Product Designer - Home Lending

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Home Lending

Company: Bankwest

Location: Perth, WA - 300 Murray Street - Bankwest Place, Australia

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Experience Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-23

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design within the Home Lending sector, focusing on customer-led digital experiences.

• Champion a collaborative, cross-functional approach to design, working closely with Product, Engineering, and CX Strategy teams.

• Utilize a blend of qualitative and quantitative research, user insights, and data analysis to define and solve complex customer problems.

• Contribute to the evolution and application of the company's design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across digital touchpoints.

• This role is a 12-month fixed-term contract, offering a focused opportunity to impact a core business area.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description is for a "Product Designer," the emphasis on "customer-led design," "digital ecosystem," "experience design," and "cross-functional collaboration" strongly positions this role within the broader GTM (Go-to-Market) and customer experience operations, particularly in how product design directly influences customer acquisition and retention strategies. The "Home Lending" focus implies a deep dive into a critical revenue-generating product line, requiring a designer who understands user journeys, business constraints, and the impact of design on conversion and customer satisfaction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle, from initial problem discovery and opportunity framing to validated solution delivery.

• Conduct and synthesize research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods to unearth customer needs and validate hypotheses.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including journey maps, service design blueprints, user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Plan and execute usability testing sessions, iterating on designs based on customer feedback and performance data.

• Translate strategic objectives and customer insights into clear, actionable design direction for product and engineering teams.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure design solutions are feasible, deliverable, and aligned with business goals.

• Communicate design rationale effectively to stakeholders through clear storytelling, presentations, and well-structured playback sessions.

• Apply and contribute to the company's design system, ensuring consistency in visual design, interaction design, and overall user experience.

• Actively participate in continuous discovery processes, balancing proactive exploration with supportive delivery of ongoing product enhancements.

• Foster strong partnerships with business stakeholders to understand constraints, manage trade-offs, and influence product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking, hands-on execution, and strong communication. For operations professionals, this means understanding how design decisions directly impact user adoption, conversion rates, and customer lifetime value within the Home Lending product. The emphasis on "problem space leadership" and "turning ambiguity into clarity" suggests a need for analytical rigor and a structured approach to problem-solving, akin to operations strategy development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of design principles is paramount. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of hands-on experience in product design, with a focus on end-to-end product development.

• Proven track record in designing for digital products, ideally within financial services or complex regulated environments.

Required Skills:

• End-to-end Product Design: Demonstrated ability to manage the entire design process from discovery to delivery.

• Lean UX & Prototyping: Strong capability in synthesizing learnings, rapid prototyping (e.g., Figma), and validating concepts.

• User Research: Proficiency in planning and conducting qualitative and quantitative research, including usability testing.

• Customer Journey Mapping: Ability to understand and map complex customer journeys and identify key experience improvement opportunities.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with product, engineering, and business teams.

• Problem Framing: Skill in defining clear problem statements and validating opportunities through data and customer insights.

• Design System Application: Experience applying and contributing to design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to communicate design rationale clearly and influence diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the Home Lending or broader financial services domain.

• Familiarity with service design blueprints and advanced journey mapping techniques.

• AI literacy and a demonstrated willingness to adopt new tools and technologies responsibly.

• Understanding of business and technology constraints, coupled with a risk-aware mindset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI literacy" requirement is a forward-thinking addition, suggesting the company is looking for designers who can leverage emerging technologies responsibly. This aligns with operations' increasing reliance on AI for automation and analytics. The explicit mention of "risk-aware mindset" is crucial for a financial institution and implies a need for designers to consider compliance, security, and regulatory implications in their work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your involvement across the full product design lifecycle (discovery, research, design, validation, delivery).

• Problem Definition & Solution: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, the insights that drove your approach, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Process & Methodology: Detail the methods and tools used at each stage, including research techniques, ideation processes, prototyping tools (e.g., Figma), and testing methodologies.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or customer satisfaction. For the Home Lending domain, this could include metrics related to application completion rates, lead generation, or customer onboarding efficiency.

• Collaboration Evidence: Highlight instances of cross-functional collaboration and how you influenced product direction.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate experience in mapping and optimizing complex user workflows, particularly relevant to financial product applications.

• Iteration & Validation: Provide examples of how you iterated on designs based on user feedback and data, showing a clear path from concept to refined solution.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, showcase instances where you applied or contributed to a design system, explaining the benefits achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, a portfolio is akin to a "process portfolio." The emphasis here should be on demonstrating a structured, data-informed approach to problem-solving and solution design, mirroring how operations professionals document and improve processes. Highlighting measurable outcomes and the ability to navigate complex workflows is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

For a mid-level Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Perth, Australia, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $90,000 - $120,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major Australian cities, considering the financial services sector and the specific responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements: Promoting work-life balance and autonomy.

