Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: april
Location: United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Support
Date Posted: January 09, 2026
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office for NYC Metro area)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for a multi-platform suite, encompassing consumer-facing solutions, B2B2C experiences, and internal business tools.
• Drive the growth of the product design function by establishing and communicating best practices across the organization, impacting GTM strategy.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Tax Analyst leads to strategically prioritize initiatives and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Maintain a high standard of design quality, ensuring pixel-perfect execution while upholding a holistic view of the user experience and overall business goals.
• Leverage qualitative and quantitative user research to continuously inform and improve product design, directly influencing user adoption and retention strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily Product Design, its focus on end-to-end product flows, user experience, and collaboration with marketing and business objectives positions it closely with GTM Operations Support. The candidate will be instrumental in shaping the user journey from discovery to adoption, a critical component of Go-To-Market success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire design thinking process for substantial components of april's multi-platform product suite, including consumer-facing applications and B2B2C integrations.
• Actively contribute to the maturation of the product design discipline by developing and evangelizing design standards and best practices throughout the company.
• Partner synergistically with the Head of Product Design, Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Tax Analysts to identify and prioritize key initiatives that address critical user needs and business opportunities.
• Champion a commitment to flawless execution and pixel-perfect detail in all design outputs, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience across all touchpoints.
• Proactively conduct user research, employing a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, to gather actionable insights that drive continuous product experience enhancements.
• Quantify and contribute to the achievement of business-level objectives and key results (OKRs) by ensuring all design work delivers tangible value to both end-users and the business.
• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to ensure all product solutions are aligned with the april brand identity and effectively communicate the value proposition to target user segments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strategic approach to design, directly impacting user adoption and retention, which are core GTM metrics. The requirement to partner with marketing and measure business objectives suggests a strong understanding of how design contributes to broader go-to-market strategies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: 6+ years of professional experience in designing and building digital products, with a demonstrated track record of end-to-end product ownership.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in leading the entire design thinking process from ideation to execution for complex digital products.
• Deep knowledge and passion for interaction and visual design principles, with a strong portfolio showcasing elegant and usable solutions.
• A high bar for design quality, consistently advocating for clean, intuitive, and user-centric design.
• Exceptional organizational and planning skills to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Proven experience applying user research, usability testing, and key performance metrics to inform and validate design decisions.
• Comfort and proficiency with an iterative design process, including proactively seeking and incorporating constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and drive end-to-end product and feature improvements that align with business goals.
• Strategic thinking capability to understand and contribute to high-level business objectives and key results.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to maintain flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit, exhibiting conceptual thinking, creativity, and robust problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills, capable of confidently articulating design methodologies and strategic direction to senior stakeholders, including founders.
• Proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing within the FinTech or Tax Technology sectors.
• Familiarity with API-first design principles and data integration impacts on user experience.
• Experience with AI-powered product features and their design implications.
• Understanding of B2B2C business models and their unique design challenges.
• Experience contributing to design system development and maintenance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 6+ years aligns with a senior-level individual contributor role, expected to lead initiatives and mentor others. The emphasis on Figma proficiency is a critical technical requirement for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design ownership, demonstrating the ability to solve complex problems through design.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact on users and business objectives.
• Examples of how you've utilized user research, data, and metrics to inform design decisions and iterate on product features.
• Demonstrations of your interaction design skills, visual design execution, and ability to create pixel-perfect, user-friendly interfaces.
• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) and how you integrated their feedback into your design process.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase how you have documented design processes, workflows, and decision-making rationale, particularly in areas of user research and iterative design.
• Examples of contribution to or creation of design systems, style guides, or component libraries that ensure consistency and scalability.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how design processes integrate with broader product development and GTM workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for a Senior Product Designer, especially one focused on end-to-end ownership. It should highlight not just aesthetic skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and measurable impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 USD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Stock options or equity grants, reflecting April's growth potential.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, including conferences and training.
• Remote work stipend or home office setup allowance.
• 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan.
• Parental leave policy.

