Product Designer I

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer I

Company: Zip Co Limited

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-10T02:31:31

Experience Level: Entry-level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Focus on designing intuitive, elegant, and engaging customer experiences for Zip's card spend journeys.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to solve customer problems, balancing desirability, feasibility, and business outcomes.

• Apply design thinking methodologies from initial problem definition through to high-quality execution and iterative improvement.

• Utilize qualitative and quantitative insights, including data and experimentation, to inform design decisions and drive product enhancements.

• Contribute to the evolution of the design system and support the growth of the design practice through knowledge sharing and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Product Designer I" title and the description emphasizing "end to end product design capability" and "partnering closely with Product and Engineering" suggest an entry-level role with significant mentorship and hands-on experience opportunities. The focus on "simple, delightful card spend experiences" points to a user-centric design approach within a fast-paced fintech environment. The hybrid work model indicates a need for strong communication and collaboration skills both in-person and remotely.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive, elegant, and engaging customer experiences across Zip’s card spend journeys, ensuring a seamless user flow.

• Partner with Product Managers and Engineers to identify customer pain points and develop innovative solutions that align with business objectives.

• Apply design thinking principles to understand complex problems, explore diverse solutions, and develop well-reasoned design opinions.

• Leverage qualitative and quantitative data, including user research, analytics, and A/B testing results, to inform design decisions and iterate on product features.

• Design, execute, and analyze experiments to continuously improve the user experience and optimize key product metrics.

• Champion a "Customer First" mindset, acting as a strong advocate for user needs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Contribute to the strategic roadmap for card products, and participate in the ongoing development and refinement of the design system.

• Support the growth and maturity of the design function by actively participating in design critiques, sharing knowledge, and providing constructive feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are framed to highlight the full design lifecycle, from problem definition and ideation to execution and iteration. Emphasis on "user insights," "experimentation," and "design system evolution" are key for operations candidates to understand the strategic value of design in driving product success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience is typically expected for this level.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience working as a Product Designer, with a strong emphasis on UX, UI, and interaction design.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in product design, with a portfolio showcasing end-to-end product work on mobile or app-based platforms.

• Proficiency in UX, UI, and interaction design principles and best practices.

• Strong visual design skills with an eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Experience working effectively within cross-functional teams, including Product Management and Engineering.

• Demonstrated ability to use qualitative and quantitative insights (data, research, experimentation) to inform design decisions.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly to diverse audiences.

• A curious mindset, with a strong desire to understand customer problems and uncover meaningful insights.

• Ability to prioritize and manage workload independently, balancing speed with a high standard of quality.

• Collaborative spirit with the confidence to respectfully challenge ideas and contribute to a positive team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies and their practical application.

• Experience contributing to or working with a design system.

• Exposure to working in a fast-paced, agile fintech environment.

• Familiarity with AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance design processes and outcomes.

• Understanding of risk management principles in a business context.

• Demonstrated alignment with company values: Customer First, Own It, Stronger Together, and Change the Game.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements are structured to attract candidates with demonstrable practical skills and a portfolio, rather than solely academic qualifications. The inclusion of "AI Tools" and "Risk Management" reflects current industry trends and company specific requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio is mandatory, showcasing mobile or app-based product design work.

• The portfolio should demonstrate end-to-end design thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

• Highlight strong visual and interaction design skills with clear examples of user flows and interfaces.

• Include case studies that explain the design process, the user problems addressed, the solutions developed, and the impact of those solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes, including user flows, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes.

• Experience in creating and maintaining design documentation that supports cross-functional team understanding and collaboration.

• Understanding of how to translate design decisions into actionable specifications for engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are crucial for design roles. This section emphasizes demonstrating process, problem-solving, and impact, which are key indicators of a candidate's ability to contribute effectively in a product design role, especially within an operations-minded company like Zip.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is an entry-level (Product Designer I) role in Sydney, Australia, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Sydney, an estimated annual salary could range from AUD $70,000 to $95,000, depending on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the outcome of the interview process.

Benefits:

• 25 days paid leave annually, inclusive of birthday leave.

• Quarterly wellbeing days to promote work-life balance.

• 16 weeks paid parental leave for primary carers, and 4 weeks for supporting carers.

• Comprehensive family support policies, including miscarriage bereavement leave and domestic violence leave.

• Mental health and wellness initiatives, such as a $299 annual wellbeing allowance.

• Free access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service, Sonder, for employees and their family members.

• Discounted private health insurance options.

• Great rates on fitness sessions through ClassPass.

• 2 days paid volunteering leave per year.

• Access to the Flare Benefits Hub for lifestyle, essential, and wellbeing savings.

• Access to Novated Leasing for potential financial benefits.

• Fee-free Zip products and discounts with Zip merchant partners.

• Regular team social events to foster camaraderie.

