (up to 80% travel) with personal life and maintaining well-being.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying current with the fast-paced advancements in AI and design tools, and integrating them effectively into client solutions.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Gaining consensus and buy-in from diverse stakeholders, some of whom may be new to AI or advanced design concepts.

• Ethical AI Design: Ensuring designs are responsible, transparent, and free from bias, especially within the sensitive financial services domain.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing AI-powered products, agentic systems, and leveraging LLMs for creative problem-solving.

• Financial Services Domain Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of the banking, capital markets, insurance, and wealth management sectors.

• Consulting Skills: Develop advanced client management, communication, presentation, and business development skills.

• EY's Global Learning Platform: Access to extensive training resources, certifications, and workshops covering a wide range of professional development topics.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from guidance from experienced leaders within EY and contribute to mentoring junior designers.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend industry events and conferences to stay abreast of the latest trends in design, technology, and financial services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the practical application of AI in design within a regulated industry and managing the demands of a consulting role. Growth opportunities are abundant, particularly for those who excel in AI-driven design and client engagement, with clear paths toward leadership and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• AI Integration: "Describe a project where you used LLMs or AI-assisted tools. What was the problem, how did you use the tools, what were the results, and what challenges did you face?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to showcase specific examples from your portfolio, detailing the prompt engineering, the output, and your critical evaluation and refinement process.

• Problem Framing: "Walk us through how you would approach framing a complex problem for a financial services client looking to leverage AI for customer service. What questions would you ask?"

  • Preparation: Demonstrate a structured approach, focusing on understanding business objectives, user needs, and potential AI applications. Emphasize your ability to ask insightful questions.

• Agentic Experience Design: "How would you design the user experience for an AI agent that manages investment portfolio rebalancing? What are the key considerations for trust, transparency, and user control?"

  • Preparation: Focus on designing for uncertainty, error states, explainability, and user supervision. Contrast this with traditional UI design.

• Client Communication: "Describe a time you had to present a design decision to a skeptical client or senior stakeholder. How did you make your case and what was the outcome?"

  • Preparation: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to detail your approach, focusing on clear communication, data-driven arguments, and empathy for stakeholder concerns. Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why EY and why the Financial Services Technology Consulting practice?"

  • Preparation: Research EY's purpose, values, and its specific focus on financial services innovation. Align your career goals with the opportunities offered.

• "How do you see AI transforming the future of product design in financial services?"

  • Preparation: Demonstrate a forward-thinking perspective, referencing current trends and your own experiences.

• "How do you handle collaboration with diverse teams (engineers, product managers, business analysts)?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize your ability to communicate effectively across disciplines and contribute to a cohesive team effort. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline the Problem, Your Role, The Process (highlighting AI usage), The Solution, and The Results.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify achievements wherever possible. Show how your design decisions led to tangible improvements.

• Be Conversational: Present your work as a narrative rather than a lecture. Engage the interviewers and be open to questions throughout.

• Highlight AI's Role: Explicitly point out where and how AI tools were used, the benefits they provided, and your critical oversight.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Be prepared to discuss how you adapted your process based on client needs or project constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus heavily on demonstrating practical AI design skills, strong client communication, and a structured approach to problem-solving within the financial services context. Your portfolio is your primary tool; be ready to dissect it thoroughly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position at EY:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form through the EY careers portal.

• Portfolio Submission: Ensure your portfolio is readily accessible (via a link in your resume or application) and showcases end-to-end product design, with a strong emphasis on AI integration and measurable outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience in product design, AI-assisted design, financial services, Agile methodologies, and client-facing roles. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, specific project contributions, and how you leverage AI tools. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail during interviews.

• Research EY: Understand EY's purpose, values, and its strategic focus on technology consulting within the financial services sector. Prepare thoughtful questions to demonstrate your engagement.

• Travel Readiness: Be prepared to discuss your willingness and ability to meet the demanding travel requirements (up to 80%) associated with this consulting role.

⚠️ 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.