Working Hours: Standard full-time business hours, with flexibility. Approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a good benchmark for a Senior Product Designer in the US. The benefits listed are standard for tech companies offering remote or hybrid work. The mention of a hybrid requirement for NYC Metro area employees suggests a commitment to in-person collaboration for those geographically proximate.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, FinTech, Tax Software
Company Size: Small to Medium-sized Business (SMB), likely between 50-200 employees, based on typical scaling of funded startups.
Founded: April was founded in 2021, indicating a relatively young and dynamic company with a focus on innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design function likely reports into a Head of Product Design or Head of Product.
• The Senior Product Designer will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering leads, Tax Analysts, and Marketing teams, indicating a highly cross-functional environment.
• Expect a flat or matrixed organizational structure common in startups, enabling direct access to leadership and faster decision-making.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research, metrics, and OKRs to guide product development and design.
• Iterative design process, emphasizing continuous improvement based on feedback and performance data.
• Human-centric design approach, focusing on creating intuitive and valuable experiences for users.
• Emphasis on innovation and reimagining established paradigms, particularly in the tax domain.

Company Website: https://getapril.com

📝 Enhancement Note: As a relatively new company (founded 2021), April likely fosters a fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative culture. The "Build team" focus suggests a strong emphasis on execution and product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC) within the Product Design function. This role is expected to take ownership of significant product areas and drive design strategy independently.
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Product Design and collaborates closely with Product Management and Engineering leadership.
Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall customer satisfaction through the design of intuitive and impactful product experiences. By improving the user experience and aligning with business objectives, the Senior Product Designer contributes significantly to the company's Go-To-Market success and revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role as the team expands.
• Opportunity to specialize in specific product areas (e.g., consumer, B2B2C, internal tools) or design disciplines (e.g., user research, interaction design).
• Become a subject matter expert in tax technology and its design implications, a niche but growing field.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of product development and company-wide design standards.
• Gain experience in a rapidly scaling startup environment with exposure to founders and executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies an expectation of leadership within design execution, even if not direct people management initially. The growth opportunities are typical for ambitious individuals in growing tech companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, with full remote for most US-based employees, and a requirement for 3 days/week in-office for those within the NYC metropolitan area.
Office Location(s): While primarily remote, the NYC metro requirement suggests a potential physical hub or co-working space presence in that region.

Workspace Context:

• A remote-first or hybrid environment that values collaboration and communication across distributed teams.
• Access to modern design tools and collaboration platforms (e.g., Figma, Slack, project management software).
• An environment that encourages continuous learning and experimentation, particularly in a cutting-edge field like tax technology.
• Opportunities for cross-functional interaction with product, engineering, marketing, and tax experts.

