Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer Company: HeliosX Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: October 23, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead end-to-end design ownership for critical digital product domains within a rapidly growing health-tech company.
• Drive the strategic evolution and global adoption of HeliosX's comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital touchpoints.
• Champion cohesive global digital brand updates by partnering closely with product, marketing, and brand teams to align user experience with brand identity.
• Shape and optimize CMS-driven experiences to ensure efficient scalability and a consistent user journey across diverse international markets.
• Lead a team of product designers, fostering a culture of excellence, providing mentorship, and elevating the overall craft and quality of design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead Product Designer," the responsibilities clearly indicate a significant leadership and management component, including line management and mentoring. This suggests a role that bridges hands-on design execution with team leadership and strategic design system evolution, placing it at a senior level within the product design organization. The emphasis on global brand updates and CMS-driven experiences hints at a need for operational efficiency and strategic thinking beyond individual feature design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and lead the complete end-to-end design process for multiple core product domains, from conceptualization and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final implementation.
• Drive the strategic development, maintenance, and global adoption of HeliosX’s design system, ensuring its integrity, extensibility, and widespread use across all product teams.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, Brand, and Marketing departments to deliver seamless, high-quality digital product experiences that are aligned with business objectives and user needs.
• Partner with the User Experience Research (UXR) team to conduct in-depth user research, iterative usability testing, and comprehensive UX audits to gather insights that inform and validate design decisions.
• Shape and refine Content Management System (CMS)-driven experiences, ensuring they are efficient, scalable, and easily adaptable for global market deployment.
• Lead and mentor a team of product designers, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional development to enhance their skills and the team's overall output.
• Contribute to the evolution of HeliosX’s digital brand identity by ensuring consistent application of brand guidelines across all digital products and marketing materials.
• Proactively identify opportunities for design innovation and process improvement to enhance user satisfaction, conversion rates, and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic ownership (design system, brand alignment, CMS experiences) and team leadership (managing and mentoring designers). This indicates a role that requires not only strong individual design skills but also the ability to influence and guide others, as well as a keen understanding of how design integrates with broader business and marketing strategies. The mention of UXR partnership highlights the data-driven nature of the design process expected.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. A strong portfolio demonstrating design expertise will be prioritized.

Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in digital product design, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality user interfaces and user experiences for web and mobile applications.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a lead or senior design role, specifically involving line management, mentorship, and guiding other designers.

Required Skills:

• Digital Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to own and execute end-to-end design processes for complex digital products.
• Design Systems Proficiency: Strong experience in creating, managing, and scaling design systems and component libraries, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• CMS Platform Experience: Familiarity with CMS platforms (e.g., Sanity, Contentful) and their application in managing and delivering scalable digital experiences.
• User-Centered Design: Proficient in user research methodologies, usability testing, and UX audits to inform design decisions and validate solutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to partner effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Brand Managers, and Marketing teams to achieve shared goals.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Proven experience in managing, mentoring, and developing junior and mid-level designers, fostering a high-performing design team.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders.
• Proactive & Detail-Oriented: A self-starter with a keen eye for detail, capable of managing ambiguity and driving initiatives forward independently.
• Inclusive Design Principles: Commitment to and understanding of inclusive design practices to ensure accessibility and usability for all users.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within fast-paced technology environments, preferably in health tech or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with global market expansion and localization considerations in digital product design.
• Experience in brand alignment and translating brand identity into digital product experiences.
• Ability to manage strategic design initiatives with a clear understanding of business objectives and ROI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly emphasize leadership and strategic thinking, in addition to core design skills. The preference for experience in regulated industries like health tech is a key differentiator. The mention of "ambiguity management" and "driving forward strategic design initiatives" highlights the need for a candidate who can navigate complex, evolving environments and contribute to long-term product vision.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in the entire product design lifecycle, from initial problem definition and user research to solution design, prototyping, and post-launch analysis.
• Design System Contributions: Include examples of your work on design systems, illustrating your understanding of component-based design, scalability, and adoption strategies.
• CMS Integration Examples: If possible, provide examples or descriptions of how you've worked with CMS platforms to influence scalable content delivery or user-facing experiences.
• Leadership & Mentorship Examples: Demonstrate your ability to lead design projects and mentor other designers, perhaps through team project examples or descriptions of your mentoring approach.
• Metrics & Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your proposed solution, the design process followed, and quantifiable outcomes or business impact (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction, reduced support tickets, increased adoption of features).

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal design process and how you adapt it based on project needs, team dynamics, and business objectives.
