Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.

Location: Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid) / Fairfield, IA (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: April 17, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of complex, enterprise-scale products with a focus on design systems strategy, governance, and execution.

• Drive the evolution, maintenance, and adoption of the enterprise design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across multiple product teams.

• Apply advanced UI and UX design principles to complex workflows, balancing usability, accessibility, and visual clarity in a technical, multi-stakeholder environment.

• Translate emerging AI capabilities into practical, human-centered solutions to enhance workflows for financial professionals and clients.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders to shape cohesive, intuitive, and scalable user experiences across web and mobile platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for significant autonomy and strategic influence. The emphasis on "design systems strategy, governance, and execution" and "enterprise-scale products" suggests a focus on foundational design operations and scalable design processes, rather than purely individual feature design. The integration of AI capabilities further points to a forward-thinking product development environment. The hybrid work model with specific in-office days is a key constraint that operations professionals should note.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design System Ownership: Own, evolve, and champion the adoption of the enterprise design system, including components, patterns, documentation, and governance frameworks.

• Scalable UI/UX Design: Design and deliver high-quality, scalable UI and UX solutions across web and mobile products, ensuring consistency, usability, and accessibility standards are met.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Product Management and Engineering teams to define product vision, align roadmaps, and execute cohesive user experiences across multiple product streams.

• AI-Enabled Feature Design: Apply advanced UX design principles to AI-enabled features, automation, and data-driven workflows, translating complex technical requirements into intuitive solutions.

• User-Centered Process: Conduct user research, journey mapping, usability testing, and data-informed iteration to validate and refine design solutions.

• End-to-End Design Execution: Prototype and iterate on concepts from early exploration through high-fidelity execution, ensuring a seamless user journey.

• Design Advocacy: Advocate for user needs and articulate design rationale through clear storytelling, presentations, and facilitation with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Best Practice Evangelism: Share best practices, frameworks, and tools to elevate design quality, consistency, and efficiency across the organization at scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: deep expertise in design systems (ownership, evolution, governance) and hands-on execution of complex UI/UX solutions, including those involving AI. The emphasis on "enterprise-scale," "multi-product ecosystems," and "deeply technical domains" suggests the need for a designer who can manage complexity and think strategically about product architecture and consistency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in product design, UX, or UI design are paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience: 5+ years of experience in product, UX, or UI design, with a proven track record of delivering complex, real-world products. Experience contributing to or leading initiatives from concept through launch and iteration is essential.

Required Skills:

• Design Systems Expertise: Extensive experience in enterprise-level design system creation, maintenance, scaling, and governance.

• UX/UI Proficiency: Strong foundation in information architecture, interaction design, visual design, and user-centered design principles.

• Prototyping Tools: Advanced proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma, including mastery of component libraries, variants, and token-based workflows.

• AI-Driven Design: Hands-on experience designing for AI-driven features or workflows, with the ability to translate AI capabilities into usable, ethical, and intuitive experiences.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Deep understanding and practical experience designing for accessibility, inclusive design principles, and WCAG compliance.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Proven ability to work across large, multi-product ecosystems and deeply technical domains, translating complex requirements into clear design solutions.

• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing design systems, complex UX challenges, and data-informed design decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and front-end frameworks (e.g., React).

• Experience with user research methodologies, journey mapping, and usability testing.

• A track record of elevating design practices or teams within an organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize deep specialization in design systems and AI-driven experiences, alongside core UX/UI skills. The explicit mention of Figma and token-based workflows indicates a specific toolchain preference. The "5+ years" combined with "extensive expertise" and "proven ability" points towards a mid-to-senior level candidate who can operate with significant autonomy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Examples: Showcase your direct contributions to enterprise-level design systems, including examples of component creation, pattern documentation, and governance strategies.

• Complex UX Challenges: Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to tackle intricate user workflows, particularly within technical or multi-product environments.

• Data-Informed Design: Include examples where user research, usability testing, or data analytics informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• AI/Automation Integration: Highlight any projects where you designed or contributed to AI-powered features, automation, or data visualization, focusing on user interaction and workflow enhancement.

• Scalability & Consistency: Demonstrate how your designs maintain consistency and scalability across different platforms or products within a larger ecosystem.

Process Documentation:

• Design System Governance: Evidence of experience in establishing and maintaining design system governance models, including contribution guidelines and version control.

• Workflow Optimization: Showcase how you've used design thinking to simplify and improve complex user workflows, particularly for financial professionals.

