Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Berkadia Location: Ambler, Pennsylvania, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2026-01-13T13:32:27 Experience Level: 7+ years (with 3-5 years in Agile and 1-2 years with AI tools) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for Berkadia's AI-powered platform, "Berkie," ensuring intuitive and trustworthy AI-driven features within the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) technology landscape.
• Lead in-depth discovery and research initiatives for the CRE Production Workflow space, employing workshops, user interviews, and data analysis to identify user needs and critical business problems.
• Act as a key collaborator within fusion teams, integrating user experience perspectives into product strategy, planning, and discovery phases alongside product, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Champion the creation and evolution of shared design systems, promoting consistency and efficiency across Berkadia's product suite, and leveraging AI-powered tools to accelerate design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities heavily emphasize user experience (UX), interaction design, and the integration of AI within a specific industry (Commercial Real Estate). The role requires a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, typical of senior-level product design positions focused on complex workflows and emerging technologies. The emphasis on "fusion teams" and "AI-powered platform" suggests a modern, agile product development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive user experience and interaction design for Berkadia’s AI-powered platform, "Berkie," by applying best practices for designing with and for AI, ensuring transparency, usability, and trust in AI-driven features.
• Lead deep-dive discovery efforts in the CRE Production Workflow space, utilizing workshops, user interviews, data, and other research methodologies to uncover user needs and business problems.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, architects, and business stakeholders as part of cross-functional "fusion teams" to support product strategy, planning, and discovery from a user experience perspective.
• Create high and low-fidelity wireframes and prototypes to effectively convey design solutions for fusion team alignment, user feedback, and validation cycles.
• Provide detailed, clear, and actionable requirements documentation (drawn and written) to ensure development teams have a thorough understanding of the intended user experience and workflow.
• Support engineering teams through the implementation phase by conducting Visual Quality Assurance (VQA) to ensure builds meet design and usability standards.
• Utilize handoff tools such as Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin, or similar platforms for high-clarity design-to-development communication.
• Conduct, document, and share findings from usability testing, feedback loops, and workshops to inform continuous improvement cycles within product development.
• Leverage, maintain, and evolve shared design systems to streamline development efforts and ensure design consistency across Berkadia’s diverse product portfolio.
• Employ AI-powered tools and approaches to accelerate discovery, rapid prototyping, iteration, and user validation processes, enhancing design efficiency.
• Serve as an advocate and educator for design principles and best practices, sharing knowledge with other team members, including product managers and engineers.
• Actively participate in development meetings and Agile ceremonies, providing design perspective, planning input, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Proactively lead design activities to stay ahead of development timelines, mitigating potential risks related to usability and workflow integrations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a highly collaborative and proactive role. The emphasis on "fusion teams," "AI-powered platform," and "CRE Production Workflow space" indicates a need for a designer who can navigate complex business problems and translate them into user-centric solutions. The requirement to "lead design activities to proactively remain ahead of development teams" highlights the expectation of a senior-level individual contributor who can drive initiatives and anticipate challenges.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• 7+ years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a similar role.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience working effectively with Agile development teams.
• 1-2 years of hands-on experience designing with and utilizing AI-powered tools within product discovery, ideation, or validation processes.
• Proven track record of collaborating closely with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to deliver successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices for complex digital products.
• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and efficient user flows, interactions, and information architecture.
• AI-Powered Tool Design: Demonstrated ability to design for and with AI, considering aspects like transparency, trust, and unique user challenges.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.
• Usability Testing & Research: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests and other user research methods to gather actionable insights.
• Design Systems: Ability to leverage, maintain, and contribute to comprehensive design systems for consistency and scalability.
• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams and communicate design decisions clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development processes and active participation in ceremonies.
• Documentation Skills: Proficiency in creating clear, detailed documentation for design specifications and requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma & FigJam Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Figma and FigJam, including advanced features like Dev Mode.
• Additional Design Tools: Proficiency with other common design and prototyping tools such as Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, and Zeplin.
• CRE Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the Commercial Real Estate industry and its specific workflows is a significant advantage.
• Facilitation Skills: Experience leading workshops, design sprints, and brainstorming sessions.
• Data Analysis for Design: Ability to interpret user data and analytics to inform design decisions.
• Mentorship Abilities: Capacity to mentor junior designers and advocate for design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "7+ years of experience" alongside "3-5 years with Agile" and "1-2 years with AI tools" suggests a need for a designer with substantial foundational experience who has also recently specialized in AI integration and modern development practices. The emphasis on Figma/FigJam, coupled with alternatives, indicates a modern toolset requirement. The portfolio requirement is critical for demonstrating end-to-end process and results.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Design Process: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex digital product or workflow case studies demonstrating your involvement from initial discovery and research through to final delivery and iteration.
• Research Output & Insights: Clearly present your research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, competitive analysis) and the key insights derived that directly influenced design decisions and problem-solving.
• Problem-Solving for Complex Workflows: Highlight specific examples where you designed solutions for intricate digital workflows, particularly those involving AI-enabled features or complex business processes, demonstrating your ability to simplify and optimize.
• Demonstrated Results & Impact: Quantify the impact of your design solutions whenever possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, efficiency gains, or business outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Include examples of how you've mapped out and improved existing user workflows, identifying pain points and proposing design solutions that enhance efficiency and user satisfaction.
• User Journey Mapping: Showcase your ability to create detailed user journey maps to understand the user's experience across various touchpoints and identify opportunities for design intervention.
• System Implementation Standards: Provide evidence of how you've worked with development teams to ensure design integrity during implementation, including VQA and adherence to design specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly calls for a "Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design process, research output, and results for complex digital workflows or AI-enabled products." This indicates that the portfolio is not just a formality but a crucial component of the evaluation, expected to showcase strategic thinking, research rigor, and tangible outcomes, especially in the context of AI and complex workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the experience level (7+ years, with specific Agile and AI experience), location (Ambler, Pennsylvania), and the senior nature of the role, a competitive salary range is estimated. For a Senior Product Designer in the Ambler, PA area with 7+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is $120,000 - $170,000. This range accounts for significant experience, specialized skills in AI design, and the cost of living in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Benefits:

