Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: First Circle

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Fintech Operations

Date Posted: February 24, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for hybrid flexibility, typically 3-4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive exceptional user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design for a cutting-edge SME neobank platform, focusing on intuitive and aesthetically superior financial products.

• Lead product design initiatives across complex areas including credit, payments, FX, corporate credit cards, and payroll, ensuring seamless integration and user satisfaction.

• Champion customer-centricity by conducting thorough user research and discovery, translating insights into actionable design solutions that address the unique needs of small business owners.

• Contribute significantly to the evolution of the design system and design processes, elevating overall design quality and scalability for a rapidly growing fintech company.

• Mentor and develop junior designers, fostering a strong design culture and promoting collaborative growth within the product and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role is "Senior Product Designer" at a fast-growing fintech company like First Circle, and the description emphasizes ownership of complex product areas and mentoring, it's inferred that the role is primarily on-site to foster collaboration and team cohesion, though hybrid arrangements are common in Singapore for such roles. The title "Senior Product Designer" also implies a need for strategic thinking beyond pure execution, influencing product direction. The emphasis on "exceptional UX" for "under-served SMEs" points towards a role deeply embedded in understanding business user needs, bridging design with operational realities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Development & Ownership: Take ownership of significant product areas within the SME NeoBank platform, including credit, payments, FX, corporate credit cards, and payroll, as well as internal operations tools.

• Visual Design Excellence: Push the boundaries of the company's design aesthetic and visual identity, translating brand guidelines into world-class customer experiences (CX) and UX across all digital touchpoints.

• Research & Discovery Leadership: Lead customer-centric discovery efforts, collaborating closely with stakeholders in marketing, sales operations, and customer success to develop highly differentiated experiences through concepts, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Design System & Process Improvement: Actively contribute to, champion, and evolve the design system and design processes to ensure scalability and maintain high quality standards as the product offering expands.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Support the professional growth of junior designers on the team, sharing expertise and actively contributing to building a robust and collaborative design culture.

• Strategic Influence: Drive design influence across product teams and contribute to broader strategic discussions, impacting product roadmap and user-centric decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed clearly indicate a senior-level role with a focus on strategic contributions and leadership, not just execution. The mention of "internal operations tools" suggests an understanding of how design impacts the operational efficiency of the company itself, a key aspect for operations professionals assessing potential employers.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 4-7 years of professional product design experience with a strong portfolio showcasing deep expertise and pride in design work.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Proven ability to design exceptional user-centered products across iOS, Android, and responsive web platforms.

• UX/UI Craftsmanship: Strong aesthetic sense, exceptional attention to detail, and a deep understanding of visual design principles and their application.

• Research & Discovery: Demonstrated capability in leading customer-centric discovery, translating user needs into tangible design concepts, wireframes, and prototypes.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in building, maintaining, and championing design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, marketing, sales operations, and customer success.

• Communication & Articulation: Strong ability to articulate and defend design decisions with clear rationales and conviction, actively seeking and incorporating feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Fintech & SME Domain Knowledge: Prior experience designing financial products or services for SMEs.

• Advanced Prototyping: Proficiency in advanced prototyping tools and techniques to effectively communicate complex interactions and user flows.

• Mentorship Experience: Demonstrated ability or willingness to mentor junior designers and contribute to team development.

• Data-Informed Design: Experience leveraging user data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 4-7 years of experience, coupled with the emphasis on leadership, mentorship, and strategic influence, positions this as a mid-to-senior level role within the design function. The preference for fintech and SME experience highlights the specialized nature of the company's market.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Study Depth: Showcase 3-5 in-depth case studies that demonstrate your design process from problem identification to final solution, highlighting your role and contributions.

• Problem/Solution Articulation: Clearly articulate the design problem, your approach to research and discovery, the user needs you addressed, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Visual & Interaction Design: Include high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear examples of visual design craft and interaction design patterns.

• Metrics & Impact: Demonstrate the impact of your designs, ideally with quantitative data (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion times) or qualitative insights.

• Cross-Platform Design: Examples showcasing design solutions across different platforms (iOS, Android, Web) and how you handled platform-specific considerations.

Process Documentation:

• User-Centered Workflow: Document your approach to user research, persona development, user journey mapping, and usability testing.

• Design System Integration: Illustrate how you've utilized or contributed to design systems in your projects, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Show examples of how you've collaborated with product managers and engineers, including your iteration process based on feedback and technical constraints.

• Problem-Solving Examples: Highlight instances where you navigated complex design challenges, ambiguity, or trade-offs, and how you arrived at a solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior product designer role, especially in a fintech environment where operational efficiency and user trust are paramount, the portfolio is critical. It must go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate a strategic, user-centric, and process-driven approach. The ability to articulate how design impacts business outcomes (like conversion, efficiency for SMEs) is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: HMO coverage from day one for you and your dependents.