Work Schedule: Flexible full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week), accommodating remote work and varying time zones within the US.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement for NYC residents indicates a company that values some level of in-person collaboration, possibly for brainstorming, team building, or strategic alignment, while still embracing the flexibility of remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.
• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session with the Head of Product Design to walk through your portfolio, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies in detail.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, potentially involving a common design problem April faces or a hypothetical scenario. This might be a take-home assignment or a live collaboration session.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially Tax Analysts to assess collaboration, communication, and technical understanding.
• Final Round: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CEO) to gauge strategic thinking, vision, and overall fit with the company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the constraints, your design process, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) effectively to illustrate your design solutions and the user experience.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, highlight the business impact of your designs using metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion times).
• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you've worked with cross-functional teams and incorporated feedback.
• Focus on Relevance: Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight projects most relevant to April's mission, products (FinTech, tax, B2B2C), and user base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research April's product and target audience thoroughly.
• Anticipate design problems related to financial planning, tax compliance, or user onboarding in a digital platform.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.
• Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and present your work professionally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate a candidate's design craft, strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and ability to deliver impactful solutions. A strong portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is a must.
• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma or separate tools like InVision, Principle, or ProtoPie for interactive mockups.
• User Research Platforms: Tools such as UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or similar for conducting usability tests and gathering qualitative/quantitative feedback.
• Collaboration Tools: Slack for real-time communication, Asana, Jira, or Trello for project management and workflow tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo to track user behavior, engagement, and feature adoption.
• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker, or Power BI might be used by analytics teams, and designers would need to understand how to interpret data presented through these.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary design tool, understanding CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (like HubSpot) can provide context for B2B2C interactions and user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required tool. A candidate's familiarity with the broader product development and analytics ecosystem will be beneficial for understanding how their designs contribute to business outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Reimagination: A drive to disrupt traditional paradigms, especially in the complex tax domain, and create novel solutions.
• Human-Centricity: A commitment to building best-in-class, user-focused experiences that simplify complex financial tasks.
• Continuous Learning: A passion for ongoing development, staying ahead of industry trends, and embracing new challenges.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking pride in one's work, owning decisions, and driving initiatives to completion with high quality.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and build cohesive products.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers working closely alongside Product Managers, Engineers, Tax Analysts, and Marketing.
• Open to feedback and iterative design processes, valuing diverse perspectives to refine solutions.
• Emphasis on clear and confident communication of design thinking and rationale to stakeholders at all levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's slogan and description point towards a culture that values innovation, user-centricity, and continuous improvement. The emphasis on "ownership" and "flawless execution" suggests a high-performance environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for complexity: Simplifying intricate tax laws and financial concepts into intuitive user experiences.
• Balancing user needs with business objectives: Ensuring designs are both user-friendly and drive key business outcomes (e.g., adoption, retention, revenue).
• Cross-functional alignment: Effectively communicating design vision and gaining buy-in from diverse stakeholders with different priorities.
• Staying ahead of the curve: Keeping pace with evolving tax regulations, financial technology, and user expectations in a dynamic industry.
• Remote collaboration nuances: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a distributed/hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep dive into the FinTech and Tax Technology space, becoming an expert in a specialized domain.
• Opportunities to influence product strategy and roadmap through design leadership.
• Mentorship from experienced product leaders and potentially exposure to entrepreneurial founders.
• Development of skills in user research, interaction design, visual design, and strategic product thinking.
• Potential to contribute to the growth and evolution of the design function within a scaling company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a startup operating in a complex, regulated industry. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to make a significant impact and advance their career.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you led the design for a complex product feature from concept to launch. What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints? Can you provide an example?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking and trade-off management.)
• "Describe your process for conducting user research and incorporating those insights into your designs. How do you measure the success of your design decisions?" (Highlight data-driven approach and focus on measurable outcomes.)
• "How would you approach designing a tax planning tool for individuals with variable income streams?" (Assess creative problem-solving and domain understanding.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about April and our mission to revolutionize tax experiences?" (Show research and genuine interest.)
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a remote or hybrid setting?" (Emphasize teamwork and communication.)
• "Describe your experience working with Product and Engineering teams. How do you ensure alignment and effective handoffs?" (Show cross-functional collaboration skills.)
• "What are your thoughts on the current state of tax technology and where do you see opportunities for innovation?" (Demonstrate industry awareness and forward-thinking.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically—problem, your role, process, solution, and impact. Use clear headings and transitions.
• Depth: Be prepared to dive deep into any project. Anticipate questions about your specific contributions, design rationale, and how you handled feedback.
• Visuals: Ensure your visuals are high-quality and clearly communicate your design thinking. Use prototypes to show interaction flows.
• Metrics: Have specific data points ready to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., X% increase in conversion, Y% reduction in task time).
• Conciseness: Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to drive business impact within a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating end-to-end product ownership, complex problem-solving, user research integration, and measurable business impact within digital products. Tailor case studies to highlight experience relevant to FinTech, B2B2C, or complex user workflows.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 6+ years of experience, highlights proficiency in Figma and other relevant design tools, and uses keywords from the job description such as "end-to-end design," "user research," "interaction design," "visual design," "business objectives," and "collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your approach to challenges like designing for complex financial systems. Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough to be concise and impactful.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research April's mission, product offerings, target market, and company culture. Understand their unique value proposition in the tax technology space and how your design skills can contribute to their success.

⚠️ 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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