• Monthly Paid Volunteer Hours: Opportunity to contribute to the community with paid time off for volunteering.
• Donation Matching: Company support for employee charitable contributions.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): A platform for professional growth, networking, and community building.
• Fertility and Family Planning Services: Comprehensive support for employees' family planning needs.
• Up to 12 Weeks of Fully Paid Parental Leave: Generous paid leave for new parents.
• Mental Health Care: Access to mental health resources, including free counseling sessions.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Financial assistance to support ongoing learning and professional development.
• Pet Insurance Discounts: Perks for employees' furry companions.
• And more! (Indicating a comprehensive benefits package beyond the listed items).

Working Hours:

• The role is described as Full-Time, implying a standard 40-hour work week. The "Hybrid" work arrangement suggests a flexible schedule where some days are worked remotely and others in the office, allowing for a balance between focused work and collaborative in-person interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for senior-level design roles in the specified geographic region, considering the required experience and specialized AI design skills. The provided benefits list is extensive and points to a company that values employee well-being and work-life integration, which is a significant draw for experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Technology and Services. Berkadia is a leader in the CRE industry, focusing on innovation to shape its future. This means the product design role operates within a domain that is often complex, data-intensive, and undergoing significant digital transformation. Company Size: Berkadia is a substantial organization, indicated by its presence in the CRE sector and its comprehensive benefits package. While exact employee numbers aren't provided in the raw data, its offerings suggest a company with significant resources and a mature HR infrastructure. Founded: Berkadia was founded in 2009. This relatively recent founding within the established financial services sector suggests a company that has grown rapidly and is likely more agile and forward-thinking in its adoption of technology and modern work practices compared to older institutions.

Team Structure:

• Fusion Teams: The role operates within "fusion teams," a collaborative model where product, engineering, architecture, and business stakeholders are integrated to drive product development. This fosters close cross-functional partnerships.
• Design Advocacy: The Senior Product Designer is expected to "Advocate and teach design principles and best practices to other team members, including product managers and engineers," indicating a culture that values design expertise and knowledge sharing.
• Agile Environment: The role requires participation in Agile ceremonies, pointing to an iterative and responsive product development process.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity & AI Integration: The core methodology involves a strong focus on user experience and interaction design, specifically incorporating AI-powered features and understanding the unique challenges and opportunities they present.
• Data-Driven Discovery: Emphasis is placed on using "workshops, user interviews, data, and other research methodologies" to uncover needs and inform product strategy.
• Iterative Design & Development: Participation in Agile ceremonies and continuous improvement loops based on feedback and testing highlights an iterative approach.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Berkadia's positioning as an innovator in CRE technology, combined with its founding date and the emphasis on "fusion teams" and AI, suggests a dynamic and modern work environment. The Senior Product Designer will likely be instrumental in driving the digital transformation within this established industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is explicitly a Senior Product Designer role. This signifies a level of experience and responsibility where the individual is expected to lead significant design initiatives, mentor others, and influence product strategy. It's a key individual contributor role, not typically a management position, but one that requires strong leadership in design thinking and execution.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Product Designers typically report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or potentially a Director of Product Management. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their "fusion teams."

