Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: American Express Location: New York, New York, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design / GTM Operations Support Date Posted: 2026-02-19T20:34:51 Experience Level: 7+ Years (Mid to Senior Level) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation of exceptional, branded digital experiences across key customer journeys within the American Express ecosystem.
• Champion and implement design thinking methodologies to foster innovative digital solutions.
• Ensure adherence to and enhancement of accessibility standards, making digital products usable for all customers.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including UX researchers, writers, product owners, and engineers, to translate business goals into user-centric designs.
• Act as a mentor to associate designers, fostering craft knowledge and best practices within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into UX/UI design with a strong emphasis on customer journeys and digital experience quality. The role also involves a significant operational component by ensuring adherence to design systems, accessibility standards, and cross-functional collaboration, which are critical for efficient GTM (Go-To-Market) operations and product development lifecycle management. The mention of "risk mindset" and "brand promise of trust, security, and service" indicates a need for design solutions that are not only user-friendly but also robust and compliant within a financial services context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Elevate the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design quality for critical digital platforms including the Account Dashboard, Activity, Credit & Collections, Lending, Servicing, and Payments journeys.
• Actively utilize and contribute to the Design System, identifying issues and proposing improvements to enhance its component library and maintain consistency.
• Mentor and guide associate designers in developing their foundational design craft and understanding of UX/UI principles.
• Engage in regular feedback sessions with the Design Director and fellow product designers to refine designs and foster cross-team alignment.
• Empathize with users by actively observing and analyzing insights from user research labs and feedback sessions.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to deeply understand business objectives and translate them into effective design solutions.
• Participate in resource gathering activities such as design and content audits, competitive analysis, and business partner interviews to inform design strategy.
• Facilitate and participate in cross-functional workshops, including co-creation, empathy mapping, and journey mapping exercises, to drive collaborative problem-solving.
• Synthesize user needs and business objectives to formulate testable prototypes and validate design hypotheses.
• Ideate and create prototypes at both low and high fidelities using various methods, including pen-and-paper and digital tools.
• Develop essential supporting documentation such as user flows, personas, and service blueprints, adhering to established UX standard processes.
• Collaborate effectively with designers, UX writers, UX researchers, Design Managers, product owners, and engineers to ensure seamless translation of product requirements into usable and valuable experiences, maintaining brand consistency and design best practices.
• Act as a passionate advocate for the user throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a comprehensive approach to product design, encompassing user advocacy, stakeholder management, and process adherence. For operations professionals, this means the role requires not just creative design skills but also the ability to manage design projects efficiently, contribute to scalable design systems, and collaborate effectively within a structured, often agile, development environment. The emphasis on "risk mindset" and "brand promise" suggests a need for designs that are secure, compliant, and reliable, impacting operational efficiency and customer trust.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is highly beneficial. Experience: 7+ years of dedicated UX/Interaction design experience, with a proven track record of delivering complex digital experiences.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional skills in ideation, sketching, wireframing, and creating detailed user flows.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process expertise, from initial concept to pixel-perfect final designs, for complex projects.
• Clear and current understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript capabilities and limitations relevant to UI implementation.
• Proficient implementation of design grids, grid nesting, wrappers, and containers in practical design applications.
• Expert oral and written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Analytical approach to complex problem-solving and the ability to organize complex information into easily understandable formats.
• Ability to multitask effectively, work both independently and collaboratively, and proactively seek and incorporate feedback.
• Demonstrated skills in applying user interface design best practices and user research methodologies, including inclusive product development and systems design.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools: Figma and InVision.
• Proficient understanding and application of responsive web design principles.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and deliver on deadlines as a self-starter.
• Understanding of lean/agile product development methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other prototyping tools beyond Figma and InVision.
• Familiarity with financial services industry products and customer journeys.
• Experience in mentoring associate-level designers.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards beyond basic implementation, such as WCAG guidelines.
• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience and "expert" communication skills suggests this is a mid-to-senior level role. The emphasis on a "strong portfolio showing examples of complex design execution highlighting your end-to-end design process" is critical. For operations candidates, this translates to demonstrating how their design process integrates with development workflows, how they've managed design dependencies, and how they've ensured design quality and consistency at scale. The mention of HTML/CSS/JS limitations indicates a need for designers who can bridge the gap between design and technical feasibility, crucial for efficient product development operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing at least 7 years of UX/Interaction design work.
• Must include detailed examples of complex design execution, demonstrating your end-to-end design process from concept ideation through to final, pixel-perfect designs.
• Provide case studies that illustrate your ability to translate user needs and business objectives into tangible, testable prototypes.
• Showcase your experience in developing supporting documentation such as user flows, personas, and service blueprints, adhering to standard UX processes.
• Highlight examples of how you've applied design grids, nesting, wrappers, and containers in your practical design work.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating and utilizing user flows, personas, and service blueprints as part of your design process.
• Show examples of how you have participated in or led design and content audits, competitive analysis, and business partner interviews to inform design strategy.
• Provide evidence of your involvement in cross-functional workshops (e.g., co-creation, empathy mapping, journey mapping) and how you contributed to synthesizing outcomes.
• Illustrate your experience with user research, including observing research labs and synthesizing findings to advocate for users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is extensive, emphasizing the entire design lifecycle and process documentation. For operations professionals applying, this means the portfolio should not only look good but also clearly articulate the process behind the designs, the collaboration involved, and the impact on user experience and business goals. Demonstrating how designs were integrated into development workflows, how feedback was incorporated, and how accessibility and design system standards were met will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $103,750.00 to $174,750.00 annually (plus bonus and benefits).