• Access to "epic offices" with free breakfast daily and weekly free lunches.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours is expected, with flexibility to accommodate hybrid working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical entry-level product design roles in Sydney, Australia, considering the fintech industry and the company's stated benefits. The benefits list is extensive and directly pulled from the job description, highlighting Zip's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Financial Services / Fintech. Zip Co Limited is a leading player in the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) and digital payments space, operating in a dynamic and rapidly evolving market.

Company Size: Zip Co Limited is a publicly traded company (ASX: ZIP) with a significant global presence, indicating a medium to large enterprise environment with established processes and growth ambitions. The specific size is not provided, but its market position suggests hundreds to thousands of employees globally.

Founded: Zip was founded in 2013, giving it over a decade of experience in the fintech sector. This history suggests a company that has navigated significant growth, market changes, and product evolution, likely fostering a culture that values innovation and adaptability.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design function operates within a broader Product and Engineering organization.

• Designers are embedded within cross-functional "squads" (e.g., the Card Spend squad), working as a close-knit triad with Product Managers and Engineers.

• This structure promotes agile development, direct collaboration, and shared ownership of product outcomes.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, with designers expected to use qualitative and quantitative insights, including data analysis and experimentation.

• Design thinking is the core methodology from problem definition through execution.

• Agile development and iterative product improvement are implied by the squad structure and focus on experimentation.

• A "Customer First" mindset guides all product development activities.

Company Website: https://zip.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is framed around values, innovation, and customer-centricity within the fast-paced fintech industry. The team structure highlights an agile, collaborative environment where designers are integral to product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Product Designer I," indicating an entry-level position. It is suitable for individuals with foundational design skills and a portfolio, seeking to build their career in product design within a reputable fintech organization. The role is focused on contributing to specific product squads and executing design tasks under guidance, while also developing independent decision-making capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer I will work within a "Card Spend squad" as part of a triad with a Product Manager and Engineers. They will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, who oversees the broader design function and provides mentorship. The emphasis on "stronger together" suggests a collaborative reporting dynamic focused on team success.

Operations Impact: While this is a design role, its impact is directly tied to "revenue operations" and "go-to-market" strategies through the creation of compelling customer experiences. By designing simple, delightful, and effective card spend journeys, this role directly influences customer adoption, engagement, retention, and ultimately, revenue generation for Zip's core products. The design of these experiences is critical for customer acquisition and satisfaction, which are foundational to the company's financial performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX, UI, interaction design, and potentially specialize further in areas like user research, design systems, or accessibility.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining hands-on experience working with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Data Analytics teams, understanding their roles and how design integrates with broader business functions.

• Design System Contribution: The role involves contributing to the design system, offering a chance to shape design standards and ensure consistency across products.

• Career Progression: Potential advancement to Product Designer II, Senior Product Designer, or specialized roles based on performance, skill development, and demonstrated leadership. The company's growth trajectory suggests ample opportunities for advancement.

• Learning & Development: Access to mentorship, feedback from experienced designers and product leaders, and the opportunity to learn new tools and methodologies, including AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section translates the design role into an "operations" context by highlighting its impact on revenue and customer acquisition. Growth opportunities are detailed, emphasizing skill development and career progression relevant to operations professionals seeking a structured path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description specifies a "Hybrid working with time together in our Sydney office." This indicates a modern office environment designed to support collaboration and team cohesion, alongside the flexibility of remote work. The office likely features collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and amenities to facilitate in-person interaction and focused work.

Office Location(s): Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The exact office location within Sydney is not specified, but it is implied to be a central and accessible urban location typical for corporate headquarters.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model emphasizes intentional time spent in the office for collaboration, team building, and knowledge sharing, suggesting an environment that values in-person interaction for brainstorming and problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed, a design role at a fintech company like Zip would typically involve access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite), collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence), and potentially prototyping tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, fellow designers, and other stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and interconnected work experience.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule of approximately 40 hours per week is expected. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing employees to balance office-based work with remote productivity. This structure supports the need for focused design work, which may require uninterrupted blocks of time, while also facilitating collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment section focuses on the practical aspects of the hybrid model and its implications for collaboration and productivity, relevant to operations professionals who value efficient and supportive workspaces.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and design quality.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you'll present your portfolio, walk through selected case studies, and discuss your design process, rationale, and impact. Be prepared to answer questions about your decision-making.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be given a take-home assignment or a live design challenge to assess your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to work under time constraints. This could involve designing a feature or solving a specific user problem.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers from the Card Spend squad to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively in a triad.

• Hiring Manager/Team Lead Interview: A final interview to assess cultural fit, career aspirations, and overall suitability for the role and the design team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate end-to-end design thinking and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes or learnings.

• Show Your Process: Detail your research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased user satisfaction). If direct metrics aren't available, discuss potential impact and learnings.

• Tailor to Zip: Understand Zip's products and target audience. If possible, include projects that align with fintech or customer experience design.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, how you collaborate, and how you use data.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Thoroughly read and understand the design challenge prompt. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across research, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Focus on Process: Even if you can't complete a fully polished design, demonstrate your thought process and how you would approach the problem.