• Subsidized Meals: Free catered lunches provided daily.

• Top-Tier Equipment: MacBook Air provided for your work.

• Wellness Support: Monthly fitness allowance to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

• Commuting Support: Transportation allowance to ease commute.

• Living Support: Accommodation allowance to assist with living expenses.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth and learning within a fast-paced fintech environment.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Specific schedules may involve flexibility, common in hybrid environments, with an expectation of availability for key meetings and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary for a Senior Product Designer in Singapore can vary significantly based on experience, company size, and industry. Fintech roles, especially in a high-growth startup environment, tend to offer competitive compensation. The provided range is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Singapore, considering the company's growth stage and the competitive nature of the fintech talent market. The listed benefits are directly from the job description and are highly attractive.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech (Financial Technology), Neobanking, SME Lending.

Company Size: Growing rapidly, likely between 50-250 employees based on typical growth trajectories for fintechs reaching this stage of expansion.

Founded: First Circle was founded in 2015, indicating a mature startup with established processes but still agile enough for rapid innovation.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: A growing team of designers, with this role serving as a senior contributor and potential mentor.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working with Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing, Sales Operations, and Customer Success teams.

• Reporting: The Senior Product Designer likely reports to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or Product Manager, with clear lines of communication for strategic alignment.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: Deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of under-served SMEs.

• Agile Development: Likely operates within agile frameworks, emphasizing rapid iteration and continuous improvement.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Design choices are informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics.

Company Website: https://firstcircle.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for Workable, the actual company domain is likely firstcircle.com or a similar variation for their specific services). First Circle is known for its focus on the Philippine market, expanding to neobanking services.

📝 Enhancement Note: First Circle's mission to serve under-served SMEs in the Philippines, and their expansion into a full-stack neobank, suggests a company culture driven by impact, innovation, and a deep understanding of their target market's operational and financial challenges.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a significant level of autonomy and responsibility. It's a critical juncture for designers looking to deepen their expertise in fintech product development, impact product strategy, and potentially move into leadership or specialized design roles.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a Head of Product, Design Director, or Lead Product Designer. This position will likely collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, influencing product direction and execution.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the operational efficiency and user experience of SME clients, a core operational focus for a fintech neobank. By designing intuitive banking products, First Circle reduces the operational burden on its SME customers, enabling them to manage their finances more effectively. The designer's work also influences internal operations through the design of internal tools.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role, managing a team and setting design strategy.

• Specialization: Opportunities to specialize in specific product areas (e.g., credit products, payments infrastructure) or user segments.

• Strategic Influence: Increased scope to influence product roadmap, business strategy, and contribute to market expansion.

• Mentorship & Skill Development: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers and continually learn about the fintech landscape and advanced design methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, understanding how a design role contributes to the company's operational goals and customer success is key. This Senior Product Designer role is central to delivering a seamless operational experience for SMEs using First Circle's financial products.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration for core design and product development activities.

Office Location(s): Singapore, Singapore. This location is a hub for fintech innovation, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem and talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features collaborative workspaces designed to foster teamwork and spontaneous idea exchange between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to high-end equipment (MacBook Air) and industry-standard design and prototyping software.

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

Work Schedule: While the role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week), the hybrid nature suggests flexibility in when and where work is done, balanced with the need for in-office presence for team collaboration and key meetings. This allows for focused individual work and structured team interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in Singapore is common and balances the need for in-person collaboration essential for design and product development with the flexibility expected by modern professionals. This setup is conducive to building strong team dynamics and fostering a sense of shared purpose.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present 1-2 key case studies from their portfolio, detailing their process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge: A practical exercise, possibly a take-home assignment or an in-person whiteboarding session, to assess problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to handle ambiguity.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style and communication skills.

• Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: Final discussion focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the solutions you designed, and the impact (quantitative or qualitative).

• Process Over Polish: While aesthetics matter, focus on clearly articulating your design process, research methodologies, and decision-making rationale. Show your thinking.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, use user feedback, usability test results, or projected business impact.

• Tailor to First Circle: Emphasize projects relevant to fintech, SME needs, or complex platform design. Show you understand their business and user base.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, how you handled difficult feedback, and your collaboration style.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Problem: For any design challenge, ensure you fully grasp the user problem and business objectives before diving into solutions.

• Think Aloud: Articulate your thought process clearly, explaining your assumptions, research methods, and design decisions as you go.

