Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer Company: Ownwell Location: Austin, TX Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: November 05, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design practice and shape high-impact user experiences across Ownwell's product suite, encompassing web and mobile platforms.
• Drive the end-to-end design process for new product initiatives, from concept ideation to launch and iterative improvement.
• Mentor a small team of designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance design culture.
• Evolve and maintain a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and brand alignment across all product touchpoints.
• Leverage user research, data analytics, and customer feedback to inform design decisions and advocate for user-centric solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Lead Product Designer," the responsibilities and requirements suggest a senior individual contributor role with leadership responsibilities over a small team and a significant impact on product strategy and design system evolution. The emphasis on "moving fast" and "experimenting with AI" indicates a dynamic, agile environment that values rapid iteration and technological adoption.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to translate zero-to-one product concepts into intuitive and impactful user experiences.
• Lead and execute ongoing product iterations, incorporating insights from user feedback, qualitative research, and quantitative data analysis (e.g., Mixpanel, Hotjar).
• Design across various devices, breakpoints, platforms, and channels, ensuring a cohesive and optimal user journey.
• Develop, maintain, and evangelize the company's design system, ensuring it remains a scalable and consistent foundation for all product development.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand user needs and pain points.
• Utilize AI tools for tasks such as generating initial UX copy, producing design concepts and graphics, performing accessibility checks, and conducting first-round design critiques.
• Rapidly ideate, prototype, and iterate on design solutions to explore various approaches and optimize user flows.
• Analyze product data and customer insights to identify areas for improvement and translate findings into actionable design enhancements.
• Champion accessible, inclusive, and delightful user experiences, ensuring adherence to best practices and standards.
• Provide design expertise and support to other departments, fostering a design-conscious culture across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design execution, and a strong analytical approach. The explicit mention of AI tools suggests an expectation for the candidate to be forward-thinking and proficient in emerging design technologies. The responsibility to "Utilize your skill and knowledge to help other departments" implies a cross-functional collaboration role beyond just product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and expertise in product design principles is paramount. Experience: 5+ years of experience in end-to-end product design, covering both web and mobile-web products from concept through launch.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in Figma, with a proven ability to work efficiently while maintaining high design quality.
• Proven experience balancing multiple projects and priorities within a fast-paced startup environment.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate and defend design decisions to product and engineering stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset, adept at translating product data and customer insights into actionable design improvements.
• Proficiency in conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability tests to inform design strategies.
• Collaborative and proactive work style, with a track record of effective cross-functional teamwork.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a commitment to user-first and accessible design principles.
• Curiosity and willingness to explore and adopt emerging tools and AI-driven workflows to enhance design speed and quality.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing sophisticated motion graphics and micro-interactions that elevate user interfaces.
• Background in graphic design and a strong understanding of brand alignment principles.
• A portfolio showcasing early-stage product development or successful 0→1 launches.
• Familiarity with the property tech (PropTech), fintech, or other data-driven consumer product sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" list is extensive and emphasizes practical application over theoretical knowledge. The "Analytical mindset" and "translate product data and customer insights" are critical for a role that leverages data analytics tools. The "Preferred Skills" are valuable for demonstrating a broader skillset and domain familiarity, particularly the portfolio requirement for "early-stage product work or 0→1 launches."

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design experience, including conceptualization, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final UI design for web and mobile products.
• Specific case studies showcasing successful 0→1 product launches or significant product iterations driven by user research and data.
• Examples of how you have evolved or contributed to a design system, illustrating its impact on consistency and scalability.
• Evidence of your ability to translate complex product data and customer feedback into tangible design improvements, ideally with quantifiable results.
• Demonstrations of your proficiency with Figma, including complex interactive prototypes and efficient workflow practices.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of your user research methodologies, including how you plan, execute, and synthesize findings from interviews, surveys, and usability tests.
• Documentation of your design iteration process, showing how you incorporate feedback and data to refine designs over time.
• Clear articulation of your approach to collaborating with product managers and engineers, highlighting communication strategies and handoff processes.
• Demonstrations of how you leverage AI tools and analytics platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Hotjar) to inform and validate design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating practical skills and impact, particularly in the context of a startup environment. The emphasis on "0→1 launches" and "design system evolution" suggests that candidates who have built products from the ground up or significantly contributed to core design infrastructure will be highly valued. The inclusion of AI tools and analytics platforms indicates a need for candidates to showcase data-informed design processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Austin, TX, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $140,000 - $190,000 per year. This estimate considers the cost of living in Austin, the seniority of the role, and industry benchmarks for similar positions.

