Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: KEV Group

Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial discovery and requirements gathering through to successful delivery and post-launch iterations.

• Craft intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing user interfaces for both web and mobile applications, employing a test-and-learn methodology to refine user experiences.

• Conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing to validate design assumptions and ensure that user needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, and key stakeholders to deeply understand user needs and translate complex requirements into elegant, effective design solutions.

• Develop detailed design specifications and work closely with the Engineering team to guarantee the accurate and high-quality implementation of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the description emphasizes "mission-critical financial software" and "massive scale," this role requires a designer comfortable with complex workflows and data-intensive applications, ensuring clarity and usability in a B2B SaaS context. The hybrid model suggests a need for strong remote collaboration skills alongside in-office teamwork.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the entire design lifecycle for key product features and initiatives, ensuring a seamless and high-quality user experience from conception to deployment.

• Design and iterate on wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to cross-functional teams.

• Lead and execute user research activities, including interviews, surveys, and usability studies, to gather actionable insights that inform and validate design decisions.

• Contribute to the development and evolution of KEV's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product interfaces.

• Translate complex financial and operational workflows into clear, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces for K-12 educational institutions.

• Partner with Product Management to define product strategy and roadmap, ensuring design considerations are integrated from the outset.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure pixel-perfect implementation of designs and to provide ongoing design support throughout the development process.

• Present design work and rationale clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders, including executive leadership, product teams, and engineering.

• Utilize user feedback, product analytics, and data-driven insights to continuously iterate and improve existing designs and user experiences.

• Stay abreast of the latest UX/UI trends, design best practices, and emerging technologies relevant to SaaS and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on "financial software for K–12 schools" implies a need for designers who can handle sensitive data, complex regulatory environments, and a diverse user base with varying technical proficiencies. The responsibilities highlight a need for both strategic thinking and meticulous execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 3-5 years of professional experience specifically as a Product Designer, with a strong preference for experience within a B2B SaaS environment.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in UI and visual design, with a strong portfolio showcasing a keen eye for detail and aesthetic principles across desktop and mobile platforms.

• Proficient in core UX methodologies, including user research, persona development, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), or similar platforms.

• Strong understanding of design systems, component libraries, and their application in ensuring product consistency and scalability.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing effectively to meet deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for financial software, accounting platforms, or complex data management systems.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and experience working within cross-functional agile teams.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and experience designing inclusive products.

• Experience with user analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) and interpreting data to inform design decisions.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3-5 years of experience and a Bachelor's degree suggests this is a mid-level role, expecting candidates to be largely autonomous on design projects but still growing their strategic influence. Proficiency in Figma is highly probable given its industry prevalence.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating your process from problem definition to final solution.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, design process, key decisions, and the impact of your solutions.

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for both web and mobile applications.

• Evidence of user research methodologies employed, including insights gathered and how they informed design decisions.

• Demonstrations of how you have contributed to or utilized design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to user research, including methods for participant recruitment, data synthesis, and reporting findings.

• Detail your process for ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and iterating based on feedback and testing.

• Provide examples of how you collaborate with product managers and engineers, including your process for handoff and implementation support.

• Illustrate your experience in developing and maintaining design systems, including component creation, documentation, and governance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, particularly in SaaS, a strong portfolio is paramount. It should not just show polished visuals but also the critical thinking, user-centricity, and collaborative process behind the designs. The emphasis on "complex workflows" suggests a need for case studies that tackle intricate problems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: CAD $75,000 - $100,000 annually.

• Explanation: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 3-5 years of experience in the Toronto/Cambridge, Ontario tech market. Factors considered include the company's focus on mission-critical SaaS, the hybrid work model, and typical compensation structures for mid-level design roles in Canada.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.

• Comprehensive benefits designed to support employee well-being, both professionally and personally.

• Retirement savings support, including RRSP matching for Canadian employees and 401(k) contributions for U.S. employees.

• Robust professional development opportunities through KEV Academy and KEV University, fostering continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Hybrid work model with 3 designated in-office days per week, balancing collaboration with flexibility.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, including nearly four weeks of vacation.

• Company-wide holiday closure, providing dedicated time for rest and rejuvenation.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid model offers flexibility, with 3 days requiring in-office presence and the remaining days allowing for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits list is comprehensive. The inclusion of both RRSP matching (Canada) and 401(k) (US) indicates KEV Group has employees in both regions and supports retirement savings across borders. The mention of KEV Academy and KEV University points to a strong commitment to employee growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS), Education, Financial Services. KEV Group operates at the intersection of these sectors, providing mission-critical financial software for K-12 schools.

