Founding Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer

Company: Casap

Location: New York, NY / San Francisco, CA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-02

Experience Level: 6+ Years (Mid-Senior to Lead)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design of human-AI agent interactions within financial institutions, a novel and critical area for UX innovation.

• Establish and evolve a comprehensive design system to accelerate product development and maintain design consistency.

• Drive the simplification of complex, high-stakes financial workflows through user-centered design principles and AI integration.

• Serve as a key storyteller and presenter, articulating the vision of agentic transformation to banks and industry leaders.

• Collaborate intimately with engineering and customer-facing teams to translate intricate problems into intuitive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as "Founding Product Designer," indicating a foundational, high-impact position within Casap. The emphasis on defining new UX patterns for human-AI interaction in finance, coupled with the requirement to build a design system from the ground up, suggests a strategic leadership opportunity for a designer capable of operating with significant autonomy and vision. The hybrid nature with specified in-office days points to a structured approach to collaboration within a growing startup environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and document novel interaction patterns for supervising, correcting, and delegating tasks to AI agents in high-consequence financial environments.

• Re-architect and optimize core financial workflows such as provisional credit, evidence gathering, chargeback filing, and merchant response review to significantly reduce resolution times.

• Conduct on-site ethnographic research with dispute and fraud teams at banks and credit unions to deeply understand existing processes and ideate innovative agent-driven solutions.

• Develop and deliver high-impact presentations, keynotes, and strategic documents to educate and influence financial institutions on the benefits and implementation of agentic transformation.

• Partner closely with engineering and product management to take new features from initial problem definition through to pixel-perfect execution.

• Utilize a range of prototyping methods, including Figma, code, and AI-powered tools, to rapidly iterate and validate design concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership, deep user research in a regulated industry, and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "being wrong is expensive" underscores the critical nature of accuracy and reliability in the financial domain, requiring meticulous design and validation processes. The expectation to "produce keynotes, board decks, and published points of view" positions this role as a key contributor to Casap's thought leadership and market positioning.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in design principles, human-computer interaction, and systems thinking is essential.

Experience: 6+ years of professional product design experience, with a significant portion dedicated to enterprise-level, B2B, or workflow-intensive software solutions.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing and shipping complex enterprise workflows, with a keen interest in reimagining them through AI integration.

• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and collaboratively with engineers and customers in ambiguous environments.

• Experience building and scaling design systems that enhance team productivity and design consistency.

• Expertise in designing information-dense, complex interfaces and a track record of simplifying them without compromising functionality.

• Exceptional craft and systems thinking, with the ability to articulate the rationale behind design decisions.

• Strong storytelling capabilities, both visually and verbally, with experience presenting to diverse audiences including customers and executives.

• Practical experience integrating AI agents into personal design and development workflows. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience within the financial services sector, payments, fraud prevention, or other highly regulated industries.

• Experience as an early or solo designer in a startup environment, understanding the demands and agility required.

• Proficiency in shipping code or prior experience in a design engineering capacity.

• Familiarity with fraud systems, payment infrastructure, or chargeback processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "6+ years" coupled with the "Founding" title suggests this individual will be a senior contributor, likely the first dedicated product designer. The emphasis on enterprise and workflow-heavy software is critical, as the role involves tackling complex B2B processes. The explicit mention of "handling ambiguity" and "being an early or solo designer" points to a need for self-starters who can thrive in a less structured startup environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least two comprehensive case studies detailing the design and launch of complex enterprise or B2B software products.

• Include examples of how you've simplified intricate workflows, highlighting the problem, your design process, and the measurable impact.

• Demonstrate experience in building or contributing significantly to design systems, illustrating their components, usage guidelines, and the benefits they delivered.

• Present evidence of strong systems thinking, illustrating how you approach interconnected design challenges and maintain consistency across a product suite.

• Include examples of your storytelling and presentation skills, potentially through links to recorded presentations or detailed slide decks. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, particularly in understanding complex, real-world business processes and user needs.

• Illustrate your methodology for translating user insights and business requirements into intuitive and efficient user flows.

• Provide examples of your prototyping process, demonstrating how you use various tools to test and iterate on design concepts.

• Explain how you collaborate with engineers throughout the design and development lifecycle, ensuring fidelity and usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a "Founding" role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to not only showcase design execution but also strategic thinking, system-level design capabilities, and the ability to operate independently. The emphasis on enterprise workflows and the potential for AI integration means case studies should highlight complex problem-solving and novel solution design. The ability to demonstrate impact, especially in reducing process times or improving efficiency, will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Founding Product Designer with 6+ years of experience in San Francisco or New York, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $160,000 - $220,000 annually, with potential for equity.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and company holidays.