Benefits:

• Flexible PTO: Offers autonomy and work-life balance, with the company encouraging employees to take time off as needed.
• 11 Company Holidays: Provides additional paid time off throughout the year.
• End-of-Year Recharge: The last week of the year is dedicated to rest and reset, ensuring employees can fully disconnect.
• Competitive Health Benefits: Comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, and vision, demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being.
• Learning Support: An annual stipend of $1,000 to invest in professional development, enabling continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Parental Leave: Up to 16 weeks of fully paid parental and bonding leave, supporting new parents through a significant life event.
• Licensing Support: As applicable, complimentary real estate and tax consulting licensing and renewal assistance, a unique perk for this industry.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility to manage workload and deliverables effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry standards for a Lead Product Designer in Austin, TX, considering the experience level and the dynamic tech startup environment. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a particular emphasis on work-life balance, continuous learning, and unique industry-specific support. The "Remote OK" status is a significant perk for candidates outside of Austin.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ownwell operates in the Property Technology (PropTech) and FinTech sectors, focusing on real estate expense management and optimization for property owners. This intersection implies a data-driven approach, a need for user-friendly interfaces for complex financial/legal processes, and a growing market with significant potential for innovation. Company Size: Ownwell is a venture-backed startup that has experienced substantial growth (over 1000% year-over-year). This suggests an environment that is dynamic, fast-paced, and offers significant opportunities for impact, but also demands agility and adaptability. Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's rapid growth and venture backing indicate it's an established startup with a proven product-market fit, likely founded within the last 5-10 years.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "small," with the Lead Product Designer expected to mentor other designers. This implies a close-knit team where collaboration and direct mentorship are key.
• The broader company comprises diverse expertise, including General Appraisers, CPAs, Property Tax Consultants, Data Scientists, and customer support representatives, highlighting a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
• Collaboration is central, with a "true sense of team" and a "fast-paced, truly collaborative environment" where "we all win together."

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong emphasis on using data from analytics tools (Mixpanel, Hotjar) and customer feedback to inform design choices.
• Agile Development: Implied by the need to "move fast," "rapidly ideate and iterate," and "balance multiple projects" in a startup environment.
• User-Centric Design: Core value of "Customer Obsession" and a focus on "user-first design," "accessible, inclusive, and delightful user experiences."
• Innovation: A core value of "Accelerate Innovation," encouraging the exploration of new tools and workflows, including AI.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by rapid growth, a strong emphasis on teamwork, and a commitment to customer success and innovation. The PropTech/FinTech industry context means the designer will be tackling complex problems with significant financial implications for users, requiring a blend of user empathy and analytical rigor. The "small team" structure for design suggests the Lead Designer will have considerable autonomy and influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Lead" Product Designer, indicating a senior individual contributor with mentorship responsibilities and significant influence over product design direction. It’s a pivotal role for someone looking to shape design practice within a growing company, moving beyond individual contribution to guiding others and evolving foundational design systems.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or potentially a Chief Product Officer, depending on the company's current structure. They will also work very closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on a daily basis.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact will be substantial, directly influencing the user experience of a product that helps property owners save money and gain confidence. By improving the intuitiveness, accessibility, and efficiency of Ownwell's platform, this role contributes directly to customer acquisition, retention, and overall customer satisfaction, which are critical drivers of revenue growth in this business model. The evolution of the design system ensures scalable product development, indirectly supporting faster GTM strategies for new features.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to officially lead a design team, shaping its processes, mentoring junior designers, and establishing best practices.
• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in defining the product vision and roadmap from a design perspective, influencing the direction of the company's offerings.
• Domain Expertise: Develop deep knowledge in the PropTech and FinTech sectors, becoming an expert in user needs and market dynamics within this space.
• System Ownership: Take ownership of the design system, driving its enhancement and ensuring its adoption across the organization, which is a highly valuable skill.
• Innovation Exploration: Continue to experiment with and integrate cutting-edge tools like AI into the design workflow, positioning oneself at the forefront of design technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a step into design leadership, offering opportunities to shape team culture and processes. The role's impact is directly tied to customer savings and satisfaction, crucial for a revenue-generating business model. The growth trajectory is clear, moving from senior contributor to team lead and strategic influencer within a rapidly expanding company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Ownwell is a company that embraces a hybrid or remote-first approach, as indicated by "Remote OK." This suggests a distributed team structure where in-person collaboration is not the sole mode of operation. Office Location(s): The primary listed location is Austin, TX, suggesting a physical hub or headquarters, but the "Remote OK" status means candidates outside of Austin are also encouraged to apply, provided they can work effectively in a remote or hybrid capacity.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative & Agile: The environment is described as "fast-paced" and "truly collaborative," requiring designers to be comfortable working closely with product managers and engineers, likely through digital collaboration tools.
• Technology-Rich: The role explicitly mentions the use of Figma, AI tools, Mixpanel, and Hotjar, indicating a modern technology stack and an expectation for designers to be proficient with these tools.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: Designers will engage with various departments, fostering a broad understanding of the business and contributing to a unified team effort.

