Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT)

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Go-To-Market (GTM) Operations Support

Date Posted: February 17, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the future of business travel technology by translating complex user needs into intuitive and elegant product designs, directly impacting millions of business travelers, coordinators, and agents globally.

• The Product Designer will be instrumental in driving innovation within a fast-paced B2B/SaaS environment, contributing to the development and shipment of sophisticated products that redefine the business travel experience.

• You will operate within a hybrid design structure, belonging to a centralized design team for global brand consistency and to agile pod teams (product management, development, research) for focused product development cycles.

• This position requires a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on design execution, and a strong collaborative spirit to solve complex problems with a user-centric approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the context of "redefining business travel," "sophisticated products that empower millions," and the focus on user needs and cross-functional collaboration strongly aligns this role with GTM operations support. The designer's output directly influences the usability and adoption of tools used by large user bases, impacting the efficiency and effectiveness of travel management processes. The emphasis on B2B/SaaS and user-centered design for business users is a key differentiator.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and observational studies, to deeply understand user needs, behaviors, pain points, and workflows within the business travel ecosystem.

• Develop user personas, detailed journey maps, and experience maps to effectively communicate user insights and inform design decisions, ensuring a holistic view of the user experience.

• Create a range of design artifacts, including low-fidelity wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes, to visualize and test design concepts and solutions.

• Plan and execute usability testing sessions, systematically gather user feedback, and iterate on designs to ensure optimal usability, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Software Developers, User Researchers, and other cross-functional stakeholders to ensure design feasibility, technical alignment, and successful product launch.

• Actively contribute to and maintain the company's Design System, ensuring design consistency, scalability, and adherence to global product and brand identity standards across all products.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, prioritizing tasks and delivering high-quality work within project timelines.

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, design methodologies, and best practices in B2B/SaaS product design and travel technology innovation.

• Champion and contribute to the evolution of a scalable Design System, ensuring its utility and adoption across product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are standard for a Product Designer, but the context of "business travel," "B2B/SaaS," and "empowering millions of users" highlights the operational impact. The designer's work directly influences how effectively business travelers, coordinators, and agents can perform their tasks, impacting efficiency, cost savings, and compliance within corporate travel programs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is beneficial.

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in Product Design, with a significant portion in a B2B / SaaS environment.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design Expertise: Proven ability to apply user-centered design principles, methodologies, and deliver a full range of UX/UI design deliverables.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and design system management.

• User Research & Testing: Experience with various user research methodologies (interviews, surveys, usability testing) and tools to gather actionable insights.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to articulate design rationale, present findings, and collaborate effectively with diverse, cross-functional teams.

• Problem-Solving Acumen: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to break down complex problems into elegant and actionable design solutions.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to, maintaining, or utilizing a comprehensive Design System.

• Accessibility Standards: Solid understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.

Preferred Skills:

• B2B/SaaS Experience: Prior experience designing for business-to-business software-as-a-service platforms, understanding enterprise user needs and workflows.

• Travel Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the business travel industry, its challenges, and user behaviors.

• French Language Proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written French is a plus, facilitating collaboration with international teams.

• Experience Mapping: Expertise in creating user journey maps, experience maps, and service blueprints.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with other prototyping or animation tools beyond Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years of experience" and "B2B/SaaS environment" requirements suggest a mid-level to senior Product Designer role. The emphasis on Figma is critical, and candidates should be prepared to showcase their portfolio's depth in user research and system thinking. The mention of French as a plus indicates potential international collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated User-Centered Design Process: A robust portfolio showcasing a clear, end-to-end user-centered design process, from initial research and ideation to final design execution and iteration.

• B2B/SaaS Case Studies: At least 2-3 detailed case studies highlighting experience with complex B2B or SaaS products, detailing the problem, your role, the process followed, challenges overcome, and measurable outcomes.

• Figma Deliverables: Evidence of work created in Figma, including wireframes, interactive prototypes, and contributions to design systems or style guides.

• User Research Integration: Examples of how user research insights directly informed design decisions and led to improved user experiences or business outcomes.

• Problem-Solving Examples: Clear articulation of how you approached and solved complex design challenges, demonstrating critical thinking and strategic design application.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Showcase examples of how you've designed or optimized complex workflows to improve efficiency and user satisfaction.

• System Implementation & Consistency: Illustrate your understanding of design systems and how you've contributed to or leveraged them to ensure product consistency and scalability.

