Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer Company: Xeneta Location: Oslo (NO) or London (UK) Job Type: Permanent - Full Time Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Date Posted: 2025-12-09T17:33:42 Experience Level: 7+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid (Oslo or London based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic direction and quality of Xeneta's product ecosystem, influencing global freight procurement decisions.
• Lead discovery, user research, and design initiatives to uncover strategic opportunities and address complex usability challenges within a data-rich SaaS platform.
• Own the end-to-end design process, from exploration and research to delivery and iteration, ensuring coherence and user-centricity across all product areas.
• Mentor and guide other designers, fostering a culture of high-quality craft, clarity, and collaborative problem-solving within the UX team.
• Simplify complexities related to data visualization and present intricate information clearly to empower users with actionable insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant strategic influence, focusing on both high-level design vision and hands-on execution within an enterprise SaaS environment. The emphasis on "harmonize datasets," "personalized insights," and "transforming massive datasets into experiences" indicates a need for expertise in complex data visualization and information architecture within a B2B context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and define the design vision, strategy, and user experience quality for assigned product areas, ensuring consistency and integration across Xeneta's platform.
• Champion user-centric design principles and methodologies, influencing product roadmaps, prioritization, and strategic decision-making with cross-functional teams.
• Lead comprehensive user research initiatives, including discovery phases and customer interviews, to identify user needs, pain points, and strategic opportunities.
• Translate complex research insights and business requirements into user journeys, information architectures, system flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs.
• Design intuitive and effective data visualizations that simplify complex datasets and deliver actionable insights to enterprise users.
• Produce clear and compelling design documentation (e.g., user flows, wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to facilitate alignment and understanding among product managers, engineers, stakeholders, and leadership.
• Drive the full product design lifecycle, from initial concept exploration and user testing to final delivery and post-launch iteration and optimization.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to fellow designers, contributing to the overall growth and maturity of the design team's craft and processes.
• Proactively identify opportunities for product and customer experience improvements, bringing structure to ambiguous problems and driving momentum in design initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, subject matter experts, and executive leadership to ensure cohesive, high-impact product outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "owning the design vision," "influencing product direction," and "driving the full end-to-end design process" suggests a senior role requiring strong autonomy and ownership. The need to "simplify complexities around data visualisation" and design for "complex systems, data-rich products" points to a specific domain expertise required.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a related field. Advanced certifications or equivalent practical experience in UX/UI design are a plus.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of professional product design experience, with a significant portion focused on designing for enterprise-level Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in leading the end-to-end product design process, from discovery and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and final UI delivery.
• Strong command of user-centric design principles and methodologies, with a demonstrated ability to translate user needs into intuitive and effective product experiences.
• Deep understanding and practical application of Information Architecture (IA) and Interaction Design (IxD) principles for complex systems.
• Proficiency in data visualization techniques and principles, with the ability to design clear, insightful, and actionable data representations for enterprise users.
• Experience in creating and maintaining design systems at scale, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across product interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and leverage user research (qualitative and quantitative) to inform design decisions and product strategy.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, trade-offs, and product implications to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience mentoring and guiding junior designers, fostering team growth and elevating design quality.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, proactively identify problems, and drive solutions with clarity and momentum.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for complex business domains such as financial services, logistics, or supply chain management.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and experience working closely with product and engineering teams in an agile environment.
• Experience with user metrics and A/B testing to validate design decisions and measure impact.
• Advanced knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices in UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "significant time spent in enterprise/SaaS environments" and "strong experience designing for complex systems, data-rich products" are critical differentiators. The explicit mention of a portfolio showcasing "proven track record of shipping user-centric design work" is a non-negotiable requirement. The preference for complex business domain experience is a strong indicator of the industry context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a proven track record of shipping user-centered design work, detailing the end-to-end design process for at least 2-3 significant projects.
• Projects should demonstrate experience with complex systems, data visualization, and enterprise/SaaS product design.
• Clear articulation of the problem space, user needs, design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes (impact, metrics, ROI).
• Inclusion of specific examples of user research, information architecture, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI work.
• Portfolio link and password (if applicable) must be provided for consideration.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have structured and documented design processes, including user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing protocols.
• Case studies that illustrate the application of design thinking and problem-solving frameworks to address complex user challenges.
• Demonstrations of how design outputs fostered clarity and alignment across cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, stakeholders).