Work Schedule: While standard full-time hours (approx. 40/week) are expected, the culture emphasizes flexibility and ownership, allowing for effective management of tasks and deadlines. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for remote employees to manage their schedules around core collaboration times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-friendly nature of the role is a significant draw, offering flexibility in location. The workspace is modern, technology-driven, and highly collaborative, requiring strong digital communication and self-management skills. The emphasis on "winning together" suggests a team that values shared success and mutual support.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present selected case studies that highlight your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect to discuss your design decisions, research methodologies, and how you've leveraged data and user feedback.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design critique, a small design problem, or a prompt to explore a new feature. This will assess your ability to think on your feet, apply design principles, and use tools like Figma.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.
• Leadership/Mentorship Discussion: A conversation focused on your experience mentoring designers, evolving design systems, and your vision for design at Ownwell.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end process, impact, and suitability for a "Lead" role. Prioritize projects that showcase 0→1 work, significant iteration, or design system contributions.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration), the design solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders. Use visuals to illustrate your process and final designs.
• Demonstrate Data-Informed Design: Explain how user research and analytics informed your decisions. If possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the positive impact of your design work.
• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files if asked, demonstrating your organization, use of components, and prototyping capabilities.
• Address AI Integration: If you've used AI tools, explain how they enhanced your workflow or output.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Ownwell's product, the PropTech industry, and common user challenges related to property ownership and taxes.
• Practice Design Critiques: Be ready to offer constructive feedback on existing designs or hypothetical scenarios, focusing on UX principles, accessibility, and business goals.
• Articulate Your Process: Prepare to explain your design process concisely and effectively, linking decisions back to user needs and business objectives.
• Consider AI and Analytics: Think about how you would approach a design challenge using AI tools for ideation or data from analytics platforms for insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and collaboration. A well-structured portfolio that demonstrates impact and a clear understanding of the design process, especially involving data and collaboration, will be crucial. The expectation to discuss AI tool usage suggests candidates should be ready to share their experiences in this area.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Deep expertise and efficiency are paramount.
• AI Tools: Used for generating UX copy, design concepts, graphics, performing accessibility checks, and design critique. Candidates should be familiar with current AI applications in design.
• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma, but may also include other specialized tools for advanced interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mixpanel: For product analytics, tracking user behavior, and understanding feature adoption.
• Hotjar (or similar): For heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback, providing qualitative insights into user interactions.
• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used to present findings to stakeholders, though specific tools are not mentioned.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how design impacts CRM workflows or customer support interactions could be beneficial. The company's focus on customer experience suggests that design efforts ultimately support customer success initiatives.
• Integration Tools: Not specified for design, but understanding how design elements integrate with the overall product architecture is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The explicit mention of AI tools and specific analytics platforms (Mixpanel, Hotjar) indicates a data-driven and forward-thinking design environment. Designers are expected to not only create but also understand and leverage data to refine their work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A primary value, meaning the designer must deeply understand and prioritize the needs and pain points of property owners.
• Take Ownership: Expectation for individuals to be proactive, accountable, and drive initiatives to completion, especially in a lead role.
• Do The Right Thing: Implies ethical design practices, a focus on fairness (as highlighted in the company's mission regarding equitable real estate costs), and integrity in decision-making.
• Go Far Together: Emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and collective success, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Accelerate Innovation: Encourages embracing new technologies, experimenting with tools (like AI), and continuously seeking better ways to solve problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate design concepts into actionable plans for development.
• Feedback Culture: The emphasis on "listening and learning from each other" suggests an open environment for design critiques and feedback exchange.
• Shared Success: The "we all win together" mentality means collaboration is not just about individual tasks but about contributing to the collective goals of the company and its customers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are directly applicable to the Lead Product Designer role, emphasizing user advocacy, proactive problem-solving, ethical considerations, teamwork, and a drive for innovation. The collaborative style is essential for a distributed team, requiring clear communication and a willingness to share and receive feedback.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: In a fast-paced startup, ensuring that rapid iteration doesn't compromise the quality, accessibility, and usability of the design.