• Metrics & ROI: Where possible, include examples where your design work has led to quantifiable improvements (e.g., increased task completion rates, reduced error rates, improved user adoption, positive feedback).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role at this level, a portfolio is paramount. Candidates must be ready to walk through their process, explain their rationale, and articulate the impact of their design decisions. The emphasis on B2B/SaaS and design systems suggests a need for mature design thinking beyond just UI aesthetics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for experienced Product Designers in Manchester, UK, a competitive salary range is estimated between £55,000 and £80,000 per annum. This estimate considers the experience level (5+ years), the B2B/SaaS focus, and the specific location within the UK.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Welfare: Access to health and welfare insurance plans tailored to local regulations and employee needs.

• Retirement Planning: Participation in retirement programs designed to support long-term financial security.

• Generous Parental Leave: Support for new parents through comprehensive parental leave policies.

• Adoption Assistance: Financial and logistical support for employees building their families through adoption.

• Wellbeing Resources: A suite of resources dedicated to supporting employee mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

• Exclusive Travel Perks: Access to weekly deals and discounts on flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises from major travel providers, reflecting the company's core business.

• Learning & Development: Extensive access to over 20,000 courses on the company's learning platform, including leadership development programs and opportunities for continuous skill enhancement.

• Internal Mobility: Priority access to new job openings within the company, fostering internal career progression.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an expected average of 40 hours per week. While on-site is the primary arrangement, the company culture suggests a balance, and specific daily schedules within the standard working week may offer some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from common compensation data for experienced Product Designers in major UK cities like Manchester, considering the company's industry and scale. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a unique emphasis on travel perks directly aligned with Amex GBT's business.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Business Travel and Technology. Amex GBT operates at the intersection of travel services and enterprise technology, aiming to modernize and streamline corporate travel management through digital solutions.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees globally). This scale implies robust processes, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a vast user base, but also a need for clear communication and navigation of organizational structures.

Founded: 2014 (as an independent entity, though with roots in American Express's travel services). This indicates a company with established market presence and a history of innovation within the travel sector.

Team Structure:

• Blended Design Model: Designers are part of a centralized Design Team responsible for global product and brand consistency, while also embedded within cross-functional "pod teams" (Product Management, Development, Research) focused on specific product lines or business areas.

• Pod Team Collaboration: Each pod team works as a cohesive unit to deliver entire lines of business, fostering close collaboration and shared ownership of product outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with Product Management for strategic direction, Development for technical feasibility, and Research for user insights, ensuring a holistic product development approach.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and addressing user needs as the primary driver for product development and design.

• Data-Informed Design: Utilizing user research, usability testing, and product analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Development: Working within agile methodologies, likely involving iterative design cycles, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• Design System Adoption: A commitment to building and leveraging a unified Design System to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across the product portfolio.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "travel innovation" and "redefining business travel" suggests an environment that values forward-thinking solutions. The blended team structure is key to understanding how designers operate, balancing global standards with agile product delivery.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level to senior Product Designer position. It involves significant autonomy in design execution, a strong influence on product direction through well-researched and articulated design proposals, and the responsibility for managing complex projects.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer likely reports to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the centralized design team, while also working closely with Product Managers within their assigned pod teams. This dual reporting/collaboration structure is common in agile environments.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the efficiency, adoption, and satisfaction of users interacting with Amex GBT's technology platforms. This includes business travelers managing itineraries, travel coordinators booking and managing trips, and travel agents supporting clients. Improved user experience translates to increased operational efficiency, reduced support costs, and higher employee productivity for client companies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, such as complex workflow design, enterprise-level UX, or contributing significantly to the evolution of the Design System.

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into Senior Product Designer roles, Lead Product Designer positions, or even Design Management roles, overseeing teams and strategy.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper insights into product management, user research methodologies, and software development processes through close collaboration.

• Industry Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge within the dynamic business travel technology sector, becoming a valuable expert in this niche.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential within a specialized industry. The "blended model" structure provides exposure to both centralized design strategy and agile product delivery, offering a well-rounded career development path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, indicating an on-site work arrangement. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): Manchester, United Kingdom. Specific details about the office amenities and accessibility would be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely features a mix of open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and dedicated areas for focused work, encouraging both spontaneous collaboration and deep concentration.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma), collaboration platforms, and potentially company-specific internal tools to support design and development workflows.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with design peers, product managers, developers, and researchers within the pod teams and the broader design community.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with standard working hours (approximately 40 hours per week). While the role is on-site, the company culture, as indicated by the benefits, suggests an understanding of work-life balance. Specific daily start/end times would align with local office norms and team requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Manchester is a key detail. Candidates should consider commute and local work culture. The emphasis on collaboration points to an environment where designers are integrated into product teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios, focusing on experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements. Candidates may be asked to submit a portfolio link with their application.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where the candidate presents 1-2 detailed case studies from their portfolio, walking through their design process, rationale, problem-solving approach, and the impact of their work. This is likely with a hiring manager or senior designer.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Candidates may be given a design challenge, either take-home or live, to assess their problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work within constraints relevant to Amex GBT's products.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Developers, and potentially User Researchers to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to integrate into a pod team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader within the design or product organization to discuss broader strategic alignment, cultural fit, and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest B2B/SaaS case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, key decisions and trade-offs, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Figma & Design Systems: Explicitly showcase your Figma proficiency and any experience with design systems. If you contributed to a system, explain its structure and your role.