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is paramount for this role, emphasizing not just the final output but the strategic thinking, research, and process behind it. The emphasis on "complex systems" and "data visualization" implies a need for portfolio examples to reflect these specific challenges.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer with 7+ years of experience in enterprise SaaS, particularly in major tech hubs like London or Oslo, the estimated annual salary range is approximately €80,000 - €110,000 (or £70,000 - £95,000) in London and NOK 800,000 - 1,100,000 in Oslo. This range is an estimate and will vary based on specific experience, skills, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Hours: Core working hours are 10:00 to 15:00, allowing for flexibility outside these times.
• Generous Vacation Plan: 5 weeks of paid vacation, plus 5-10 extra paid days off around public holidays.
• Individual Education Budget: An allocated budget for professional development, including courses, books, and community involvement, with time allocated during work hours.
• Work-Life Balance: Emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, enabling quality time for family and hobbies.
• Social Events: Regular social events and a yearly global company trip to foster team cohesion.
• Growth Opportunities: Managers provide support for career development, whether aiming for specialist expertise or leadership roles.
• Remote Work Flexibility: Ability to work remotely for extended periods when needed.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours with flexible scheduling. Core collaboration hours are 10:00 to 15:00, allowing employees to structure the remainder of their workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on industry data for lead-level design roles in Oslo and London. The provided benefits are comprehensive and align with typical offerings for tech companies in these regions, with a strong emphasis on professional development and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Maritime & Logistics Technology (Ocean and Air Freight Rate Benchmarking & Market Analytics). Xeneta is a key player in a multi-billion dollar industry that is currently undergoing significant transformation. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Xeneta is described as a "growing company" and a "global company," suggesting it has a substantial employee base, likely in the 100-500 employee range, typical for a scaling SaaS firm. Founded: Xeneta was founded in 2012, indicating a mature startup with established processes and market presence, yet still in a growth and innovation phase.

Team Structure:

• The Product team includes Product Managers, UX Designers (like this role), and potentially UX Researchers, working in close collaboration with Engineering teams.
• This Lead Product Designer will report to Carolina Rodrigues (Head of UX Design), indicating a structured design leadership hierarchy.
• Cross-functional collaboration is central, involving close partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, Subject Matter Experts, and Executive Leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Xeneta's core offering is built on analyzing vast datasets (over 400 million freight rates). The product design approach will inherently involve translating these complex data insights into user-friendly experiences.
• User-Centric Transformation: The company is undergoing a major initiative to harmonize datasets, deliver personalized insights, and elevate the user experience, underscoring a commitment to ongoing product evolution based on user needs.
• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the nature of SaaS product development and cross-functional collaboration strongly suggests an agile or hybrid agile methodology.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Xeneta operates in a specialized, data-intensive industry. The company culture appears to value growth, learning, transparency, and collaboration. The "Lead Product Designer" role is positioned as critical to driving a significant product transformation, indicating a dynamic and impactful work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a "Lead Product Designer," signifying a senior individual contributor role responsible for strategic design direction and execution within a specific product area. It requires not only strong design craft but also leadership in influencing product strategy and mentoring junior team members.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer reports to Carolina Rodrigues, Head of UX Design. This indicates a clear reporting line within the UX Design organization, with potential for broader interaction with Product Management leadership and Engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The work of a Lead Product Designer at Xeneta has a direct and significant impact on the company's core business. By shaping the user experience of the freight rate benchmarking and analytics platform, this role influences how global industry leaders make critical freight procurement decisions. The success of the "major transformation initiative" hinges on effective design, directly impacting user adoption, satisfaction, and Xeneta's market leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex data visualization, enterprise SaaS, and potentially specific domains like logistics or finance.
• Leadership: Transition into management roles, such as a Design Manager, by taking on more team leadership responsibilities, managing other designers, and contributing to broader design strategy.
• Strategic Influence: Become a key voice in product strategy, roadmap planning, and the evolution of Xeneta's design practice.
• Continuous Learning: Leverage the individual education budget and work hours to pursue advanced certifications, attend industry conferences, and stay at the forefront of UX design trends, particularly in data-rich environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title implies a path for growth into management or a principal/staff design role. The company's emphasis on career development and learning budgets supports continuous advancement for high-performing designers. The impact is directly tied to business outcomes due to the platform's critical function in freight procurement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in either Oslo or London, suggesting access to modern office spaces typical of tech companies in these major cities. The "Hybrid" work arrangement implies a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• Oslo, Norway: A vibrant capital city with a strong tech scene.
• London, UK: A global hub for technology and finance, offering extensive networking and career opportunities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on collaboration with product managers, engineers, and leadership suggests a dynamic, team-oriented workspace where cross-functional interaction is frequent and encouraged.
• Tools & Technology: Designers will likely have access to modern design tools (Figma, Sketch, etc.) and the necessary hardware. The company's focus on data analytics implies a robust technology infrastructure.
• Team Interaction: Regular design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and team meetings are expected, fostering a culture of shared learning and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are a key benefit, with core hours between 10:00 and 15:00. This allows designers to balance personal commitments with project deadlines and team collaboration, facilitating deep work sessions and efficient project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model offers flexibility, but candidates should expect to be in the office for key collaboration days. The specific office environments in Oslo and London are likely to be modern, well-equipped, and conducive to collaborative work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications, focusing on resume and portfolio relevance. A strong portfolio is crucial for advancing.
2. Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role, process, and outcomes. A practical design exercise or case study may be assigned, focusing on problem-solving, data visualization, or complex system design relevant to Xeneta's domain.
3. Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
4. Leadership Interview: Meeting with senior leadership (potentially including Carolina Rodrigues) to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Xeneta's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Clearly articulate the narrative of each project. What was the problem? Who was the user? What was your role? What was the process? What was the impact?
• Process Focus: Showcase your design process, illustrating how you moved from ambiguity to clarity, using research, ideation, and iteration. Highlight your approach to complex data visualization and IA.
• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible. Use metrics related to user engagement, task completion, efficiency, or business outcomes.
• Tailor to Xeneta: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with enterprise SaaS, complex data, or B2B products. Show an understanding of Xeneta's industry and user base.
• Clarity & Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Xeneta, the maritime/logistics industry, and the challenges of freight procurement and data analytics.
• Data Visualization Practice: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach visualizing complex datasets or suggest improvements to existing data dashboards.
• Problem-Solving Frameworks: Familiarize yourself with design thinking, lean UX, and other methodologies for tackling ambiguous problems.
• Communication: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially when explaining trade-offs and design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio demonstration and practical application of design skills within Xeneta's specific domain. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, particularly concerning data and complex systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Widely used for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Sketch: Another popular UI design tool, often used in conjunction with plugins.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop): For asset creation and manipulation.
• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, or Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities for interactive mockups.

Data Visualization & Analytics Context:

• While specific tools aren't listed, designers will likely interact with or need to understand tools used for data analysis and dashboard creation. This could include BI platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI – though more for analysis than design input) or custom-built visualization components.
• Understanding of data structures and how to represent them visually is key.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira/Confluence: Standard tools for agile project management and documentation, likely used for tracking design tasks and progress.
• Slack/Microsoft Teams: For day-to-day communication and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools is expected. The role requires an understanding of how design integrates with data and analytics workflows, even if direct use of advanced analytics tools isn't a primary responsibility. Familiarity with agile project management tools is also beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs as the foundation for all product development.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data, research, and metrics to inform design choices and measure impact.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, shared ownership, and cross-functional teamwork are essential for success.
• Impact & Growth: A focus on delivering significant business impact and supporting individual career development and learning.
• Curiosity & Learning: Encouraging team members to explore new ideas, learn from each other, and stay ahead of industry trends.

