Senior Digital Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Digital Product Designer
Company: Freddie Mac
Location: McLean, VA, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: UX/Product Design Date Posted: 2026-02-06 Experience Level: 5-10 years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the evolution of design practices within Freddie Mac's Multifamily division, focusing on user-centered design principles.
• Lead the creation of intuitive and impactful digital products by translating complex user needs and business requirements into elegant design solutions.
• Champion human-centered design methodologies, ensuring that research, UX, UI, and Information Architecture are integrated seamlessly into the agile product development lifecycle.
• Foster a collaborative design environment, partnering with product owners, developers, and stakeholders to deliver exceptional user experiences that enhance accessibility and affordability in housing finance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a "Senior Digital Product Designer" within Freddie Mac's Multifamily division, indicating a focus on product strategy, user experience, and visual design for complex financial services applications. The emphasis on "advancing our design practice" and "not content with the status quo" suggests a need for proactive leadership and innovation in design methodologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product owners, developers, business analysts, and stakeholders, to deeply understand business objectives, user needs, and technical constraints.
• Conceptualize, design, and iterate on user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for web and mobile applications, ensuring alignment with modern industry standards and best practices.
• Conduct and participate in user research activities, such as usability testing, user interviews, persona development, and journey mapping, to gather qualitative and quantitative insights that inform design decisions.
• Ensure all designs adhere to and contribute to the Freddie Mac Design System, promoting consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the product portfolio.
• Proactively identify opportunities for design improvements and innovation, presenting design concepts, rationale, and solutions to stakeholders and capturing feedback for iterative refinement.
• Take ownership of design solutions from initial concept through to implementation, managing stakeholder alignment and providing ongoing support to product teams.
• Partner with fellow design leaders to ensure consistency in design patterns and user experience across the entire suite of Multifamily tools, impacting all user groups.
• Drive culture change by modeling a user-centered design attitude, advocating for solution de-risking, value proposition validation, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Refine UX processes and methodologies in collaboration with design leads, continuously iterating on the operating model to enhance partnership with product and development counterparts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role that requires not only execution but also leadership in process improvement, stakeholder management, and fostering a design-centric culture. The emphasis on "owning a solution from start to finish" and "partnering with design leaders to refine UX process" signifies a strategic contribution beyond individual design tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in UX Design, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical work experience.

Experience:

• 5+ years of professional experience in digital product design, user experience (UX) design, interaction design, visual design, or product strategy.
• Preferred 8-10 years of relevant professional experience in a senior capacity.
• Proven experience working within Agile product development teams, understanding and contributing to iterative development cycles.

Required Skills:

• Deep understanding and practical application of the Design Thinking methodology.
• Proficiency in user research techniques, including usability testing, ethnographic research, user interviews, and surveys, with a strong ability to incorporate customer feedback into design iterations.
• Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, such as Figma (preferred), Sketch, Adobe XD, or equivalent.
• Ability to translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, functional, and visually appealing designs for web and mobile applications.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with excellent written and verbal communication abilities to effectively present design concepts and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to own a design solution from inception to delivery, managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• A growth mindset with an eagerness to learn, adapt, and contribute in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in ethnographic research.
• Familiarity with or contribution to a Design System.
• Understanding of information architecture principles.
• Experience in financial services or complex enterprise application design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, research acumen, and leadership qualities. The preference for Figma and experience in Agile environments are critical for day-to-day operations. The mention of "risk mitigation" and "value proposition validation" points to a need for designers who understand business impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of design projects demonstrating expertise in UX, UI, and interaction design for web and mobile applications.
• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, user research conducted, design process, challenges faced, and the final solution.
• Highlight your role and contributions within each project, especially in collaborative or team-based environments.
• Demonstrate proficiency with design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) through examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Present evidence of user-centered design principles, including research findings, usability testing outcomes, and how feedback was integrated into design iterations.

Process Documentation:

• Projects should illustrate your understanding and application of design methodologies, such as Design Thinking, Agile UX, and user-centered design.
• Showcase examples of user journey mapping, workflow diagrams, and information architecture that demonstrate your ability to structure complex information and user flows.
• Include examples of how you've leveraged user feedback and data to iterate on designs and achieve desired outcomes.
• Demonstrate your ability to work within or contribute to design systems, highlighting consistency and scalability in your design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role. It should not only display visual design skills but also a robust understanding of the design process, user research, and the ability to articulate the impact of design decisions. The emphasis on "evidence-based decision making" implies a need for quantifiable results or clear user-centric rationale in portfolio case studies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $117,000 - $175,000 annually.