Benefits:

• Competitive base salaries.
• Bonus incentives.
• 6.25% Company Match on retirement savings plan.
• Free financial coaching and financial well-being support.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits.
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite, or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need.
• 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents (pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy).
• Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (location-dependent).
• Free and confidential counseling support through the Healthy Minds program.
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Access to explore new design tools and technologies.

Working Hours: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Product Designer role with 7+ years of experience in a high cost-of-living area like New York City. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing holistic well-being and professional development, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The "Flexible working model" with hybrid arrangements aligns with modern work expectations. For operations roles, understanding how these benefits support employee retention and productivity is key.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Credit Card Services / Technology Company Size: Large Enterprise (American Express is a global financial services corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). Founded: 1850, indicating a long history of innovation and adaptation in the financial sector.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer reports to a Design Director, suggesting a hierarchical but collaborative design leadership structure.
• The role involves close collaboration with UX writers, UX researchers, Product Owners, and Engineers, indicating a cross-functional, matrixed team environment common in large tech/product organizations.
• The Design team likely comprises designers of various experience levels, including associate designers who will be mentored by this role.

Methodology:

• Emphasizes "design thinking processes" and "design best-practices" as core methodologies.
• Incorporates user research, competitive analysis, and business partner interviews to inform design decisions.
• Utilizes lean/agile product development methods, implying iterative design and development cycles.
• Focuses on building and leveraging a Design System for consistency and efficiency.
• A "strong risk mindset" is integral, suggesting a culture that prioritizes security, compliance, and reliability in all product development, including design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: American Express's long history and position in the financial services industry suggest a culture that values stability, trust, and customer service, alongside innovation. For operations roles, this means understanding the importance of compliance, security, and scalability in any proposed solutions. The emphasis on "Team Amex" and backing colleagues indicates a supportive work environment, but within a large corporate structure that likely has established processes and hierarchies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-to-Senior level (7+ years of experience). It involves individual contribution, design execution, and mentorship, bridging the gap between junior designers and design leadership. Reporting Structure: Reports directly to a Design Director, with significant collaboration across product, engineering, and research teams. This structure allows for both direct guidance and broad cross-functional influence. Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the user experience of core American Express digital products, influencing customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and operational efficiency. By ensuring superb branded journeys and accessible standards, they contribute to the company's brand promise and operational integrity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, accessibility, and design systems. The role explicitly mentions exploring new tools under personal initiative.
• Leadership Development: Mentoring associate designers provides initial leadership experience. Potential growth into a Senior Product Designer, Lead Designer, or Design Manager roles.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Deep collaboration with product management and engineering offers insights into broader product strategy and development operations.
• Domain Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge within the financial services sector, particularly in areas like account management, lending, and payments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a solid platform for career growth within a large, established organization. The emphasis on mentorship and cross-functional collaboration provides avenues for developing both technical design skills and leadership competencies. For operations professionals, understanding how this role contributes to the overall product development pipeline and customer experience is key to appreciating its strategic importance beyond just design execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. Specific arrangements depend on role and business needs. Office Location(s): New York, New York, United States. This is a major hub for American Express, suggesting access to extensive resources and a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model implies a workspace designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team sessions.