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant:

• Product Strategy: Directly influences product strategy by identifying user needs and business problems through discovery and research.
• User Experience: Shapes the overall user experience of Berkadia's core AI platform ("Berkie") and workflow tools, directly impacting user adoption, satisfaction, and efficiency.
• Innovation: Drives innovation by designing with and for AI, positioning Berkadia at the forefront of CRE technology.
• Efficiency: Optimizes complex CRE workflows, leading to tangible efficiency gains for users and the business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role, guiding a team and setting design vision.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven product design or in the CRE domain, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across product management and engineering leadership, potentially leading strategic design initiatives.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design practice within Berkadia.
• Learning & Development: The company offers tuition reimbursement and likely encourages participation in industry conferences and workshops, supporting continuous skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with the responsibilities of leading discovery, advocating for design, and working with AI, places this role at a critical juncture for career growth. It offers a path to broader design leadership and deep specialization within a high-impact industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid. This implies a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. Berkadia likely maintains physical office spaces that facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Ambler, Pennsylvania. Berkadia is a national company, so other office locations may exist, but this specific role is tied to Ambler.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "fusion teams" and participation in Agile ceremonies suggests a highly collaborative workspace, whether in-person or virtual.
• Technology-Rich: As a technology-focused company in CRE, expect modern design and development tools, including robust digital collaboration platforms and potentially advanced hardware. The mention of Figma, Zeplin, and AI tools points to a tech-forward environment.
• Cross-functional Interaction: The role necessitates frequent interaction with product managers, engineers, architects, and business stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and communicative work setting.

Work Schedule:

• The role is Full-Time, generally implying a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing employees to balance focused remote work with collaborative in-office days. This schedule supports the need for deep work required for design tasks while enabling vital team interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key characteristic of the work environment, offering flexibility. The "fusion team" structure implies that office days will likely be focused on high-collaboration activities, while remote days can be used for focused individual work, prototyping, and research.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.
• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: An introductory conversation to discuss your background, interest in Berkadia, and high-level fit for the Senior Product Designer role.
• Design Portfolio Presentation: A key stage where you'll present your portfolio to a panel (likely including the hiring manager, design peers, and potentially a product manager). This is where you'll walk through 2-3 case studies, detailing your process, problem-solving, and outcomes.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with product managers, engineers, and potentially business stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate into "fusion teams."
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product/Design) to discuss strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially discovery and research), your design decisions (and the rationale behind them), and the measurable results.
• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the "why" behind your design choices and, crucially, the "so what" – the positive outcomes and impact your work achieved. Quantify results whenever possible.
• Highlight AI & Workflow Experience: Specifically showcase projects involving AI-enabled features or the design of complex digital workflows. Explain the unique challenges and how you addressed them.
• Showcase Process Rigor: Detail your research methodologies, prototyping techniques, and how you incorporated user feedback and iterative improvements.
• Clarity and Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio within a set timeframe (often 30-60 minutes). Ensure your explanations are clear, concise, and tailored to the audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise, which might involve a take-home assignment or an in-session problem-solving task. This could focus on a specific workflow challenge or how to integrate an AI feature.
• Problem-Solving Approach: Practice articulating your thought process for tackling ambiguous problems, breaking them down, and proposing design solutions.
• Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers, particularly in an Agile context and when dealing with AI complexities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is highlighted as a critical component. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, decision-making, and outcomes with a strong emphasis on how they handle complex workflows and integrate AI technologies.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma & FigJam: Explicitly mentioned as preferred skills, indicating these are likely the primary tools for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design.
• Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, Zeplin: Proficiency with these is also listed, suggesting familiarity with a broader design toolkit and a need for adaptability.
• AI-Powered Design Tools: The role requires experience with AI tools that accelerate discovery, prototyping, and validation, suggesting the use of AI assistants or platforms within the design workflow.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a Senior Product Designer would typically utilize analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions. Proficiency in interpreting data from such tools is implied.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design responsibilities, but understanding how design impacts CRM and automated workflows within the CRE context could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma/FigJam is strong. The mention of AI-powered tools within the design process is a key differentiator for this role, indicating a forward-thinking approach to design technology.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Berkadia's mission to "shape the future of the CRE industry" and develop an "AI-powered platform" underscores a strong value on innovation and forward-thinking.
• Excellence: The phrase "Innovation meets excellence" and the company's positioning as a leader highlight a commitment to high standards and quality in their products and services.
• People-First / People Matter: The extensive benefits package, including parental leave, mental health care, and ERGs, clearly indicates a company culture that prioritizes employee well-being and development.
• Collaboration: The "fusion team" model and emphasis on cross-functional partnerships highlight collaboration as a core operational value.
• Curiosity & Challenging the Status Quo: The call for "innovators who are driven by curiosity and are willing to challenge the status quo" suggests a culture that encourages proactive thinking and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated ("Fusion Teams"): Collaboration is deeply embedded within cross-functional teams composed of Product, Engineering, Architecture, and Business stakeholders.
• Design Advocacy: The Senior Designer is expected to actively teach and influence others, fostering a collaborative environment where design thinking is shared and valued.
• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration occurs within the framework of Agile ceremonies, promoting regular communication and feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of aggressive innovation within a traditional industry, supported by a strong emphasis on employee well-being and collaborative work practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing with AI: Navigating the complexities of designing user experiences for AI-powered features, ensuring trust, transparency, and addressing unique user challenges, is a significant challenge.
• Complex Domain: Understanding and designing for the intricate workflows within the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) industry requires significant domain learning.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively aligning diverse stakeholders (product, engineering, business) on design vision and solutions within "fusion teams."
• Balancing Innovation and Usability: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI features are also highly usable and contribute to efficient workflows.
• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Maximizing collaboration and productivity in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Expertise: Deepen skills in designing for AI, a rapidly evolving field.
• CRE Domain Mastery: Become an expert in the Commercial Real Estate industry's technology needs and user behaviors.
• Strategic Design Leadership: Grow in influence and responsibility, potentially leading design strategy for key product areas.
• Mentorship & Skill Sharing: Develop leadership and teaching skills by mentoring junior designers and advocating for design best practices.
• Formal Learning: Utilize tuition reimbursement for courses, certifications, or further education relevant to design, AI, or the CRE industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative aspects of the role (AI, complex domain) and the collaborative nature of the work. The growth opportunities align with developing expertise in these challenging areas and moving into more influential design roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the discovery process for a complex digital workflow. What methodologies did you use, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on research, problem definition, and impact).
• "How do you approach designing user experiences for AI-powered features? What are the key considerations for transparency and trust?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI design principles).
• "Walk us through your process for creating wireframes and prototypes, and how you use them to gain alignment with product and engineering teams." (Highlight collaboration and communication through artifacts).
• "Tell us about a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it?" (Assess influence and communication skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Berkadia and the Commercial Real Estate industry?" (Showcase research into the company and industry).
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our 'fusion team' approach and fostering a collaborative design culture?" (Align with team structure and values).
• "Based on your understanding of Berkadia's mission, how can design drive innovation in CRE technology?" (Connect design thinking to business goals).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, present: Problem Statement -> Your Role & Team -> Discovery & Research -> Design Process & Decisions -> Solution -> Results & Impact -> Learnings.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics whenever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, describe the anticipated business benefits or efficiency gains.
• AI & Workflow Focus: Ensure at least one case study explicitly details your experience with complex workflows or AI-enabled features, explaining the unique challenges and your solutions.
• Visual Storytelling: Use clear, concise visuals (screenshots, mockups, user flows) to illustrate your points.
• Concise Explanations: Be prepared to articulate your rationale swiftly and effectively, anticipating questions about your design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the end-to-end design process, practical experience with AI and complex workflows, and strong collaborative capabilities, all supported by compelling portfolio evidence.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application form through the provided Greenhouse link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with Agile methodologies, AI-powered tool design, complex workflow optimization, and your years of experience aligning with the 7+ year requirement. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your end-to-end design process, research rigor, problem-solving for complex workflows or AI features, and measurable impact. Ensure it's easily navigable and clearly communicates your contributions.
• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, quantifiable results, and articulating your design rationale. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, AI tools, and collaboration in Agile environments.
• Research Berkadia: Understand Berkadia's mission, its role in the CRE industry, and its commitment to innovation and employee well-being. This will help you tailor your answers 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.

---