• Highlight your experience in documenting design decisions, user flows, and system components to ensure clarity and facilitate collaboration within cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrate your ability to integrate user research findings and usability testing results into iterative design improvements and process refinements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond showcasing aesthetic skills to demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a data-driven approach to design. The emphasis on design systems and CMS platforms suggests the need for candidates to highlight their experience in building scalable, maintainable design solutions. The inclusion of metrics is crucial for demonstrating impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer role in London with 6+ years of experience and leadership responsibilities, the estimated salary range is £70,000 - £95,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Generous Equity Allocations: Significant ownership potential with substantial upside as the company grows.
• 25 Days Holiday: Generous paid time off, plus all usual UK bank holidays.
• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage, with additional dental and eye care benefits.
• Pension Scheme: Contributory pension plan to support long-term financial planning.
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Supportive policies for new parents.
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme: Encourages active commuting with tax benefits.
• Electric Car Scheme: Opportunity to acquire an electric vehicle through a salary sacrifice scheme.
• Product Discounts: Free monthly access to Dermatica and MedExpress products, with family discounts available.
• Home Office Allowance: Support for setting up a productive remote workspace.
• Learning & Development Budget: Dedicated funds for professional growth, including access to Headspace, discounted gym memberships, and training opportunities.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility in how and where these hours are fulfilled, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Lead Product Designer in London, considering the company's growth phase and the competitive nature of the tech and health tech sectors. The extensive benefits package highlights HeliosX's commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which are attractive for senior roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health Technology (HealthTech) - HeliosX operates within the rapidly evolving digital health sector, focusing on making healthcare faster, more accessible, and personalized through technology. The company leverages its proprietary brands across various facets of healthcare, from prescription medications to specialized treatments. Company Size: HeliosX has experienced significant growth, tripling its global revenue from £60m to £180m between 2023 and 2024. While specific employee numbers aren't provided, this rapid revenue growth suggests a company that is likely past the startup phase and is scaling into a medium-to-large enterprise, with a growing number of employees across its global operations. Founded: Founded in 2013, HeliosX has a history of organic, profitable growth, demonstrating a sustainable business model and a disciplined approach to expansion. This foundation suggests a company culture that values innovation, efficiency, and long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• The product design team is likely structured to support the various product domains and brands within HeliosX. As a Lead, you would likely manage a pod or a group of designers focused on specific product areas or strategic initiatives.
• Collaboration is key, with designers working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, User Experience Researchers, Marketing, and Brand teams. The reporting structure would likely place the Lead Product Designer under a Head of Product Design or a similar senior leadership role.
• Cross-functional collaboration is integral to HeliosX's operational model, as evidenced by the company's integrated approach to pharmacies, manufacturers, and products. Designers are expected to be key players in this integrated ecosystem.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: User research, usability testing, and performance metrics (revenue growth, user engagement) are central to informing design decisions and validating product strategies.
• Agile Development: Given the fast-paced tech environment and rapid growth, an agile or iterative approach to product development and design is highly probable, emphasizing continuous delivery and feedback loops.
• Systemic Thinking: The emphasis on design systems and CMS-driven experiences points to a methodology that prioritizes building scalable, maintainable, and consistent foundations for digital products.

Company Website: heliosx.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding HeliosX's rapid growth trajectory and its integrated healthcare model is crucial. This context implies a dynamic, results-oriented environment where operational efficiency and scalable solutions are highly valued. The company's self-funded growth suggests a focus on profitability and strategic execution, which will likely influence design priorities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior/lead level within the product design function. It signifies a transition from individual contributor to a role that combines hands-on design expertise with team leadership, strategic input, and system-level thinking. The Lead Product Designer is expected to influence design direction, mentor other designers, and contribute to the overall design strategy and operational excellence of the product organization. Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership position within the product or design department. They will, in turn, manage and mentor a team of product designers, fostering their growth and ensuring the quality of their work. Collaboration will extend across Product Management, engineering, UXR, marketing, and brand teams. Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer has a significant impact on HeliosX's operational success by:

• Enhancing User Experience: Directly influences customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction through intuitive and effective product design, impacting key business metrics like conversion rates and lifetime value.
• Driving Scalability & Efficiency: By developing and championing the design system and CMS-driven experiences, the role ensures that new features and global expansions can be rolled out efficiently, reducing development costs and time-to-market.
• Elevating Brand Consistency: Ensures a unified and high-quality brand experience across all digital touchpoints, reinforcing trust and recognition for HeliosX's brands (MedExpress, Dermatica, etc.).
• Developing Talent: Mentoring and leading designers contributes to the growth of the internal design capability, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation that supports long-term organizational success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to expand leadership skills, manage larger teams, and take on more strategic oversight within the product design organization.