Company Size: KEV Group is a growing company, indicated by its investment in scaling and hiring for key roles like this. While not explicitly stated, the structure suggests a mid-sized SaaS company (likely 50-250 employees, based on typical growth trajectories for companies managing $8B annually). This size often means a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact but also well-defined processes.

Founded: KEV Group was founded to address the complex financial management needs of K-12 schools, indicating a long-term commitment to this niche market. The company's focus on "cloud-native, data-driven technology" suggests a modern, forward-thinking approach to software development.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is described as "growing," implying an opportunity to shape its future.

• This role involves close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams, indicating a cross-functional, agile team structure.

Methodology:

• KEV Group employs a "test-and-learn approach" in design, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and continuous iteration based on user feedback and analytics.

• The company's culture is characterized by challenging the status quo, constant iteration, and a focus on how solutions benefit schools and students ("The KEV Way").

• Design activities are integrated from product discovery through to delivery, highlighting a commitment to user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

Company Website: https://kevgroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: KEV Group's focus on K-12 education financial software positions it as a company with a strong social impact mission. The emphasis on "engineering excellence," "cloud-native," and "data-driven technology" suggests a technically sophisticated organization. The "growing team" aspect implies potential for career advancement and influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Product Designer role is positioned at a mid-level, typically requiring 3-5 years of experience. It involves owning design initiatives end-to-end, indicating a significant level of responsibility and autonomy once onboarded. The role is crucial for translating complex business needs into user-friendly interfaces, directly impacting customer satisfaction and product adoption.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Product Designers often report into a Design Lead, Head of Product, or Product Management. Given the collaborative nature described, this role will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, suggesting a matrixed reporting structure common in tech companies.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of KEV Group's financial software. By creating intuitive experiences, they enable school administrators and staff to manage finances more efficiently, reduce errors, and gain better visibility, ultimately supporting educational outcomes. This role is pivotal in ensuring the company's "mission-critical" software is not only powerful but also delightful and easy to use, directly influencing customer retention and acquisition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in B2B SaaS design, complex financial workflows, and potentially specialized areas like accessibility or design systems.

• Leadership Potential: As the design team grows, there may be opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead specific product areas, or contribute to the strategic direction of the design function.

• Career Pathing: Potential to move into Senior Product Designer roles, UX Lead positions, or even explore adjacent areas like Product Management or UX Research, depending on individual interests and company growth.

• Cross-functional Experience: Gaining deep experience working within agile teams, understanding the intricacies of SaaS development, and contributing to a product that serves a critical public sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "scaling fast" and "growing team" strongly suggests that career growth and development opportunities will be significant for individuals joining KEV Group at this stage. The role provides a solid foundation in B2B SaaS product design with a unique industry focus.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: KEV Group operates a hybrid work model, requiring 3 days per week in the office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, team building, and focused work sessions.

Office Location(s): The role is available in Cambridge, Ontario, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Candidates should expect to work from one of these office locations for the designated in-office days.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is geared towards collaboration, with designated days for in-person interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and other team members.

• Expect to have access to standard design tools and technology required for the role, including necessary software licenses and potentially ergonomic workstations.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues will be frequent on in-office days, fostering team cohesion and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).

• Hybrid arrangement: 3 days in the office, 2 days remote. This structure supports focused individual work while ensuring regular in-person collaboration.

• Flexible PTO and company-wide holiday closures contribute to a work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model implies that candidates must be comfortable commuting to either Cambridge or Toronto for a portion of their work week. The office environment is likely designed to maximize the value of in-person collaboration days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will likely review applications and resumes, focusing on relevant experience, skills, and portfolio quality.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager (likely a Design Lead or Head of Product) to assess experience, cultural fit, and alignment with the role's responsibilities.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A critical stage where candidates will present their portfolio, discuss their process, and potentially complete a take-home design exercise or a live design critique. This is where strategic thinking, problem-solving, and execution skills are evaluated.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to gauge collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and ability to work within a cross-functional team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to confirm alignment with company vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Narrative is Key: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, and the measurable impact or learnings from each project. Don't just show visuals; tell the story behind them.

