Lead Product Designer (Crypto Exchange)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer (Crypto Exchange) Company: Hyphen Connect Limited Location: China Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2026-02-16T07:52:08 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead comprehensive design initiatives for medium to large-scale projects within the cryptocurrency exchange domain, focusing on innovation and user experience.
• Develop and implement platform-optimized, pixel-perfect designs across iOS, Android, web, and mobile web to enhance user engagement and platform usability.
• Lead the creation, maintenance, and refinement of a robust Design Language System (DLS) and reusable design templates to ensure brand consistency and scalability.
• Drive user research efforts to deeply understand user needs and behaviors, informing design decisions and product strategy.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including engineering, product, QA, and research to ensure seamless design implementation and product quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for a decentralized crypto exchange aiming to blend the best of centralized and decentralized trading platforms, emphasizing institutional-grade systems and on-chain functionality. The Lead Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping the user interface and experience of a complex financial technology product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage end-to-end design projects for medium to large-scale initiatives, from initial concept through to final production.
• Craft platform-specific, pixel-perfect UI/UX designs optimized for iOS, Android, web, and mobile web interfaces, ensuring a cohesive user journey.
• Develop, maintain, and evolve reusable design templates and components that adhere to and expand the company's Design Language System (DLS).
• Create detailed design specifications, redlines, and documentation that clearly articulate DLS adherence and guide engineering implementation.
• Conduct thorough design reviews to ensure all visual assets are accurately rendered in product builds and meet stringent brand standards and accessibility guidelines.
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with engineering, product managers, QA testers, and user researchers to drive consistent and high-quality product development.
• Design new UI components, icons, and interactions, contributing to the growth and refinement of the DLS with a keen eye on brand identity and user accessibility.
• Document design workflows, processes, and system updates to maintain comprehensive design records and facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Initiate and execute user research studies to gather insights into user needs, pain points, and behaviors, translating findings into actionable design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "pixel-perfect" and "reusable design templates" points towards a need for meticulous attention to detail and a strong understanding of design system architecture. The role requires not just creative design but also the discipline to maintain consistency across multiple platforms and product iterations within a fast-paced fintech environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in product design, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity overseeing complex, cross-platform design projects. Demonstrated experience building product UI/UX from inception is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience as a Lead Product Designer or Senior Product Designer with leadership responsibilities.
• Deep expertise in managing and contributing to Design Language Systems (DLS), including proficiency with design tokens and variable structures.
• Advanced proficiency in Figma, specifically leveraging its component system, shared libraries, and branching capabilities for collaborative design workflows.
• Strong understanding of platform-specific design principles for iOS, Android, web, and mobile web.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate effectively with product, engineering, and QA teams.
• Meticulous attention to detail, with a passion for achieving pixel-perfect design execution.
• Experience in conducting and applying user research findings to inform design decisions.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in other design tools such as Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.
• Experience designing for financial technology (FinTech) or cryptocurrency platforms.
• Familiarity with on-chain and decentralized application (dApp) design principles.
• Experience establishing and documenting design workflows and processes.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their application in UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3 years in a leadership role suggests this position is not just about individual contribution but also about guiding junior designers and influencing design strategy. The explicit mention of Figma’s advanced features indicates a need for candidates who can leverage the tool to its full potential for efficiency and collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase 2-3 complex, cross-platform product design projects, ideally including at least one from the FinTech or cryptocurrency space.
• Demonstrate the ability to build a product's UI/UX from the ground up, detailing the problem, your process, and the final solution.
• Highlight your experience with Design Language Systems (DLS), including examples of components, style guides, and how you've maintained consistency.
• Include examples of pixel-perfect design execution and attention to detail in your case studies.
• Present evidence of collaboration with engineering, product, and QA teams, outlining your role in ensuring successful implementation.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your design workflow from problem definition through to final implementation, emphasizing user research, ideation, prototyping, and user testing.
• Explain how you use Figma’s collaborative features (e.g., shared libraries, branching) to manage design projects and ensure consistency.