• Strategic Influence: Potential to influence the broader product and business strategy by leveraging design insights and championing user-centric approaches.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design systems, complex digital product architecture, or global product localization.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead design initiatives that span multiple departments, fostering a broader understanding of the business.
• Industry Impact: Contribute to revolutionizing healthcare access and personalized care, making a tangible difference in people's lives through innovative digital solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a clear stepping stone for designers looking to move into leadership. The growth opportunities are tied to expanding managerial responsibilities, increasing strategic influence, and potentially specializing further within the design domain or moving into broader product leadership roles. The impact on revenue and operational efficiency through design systems and scalable experiences is a key selling point for ambitious operations-minded designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HeliosX operates a hybrid work model. This typically means a mix of remote work and in-office days, designed to balance the benefits of focused remote work with the collaborative advantages of in-person interaction. The London office is likely a hub for team meetings, strategic planning sessions, and fostering company culture. Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is London, England. This suggests a central hub for operations, with potential for other global offices as the company expands internationally. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams indicate an environment that encourages open communication, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. In-office days will likely be structured to maximize team interaction and brainstorming.
• Technology and Tools: As a tech-forward company, expect access to modern design and collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Miro, Slack, Jira), along with robust IT support to facilitate both remote and in-office work.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact with a diverse and talented team of designers, product managers, engineers, researchers, and business stakeholders, fostering a rich learning and networking environment.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule is expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing individuals to manage their work hours and location to best suit their productivity and team collaboration needs, while still ensuring availability for core team activities and meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment in London is a significant draw for many professionals. The description suggests a well-structured approach to hybrid work, balancing flexibility with the need for in-person collaboration, which is crucial for a lead role involving team management and strategic alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely Head of Product Design) to explore experience, leadership style, strategic thinking, and understanding of design systems and CMS.
• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing case studies and demonstrating their design process, leadership capabilities, and problem-solving skills. This may include a specific design challenge or a deep dive into a past project.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, Brand, and Marketing teams to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a senior leader (e.g., CPO, Head of Product) to finalize the decision and discuss long-term vision and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 in-depth case studies that best represent your Lead Product Designer capabilities. Each case study should clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, solutions, and measurable outcomes.
• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly demonstrate your leadership experience through examples of mentoring, team guidance, or project ownership. Use phrases that showcase your ability to influence and elevate others.
• Showcase Systemic Thinking: Ensure your portfolio includes strong examples of work with design systems and CMS platforms. Detail your approach to building, maintaining, and scaling these components.
• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to illustrate the impact of your design work. Focus on business outcomes (revenue, conversion, efficiency) as well as user satisfaction.
• Tailor to HeliosX: Research HeliosX's brands (MedExpress, Dermatica, etc.) and their mission. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy and experience align with their goal of revolutionizing healthcare.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Scope: Be ready for a design challenge that might involve a strategic problem, a system design task, or a critique of an existing experience. Focus on demonstrating your process and strategic thinking, not just the final visual output.
• Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your thought process, the assumptions you made, the research you would conduct (or have conducted), and how you'd approach iteration and feedback.
• Focus on Scalability and Brand: Given the role, pay special attention to how your proposed solutions are scalable across markets and align with brand identity.
• Stakeholder Management: Practice explaining your design decisions and trade-offs in a way that resonates with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Lead role is rigorous and multifaceted. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their design skills but also their strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to integrate with a fast-paced, cross-functional team. The portfolio is the cornerstone, and its presentation needs to be strategic and impact-oriented.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard for collaboration), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace.
• Project Management & Workflow: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello.
• Design System Management: Tools integrated with Figma/Sketch, or dedicated platforms for documentation and component management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Hotjar (for user behavior analysis).
• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO (Visual Website Optimizer), Google Optimize.
• Data Visualization/Dashboards: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (for understanding user trends and business impact).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (for understanding customer journeys and sales/marketing alignment, though less direct for design).
• CMS Platforms: Sanity, Contentful, WordPress (as mentioned in requirements, for managing digital content and experiences).
• Integration Tools: Zapier, Integromat (less direct for designers, but awareness of how systems connect is beneficial).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard design and collaboration tools is essential. For a Lead role, understanding how design integrates with analytics, CMS, and project management tools is crucial for driving scalable and impactful solutions. Awareness of tools used for user behavior analysis and A/B testing will demonstrate a data-driven mindset.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of patients and customers, ensuring a seamless and accessible healthcare experience. This means prioritizing user needs in all design decisions.
• Innovation & Agility: A drive to continuously improve and innovate in healthcare delivery, embracing new technologies and adapting quickly to market changes. Expect a culture that encourages experimentation and learning from both successes and failures.