• Focus on Trade-offs: Demonstrate an understanding of constraints (time, technical feasibility, business goals) and how you would make informed trade-offs.

• User-Centricity: Always bring it back to the user. How does your solution benefit them?

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior Product Designer is rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and the ability to articulate a robust, user-centered design process. Demonstrating an understanding of fintech operations and SME challenges will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design & Prototyping Tools:

• Figma: Highly likely to be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping due to its collaborative features and industry prevalence.

• Sketch: Potentially used, especially if the team has legacy projects or specific workflows.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop): For asset creation, image manipulation, and advanced visual design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, or advanced Figma prototyping capabilities for interactive user flows.

User Research & Testing Tools:

• UserTesting.com / Lookback.io: For remote usability testing and gathering user feedback.

• Surveys / Forms: Google Forms, Typeform, SurveyMonkey for user surveys and feedback collection.

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude for understanding user behavior and product performance.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira / Confluence: For tracking tasks, bugs, and project documentation, common in agile development environments.

• Slack: For day-to-day team communication and quick collaboration.

• Asana / Trello: Potentially used for project management and task organization.

CRM & Automation (Relevant for understanding user data):

• Salesforce / HubSpot: While not a design tool, understanding how CRM data informs user segmentation and marketing efforts is beneficial.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: For understanding user journeys and communication strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product designers. Understanding how design tools integrate with development workflows (Jira) and analytics platforms (Mixpanel, Amplitude) is crucial for demonstrating an impact-driven approach, which is highly valued in operations-focused roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and solving the problems of SMEs, ensuring their financial operations are streamlined and accessible.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A drive for high standards in design, product development, and customer service, aiming for world-class experiences.

• Innovation & Agility: A culture of continuous improvement, embracing new technologies and methodologies to adapt to the evolving fintech landscape.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, shared ownership, and mutual support across teams to achieve common goals.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on delivering tangible value and positive change for both customers and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships between design, product, engineering, and business operations teams, ensuring alignment on strategy and execution.

• Iterative & Feedback-Oriented: Encourages regular feedback loops, design critiques, and open discussions to refine solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, insights, and learnings across the team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: First Circle's mission to transform financial services for SMEs implies a culture that values problem-solving, operational efficiency for its clients, and a strong sense of purpose. The emphasis on "exceptional UX" for a traditionally underserved market highlights a commitment to user-centricity that aligns with operational excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Balancing the diverse needs of multiple user types within the SME segment and across various financial products (credit, payments, FX, payroll).

• Rapid Growth & Scalability: Ensuring design quality and consistency are maintained as the company scales its product offerings and user base.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating effectively in a fast-paced, evolving fintech environment where priorities can shift.

• Elevating Design Standards: Continuously pushing the boundaries of design aesthetic and UX in a market where users may have low expectations due to past experiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of financial products, regulatory environments, and operational challenges specific to the fintech industry.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to hone leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and contributing to design team strategy.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and influencing business decisions through design expertise.

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Exposure to cutting-edge design tools, research techniques, and product development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic nature of working in a fintech startup, requiring adaptability and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities are significant for a designer looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career in a high-demand sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex user group with diverse needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on user research, segmentation, and iterative design).

• "How do you balance delivering high-fidelity designs with the need for rapid iteration in an agile environment?" (Highlight your understanding of agile workflows and trade-offs).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about First Circle's mission to serve under-served SMEs in the Philippines?" (Show genuine interest in their impact and market).

• "How do you see design contributing to the operational efficiency of a fintech neobank?" (Connect design to user experience, customer onboarding, and process simplification).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Choose Wisely: Select 1-2 projects that best showcase your senior-level skills, problem-solving abilities, and impact, ideally related to fintech or complex platforms.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline:

  1. The Problem: What was the user or business challenge?
  2. Your Role & Team: What was your specific contribution?
  3. Your Process: Research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, iteration.
  4. The Solution: Key design decisions and rationale.
  5. The Impact: Quantifiable results or qualitative improvements.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you handled challenges.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and clear explanations to bring your work to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for this interview involves not just showcasing design skills but also demonstrating an understanding of the business context, operational impact, and collaborative nature of working within a fintech product team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features case studies that highlight your senior-level experience, focusing on fintech or complex platform design if possible. Tailor your case study selection to align with First Circle's mission.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your years of experience, key skills (UX/UI, research, design systems, collaboration), and any relevant fintech or SME experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, process articulation, and demonstrating the impact of your design work. Prepare answers for common behavioral and situational questions related to design challenges and collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research First Circle's products, mission, target market (SMEs in the Philippines), and recent news. Understand their competitive landscape and how their design can differentiate them.

⚠️ 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.