Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Karbon

Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-21T05:37:16

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex design initiatives within a B2B SaaS environment, focusing on customer-centered experiences.

• Leverage AI and LLMs for problem framing, research synthesis, and rapid prototyping to accelerate design cycles.

• Collaborate deeply with Product and Engineering teams to define problems and deliver end-to-end design solutions.

• Drive the advancement of design craft and quality across the organization through mentorship and by establishing design patterns and prompts.

• Contribute to a high-performing, globally distributed team in an award-winning AI-powered practice management software company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the emphasis on AI, LLMs, B2B SaaS, and end-to-end ownership suggests a role with significant operational impact on product development and GTM strategy alignment. The role requires not just design execution but also strategic problem-solving and process improvement within the product lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design process for complex product initiatives, from problem definition to final delivery.

• Partner with Product Managers and Engineers to clarify intent, pressure-test assumptions, and identify edge cases using LLM capabilities.

• Utilize AI-assisted tools to rapidly prototype user flows and interfaces, guiding structure, behavior, and visual craft.

• Conduct early and frequent customer validation through direct engagement and quick testing to inform design iterations.

• Translate validated concepts into production-ready designs in Figma, ensuring complete state coverage and system alignment.

• Design for platform consistency, embedding design judgment into reusable patterns and prompts to enhance efficiency and quality.

• Mentor and provide timely feedback to other designers, sharing best practices and contributing to the growth of the design team.

• Drive continuous improvement in design craft and tooling, focusing on attention to detail and compounding efficiencies.

• Contribute to the evolution of the company's design system, ensuring alignment and scalability of design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strategic thinking and proactive problem-solving, typical of senior operations roles that bridge product development and business objectives. The emphasis on AI and LLMs indicates a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 6-8+ years of experience in product design, with a strong preference for B2B SaaS or complex product environments.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated end-to-end product design thinking, evidenced through a strong portfolio.

• Proficiency in interaction design and visual craft, showcasing ability to solve complex problems within established systems.

• Proven ability to work autonomously on ambiguous challenges, driving projects forward with clarity and ownership.

• Active and practical experience integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into the design workflow for problem framing, research synthesis, prototyping, and iteration.

• Comfort and experience using AI-assisted development tools for rapid concept building and iteration, even without writing production code.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a track record of partnering effectively with Product and Engineering teams.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on, detailed execution.

• Experience contributing to or actively working within established design systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for vertical SaaS, professional services, or accounting-adjacent products.

• Prior experience designing AI-enabled product experiences.

• Familiarity with design operations principles and practices to optimize the design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for active LLM integration goes beyond general awareness and points to a specific operational need for designers who can leverage AI to enhance efficiency and innovation in the product development cycle. This is a key differentiator for operations-focused candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design thinking, illustrating problem definition, solution exploration, and final execution for complex challenges.

• Demonstrate robust interaction design skills, including user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Highlight visual craft with examples of polished UI design, attention to detail, and adherence to design principles.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, the solutions developed, and the impact achieved.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of a structured design process, detailing how you approach ambiguous problems and translate research into actionable design decisions.

• Illustrate how you collaborate with Product and Engineering, demonstrating your ability to integrate feedback and drive consensus.

• Showcase your understanding of design systems, including contributions to or utilization of established pattern libraries.

• Be prepared to discuss how you ensure the scalability and maintainability of design solutions within a B2B SaaS context.

• Highlight experience with customer validation techniques and how they inform design iteration and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio is crucial for this role, especially for demonstrating the practical application of AI and LLMs in a design context. This aligns with the operational need to see how candidates can implement new technologies to improve output and efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Sydney, Australia, with 6-8+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $120,000 - $170,000. This range accounts for the seniority, specialized skills (including AI/LLM proficiency), and the cost of living in Sydney.

Benefits:

• 4 weeks of annual leave.

• 5 additional "Karbon Days" off annually, providing extra paid time off.

• Flexible working environment, supporting work-life balance.

• Generous parental leave policy.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and mentorship.

• Opportunity to work with a globally distributed, high-performing team.

• Be part of a fast-growing, award-winning company with internal promotion opportunities.

• Supportive and collaborative team-oriented culture with consistent feedback.

