Product Designer (19-month Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (19-month Contract)

Company: Financeit

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: February 14, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design user-centric digital products that enhance customer experience and achieve business objectives within the FinTech sector.

• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from initial concept ideation and user flow mapping to high-fidelity prototyping and final implementation guidance.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders, to translate complex requirements into intuitive and visually appealing interfaces.

• Leverage quantitative and qualitative user data to inform design decisions, iterate on features, and continuously improve product usability and effectiveness.

• Contribute to and expand an established design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to brand guidelines across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 19-month contract position, indicating a project-based need within Financeit, likely focused on specific product development initiatives or platform enhancements rather than long-term strategic design leadership. The hybrid model suggests a blend of in-office and remote work, requiring adaptability and strong self-management skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design intuitive user interfaces and engaging user experiences for web and native applications, ensuring a seamless and compelling customer journey.

• Develop detailed user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design ideas and gather feedback.

• Conduct user research, analyze user behavior data, and synthesize findings to identify pain points and opportunities for product improvement.

• Collaborate with front-end developers to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of designs, providing clear specifications, assets, and ongoing support.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of Financeit's design system, documenting components and guidelines for consistent application across products.

• Present design concepts, research findings, and project updates to internal teams and potentially external stakeholders, articulating rationale and design decisions clearly.

• Participate in design critiques and brainstorming sessions, offering and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work.

• Ensure designs comply with accessibility standards and best practices, creating inclusive experiences for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on translating product requirements into usable UI and ensuring technical feasibility highlights the need for a Product Designer who understands the practical constraints of development and can make pragmatic compromises without sacrificing user experience quality.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction), Computer Science, or a related field is highly beneficial. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in a UX/Product Design role, with a demonstrated track record of designing and launching successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including the ability to create and maintain high-specification design files.

• Strong conceptual and logical thinking skills, capable of translating abstract ideas into tangible design solutions.

• Experience in a data-driven design approach, utilizing quantitative and qualitative user data to inform design iterations.

• Ability to expand upon existing design systems and ensure proper implementation with engineering teams.

• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to communicate design rationale effectively to diverse audiences.

• Proven experience in designing for responsive web and native applications.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• A portfolio showcasing a range of high-caliber work, including prototypes and product design examples.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the FinTech or financial services industry.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies beyond data analysis (e.g., user interviews, usability testing).

• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better collaborate with engineers.

• Experience working within an Agile/Scrum development environment.

• Familiarity with design collaboration tools beyond Figma (e.g., Miro, Jira).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma proficiency and the ability to provide "clear implementation guidance" to front-end developers suggests that this role requires not just conceptual design skills but also a strong grasp of design-to-development handoff processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design projects.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, and the final solution.

• Highlight projects that involved responsive web design and/or native applications, demonstrating versatility.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Explicitly demonstrate how user behavior data (quantitative and qualitative) was used to inform design decisions and iterations.

• Showcase experience with or contribution to a design system, illustrating consistency and scalability efforts.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, including how you gather and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data.

• Illustrate your workflow for translating product requirements into design artifacts (user flows, wireframes, mockups).

• Explain your process for collaborating with engineering and product teams, including feedback loops and design reviews.

• Demonstrate how you iterate on designs based on user feedback and data analysis.

• Provide examples of how you maintain design consistency through design systems or style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the contract nature and the emphasis on delivering tangible results, the portfolio should clearly highlight the candidate's ability to quickly contribute and drive design initiatives without extensive ramp-up time. Demonstrating a data-driven approach and a strong understanding of implementation are critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $95,000 CAD per year (pro-rated for contract duration)

Benefits:

• Competitive pay with a performance-based bonus of up to 20% annually.

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Lifestyle Account for health and wellness expenses.

• RRSP Matching program.

• Parental Leave Top-Up Program.

• On-site wellness initiatives including massage, meditation, and workout sessions.

• Engaging virtual events such as Lunch & Learns, company parties, team activities, and charity initiatives.

• Access to career learning and development programs.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility given the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for the full contract duration if annualized. For a 19-month contract, the total compensation would be approximately $113,750 - $119,937.50 CAD, plus the pro-rated bonus. The benefits package is comprehensive, offering a strong mix of health, financial, and wellness support, which is attractive even for a contract role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech (Financial Technology), specifically Point-of-Sale (POS) Financing. Financeit operates within the rapidly evolving financial services sector, leveraging technology to provide accessible credit solutions for consumers.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "small enough that you can make an impact" suggests a mid-sized organization, likely between 50-250 employees, with a growing technology team. The company has won awards for its culture twice, indicating a strong focus on employee experience and a positive work environment.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but Financeit has established itself as a significant player in the Canadian POS financing market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will join the Technology team, which is likely composed of various engineering disciplines, product management, and potentially other design roles.