• Emphasize User Research: Clearly demonstrate how user research informed your decisions and what the impact was.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design choices and explain the "why" behind every decision, especially regarding user needs and business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Amex GBT, its mission, its user base (business travelers, coordinators, agents), and the challenges in the business travel industry.

• Practice Problem Decomposition: Be ready to break down a given problem into smaller, manageable parts and articulate your approach to tackling each.

• Focus on Process: While the output is important, interviewers will assess your thought process, how you gather information, and how you would proceed.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your ideas concisely and effectively, especially when under time pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio and practical design skills. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their ability to handle complex B2B/SaaS challenges within a structured design process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and potentially design system management. Advanced proficiency is explicitly required.

• Design System: A proprietary or standardized design system for maintaining consistency and scalability across Amex GBT products.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) might be beneficial for broader understanding.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar, used to track user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion rates.

• Usability Testing Platforms: Tools for remote usability testing and feedback collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used by Product Managers or Researchers, but awareness of how design impacts data is useful.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct user, understanding how product design impacts CRM data and customer outreach is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing tasks, workflows, and project timelines within pod teams.

• Collaboration Suites: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Confluence for communication, documentation, and knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. Awareness of how design integrates with analytics and project management tools is crucial for effective collaboration within agile pod teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user problems, ensuring that design decisions are always grounded in user needs and behaviors.

• Innovation & Travel Passion: A drive to innovate within the business travel space, leveraging technology to create better experiences and support the company's mission.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing collective effort, open communication, and mutual support within pod teams and the broader design community.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high-quality design outputs, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering polished, scalable solutions.

• Inclusion: A commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and contribute to better product outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Pod Teams: Designers work daily and closely with Product Managers, Developers, and Researchers, fostering a highly collaborative and integrated product development process.

• Design System Community: Active participation in the design system community, sharing best practices, contributing components, and ensuring consistent application.

• Cross-Functional Workshops: Engaging in collaborative workshops for ideation, problem-solving, and design reviews with stakeholders from various departments.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on inclusion, collaboration, and user-centricity suggests a supportive yet results-oriented environment. Designers are expected to be active participants and contributors, not just executors.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Consistency with Local Needs: Ensuring a unified design system and product experience while catering to diverse user needs and regional variations in business travel.

• Navigating Complexity: Designing intuitive solutions for the inherently complex domain of business travel management, which involves multiple stakeholders and intricate processes.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to agile development cycles and delivering high-quality designs under tight deadlines, while maintaining design integrity.

• Driving Adoption of New Technologies: Encouraging the adoption of new features and tools among a broad user base, requiring clear communication and compelling user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepening expertise in building, scaling, and governing robust design systems.

• Specialized UX for Enterprise: Developing advanced skills in designing for complex B2B/SaaS applications and enterprise workflows.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the business travel industry, its regulations, and evolving technological landscape.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into leadership roles within the design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle significant design challenges within a high-impact industry, offering substantial room for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex B2B/SaaS product you designed from concept to launch. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and impact.)

• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business requirements and technical constraints in your design solutions?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and trade-off analysis.)

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research and how you translate those insights into actionable design improvements." (Demonstrate your research methodology and its practical application.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Amex GBT and the business travel industry specifically?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our user-centric and collaborative culture?" (Connect your values to the company's.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Impact First: Start by clearly stating the problem and the desired outcome/impact of your project.

• Process Clarity: Clearly outline your role and the steps you took, emphasizing user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points effectively.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your design solutions.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and the rationale behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing a robust, user-centered design process, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively. Demonstrating an understanding of B2B/SaaS challenges is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the Amex GBT careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio clearly highlights your experience with B2B/SaaS products, your end-to-end design process, and your proficiency in Figma. Tailor your presentation to showcase relevant case studies that align with business travel complexities.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI Design," "Figma," "User Research," "B2B/SaaS," "Design Systems," and "Agile" with specific achievement-based bullet points.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Practice articulating your rationale for key design decisions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Amex GBT's mission, services, target users, and recent news. Understand the challenges and opportunities within the business travel technology landscape to better align your responses with the company's goals.

⚠️ 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.

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