• Note: This range is based on the provided information and reflects market-based compensation for a Senior Digital Product Designer in the McLean, VA area, considering the specified experience level and the nature of the role within a large financial institution. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive total rewards package.
• Market-leading benefit programs (details available on Freddie Mac's Careers site).
• Eligibility to participate in an annual incentive program.
• Potential for professional development and continuous learning opportunities.
• Access to Freddie Mac's employee resource groups and company culture initiatives.
• Opportunities for networking and collaboration within a large, established organization.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, typically 40 hours per week.
• While the role is on-site, a degree of flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project timelines, consistent with Agile methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $117,000 - $175,000 USD annually is competitive for a Senior Digital Product Designer in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, particularly for a role at a large, established organization like Freddie Mac. The mention of an "annual incentive program" suggests performance-based bonuses in addition to base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Housing Finance) Company Size: Large Enterprise (Freddie Mac is a Fortune 500 company with thousands of employees globally). Founded: 1970. Freddie Mac was established by Congress to help make home ownership more accessible and affordable. This mission is central to its culture and operations.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Digital Product Designer will be part of the Freddie Mac Multifamily UX Team, which is a crucial component of the agile product development environment.
• This team is responsible for Research, UX Design, UI Design, and Information Architecture, acting as a trusted partner to business and technology groups.
• The team likely operates within a matrixed structure, collaborating with Product Owners, Development Leads, and various business stakeholders across different departments.
• Design leadership plays a key role in guiding the team's direction, setting standards, and influencing product strategy.

Methodology:

• The Multifamily UX Team employs a methodical, human-centered design approach, ensuring that user needs are central to all decision-making processes.
• They prioritize evidence-based decisioning, conducting research and user testing early and often to validate concepts and solutions.
• Agile methodologies are integral to the team's workflow, facilitating iterative development and continuous improvement.
• The team focuses on delivering successful product outcomes by integrating design seamlessly into the product lifecycle.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Freddie Mac's mission-driven culture ("Making Home Possible") is a significant aspect. For a designer, this means aligning design solutions with the goal of increasing housing accessibility and affordability. The company's large size implies robust processes, potential for cross-functional exposure, and a structured approach to design and development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Digital Product Designer. This level signifies a seasoned professional expected to lead design efforts, mentor junior designers, and contribute strategically to product vision and design process improvement. They are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy. Reporting Structure: The role reports into design leadership within the Multifamily UX Team. This leader will likely be responsible for strategic direction, performance management, and career development. The designer will also collaborate extensively with Product Owners and Development Leads. Operations Impact: The designer's work directly influences the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of Freddie Mac's Multifamily digital products. This impact extends to improving the experience for users (e.g., lenders, property managers, investors), which in turn supports Freddie Mac's broader mission of making home possible and contributing to the stability of the housing finance system. They will drive efficiency and reduce risk through well-designed solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specialized UX/UI areas, advanced research methodologies, or emerging design technologies. Opportunity to contribute to and influence the evolution of the Freddie Mac Design System.
• Leadership Development: Potential to move into lead design roles, manage design projects, mentor junior designers, or take on more strategic product design responsibilities.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of financial services, product management, and software development lifecycles within a large, complex organization.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping design best practices within the housing finance industry by leading innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title indicates significant responsibility and potential for mentorship. Growth opportunities are likely tied to expanding influence within the organization, contributing to strategic initiatives, and potentially moving into management or specialized senior individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "On-site" and located at Freddie Mac's headquarters in McLean, VA. This suggests a traditional office environment with opportunities for in-person collaboration and engagement. Office Location(s): McLean, Virginia, United States. This location provides access to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area's talent pool and resources. Workspace Context:

• The office environment likely supports collaborative work, with designated spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and user research activities.
• Access to a robust technology stack, including design software, collaboration tools, and internal systems, is expected.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with product owners, developers, researchers, and other design team members will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.
• The culture emphasizes a "vigilance-first" approach to security and compliance, which is critical in the financial services sector.

Work Schedule:

• The standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for occasional flexibility to meet project deadlines or accommodate urgent needs, particularly within the Agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in McLean, VA, suggests a structured corporate environment. The emphasis on collaboration and interaction with diverse teams is a key aspect of the work environment, facilitating knowledge sharing and efficient problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your experience, approach to design challenges, and alignment with team needs.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A critical stage where you will present your portfolio, showcasing key projects and demonstrating your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. This may include a specific design challenge or case study presentation.
• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with other designers, product owners, or developers to assess collaboration style, technical proficiency, and ability to integrate into the team.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in UX, UI, interaction design, and problem-solving relevant to enterprise applications.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, testing, iteration), the solutions you designed, and the impact or outcomes achieved. Quantify results where possible.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your user-centered approach, research methodologies, and how you incorporated feedback. Show your thought process, not just the final visuals.
• Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Figma and other relevant design tools.
• Design System Awareness: If applicable, discuss your experience with design systems and how you ensure consistency.
• Tailor to Freddie Mac: Understand Freddie Mac's mission and consider how your projects demonstrate an ability to design for complex financial services or enterprise-level applications.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that may require you to analyze a problem, brainstorm solutions, and present initial concepts or wireframes.
• Focus on your thought process, how you approach ambiguity, and how you would gather information to refine the solution.
• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders with varying levels of design understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a cornerstone of the hiring process for design roles. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their work but also to articulate the "why" and "how" behind their design decisions, demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Preferred tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Candidates should demonstrate advanced proficiency.
• Sketch: An alternative or complementary tool, proficiency is a plus.
• Adobe XD: Another common tool in the design landscape; familiarity is beneficial.
• Prototyping Tools: In-built Figma prototyping capabilities, or familiarity with tools like InVision.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to inform design decisions is valuable.
• Familiarity with A/B testing platforms to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• While less directly relevant to the designer's primary tools, understanding the context of enterprise CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and how design integrates with business processes can be advantageous.
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools like Jira, Confluence, or Asana is typically expected for working within Agile teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as preferred, making it a crucial skill. Beyond design software, familiarity with tools used in Agile development (like Jira) and an understanding of how design impacts business processes are key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is placing users at the center of all design decisions, ensuring that products are intuitive, accessible, and meet their needs effectively.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and partnership with product, development, and business stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation & Growth: Encouraging a mindset of continuous learning, embracing new design trends and technologies, and proactively seeking ways to improve processes and products.
• Impact & Purpose: A commitment to Freddie Mac's mission of making home possible, driving design solutions that contribute to the company's broader objectives and positively impact users' lives.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research, testing, and analytics to inform design choices and validate hypotheses, ensuring evidence-based outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers work closely with Product Owners, Developers, Researchers, and Business Analysts, fostering a highly collaborative and integrated workflow.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular opportunities for design reviews, critiques, and feedback sessions with peers and stakeholders to refine solutions.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and insights across the design team and with other departments.
• Agile Team Integration: Designers are embedded within agile squads, participating in ceremonies and contributing to sprint planning and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values a blend of user advocacy, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to the company's mission. Designers are expected to be proactive communicators and integrators within cross-functional teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Navigating the complexities of enterprise-level software development, where user desires must be balanced with technical feasibility, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.
• Driving Design Maturity: Continuing to elevate the role and impact of design within a large, established organization, championing user-centered practices and influencing stakeholders.
• Maintaining Consistency Across a Large Portfolio: Ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience across a wide range of Multifamily products and applications, often with different development teams and lifecycles.
• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying abreast of rapid changes in design tools, methodologies, and user expectations in the digital space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Training: Access to internal and external training programs focused on advanced UX/UI techniques, research methods, and leadership skills.
• Industry Conferences & Events: Opportunities to attend relevant design conferences and workshops to stay current with industry trends and network with peers.
• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior design leaders within Freddie Mac, offering guidance on career progression and skill development.
• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to contribute to the evolution and expansion of the Freddie Mac Design System, gaining expertise in scalable design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in large organizations, focusing on strategic influence and managing complexity. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise and expanding leadership capabilities within the design discipline.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your negotiation, research, and decision-making process.)
• "How do you advocate for user-centered design within a team that may not fully prioritize it?" (Highlight your communication, influence, and data-driven persuasion skills.)
• "Walk us through your process for designing a complex feature from initial concept to final handoff." (Emphasize your methodology, research, iteration, and collaboration.)
• "How do you stay current with the latest UX trends and technologies, and how have you incorporated them into your work?" (Showcase your continuous learning and adaptability.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Freddie Mac's mission and the housing finance industry?" (Connect your passion for design with the company's purpose.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with developers and product managers?" (Demonstrate your ability to work effectively in an Agile, cross-functional team.)
• "Describe your experience working with or contributing to a design system." (Highlight your understanding of consistency and scalability.)
• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive?" (Show your commitment to diverse user needs.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose projects that clearly demonstrate your senior-level capabilities, problem-solving skills, and impact.
• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or a similar framework. Clearly define the problem, your specific role, the actions you took (detailing your process), and the quantifiable or qualitative results.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows, final UI) to illustrate your points. Explain your design decisions and the rationale behind them.
• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges encountered, and how you would handle similar situations in the future.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your use of Figma and other tools, perhaps even doing a live demo if appropriate and requested.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating not just what you did, but why you did it and the impact it had. Demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Digital Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete and submit your application through the Freddie Mac careers portal, ensuring all requested information is accurate and complete.
• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight keywords and experiences directly relevant to UX/UI design, product strategy, user research, Agile methodologies, and proficiency with tools like Figma. Quantify achievements whenever possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital portfolio (e.g., personal website, PDF) that showcases 3-5 of your most impactful design projects. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, solutions, and outcomes. Be ready to present specific case studies during interviews.
• Research Freddie Mac: Familiarize yourself with Freddie Mac's mission, its role in the housing finance system, and its current digital initiatives. Understand the Multifamily division's objectives and the importance of user-centered design in this context.
• Practice Your Narrative: Prepare to articulate your design philosophy, your experience with user research and testing, and your approach to collaboration within cross-functional teams. Practice presenting your portfolio projects concisely and effectively.

⚠️ 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.