• Potential for equity in a fast-growing startup.

• Professional development budget for conferences, courses, and learning resources.

• Hybrid work model with specified in-office collaboration days.

• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI technology in the finance sector.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility expected due to the dynamic nature of a startup environment and the hybrid work model. In-office days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for senior Product Designers in major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York, particularly for roles with significant strategic impact and "founding" status. Equity is a common component for such roles in early-stage startups. The hybrid model with specific in-office days is a key differentiator for work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its application within the Financial Services sector. Casap is operating at the intersection of FinTech and AI, aiming to redefine how financial institutions leverage AI agents.

Company Size: As a "Founding Product Designer" role, Casap is likely an early-stage startup, potentially with a team size ranging from 10-50 employees. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced, and collaborative environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided, but the existence of a "Founding Product Designer" role suggests the company is in its early growth phase, likely post-seed or Series A funding.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is likely to be nascent, with this role being the first dedicated designer.

• Close collaboration with founders, engineering leads, and potentially product management is expected.

• Cross-functional partnerships will be essential with sales, customer success, and executive leadership as the company scales. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, with a strong emphasis on user research and qualitative feedback from financial institution clients.

• Agile development methodologies are likely employed, requiring iterative design and rapid prototyping.

• A culture of continuous learning and experimentation, especially concerning new AI technologies and UX paradigms.

Company Website: https://casap.edu.ph (Note: This domain appears to be an educational institution; the actual company website for the startup may differ or be under development.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI agents in finance is a highly specialized and innovative niche. The "Founding" aspect of the role implies a significant opportunity to shape the product's direction and the design team's culture from the ground up. The hybrid work model suggests a deliberate effort to balance remote flexibility with in-person collaboration essential for early-stage startups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead/Principal level Product Design role, specifically the first dedicated designer. It carries significant responsibility for establishing design foundations, strategy, and craft. The "Founding" title implies a high level of autonomy and influence over the product's user experience direction.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports directly to a Founder (e.g., CEO, CTO, or Head of Product, if such a role exists). The reporting line will offer direct access to executive decision-making.

Operations Impact: The product design directly influences the adoption and effectiveness of AI agents within large financial institutions. Successful design will be critical to Casap's ability to simplify complex financial workflows, reduce operational costs for clients, and establish itself as a leader in agentic transformation. This role has a direct impact on revenue generation through product adoption and client satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to build and lead the product design function as the company scales.

• Become a key thought leader in the emerging field of human-AI interaction design for enterprise finance.

• Deep expertise development in AI, financial services workflows, and enterprise B2B product strategy.

• Potential for significant career advancement and leadership roles within Casap as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding" nature of this role offers a rare opportunity for a designer to lay the groundwork for an entire design discipline within a cutting-edge startup. The growth path is not just about individual contribution but about building and scaling a team and influencing the company's strategic direction in a nascent market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring in-office presence on specific days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) in either the San Francisco, CA or New York, NY office. The remaining days can be worked remotely.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, USA and New York, New York, USA. These are major tech hubs offering access to talent and industry networks.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a balance between focused remote work and collaborative in-office sessions.

• The office environment will likely be conducive to team collaboration, brainstorming, and client interactions.

• Access to modern office amenities and technology to support design and development work.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for adjusted schedules or additional hours during critical project phases, common in startup environments. The hybrid structure allows for some flexibility in managing personal and professional time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, indicating a company that values both focused, individual work and the benefits of in-person collaboration. The choice between San Francisco and New York offices provides geographic flexibility for candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Presentation of your portfolio, focusing on relevant case studies that demonstrate your approach to complex enterprise workflows, design systems, and AI integration. A practical design exercise or case study may be assigned to assess problem-solving skills and design execution under pressure.

• Team Interviews: Discussions with engineers, founders, and potentially early customers to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and strategic thinking.

• Final Round: In-depth discussions with senior leadership, focusing on vision, leadership potential, and alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that showcase enterprise B2B design, complex workflow simplification, and ideally, any experience with AI or regulated industries.

• Focus on Process & Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or business impact. Quantify results wherever possible (e.g., reduced process time, improved efficiency, increased adoption).

• Highlight Design Systems: If you have experience building or significantly contributing to design systems, dedicate a section to explaining its architecture, components, and the value it delivered to the team and product.

• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives. Explain the 'why' behind your decisions and demonstrate your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

• Showcase AI Integration: If possible, include projects where you've explored or implemented AI, even if in a conceptual phase, and explain your thought process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to ambiguous problems and how you would define requirements.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about trade-offs and alternatives.

• Familiarize yourself with common financial workflows (e.g., disputes, fraud, payments) and think about how AI could enhance them.

• Prepare questions that demonstrate your strategic thinking about Casap's product, market, and the role of design within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding Product Designer" role implies that the interview process will heavily scrutinize strategic thinking, foundational design skills, and the ability to operate with significant autonomy. The portfolio review will be critical, serving as the primary evidence of the candidate's capabilities in tackling complex enterprise problems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned), potentially Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

• Prototyping: Figma's built-in prototyping, potentially tools like ProtoPie or Principle for more advanced interactions.

• AI Tools: Experience or familiarity with AI-powered design assistants, prompt engineering for AI generation, or tools for integrating AI functionalities into designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for design, an understanding of how design impacts user analytics (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times) is beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude might be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly a designer's primary toolset, but understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) or automation platforms (e.g., Zapier) for workflow-based software can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is a confirmed tool. The emphasis on "prototyping aggressively in Figma, in code, or with AI tools" suggests a need for versatile prototyping skills. Experience with AI tools for design or a strong understanding of how AI agents function is also a key requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Pioneering: Embracing the challenge of designing for a new frontier in human-AI interaction within finance.

• Precision & Reliability: Recognizing the high stakes in financial transactions and prioritizing accuracy, security, and robustness in design.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working closely with engineers, customers, and founders to co-create solutions.

• Customer-Centricity: Deeply understanding the needs and challenges of financial institutions and their employees.

• Impact & Efficiency: Driving tangible improvements in workflow efficiency and resolution times through thoughtful design.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with frequent interaction across functions (engineering, product, sales, customer success).

• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of product outcomes.

• A proactive approach to identifying and solving problems, rather than waiting for direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding" aspect implies a culture that values initiative, a strong work ethic, and a passion for building something new. The specific domain of finance and AI suggests a need for both creativity and a rigorous, detail-oriented approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining Novel UX Patterns: Creating intuitive and effective interaction models for human-AI collaboration in a domain where errors have significant financial consequences.

• Ambiguity and Rapid Iteration: Navigating the early-stage startup environment with evolving requirements and a need for quick design cycles.

• Balancing Complexity and Simplicity: Simplifying intricate financial workflows without losing critical functionality or accuracy.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating complex technical and design concepts to diverse audiences, including non-technical executives at financial institutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Become an expert in the burgeoning field of AI agents and their application in enterprise settings.

• Gain deep domain knowledge in financial services, fraud, and payments.

• Opportunity to shape the product vision and design strategy of a new company.

• Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role as Casap scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in being a pioneer in a new UX domain. The growth opportunities are directly tied to the company's success and the candidate's ability to shape its product and design function.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the core interaction patterns for human supervision of AI agents in a high-risk financial context like fraud detection?"

• "Describe your process for simplifying a complex, multi-step enterprise workflow. How would you ensure accuracy and compliance are maintained?"

• "Given our focus on AI agents, how would you integrate AI into your own design workflow to enhance efficiency and creativity?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about the intersection of AI and financial services?"

• "How do you approach building a design system from scratch, and what are the key principles you follow?"

• "Describe a time you had to present a complex design or strategy to a non-technical executive audience. How did you tailor your message?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key projects. For each, clearly state the problem, your role, the solution, your process, and the impact.

• Narrative: Weave a compelling story for each case study, highlighting your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind every major design decision.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Design System Deep Dive: Be ready to walk through your design system contributions, explaining its architecture and benefits.

• AI & Enterprise Focus: Emphasize aspects of your work that relate to enterprise software, complex workflows, and any experience with AI or advanced technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that probe your ability to handle ambiguity, your strategic thinking, your process for tackling complex B2B problems, and your vision for user experience in the context of AI agents within finance. The interview will assess not just your design skills but your potential to be a foundational leader.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the application portal.

• Portfolio Curation: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 of your strongest enterprise/B2B case studies that demonstrate complex workflow simplification, design system experience, and any exposure to AI or regulated industries. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of experience, focusing on achievements in enterprise software, workflow design, and systems thinking. Use keywords relevant to product design, UX, AI agents, design systems, and B2B software.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on telling a clear story about each project, explaining your design decisions, and quantifying the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with ambiguity and working with engineering teams.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Casap's mission and the emerging field of AI agents in finance. Prepare thoughtful questions about their product vision, design challenges, and company culture.

⚠️ 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.