• Career development resources: Access to training, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Annual volunteer leave: Paid time off to contribute to community causes.

• Work perks: A range of benefits covering financial, lifestyle, and general wellbeing initiatives.

• Recognition programs: Formal and informal recognition for outstanding work and contributions.

• Fixed Term Contract: This role is for a 12-month fixed term contract.

Working Hours:

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

• Flexibility is offered through remote/hybrid arrangements, though this specific role is on-site in Perth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for a mid-level Product Designer in Perth. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the outcome of the interview process. The benefits listed are standard for a large financial institution and align with employee value propositions that attract and retain talent in competitive markets.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking & Financial Services. Bankwest, as part of the Commonwealth Bank Group, operates in a highly regulated and competitive financial landscape, increasingly focused on digital transformation.

Company Size: Large (Part of Commonwealth Bank Group, which is one of Australia's largest corporations). This implies access to significant resources, established processes, and a structured corporate environment.

Founded: Bankwest has a long history, founded in 1895, but is now undergoing significant transformation to become a "digital bank." This historical context combined with a forward-looking digital strategy creates a unique operational environment.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer sits within the Brand and Experience team, part of Customer, Marketing, and Communications.

• This team is described as a "cross-functional, highly collaborative group" including CX strategy, product design, experience design, and accessibility.

• They work within a "product trio" model comprising Product, Design, and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Customer-led Design: A core principle, ensuring customer needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing voice of customer insights, behavioral data, and market analysis to inform strategy and design.

• Lean UX & Agile: Employing iterative design processes, continuous discovery, and supporting smooth delivery within agile frameworks.

• Design System Application: Leveraging a standardized design system for consistency and efficiency.

• Risk-Aware Approach: Integrating business and technology constraints, with a mindful approach to risk and compliance.

Company Website: https://www.bankwest.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a significant digital transformation initiative, aiming to blend the stability of a long-standing bank with the agility of a modern digital entity. For operations professionals, this means navigating established corporate structures while embracing agile methodologies and a strong focus on customer experience and data utilization. The mention of "Made by Us" culture suggests an emphasis on employee ownership and contribution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (2-5 years experience) within the design function. It offers the opportunity to take ownership of specific problem spaces and contribute significantly to product strategy and execution. It's a step towards Senior Designer or Lead roles.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports into the Brand and Experience team, likely within a management structure overseeing CX strategy and design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their product trio.

Operations Impact: Product design in this context has a direct impact on customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction within the critical Home Lending product line. Successful design translates directly to improved customer journeys, increased application completion rates, and a stronger brand perception, all of which are key revenue and efficiency drivers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in Home Lending and financial product design.

• Leadership: Develop skills in leading discovery, influencing product strategy, and mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of product management, engineering processes, and marketing communications.

• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to influence and evolve the design system.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in UX research, prototyping, and emerging technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a pathway to understand how customer-facing product strategy is executed and how design impacts GTM success. Growth opportunities mirror typical operations career progression: deepening functional expertise, developing leadership skills, and expanding strategic influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at Bankwest Place, 300 Murray Street, Perth, WA. This suggests a corporate office environment within a major city hub. The description emphasizes collaboration, implying a physical workspace designed to foster interaction.

Office Location(s): Primarily Perth, Western Australia.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes "highly collaborative group," "cross-functional," and "product trio" work, indicating a dynamic and interactive workspace.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software (likely Figma), prototyping tools, and potentially internal collaboration platforms. The mention of AI literacy suggests potential integration of AI tools into the workflow.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with product managers, engineers, CX strategists, and accessibility specialists.

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time, on-site role in Perth, WA, for a 12-month fixed-term contract. While flexibility is mentioned as a general company benefit, the "On-site" categorization suggests a primary expectation to work from the Perth office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" work arrangement is a key detail. For operations professionals, this means understanding the day-to-day workflow will involve in-person collaboration and adherence to office-based routines, which can impact process execution and team dynamics compared to fully remote roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess core qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through selected case studies, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role and contributions in detail.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers or stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.

• Scenario-Based Questions: You may be asked to discuss how you would approach specific design challenges or problems relevant to Home Lending.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end design process and impact, ideally including one related to financial services or complex user journeys.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study with a clear narrative: Problem -> Research & Insights -> Ideation -> Design Solutions -> Testing & Iteration -> Outcomes & Learnings.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in collaborative projects.

• Showcase Process: Emphasize your methodology, research techniques, and how you used data and user feedback to inform decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design rationale, trade-offs, challenges faced, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem-Solving: Be ready to articulate your approach to defining and solving ambiguous problems. Practice breaking down complex user journeys.