• Iterative Design & Testing: Detail your process for conducting user research, prototyping, usability testing, and iterating based on findings to achieve optimal outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role with a strong design system focus, the portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just visual or interaction design skills, but also strategic thinking around scalability, governance, and process. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio, explaining their design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of their work, especially concerning design systems and AI integrations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 - $120,000 per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is provided as a good faith estimate for a Senior Product Designer in Phoenix, AZ or Fairfield, IA. Actual compensation may vary based on candidate qualifications, experience, skills, education, performance, internal equity, and geographic location. The noted range aligns with industry benchmarks for senior-level design roles in these regions, particularly within specialized fields like FinTech or financial services where complex systems are prevalent.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Income Protection: Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance, Company-paid life insurance.

• Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays.

• Community & Development: Volunteer Time Off, Wellness Incentives.

• Additional Support: Comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, well-being, and work-life balance.

Working Hours: The role is likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time positions. Specific hours may vary, but the hybrid schedule requires three days in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is comprehensive, covering essential health, wellness, and income protection needs. The inclusion of Volunteer Time Off and Wellness Incentives suggests a company culture that values community engagement and employee well-being, which can be a significant draw for operations professionals seeking a balanced work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Independent Broker-Dealer. Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. is a significant player in supporting independent financial advisors, providing tools, compliance, and transition services. This industry context implies a need for designers who understand regulated environments and the importance of trust, security, and clarity.

Company Size: Approximately 900 associates, with a 4:1 advisor-to-associate ratio. This indicates a well-established organization with a substantial operational footprint, yet retains a level of personalized service and a strong internal support structure.

Founded: 1981. With nearly 45 years of experience, Cambridge has a long history and deep expertise in the financial services sector, suggesting stability and a mature approach to business operations and product development.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The role implies integration within a product development team, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers. The "Senior" title suggests potential leadership or mentorship within a design team or across product initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on partnering with Product and Engineering is noted, suggesting a collaborative environment where design is integrated early in the product lifecycle.

• Advisor-Centric: The company's purpose is to "make a difference in the lives of our financial advisors, their clients, and our associates." This advisor-first mentality likely influences design decisions, prioritizing usability and efficiency for financial professionals.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role requires user research, usability testing, and data-informed iteration, indicating a commitment to evidence-based design decisions.

• Scalability & Consistency: The focus on design systems and enterprise-scale products highlights a methodical approach to ensuring consistency and efficiency across a broad product ecosystem.

• User-Centricity: A core principle of advocating for users and translating complex requirements into intuitive solutions is central to the design process.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built on core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness, with a strong emphasis on putting financial advisors first. This context is crucial for a designer who needs to understand the end-users (financial advisors) and their unique needs within a regulated industry. The size and history suggest a stable, established environment with opportunities for impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role. It signifies a high level of individual contribution and expertise, with the expectation of leading design initiatives, owning significant product areas (like the design system), and potentially mentoring junior designers. The role requires strategic thinking and the ability to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Director of Product Design, or a Head of UX within the product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on a day-to-day basis.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts the usability, efficiency, and scalability of Cambridge's product ecosystem. By owning the design system, they ensure consistency and reduce development overhead. By designing intuitive interfaces, they improve advisor productivity and client satisfaction, indirectly contributing to revenue growth and advisor retention. Their work on AI-driven features can also unlock new efficiencies and capabilities for financial professionals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team of designers and shaping the design strategy for specific product areas or the entire platform.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design systems, AI/ML UX, or specific financial technology domains.

• Strategic Influence: Increase influence on product strategy, roadmap planning, and cross-functional decision-making.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, share best practices, and contribute to the overall growth of the design function within Cambridge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a career path that combines deep technical skill with strategic thinking and potential leadership. The emphasis on design systems and AI suggests opportunities for specialization in high-demand areas within product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This role requires 3 days per week in the office, with flexibility on which days, provided the applicant is located near either the Phoenix, AZ or Fairfield, IA hubs. This is not a fully remote position.

Office Location(s): Phoenix, AZ and Fairfield, IA. Candidates must be located near one of these two primary office locations to comply with the hybrid work requirement.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: The hybrid model suggests office spaces designed for collaboration, team meetings, and focused work. Being in the office 3 days a week facilitates direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow designers.

• Technology & Tools: Access to modern design and prototyping tools (Figma is specifically mentioned) and other relevant software and hardware necessary for design execution.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional alignment meetings.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the hybrid schedule dictates specific in-office attendance. The nature of design work often involves periods of deep focus, balanced with collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement is a critical factor. Candidates must be able to commute to either Phoenix or Fairfield and be comfortable with a structured in-office presence. This environment is designed to foster collaboration while allowing for focused individual work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience alignment.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your background, design philosophy, experience with design systems, AI design, and problem-solving approach.

• Design Challenge / Portfolio Review: A more in-depth session where you present your portfolio, discuss case studies, and potentially tackle a design exercise. This will assess your strategic thinking, UX/UI skills, and ability to articulate design rationale.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to integrate design within a development workflow.