• Communicate Clearly: Prepare a concise and clear presentation of your solution, highlighting key design choices and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice on navigating the interview process, emphasizing the critical role of the portfolio and preparing for design challenges, which are standard for design roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), and prototyping tools like InVision or Principle is expected. Figma is increasingly becoming a dominant tool for collaborative design.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience using tools like Slack for real-time communication and Jira for task management and workflow tracking.

• Documentation Tools: Familiarity with tools like Confluence for documenting design specifications, user research findings, and design system guidelines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, an understanding of how to use data from tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel to inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• A general understanding of CRM systems (like Salesforce, though not explicitly mentioned) and marketing automation platforms can be helpful for understanding the broader customer journey and business context, though not a primary requirement for this design role.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines the typical technology stack for a product designer in a modern tech company. While the job description doesn't explicitly list tools, these are industry-standard assumptions that will be critical for a candidate to possess.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer First: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, ensuring all design decisions prioritize user value and a positive experience.

• Own It: Taking responsibility for your work, from ideation to execution and iteration, demonstrating accountability and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Stronger Together: A collaborative mindset, valuing teamwork, open communication, and mutual support within the design team and across cross-functional partners.

• Change the Game: A drive for innovation, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and a desire to create impactful, game-changing solutions in the fintech space.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work as an integral part of product squads, closely collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers in a triad model. This fosters shared understanding and ownership.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback through design critiques and open dialogue to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A commitment to sharing learnings, best practices, and insights within the design community to elevate the team's collective skill and output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are directly listed and are framed to show how they translate into daily operations and team interactions for a designer. This helps candidates understand the cultural expectations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Navigating the demands of a fast-paced fintech environment while maintaining high design standards and thorough user consideration.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating design rationale and ensuring buy-in from Product and Engineering stakeholders who may have different priorities or perspectives.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex quantitative and qualitative data into actionable design insights and trade-offs.

• Evolving Fintech Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements, changing customer expectations, and competitive pressures in the digital financial services industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced Product Designers, Design Leads, and Product Managers, receiving guidance on craft, career, and problem-solving.

• Hands-on Experience: Gaining practical experience across the full product design lifecycle on high-impact features used by millions of customers.

• Industry Exposure: Working within a leading fintech company, gaining insight into the unique challenges and opportunities of the financial services sector.

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX, UI, interaction design, user research, and potentially explore new areas like design systems or AI-driven design tools.

• Networking: Building professional relationships within Zip and potentially the broader fintech and design communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights potential challenges and growth paths, offering a realistic view of the role and framing challenges as opportunities for skill development, a key aspect for operations-focused professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Rationale: "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you had to make significant design trade-offs. What was the problem, what were the options, and how did you decide on the final solution?" (Focus on demonstrating your structured thinking, data usage, and problem-solving skills).

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you disagreed with a Product Manager or Engineer about a design direction. How did you approach the conversation, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your communication skills, ability to articulate your reasoning respectfully, and focus on shared goals).

• Customer Empathy & Insights: "How do you ensure a 'Customer First' mindset influences your design work, especially when business objectives might conflict with user desires?" (Prepare examples of how you gather and use customer insights to advocate for users).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Values Alignment: "How do the Zip values (Customer First, Own It, Stronger Together, Change the Game) resonate with your personal work philosophy and how have you demonstrated these values in previous roles?" (Research the values thoroughly and prepare specific examples).

• Hybrid Work Experience: "What are your strategies for effective collaboration and productivity in a hybrid work environment?" (Showcase your understanding of asynchronous communication and intentional in-office collaboration).

• AI & Future of Design: "How do you see AI impacting the design process, and how are you preparing to leverage these tools in your work?" (Demonstrate curiosity and an adaptive mindset towards new technologies).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Learnings.

• Deep Dive on 1-2 Projects: Focus on 1-2 complex projects where you can thoroughly explain your thought process, iterations, and the impact of your design.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your slides are clean, visually appealing, and easy to follow. Use mockups, user flows, and key screens to illustrate your points.

• Be Ready for "Why": For every decision you present, be prepared to explain the "why" behind it, referencing user insights, data, or design principles.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Ask clarifying questions, invite feedback, and be genuinely enthusiastic about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a Product Designer role, focusing on portfolio presentation, design thinking, and cultural fit, with specific questions to help candidates prepare for the types of discussions they might have.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer I position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases your best work, with a focus on mobile/app design and end-to-end product thinking relevant to fintech. Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your skills in UX, UI, and interaction design, and highlight your problem-solving process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant design experience, skills, and achievements. Use keywords from the job description such as "Product Design," "UX/UI," "Interaction Design," "Customer Experience," "Design Thinking," and "Cross-Functional Teams." Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key projects. Prepare to discuss how you use data and user insights, your collaboration style, and your understanding of Zip's values. Rehearse your portfolio presentation and anticipate potential design challenge scenarios.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Zip Co Limited's products, mission, and recent news. Understand their target audience and how their products aim to "Change the Game" in fintech. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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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