• Illustrate how you've contributed to or managed a Design Language System, including its structure, evolution, and governance.
• Provide examples of how you have translated user research insights into tangible design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead role, the portfolio should not only showcase design execution but also leadership, strategic thinking, and process management. Emphasis on DLS and cross-functional collaboration is key, indicating the need for case studies that demonstrate how the candidate has successfully navigated complex project environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (China) and the Lead Product Designer role with 6+ years of experience and leadership, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in FinTech and crypto in major Chinese tech hubs (e.g., Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen), the estimated annual salary could range from ¥400,000 to ¥700,000 CNY, potentially higher for exceptional candidates with specialized crypto exchange experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary and potential for performance-based bonuses or token options.
• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off (PTO) policy that includes vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, including access to design conferences, workshops, and online courses.
• Remote work flexibility with potential for home office stipends.
• Contribution to retirement savings plans.
• Potential for stock options or equity in a rapidly growing crypto exchange.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often provided to accommodate asynchronous communication across different time zones and personal work styles. Overtime may be required during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on roles requiring significant experience and leadership in specialized tech sectors like FinTech/Crypto in China. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skill set, negotiation, and the company's compensation philosophy, which may include equity or tokens in the crypto space.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech) / Cryptocurrency Exchange. The company operates within a highly dynamic and innovative sector, focusing on decentralization and institutional-grade trading solutions. Company Size: While the exact size isn't provided, the nature of a rapidly growing crypto exchange suggests a dynamic, potentially lean startup environment scaling into a more established organization. This usually means a fast-paced culture with opportunities for significant impact. Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the initiative to innovate on CEX/DEX offerings implies a relatively modern company, likely established within the last decade to align with the rise of advanced blockchain technologies.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely comprises highly skilled individuals specializing in UI/UX, potentially with sub-specialties in areas like interaction design, visual design, and user research.
• As a Lead, you would be responsible for guiding this team, potentially reporting to a Head of Product or CTO.
• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with product managers, engineers (frontend and backend), QA, and potentially marketing or business development teams.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on agile development methodologies, with design sprints, iterative prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.
• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user analytics, A/B testing, and user research to validate design choices and optimize the platform.
• A strong focus on building and maintaining a robust Design Language System (DLS) to ensure scalability, consistency, and efficiency across all product touchpoints.
• Commitment to innovation within the decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrency trading space.

Company Website: hyphen-connect.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on blending CEX and DEX features suggests a sophisticated understanding of both traditional finance and blockchain technology. The culture is likely to be forward-thinking, collaborative, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and user-centric design within the crypto ecosystem.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level within the product design function. It requires not only expert-level design skills but also the ability to manage projects, mentor designers, and influence product strategy. The "Lead" title signifies a step beyond individual contribution into team guidance and strategic oversight. Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer would typically report to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or Chief Technology Officer (CTO), depending on the company's organizational structure. They would lead a team of product designers. Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is direct and significant, shaping the user experience of a critical financial platform. Their work directly influences user acquisition, retention, trading volume, and overall platform adoption. By creating intuitive and seamless interfaces for complex crypto trading, they enable broader access to decentralized finance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Head of Design or VP of Product role as the company scales, taking on broader strategic responsibilities and managing larger design teams.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in FinTech/Crypto UX, becoming a recognized authority in designing for decentralized exchanges, blockchain interfaces, or complex financial tools.
• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in defining the product roadmap and long-term vision of the exchange, contributing to business strategy beyond just design execution.
• Mentorship: Develop strong mentoring skills by guiding and growing junior designers, fostering a high-performing design team.
• Industry Engagement: Represent the company at industry events, contribute to design communities, and build a personal brand within the FinTech and Crypto design space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a significant opportunity for career growth within the rapidly evolving crypto industry. The blend of leadership, strategic input, and specialized domain knowledge makes it a high-impact position for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "Remote OK," indicating a primary remote work arrangement. This suggests a distributed team structure, with potential for occasional in-person meetups or team retreats if the company organizes them. Office Location(s): The specified location is China. While the role is remote, understanding the company's operational base in China is relevant for potential legal, payroll, and cultural considerations. The company may have physical offices in major Chinese tech hubs.