• Final Round: Potentially a conversation with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and overall strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 strong projects that best represent your expertise in design systems, complex UX challenges, AI-driven design, and data-informed decision-making.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you encountered, your solutions, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Highlight Design System Contributions: Specifically detail your role in creating, evolving, or governing design systems, including component libraries, documentation, and adoption strategies.

• Showcase AI/Complex Work: Present projects where you've navigated complex technical domains or designed AI-enabled features, emphasizing user-centricity and workflow improvement.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design rationale, trade-offs made, and how you handle feedback and collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Cambridge Investment Research, their mission, values, and the financial advisor landscape.

• Design System Principles: Brush up on best practices for design system architecture, governance, and scaling.

• AI UX Considerations: Familiarize yourself with ethical considerations, user trust, and effective interaction patterns for AI-powered features.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and design decisions concisely and persuasively, especially during timed exercises or presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on design systems, AI, and complex enterprise-scale products means the interview process will likely scrutinize your ability to think strategically, manage complexity, and execute with a high degree of polish and consistency. A strong portfolio is non-negotiable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (advanced proficiency required, including component libraries, variants, and token-based workflows).

• Collaboration Tools: Likely Jira, Confluence, Slack, or similar platforms for project management and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation tools may be advantageous, given the financial services context, though not a primary requirement for this design role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is a hard requirement. The mention of token-based workflows indicates a need for designers who understand design system architecture at a foundational level, enabling more efficient and scalable design implementation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Commitment: Essential in the financial services industry, this translates to reliable, trustworthy, and well-documented design processes and outputs.

• Flexibility & Kindness: Suggests an adaptable and supportive work environment where designers can iterate and collaborate effectively, valuing human-centered approaches.

• Advisor-First Focus: Design decisions will likely be evaluated based on their ability to support and empower financial advisors, improving their efficiency and client service capabilities.

• Data-Driven & Efficient: A culture that values evidence-based decision-making and seeks to optimize processes and workflows for maximum impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role demands close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, indicating a team structure where design is an integral part of the product development lifecycle, not an afterthought.

• Open Communication: Expect regular feedback loops, design critiques, and discussions to ensure alignment and shared understanding.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, frameworks, and learnings to elevate the entire design and product team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding and aligning with Cambridge's core values (integrity, commitment, flexibility, kindness) and their advisor-first approach will be key to succeeding in this role and integrating effectively with the team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design System Governance with Team Autonomy: Ensuring the design system is adopted and maintained while allowing product teams the flexibility to innovate.

• Designing for Complex Financial Workflows: Translating intricate, regulated financial processes into intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Integrating Emerging AI Capabilities: Effectively translating abstract AI concepts into practical, user-friendly features that add tangible value without compromising trust or usability.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Maintaining a cohesive user experience across diverse web and mobile products within a large ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Financial Tech UX: Gaining specialized knowledge in the unique design challenges and opportunities within the financial services industry.

• AI/ML UX Specialization: Developing expertise in designing user experiences for cutting-edge AI and machine learning applications.

• Design System Leadership: Growing into a more strategic and leadership role focused on scalable design operations.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced product managers, engineers, and potentially other senior designers within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in complex industries, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design System Strategy: "How would you approach evolving and scaling our enterprise design system to support diverse product teams while ensuring consistent adoption and governance?" (Prepare to discuss governance models, contribution processes, documentation strategies, and adoption tactics).

• AI Feature Design: "Describe your process for translating an emerging AI capability into a practical, user-centered feature that enhances financial advisor workflows. What are the key ethical considerations?" (Be ready to walk through a hypothetical or past project, focusing on user needs, interaction design, and trust-building).

• Complex UX Problem Solving: "Walk us through a time you designed a solution for a highly complex, multi-stakeholder workflow. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio that demonstrates your ability to manage complexity and deliver user-centric solutions).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with Cambridge's core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness?" (Research the company values and think about how they translate into design practice).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your design decisions, using metrics where possible.

• Explain Your Process: Detail your thought process, research, iteration, and decision-making rationale for each project.

• Highlight Design System Work: Dedicate specific time to showcase your design system contributions, explaining its architecture, benefits, and your role in its success.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about specific design choices, tools used, and how you collaborated with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, deep expertise in design systems and AI UX, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a regulated industry context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating enterprise design system experience, complex UX challenges, and AI-driven feature design. Ensure it clearly showcases your Figma proficiency and token-based workflow experience.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of relevant experience, key skills in UI/UX design, design systems, AI integration, and accessibility, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for your portfolio case studies. Prepare to discuss your approach to design systems, AI UX, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Cambridge Investment Research, understanding their mission, values, target audience (financial advisors), and the financial services industry context to inform your interview 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 Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. before making application decisions.