• Design Thinking: Demonstrate your understanding of user-centered design principles and how to apply them in a business context.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams and managed differing opinions.

• Home Lending Context: Familiarize yourself with the Home Lending process in Australia and common customer pain points.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and case studies is crucial. This is where operations candidates can shine by demonstrating structured problem-solving, process mapping, and quantifiable results, mirroring the expectations for operations roles. Preparing to articulate your "process" for design is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned for prototyping; expect this to be the primary UI/UX design and prototyping tool.

• Design System Tools: Likely components and documentation within Figma or a separate platform (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook).

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, potentially InVision, Axure, or similar for higher fidelity or specific interaction needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Customer Insight Platforms: Tools for gathering and analyzing voice of customer feedback (e.g., survey tools, feedback platforms).

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data from dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly designing CRM systems, understanding how product design impacts lead generation and customer onboarding within a CRM context is beneficial. Familiarity with how user journeys integrate with sales and marketing automation workflows is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, the key takeaway is the reliance on digital tools for design, collaboration, and data analysis. Proficiency in Figma and an understanding of how design impacts downstream processes (like lead management within a CRM) are important. The mention of AI literacy suggests an openness to leveraging AI-powered design assistance or analytics tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A fundamental principle driving all design and product decisions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively within cross-functional teams ("product trios," Brand & Experience team).

• Bold Thinking & Curiosity: Encouragement to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo in pursuit of digital transformation.

• Efficiency & Consistency: Application and evolution of the design system to ensure cohesive and efficient user experiences.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing insights and data to inform design choices and validate outcomes.

• Risk Awareness: Operating within the constraints of a regulated industry with a focus on security and compliance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure holistic product development.

• Open Communication: Clear articulation of design rationale and active listening to stakeholder input.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Continuous engagement with customers and internal teams to refine designs.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for product success within the "product trio" and broader teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align closely with operational excellence: a focus on data, efficiency, cross-functional alignment, and customer outcomes. Understanding these values will help candidates tailor their responses to demonstrate cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Customer Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: A common challenge in product design, especially within a regulated financial institution. This requires strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Turning complex problems and evolving requirements into clear design solutions.

• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Ensuring stakeholders and users embrace and effectively use new features and interfaces.

• Maintaining Consistency Across a Digital Ecosystem: Ensuring a cohesive experience across various touchpoints, especially during a digital transformation.

• Working within a Fixed-Term Contract: Adapting quickly and delivering impact within a defined timeframe.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Home Lending: Gaining specialized knowledge in a critical financial product area.

• Advanced UX Methodologies: Exposure to sophisticated research, design, and validation techniques.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to the growth and refinement of a company-wide design system.

• AI & Emerging Technologies: Exploring responsible adoption of AI in design processes.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Learning from Product Managers, Engineers, and CX Strategists.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding these challenges allows candidates to proactively prepare solutions and demonstrate their problem-solving capabilities. For operations roles, framing these as "process improvement opportunities" or "efficiency challenges" can be a useful parallel.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a feature or product. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Focus on detail, iteration, and impact)

• "How do you balance customer needs with business and technical constraints? Provide an example." (Highlight negotiation, trade-offs, and evidence-based recommendations)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our Home Lending application based on [hypothetical scenario]?" (Demonstrate your problem-framing and discovery process)

• "Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders who disagreed with your design direction." (Focus on communication, storytelling, and data-driven persuasion)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Bankwest's mission to become Australia's favourite digital bank?" (Show research into their transformation goals)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" (Align with "product trio" and cross-functional collaboration emphasis)

• "How do you approach learning and adapting to new tools or technologies, such as AI?" (Address AI literacy and continuous learning)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Follow a clear narrative for each case study: Context/Problem -> Your Role -> Process/Methodology -> Solution -> Impact/Results -> Learnings.

• Be Concise: Focus on the most critical aspects of each case study. Allocate time for Q&A.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with product, engineering, and stakeholders.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, diagrams) effectively.

• Prepare for Detail: Be ready to deep-dive into any aspect of your process or design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is directly transferable to operations roles. The core skills being assessed – problem-solving, data-driven decision-making, stakeholder management, and process articulation – are fundamental across both disciplines.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your experience in end-to-end product design, user research, prototyping (especially Figma), and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies showcasing your process, problem-solving, and impact. Ensure they are well-structured, visually appealing, and clearly articulate your role.

• Prepare for Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting your case studies concisely, focusing on your process, insights, design decisions, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your work.

• Research Bankwest: Understand their digital transformation goals, customer focus, and the Home Lending product space to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions based on the provided data. While comprehensive, it's essential to verify all details directly with Bankwest during the application and interview process. The role is a 12-month fixed-term contract.