• Reporting is expected to be to a Design Lead, Head of Product, or CTO, depending on the team's organizational structure.

Methodology:

• A strong emphasis on a "data-driven design approach" is stated, indicating that decisions are informed by user behavior analytics and research.

• The company values creativity and "ground-breaking work" while also stressing pragmatic compromises and on-time delivery.

• Collaboration extends to translating product requirements into functional UI and ensuring technical feasibility with developers.

• The culture is recognized for inclusivity, fairness, and respect, with a commitment to continuous improvement in both product and work environment.

Company Website: https://www.financeit.io/ (Assuming this is the primary domain based on common industry practice, though the jobs.workable.com domain is for recruitment.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Financeit's focus on being a "point-of-sale financing provider" means the Product Designer will be working on tools and platforms that directly impact sales conversions and customer financial decisions, requiring a blend of user experience design and an understanding of business goals within the lending space.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, requiring 2+ years of experience. It offers hands-on design execution and collaboration rather than strategic leadership. The contract nature means it's focused on delivering specific project outcomes within a defined period.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report into a manager within the Technology or Product team. Key collaborators will include Product Managers, Software Engineers (front-end and potentially back-end), and business stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work will directly influence the usability and effectiveness of Financeit's platform, impacting:

• Sales Conversion Rates: By creating more intuitive and appealing financing options for customers.

• Customer Satisfaction: By ensuring a smooth and easy user experience throughout the application and repayment process.

• Operational Efficiency: By designing clear interfaces that reduce support inquiries and streamline user interactions.

• Brand Perception: By delivering high-quality, modern, and trustworthy digital products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Deepening: Opportunity to hone skills in Figma, design systems, and data-driven design within a FinTech context.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working closely with engineering and product teams, understanding the full product development lifecycle.

• Portfolio Enhancement: The 19-month contract provides a substantial project to add to the candidate's portfolio, showcasing significant contributions to a live product in a regulated industry.

• Potential for Extension/Full-Time: While a contract, successful performance could lead to contract extensions or opportunities for full-time roles within Financeit, depending on business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contract roles, "growth" often translates to acquiring new skills, broadening project experience, and building a stronger professional network, rather than traditional linear career progression. This role offers a solid opportunity to gain experience in a specific industry niche.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Financeit offers a hybrid workplace model, suggesting a combination of remote work and in-office collaboration. The "in office massage, meditation & workout sessions" points towards a physical office space that supports employee well-being.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Specific office address not provided, but it's in a major Canadian city known for its tech and financial sectors.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes daily collaboration with Product Managers and Developers, suggesting an open and communicative team dynamic.

• Technology Enabled: Access to and proficient use of industry-standard design tools like Figma is expected. The company likely provides necessary software licenses and potentially hardware.

• Team Interaction: Hybrid work implies scheduled in-office days for team meetings, workshops, and spontaneous collaboration, balanced with remote work flexibility.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement allows for some flexibility in how and where work is performed, but core hours for collaboration will likely be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model requires strong communication and time management skills to ensure productive collaboration, especially when coordinating with team members who may be in the office or working remotely on any given day.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A phone or video call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and contract duration.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: This is a critical stage. Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing 1-2 key projects in depth. A specific design challenge (e.g., a small UX problem to solve, a UI critique, or a component redesign) may be assigned, to be completed within a set timeframe.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager and potentially team members (e.g., a Product Manager and a Developer) to evaluate design thinking, technical skills, collaboration style, and problem-solving abilities.

• Final Interview (Optional): May involve a senior leader or executive for final approval, particularly for contract roles with significant responsibilities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations around compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the problem, your unique contribution, the process, and the impact of your design solutions.

• Data-Driven Emphasis: For each case study, specifically call out how user data informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• Figma Proficiency Showcase: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, how you manage complex files, and how you provide clear handoff documentation to developers.

• Design System Contribution: If you have experience expanding or maintaining design systems, highlight this, explaining your process and the benefits achieved.

• Targeted Content: Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight projects most relevant to FinTech, POS financing, or similar complex user journeys.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a challenge, ensure you fully grasp the business context and user needs. Ask clarifying questions.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear, logical design process, even for a small challenge. Show your thinking, not just the final output.

• Pragmatism: Be prepared to make assumptions and justify them. The challenge might test your ability to deliver a practical solution under constraints, mirroring real-world scenarios.