Workspace Context:

• A remote-first or hybrid work environment likely promotes autonomy and flexibility for its employees.
• Access to modern design tools and collaboration platforms (e.g., Figma, Slack, Jira) is crucial for effective remote teamwork.
• Expect a fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where communication and alignment across distributed teams are prioritized.
• The environment will likely foster a strong sense of ownership and accountability, with team members expected to manage their time and projects effectively.

Work Schedule: While a 40-hour work week is standard, the remote nature and global reach of crypto exchanges often necessitate flexibility. This might involve accommodating different time zones for team meetings and ensuring availability during key operational hours, which could extend beyond traditional 9-to-5.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a remote role based in China, candidates should be prepared for potential timezone differences, especially if collaborating with international teams. The company's infrastructure and support for remote work, including communication protocols and virtual collaboration tools, will be key to a productive experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will typically review your resume and portfolio for relevant experience and skills.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio, highlighting 2-3 key projects. Focus on your process, problem-solving approach, DLS contributions, and cross-functional collaboration. Expect questions about your leadership experience and how you manage complex projects.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You might be given a take-home design challenge or a live exercise to assess your problem-solving abilities, design thinking, and proficiency with Figma. This could involve designing a specific feature or improving an existing workflow for a crypto exchange.
• Technical/Team Interview: Interviews with engineering leads, product managers, and potentially other designers to assess technical acumen, collaboration style, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: A conversation with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CTO) to discuss your strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with the company's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, your specific contributions, the design decisions you made, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, enhanced user satisfaction).
• Showcase Process: Detail your design thinking, research methodologies, and how you iterated on designs. Use visuals to illustrate wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI.
• Highlight DLS & Pixel-Perfection: Dedicate specific sections or examples to demonstrate your expertise in Design Language Systems and your commitment to pixel-perfect execution.
• Emphasize Leadership: For a Lead role, include examples of how you've mentored designers, managed projects, influenced strategy, and collaborated effectively with non-design teams.
• Tailor to Crypto: If possible, include projects that showcase your understanding of the crypto/FinTech space and its unique design challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with common features and user flows of crypto exchanges (spot trading, futures, wallet management, KYC, etc.).
• Focus on Problem-Solving: For any challenge, break down the problem, identify user needs, propose solutions, and justify your design decisions with research and logic.
• Leverage Figma: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency in Figma for rapid prototyping and efficient design iteration.
• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and design rationale concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and leadership capabilities. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the crypto exchange domain and a strong command of Figma’s advanced features will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Core design and prototyping tool. Essential for collaborative workflows, component management, and DLS implementation. Mastery is expected, including advanced features like shared libraries, branching, and auto layout.
• Sketch: Potentially used, though Figma is increasingly dominant. Proficiency is a plus.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Useful for asset creation, icon design, and image manipulation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to track user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.
• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker, or similar for creating dashboards to monitor key design metrics and platform performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello for managing design tasks, sprints, and cross-functional project timelines.
• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for real-time communication and team coordination.
• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, or Hotjar for conducting usability tests and gathering user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is paramount. Experience with analytics platforms is also highly valuable as it demonstrates a data-driven approach to design, essential for optimizing user experience in a competitive FinTech market.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring the platform is intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy for traders.
• Innovation: A drive to push boundaries in the crypto exchange space, exploring new features and technologies to enhance the trading experience.
• Collaboration: Fostering an environment where designers, engineers, and product managers work seamlessly together, valuing open communication and shared ownership.
• Excellence & Precision: A dedication to high-quality, pixel-perfect design and robust, scalable engineering to build a reliable and professional trading platform.