• Collaboration & Transparency: A belief that the best solutions emerge from open communication and strong partnerships across teams. Expect a transparent environment where feedback is welcomed and shared openly to drive collective improvement.
• Impact & Ownership: A focus on delivering measurable results and taking personal responsibility for outcomes. Team members are encouraged to own their work, drive initiatives forward, and contribute to the company's ambitious growth goals.
• Quality & Excellence: A dedication to maintaining high standards in all aspects of work, from product design and development to customer service and operational efficiency, ensuring a reliable and trustworthy healthcare service.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaboration is likely highly integrated. Designers are expected to work hand-in-hand with Product Managers, Engineers, UXR, Brand, and Marketing teams from the outset of projects.
• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that values constructive feedback. Expect regular design critiques, usability reviews, and collaborative sessions where ideas are refined and improved upon.
• Knowledge Sharing: A commitment to sharing best practices, learnings, and insights across teams and disciplines. This could manifest through internal presentations, documentation, or informal knowledge-sharing sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: HeliosX's values, as inferred from their mission and growth story, suggest a culture that is both ambitious and user-focused. A Lead Product Designer will thrive in an environment that values data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and strong teamwork to achieve significant business and societal impact in the health tech space.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Scale with Local Needs: Designing for a growing international user base requires understanding diverse cultural nuances, regulatory environments, and user expectations, which can be complex to manage within a unified design system.
• Rapid Iteration in a Regulated Industry: Health tech operates under specific regulations. Balancing the need for rapid design iteration and feature rollout with compliance and patient safety requirements presents a unique challenge.
• Integrating Diverse Brands: Managing and evolving a design system that supports multiple distinct brands (MedExpress, Dermatica, etc.) while maintaining a cohesive overall user experience requires strategic planning and careful execution.
• Scaling Design Operations: As the company grows, scaling the design team, processes, and design system to meet increasing demands without compromising quality or efficiency will be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership: Opportunity to hone leadership skills, manage larger teams, and potentially move into more strategic product leadership roles.
• Health Tech Expertise: Deepen understanding of the health tech landscape, regulatory considerations, and patient-centric design within a rapidly evolving sector.
• Design System Mastery: Become an expert in building and scaling complex, multi-brand design systems that drive significant operational efficiencies.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to a learning and development budget can support attendance at leading design conferences, specialized workshops, and relevant certifications.
• Mentorship: Gain mentorship from senior leaders within HeliosX and contribute as a mentor to junior designers, fostering personal and team growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges for this role are typical of a rapidly scaling company in a complex industry. They offer significant opportunities for a Lead Designer to develop advanced problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities, making it an excellent growth environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving our design system to accommodate new brands or significantly different user journeys while maintaining consistency?" (Assesses strategic thinking, system design, and brand management).
• "Describe a time you had to lead a design team through a challenging project with tight deadlines or significant ambiguity. What was your approach, and what were the outcomes?" (Evaluates leadership, crisis management, and process adaptation).
• "How do you balance user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives when making design decisions for a product in a regulated industry like health tech?" (Tests understanding of industry context, trade-off management, and user-centricity).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about HeliosX's mission to revolutionize healthcare, and how do you see design contributing to that mission?" (Assesses alignment with company vision and passion for the industry).
• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing teams. How do you ensure effective communication and buy-in?" (Gauges team fit and cross-functional collaboration approach).
• "How do you measure the success of your design work, and what metrics do you typically track to demonstrate impact?" (Probes data-driven approach and understanding of business impact).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: For each case study, craft a compelling narrative that clearly articulates the problem, your unique contribution, the design process, and the tangible results.
• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points, but ensure they are integrated with your spoken explanation rather than just being a slideshow.
• Demonstrate Leadership: Explicitly call out instances where you led, mentored, or influenced others. Discuss how you empowered your team or stakeholders.
• Focus on Impact & Scalability: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your work, and discuss how your solutions were designed to be scalable and maintainable.
• Anticipate Questions: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, decisions, and challenges. Think about potential "what ifs" and how you would handle them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of how design drives business outcomes, especially within the unique context of health tech. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse application portal linked in the job posting.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best highlight your end-to-end design process, leadership experience, and work with design systems and CMS platforms. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and quantifiable impact.
• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6+ years of digital product design experience and 2+ years in a lead/management role. Use keywords from the job description such as "design systems," "CMS platforms," "user research," "mentorship," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on a clear narrative, demonstrating your strategic thinking, and articulating your leadership approach. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and how you handle ambiguity.
• Research HeliosX: Thoroughly research HeliosX, its brands (MedExpress, Dermatica, etc.), its mission, and its recent growth. Understand their position in the health tech market and how your design skills can contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.