• Presentation: Practice presenting your solution concisely and confidently, highlighting key design decisions and their rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "making gorgeous, ground-breaking work" alongside "pragmatic compromises" suggests that interviewers will be looking for designers who can balance creativity with business needs and technical feasibility.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly stated as a core requirement; candidates must be highly proficient. This will be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like InVision, Marvel, or Adobe XD might be beneficial for showcasing a broader skill set.

• User Research & Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms is expected for a data-driven approach. Familiarity with user research platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback) would also be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that help visualize user data and design performance metrics is a plus.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Understanding how to design for and interpret A/B tests is valuable in a data-driven environment.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a Product Designer's tool, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is deep Figma expertise. While knowledge of other design tools is good, proficiency in Figma for both design and prototyping, along with the ability to leverage user data, is paramount for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Financeit actively promotes a workplace where collaboration, fairness, and respect are paramount. This means valuing diverse perspectives and working together effectively.

• Impact & Ownership: The company culture encourages individuals to make an impact and take ownership of their work, reflecting a proactive and accountable approach.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on using quantitative and qualitative data suggests a culture that values evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Excellence & Innovation: There's a drive for "gorgeous, ground-breaking work" alongside delivering "high quality products on time," indicating a balance between innovation and execution.

• User-Centricity: A core value is designing "simple, compelling, and meaningful experiences" for users, placing the customer at the center of design efforts.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Synergy: The culture fosters daily collaboration across disciplines (design, product, engineering, business stakeholders), requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Feedback-Oriented: Designers are expected to be comfortable accepting input and feedback from various groups and to provide constructive critique themselves.

• Pragmatic Problem-Solving: The team values finding practical solutions that balance user needs with technical feasibility and business objectives.

• Open Communication: Given the hybrid model, clear and consistent communication, both asynchronous and synchronous, is essential for effective teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: Financeit's award-winning culture is a significant aspect. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values and contribute to a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Pragmatism: Delivering "ground-breaking work" while adhering to deadlines and technical constraints in a FinTech environment.

• Data Interpretation and Application: Effectively translating complex user data into actionable design insights and improvements.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating different priorities and perspectives from product management, engineering, and business stakeholders to achieve consensus.

• Design System Expansion: Evolving a design system while ensuring consistent adoption and implementation across various product features and teams.

• Contract Duration: Working within a defined 19-month contract period requires a focus on delivering impact efficiently and effectively within that timeframe.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• FinTech Domain Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in point-of-sale financing and the regulatory landscape of financial services.

• Advanced Figma & Design System Skills: Deepening expertise in Figma's advanced features and contributing to a mature design system.

• Data-Driven Design Mastery: Enhancing skills in leveraging user analytics and research to drive product strategy and design decisions.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Refining abilities to work effectively with engineers and product managers in an Agile setting.

• Portfolio Building: Adding a significant, impactful project to the portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end design ownership and delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature of the role means that "growth" will primarily be measured by skill acquisition, project impact, and portfolio enhancement rather than long-term career pathing within the company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to make a significant compromise on a design due to technical constraints. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Tests pragmatism and collaboration)

• "Walk me through a project where user data significantly changed your initial design direction. What data did you use, and how did it influence your decisions?" (Tests data-driven approach)

• "How do you ensure consistency and scalability when expanding a design system? Provide an example of a component you designed or updated." (Tests design system knowledge)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Financeit and the FinTech industry, specifically point-of-sale financing?" (Tests research and genuine interest)

• "How do you contribute to an inclusive and collaborative team environment?" (Tests cultural fit)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team setting. What strategies do you use to stay connected and productive?" (Tests adaptability)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Choose 2-3 strong projects. For each, use a clear structure: Problem -> Your Role/Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced user errors by Y%", "improved task completion time by Z%").

• Figma Showcase: Be prepared to share your Figma file or specific screens to demonstrate your proficiency, organization, and how you provide implementation guidance.

• Data Integration: Explicitly point out where and how data influenced your design decisions within each project.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be clear, engaging, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only design skills but also the candidate's ability to integrate into a collaborative, data-informed, and results-oriented team within a specific industry context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating responsive web and native application design, ideally within FinTech or complex transactional platforms. Highlight your Figma proficiency and your approach to data-driven design.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI," "Figma," "design system," "data-driven design," "responsive web," and "native applications." Clearly state your years of experience and relevant project accomplishments.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, presenting case studies, and answering strategy questions focused on collaboration, data utilization, and problem-solving. Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and implementation guidance.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Financeit's mission, products, and recent news. Understand their position in the Canadian FinTech market and their commitment to company culture.

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