• Decentralization Ethos: Embracing the principles of decentralization, security, and transparency in the design and development of the exchange.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working in short cycles with continuous feedback loops, adapting quickly to market changes and user insights.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Designers are embedded within or work very closely with product and engineering teams, participating actively in all stages of the product development lifecycle.
• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive criticism, and knowledge sharing across all disciplines.
• Data-Informed: Decisions are guided by a blend of user research, analytics, and market insights, rather than solely by opinion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values likely reflect the fast-paced, innovative, and security-conscious nature of the cryptocurrency industry. A strong emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and a user-first approach will be key to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing CEX & DEX Features: Designing an interface that effectively merges the user-friendliness of centralized exchanges with the security and decentralization principles of DEXs can be complex.
• Rapidly Evolving Market: The crypto landscape changes quickly; designers must stay abreast of new trends, technologies, and regulatory shifts impacting user expectations and platform requirements.
• User Education: Simplifying complex financial concepts and trading mechanics for a broad user base, including those new to crypto, requires clear and intuitive design solutions.
• Security and Trust: Building user trust in a decentralized platform is paramount. Designs must convey security, transparency, and reliability.
• Remote Team Coordination: Effectively leading and collaborating with a distributed team across potentially different time zones requires strong communication and organizational skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Crypto UX: Gain unparalleled expertise in designing for blockchain, decentralized applications, and high-frequency trading platforms.
• Leadership Development: Hone skills in team management, strategic planning, and influencing product direction.
• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to engage with the cutting edge of FinTech and blockchain technology through company initiatives and potential industry events.
• Advanced Design Systems: Contribute to and evolve a sophisticated Design Language System for a complex financial product.
• Cross-Functional Skill Building: Develop a deeper understanding of engineering principles and product strategy through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to the innovative and complex nature of the crypto exchange domain. Successfully navigating these challenges offers significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience leading product design for complex, cross-platform applications. How do you ensure consistency and quality across iOS, Android, and web?" (Focus on DLS, process, and collaboration).
• "Walk us through a project where you had to design a feature from scratch. What was your process, from research to final implementation, and what were the key challenges?" (Highlight problem-solving, user research, and iterative design).
• "How do you approach building and maintaining a Design Language System? What are the key components, and how do you ensure adoption and evolution?" (Demonstrate understanding of DLS architecture, governance, and tooling like Figma).
• "Imagine you need to design a new feature for our decentralized exchange. How would you approach understanding user needs, exploring solutions, and validating your design?" (Showcase your end-to-end design thinking process, emphasizing user-centricity).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the cryptocurrency exchange space, and specifically, our company's mission to blend CEX and DEX features?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the company's unique value proposition).
• "How do you foster collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams, especially in a remote environment?" (Provide examples of successful cross-functional collaboration and communication strategies).
• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Demonstrate influencing skills and data-driven argumentation).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the solution you designed, and the impact/results.
• Highlight DLS Expertise: Dedicate specific slides or sections to showcase your work with Design Language Systems, including examples of components, tokens, and style guides.
• Emphasize Pixel-Perfection: Point out specific areas in your designs that demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to high-fidelity execution.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, user engagement improvements, reduced error rates).
• Showcase Leadership: If applicable, weave in examples of how you mentored junior designers, managed project timelines, or influenced product strategy within your case studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with decentralized platforms and your understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities within the crypto exchange market. Your ability to articulate complex design decisions and demonstrate leadership will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest cross-platform design projects, ensuring they highlight your leadership, DLS expertise, pixel-perfect execution, and ideally, experience in FinTech or crypto. Tailor the case studies to emphasize your process and impact.
• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 6+ years of design experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity. Use keywords from the job description such as "Design Language System," "Figma," "iOS/Android/Web Design," and "Stakeholder Management."
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your design process, how you collaborate with engineering and product, and your approach to leading design initiatives. Rehearse answers to potential strategy and behavioral questions.
• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Hyphen Connect Limited, their mission, and the current landscape of decentralized crypto exchanges. Understand their unique value proposition and how your design skills can contribute to their success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Hyphen Connect Limited before making application decisions.