• Evolving Design System: Continuously updating and scaling the design system to meet the needs of a growing product suite and team, while ensuring adoption.
• Mentoring Junior Designers: Effectively guiding and developing a small team, providing constructive feedback, and fostering their growth without micromanaging.
• Navigating Ambiguity: Working on "zero-to-one" projects where requirements may be undefined, requiring strong problem-solving and strategic thinking.
• Integrating AI Effectively: Discovering and implementing AI tools without sacrificing creative control or user-centricity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to hone leadership skills by mentoring, shaping team processes, and contributing to design strategy.
• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in PropTech and FinTech, understanding the unique user needs and regulatory landscape.
• System Design Mastery: Become an expert in building and maintaining robust design systems, a highly sought-after skill.
• Cutting-Edge Tooling: Gain hands-on experience with AI in design workflows, positioning oneself at the forefront of industry trends.
• Exposure to Venture Capital Backing: Understand the dynamics of a well-funded startup and its growth trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a lead role in a growing startup, focusing on balancing competing priorities and fostering team growth. The learning opportunities are significant, particularly in design leadership, domain specialization, and embracing new technologies like AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a significant product design initiative from concept to launch. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on 0→1, problem-solving, and impact.)
• "How would you approach evolving our current design system to support new product features and ensure cross-platform consistency?" (Demonstrate understanding of design systems, scalability, and collaboration.)
• "Walk us through a complex design problem you solved using user research and data analytics. How did you gather insights, and how did they influence your final design?" (Highlight analytical thinking, research skills, and data-informed design.)
• "How have you used AI tools in your design process? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks?" (Showcase curiosity, adaptability, and a balanced view of technology.)
• "Imagine you have to design a new feature for our platform. What are the first steps you would take, and how would you collaborate with Product and Engineering?" (Assess your approach to new challenges and cross-functional teamwork.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Ownwell, what do you see as the biggest design challenges and opportunities for our product?" (Demonstrate research and critical thinking about the company's mission and product.)
• "How do you embody our core values, such as 'Customer Obsession' and 'Accelerate Innovation,' in your daily work?" (Align your experiences with the company's stated values.)
• "Describe your experience mentoring other designers. What is your philosophy on design team leadership and fostering a positive culture?" (Assess leadership potential and team-building approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process (Research, Ideation, Iteration) -> Solution -> Impact/Results.
• Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and relevant data visualizations. Show your Figma workflow if appropriate.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most impactful aspects of each project.
• Engagement: Be prepared to answer spontaneous questions about your decisions and process. Make it a discussion, not just a presentation.
• Tailoring: Emphasize projects that align with Ownwell's focus on data-driven solutions, user savings, and potentially PropTech/FinTech. Highlight your experience with 0→1 launches and design system contributions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Design Critiques: Prepare to give feedback on a sample UI or a hypothetical scenario. Focus on structure, usability, accessibility, and alignment with business goals.
• Rapid Prototyping: If a hands-on challenge is given, be prepared to move quickly in Figma. Focus on core user flows rather than pixel-perfect details unless specified.
• Articulate Rationale: For any design decision or critique, be ready to explain the "why" behind it, linking it back to user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating strategic thinking, practical skills, and cultural fit. Candidates should be ready to showcase their process, explain their rationale, and articulate their impact, particularly in areas relevant to Ownwell's mission and the company's stage of growth.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse portal.
• Customize Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of end-to-end product design experience, specifically mentioning web and mobile products. Emphasize your expertise in Figma, user research, data analysis, and design system development. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 compelling case studies that showcase your ability to lead design from concept to launch (0→1), demonstrate impact through data and user feedback, and highlight your experience with design systems and AI tools. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., via a link).
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to clearly articulate your design process, rationale behind decisions, and the impact of your work during interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly.
• Research Ownwell: Understand their mission, product, target users, and company values. Consider how your skills and experience can directly contribute to their goals in the PropTech/FinTech space.

⚠️ 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.

---