Collaboration Style:

• Empowered & Autonomous: Designers are empowered to own their product areas, driving initiatives with autonomy.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with Product Management and Engineering are fundamental. Design is seen as an integral part of the product development team, not an isolated function.
• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback exchange, both within the design team and with other departments, to continuously improve product quality and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share learnings, best practices, and insights, fostering a collective growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Xeneta's values appear to promote a proactive, collaborative, and growth-oriented environment. The emphasis on "empowered to make an impact" and "voice their ideas" suggests a culture where initiative is rewarded.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The primary challenge is translating Xeneta's vast and complex ocean/air freight rate data into intuitive and actionable insights for users. This requires strong data visualization and information architecture skills.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple product areas and teams, while balancing diverse stakeholder needs and priorities.
• Driving Transformation: Leading design efforts for a major product transformation initiative, which requires strategic foresight, adaptability, and the ability to influence change.
• Enterprise SaaS Nuances: Designing for sophisticated B2B users with specific workflows and high expectations for data accuracy, reliability, and efficiency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Data Visualization Expertise: Deepen skills in designing effective data dashboards and complex information displays for enterprise analytics.
• Strategic Product Leadership: Develop strategic thinking and influence skills by contributing directly to product roadmaps and business objectives.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Hone leadership capabilities by mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of the UX practice.
• Industry Domain Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of the global shipping and logistics industry, a complex and critical sector.
• Professional Development Budget: Utilize the allocated budget for advanced courses, certifications, conferences, or workshops relevant to product design, data visualization, or leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly linked to the company's core business and the nature of enterprise SaaS. Growth opportunities are substantial, offering pathways for both technical specialization and leadership development within a high-impact domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a highly complex dataset or system for users. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, data viz skills, and impact).
• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints in an enterprise SaaS environment?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and trade-off management).
• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research for a new feature or product area. How do you ensure your research leads to actionable insights?" (Emphasize your research methodologies and translation of findings).
• "How do you approach creating and maintaining a design system? What are the key principles for scalability and consistency?" (Demonstrate your understanding of design systems and their strategic importance).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Xeneta and the logistics/shipping industry?" (Show you've researched the company and domain).
• "How do you approach mentoring or guiding other designers?" (Provide specific examples of your leadership style and collaboration).
• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you contribute to a positive team culture." (Align your response with Xeneta's stated values of collaboration, learning, and transparency).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of Xeneta and the role. Then, present 2-3 key projects, dedicating 5-10 minutes per project. Conclude with a summary of your approach to design leadership and your questions for the team.
• Highlighting Data Viz & Complexity: For relevant projects, explicitly detail your approach to understanding and visualizing complex data, and how you managed intricate system flows or information architectures.
• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the problem, your solution, and the measurable results. Use numbers and data points wherever possible.
• Demonstrate Process: Show your iterative process – your sketches, wireframes, user flows, and how feedback shaped the final design.
• Engage: Be prepared for deep dives into your work. Answer questions thoughtfully, demonstrating your rationale and problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating your strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and deep understanding of design processes, particularly as they apply to complex data and enterprise SaaS products. Quantifying impact and demonstrating a collaborative leadership style are key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application, including your resume and a link to your portfolio (with password, if applicable), through the provided application link on Xeneta's careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating experience with complex enterprise SaaS products, data visualization, and end-to-end design processes. Tailor your project selection to highlight relevant skills for Xeneta's domain.
• Resume Optimization: Highlight your 7+ years of experience in product design, specifically mentioning enterprise/SaaS environments, data-rich product design, and leadership/mentorship contributions. Use keywords identified in the job description.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail and answer behavioral questions related to leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• Research Xeneta: Thoroughly understand Xeneta's mission, product, target audience, and the logistics industry. Prepare thoughtful questions about the company, the team, and the challenges of the role.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description has been generated to provide comprehensive insights for operations and design professionals. It includes AI-generated analysis and industry-standard assumptions. Candidates are strongly advised to verify all details directly with Xeneta during the application and interview process.