• Showcase Your Process: Include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations to demonstrate your thinking, not just the final polished UI.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that are most relevant to B2B SaaS, complex workflows, or financial applications. Emphasize how you've solved user problems and met business objectives.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, disagreements, and collaboration challenges.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research KEV Group and its products to understand the user base and business context.

• Define the Problem: Clearly define the problem you are trying to solve and the key user needs you are addressing.

• Structure Your Approach: Outline your design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing stages.

• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design decisions.

• Time Management: If it's a live challenge, manage your time effectively to cover all essential aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on end-to-end ownership and collaboration with Product Management and Engineering suggests the interview process will heavily scrutinize a candidate's ability to function effectively within a product development team and articulate the business value of design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a strong requirement for creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and collaborating on design systems.

• Sketch: Proficiency is also highly valued, as some teams or legacy projects may still utilize it.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD): Useful for asset creation, image editing, and potentially prototyping, depending on team workflow.

Prototyping Tools:

User Research & Testing Tools:

Design System Management:

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for project tracking and team communication.

Analytics & Data Interpretation:

• Familiarity with user analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is likely the primary tool. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with design systems and how they contribute to or utilize them, as this is critical for maintaining consistency in a growing product suite.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user problems, with a focus on how designs directly benefit K-12 schools and students.

• Excellence & Innovation: A culture that challenges the status quo, encourages continuous improvement, and strives for high-quality, modern solutions ("The KEV Way").

• Collaboration & Accountability: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, taking ownership of design initiatives, and delivering on commitments.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on making a tangible difference in the education sector, where the work has a meaningful purpose.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing user feedback, analytics, and testing to validate designs and drive iterative improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Designers work closely with Product Managers to define strategy and requirements, and with Engineers to ensure high-quality implementation.

• Open Communication: Clear and transparent communication is valued, with regular presentations of design work to stakeholders.

• Feedback Integration: A willingness to receive and act on feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users.

• Hybrid Teamwork: Balancing effective remote collaboration with the benefits of in-person interaction during office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes purpose ("Make a real difference every day") and continuous improvement ("The KEV Way"). Candidates should highlight their ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid setting and their commitment to data-informed design decisions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Translating intricate financial and administrative workflows into intuitive user experiences for a diverse user base in the K-12 sector.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Ensuring designs are user-friendly while also meeting business objectives and technical constraints within a SaaS product.

• Scaling Design Systems: Contributing to and maintaining a design system for a rapidly growing product portfolio to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong relationships with team members across remote and in-office settings.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to a high-growth B2B SaaS environment where priorities can shift, requiring agility and effective time management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in B2B SaaS product design, financial technology UX, or advanced design system implementation.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced Product Managers and Engineers, and to mentor junior designers as the team grows.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within the K-12 education technology market.

• Career Advancement: Clear pathways for growth into Senior Designer roles or leadership positions within the expanding design team.

• Professional Development: Access to KEV Academy and KEV University for structured learning and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a growing SaaS company in a specialized vertical. The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly given the company's scaling trajectory and investment in employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex workflow you've designed and how you simplified it for users." (Focus on your process, user research, and problem-solving approach).

• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints in your design process?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and compromise skills).

• "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where you significantly impacted the user experience or business outcomes. What metrics did you use to measure success?" (Prepare a strong case study showcasing your process and results).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as KEV Group's biggest design challenges or opportunities?" (Show you've done your homework on the company and industry).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Emphasize your communication and teamwork skills).

• "What does 'The KEV Way' mean to you, and how would your design approach align with it?" (Connect your values and working style to the company's stated principles).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 Strongest Projects: Choose projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and relevance to KEV Group's domain.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, cover: Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, and Outcome/Learnings.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about specific design choices, trade-offs, and methodologies.

• Showcase Tools & Systems: Discuss your proficiency with Figma and your experience with design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will likely probe your understanding of B2B SaaS design principles, your ability to handle complex data and workflows, and your collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, emphasizing your thought process and impact.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Utilize the application link provided on the KEV Group careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 3-5 years of experience in Product Design, specifically mentioning B2B SaaS, UI/UX, user research, and proficiency in design tools like Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio with 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it highlights relevant experience in complex workflows or SaaS environments.

• Research KEV Group: Familiarize yourself with KEV Group's mission, products, and company culture. Understand their focus on K-12 financial software and "The KEV Way."

• Practice Your Presentation: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and project outcomes clearly and concisely during portfolio review sessions. Prepare to discuss your experience with collaboration in a hybrid environment.

⚠️ 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.