• Access to relevant design tools (Figma, InVision) and potentially resources for exploring new technologies.
• Opportunities for frequent interaction with design peers, researchers, writers, product owners, and engineers, fostering a dynamic and communicative environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility inherent in the hybrid model. This allows for structured workdays while accommodating personal needs, which is crucial for maintaining focus on complex design tasks and iterative processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at American Express is designed to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. For operations professionals, this means understanding how communication protocols, meeting cadences, and team coordination are managed across different work locations to ensure seamless project execution and consistent design quality.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and experience.
• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: A common step for design roles. You may be asked to present your portfolio, walk through key case studies, and potentially complete a design exercise (e.g., a short design problem, critique of an existing interface, or ideation task).
• Interviews with Design Team: Expect interviews with the Design Director and other senior designers to evaluate your design thinking, execution skills, collaboration style, and fit with the team.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Owners, UX Researchers, and Engineers to assess your ability to collaborate effectively, understand technical constraints, and advocate for user needs within a broader product context.
• Behavioral and Situational Questions: To gauge your problem-solving approach, communication skills, ability to handle feedback, and alignment with Amex's values and leadership behaviors.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Process: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, iteration), the solutions you designed, and the outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Complexity: Focus on projects that demonstrate your ability to handle complex user flows, integrate with existing systems/design languages, and address challenging business requirements.
• Demonstrate Design System Usage: If possible, show how you've used or contributed to a design system, emphasizing consistency and efficiency.
• Emphasize User Advocacy: Clearly explain how user research and feedback informed your design decisions.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).
• Tailor to Amex: Research American Express's current digital products and brand identity. Consider how your portfolio projects align with their established user experience and brand promise.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Design Constraints: Be prepared for challenges that test your ability to design within technical limitations (e.g., HTML/CSS/JavaScript constraints) and brand guidelines.
• Practice Articulation: Be ready to clearly explain your design rationale, trade-offs, and decision-making process under pressure.
• Focus on Problem-Solving: Demonstrate a structured, analytical approach to solving design problems, rather than just presenting aesthetic solutions.
• Embrace Feedback: Approach any critique or feedback during the interview process as a learning opportunity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Product Designer at a company like American Express will be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and the ability to articulate one's design process and impact. Operations professionals should focus on demonstrating how their design work supports efficient product development, scalability, and adherence to established standards, aligning with the company's operational rigor.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary), InVision (primary). The role explicitly mentions these and provides space to explore new tools.
• Supporting Tools: Pen and paper for low-fidelity ideation.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly listed for the designer, understanding how to interpret user data and analytics will be crucial. Familiarity with tools used for A/B testing or user behavior analysis (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Hotjar) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the core design role, but an understanding of how designs integrate with back-end systems and potentially CRM functionalities (e.g., Salesforce, though Amex likely uses proprietary systems) could be advantageous.

Other Relevant Technologies:

• Web Technologies: Clear and current understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript capabilities and limitations.
• Design Systems: Experience working with or contributing to design systems.
• Responsive Web Design: Proficiency in designing for various screen sizes and devices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and InVision is a baseline requirement. The mention of "exploring new ones under your own initiative" suggests a culture that encourages continuous learning and adoption of new design technologies. For operations candidates, demonstrating an understanding of how designs translate into functional code and integrate with existing technical infrastructure is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep-seated commitment to "back our customers," with the designer acting as a "passionate advocate for the users."
• Innovation: A 175-year history built on innovation, encouraging the exploration of new ideas and tools.
• Integrity & Trust: Upholding the brand promise of "trust, security, and service" requires design solutions that are reliable and secure.
• Collaboration: Emphasis on working closely with cross-functional teams and sharing expertise ("share base of expertise with others").
• Excellence: Striving to be "The Most Respected Service Brand" implies a pursuit of high quality and best-in-class experiences.
• Risk Mindset: An integrated approach to understanding and mitigating risks in all aspects of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, involving frequent interaction with designers, researchers, writers, product managers, and engineers.
• Open to feedback and iterative improvement, with regular meetings for insights and critique.
• Mentorship plays a role, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: American Express values a blend of customer-centricity, innovation, and operational rigor. For an operations-minded candidate, demonstrating how you can contribute to a team that balances creative problem-solving with a strong adherence to brand standards, security, and efficiency will be paramount. The "risk mindset" is a critical cultural element in financial services.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse user needs and complex business objectives into cohesive, user-friendly designs within a large enterprise.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency & Accessibility: Ensuring all digital experiences are consistently branded, accessible, and adhere to established design system standards across a wide range of products and journeys.
• Navigating Large-Scale Product Development: Working within the complex ecosystem of a global financial institution, which may involve long development cycles, multiple stakeholders, and legacy systems.
• Staying Ahead of Design Trends & Technology: Continuously adapting to evolving UX/UI best practices, accessibility standards, and new design tools while working within established frameworks.
• Mentoring and Developing Others: Effectively guiding and supporting associate designers while managing your own project responsibilities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like inclusive design, advanced prototyping, or specific product domains (e.g., lending, payments).
• Cross-Functional Skill Enhancement: Exposure to product management, engineering processes, and user research methodologies can broaden your understanding of the product lifecycle.
• Leadership and Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal opportunities to develop leadership and mentoring skills.
• Industry Engagement: The role encourages exploring new tools, which could extend to attending industry conferences or workshops relevant to UX/UI and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior design roles in large organizations, requiring strong problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering clear pathways for career advancement and skill diversification within the product development and operations spectrum of American Express.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Methodology: "Describe your end-to-end design process for a complex digital product, from initial concept to final delivery. How do you incorporate user research and business goals?" (Focus on your structured approach, use of tools, and collaboration.)
• Design System & Consistency: "How do you ensure design consistency and leverage design systems in your work? Provide an example of how you've contributed to or improved a design system." (Highlight your understanding of scalability and efficiency.)
• Problem-Solving & Trade-offs: "Walk me through a challenging design problem you faced. What were the constraints (technical, business, user), what solutions did you explore, and what trade-offs did you make?" (Show analytical thinking and decision-making.)
• User Advocacy: "How do you champion user needs when they conflict with business objectives or technical limitations?" (Demonstrate your empathy and negotiation skills.)
• Agile/Lean Experience: "Describe your experience working within agile or lean product development environments. How do you collaborate with engineering and product managers in these settings?" (Highlight your adaptability and teamwork.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about American Express and this specific Product Designer role?" (Research Amex's mission, values, and recent product innovations.)
• "How do you align with American Express's 'risk mindset' and commitment to trust and security?" (Connect your design approach to these principles.)
• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with diverse stakeholders with differing opinions. How did you reach a consensus?" (Showcase your interpersonal and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.
• Quantify Your Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion, user satisfaction scores).
• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention who you worked with and how you collaborated to achieve the final outcome.
• Showcase Your Process: Don't just show pretty screens; explain the "why" behind your design decisions and the steps you took to arrive at them.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical feasibility, and alternative solutions.
• Passion for Users: Convey your genuine commitment to creating user-centered experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design prowess, but also operational awareness. This includes understanding how design impacts development efficiency, compliance, and scalability. Highlighting experience with design systems, accessibility, and cross-functional collaboration will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided American Express careers portal link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end design process, complex problem-solving, and collaboration within large organizations. Ensure it clearly showcases your skills in UX/UI design, prototyping, and user flow creation.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 7+ years of UX/Interaction experience, proficiency in Figma and InVision, understanding of HTML/CSS/JavaScript limitations, and any experience with design systems or accessibility standards. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for key portfolio pieces. Prepare to discuss your experience with design thinking, agile methodologies, and user advocacy. Research American Express's brand, values, and recent product launches.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with American Express's culture, values, and their commitment to "trust, security, and service." Understand how a strong "risk mindset" influences their product development.

⚠️ 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.