Working Hours: The role typically involves a standard full-time work week, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered within Karbon's global operating hours to accommodate collaboration across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of comparable Senior Product Designer roles in Sydney, Australia, considering the specified experience level and the unique requirement for AI/LLM integration, which can command a premium. Karbon's global presence and focus on a people-first culture are also factored into the overall compensation and benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically AI-powered Practice Management Software for Accounting Firms. Karbon operates within the FinTech and Professional Services Technology sectors, providing critical operational tools for accounting professionals.

Company Size: Karbon is a rapidly growing company with a globally distributed team. While exact numbers fluctuate, it's recognized as a mid-to-large size company within the SaaS B2B space, employing professionals across multiple continents.

Founded: Karbon was founded with the mission to revolutionize practice management for accounting firms. Its growth has been significant, leading to global expansion and recognition, including Great Place To Work® certification and placement on Fortune magazine's Best Small Workplaces™ List.

Team Structure:

• The design team operates as a key functional unit within the broader Product organization, collaborating closely with Product Management and Engineering.

• As a Senior Product Designer, you will function as an individual contributor with significant autonomy, but also as a leader and mentor within the design discipline.

Methodology:

• Karbon emphasizes a customer-centered approach, using data and direct customer feedback to drive product strategy and design decisions.

• The company embraces innovation, particularly in the adoption of AI and LLMs, to enhance product capabilities and operational efficiency.

• A strong emphasis is placed on building scalable and maintainable systems, including a robust design system that supports consistent user experiences.

Company Website: https://karbonhq.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI-powered software and its global, distributed nature shape its operational culture. For a Senior Product Designer, this means a dynamic environment where embracing new technologies and cross-cultural collaboration are essential.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Individual Contributor within the Product Design function. It requires a high level of autonomy, strategic impact, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The scope includes leading complex design initiatives and influencing design standards across Karbon.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product. This structure provides guidance and strategic alignment while allowing for significant independence in daily work.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction of Karbon's AI-powered practice management software. By designing seamless and intuitive experiences, the Senior Product Designer contributes to user adoption, retention, and the overall success of the product in the accounting industry. The integration of AI into the design process also drives operational efficiency within the product development cycle itself.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, advanced prototyping, and complex B2B SaaS product challenges.

• Leadership Development: Transition into a Design Lead or Management role, overseeing a team of designers and shaping the design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Impact: Gain exposure to broader GTM operations, product strategy, and AI product development by collaborating across departments.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in designing for the accounting technology sector and AI-augmented product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a trajectory towards leadership or deep specialization. The emphasis on AI and B2B SaaS suggests growth opportunities in emerging tech and enterprise software design, which are highly valued in operations and product development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Karbon operates as a globally distributed team, with many employees working remotely or in hybrid arrangements. The emphasis is on a flexible work environment that prioritizes results and collaboration over traditional office presence.

Office Location(s): While Karbon has a global presence (US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Philippines), this specific role is based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Remote work is supported for individuals within these specified regions.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative remote environment, utilizing digital tools for communication, design, and project management.

• Technology Stack: Access to industry-standard design tools (e.g., Figma) and potentially AI-powered design assistants will be provided.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs are integral to the workflow, fostering a connected and productive atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility is a key benefit, allowing team members to manage their schedules within reasonable parameters to facilitate global collaboration and personal work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distributed nature of Karbon's workforce means that successful candidates must be comfortable with remote collaboration tools and asynchronous communication, which is a critical operational aspect for global teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly experience in B2B SaaS, complex design, and AI/LLM usage.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A session where you'll present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially tackle a focused design challenge. Expect to elaborate on your experience with AI/LLMs and how you've applied them.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI/LLM Integration: Clearly articulate specific instances where you used LLMs or AI-assisted tools. Detail the prompts used, the outcomes, and the impact on your workflow or the final design.

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Select case studies that demonstrate your ability to take a project from initial ambiguity through to a well-crafted, validated solution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs, such as improved user engagement, efficiency gains, or positive customer feedback.

• Explain Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design decisions, explaining the rationale behind your choices, user research findings, and collaboration with stakeholders.

• Demonstrate Craft: Ensure your portfolio reflects high standards in visual design, interaction design, and attention to detail.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem Framing: Practice breaking down ambiguous problems into manageable components, similar to how you would use LLMs to clarify intent.

• Rapid Iteration: Be ready to demonstrate how you can quickly explore multiple design directions and iterate based on feedback or new information.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your design strategy, rationale, and proposed solutions clearly and concisely to a diverse audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI/LLM experience means that candidates should be prepared to show concrete examples of its application in their portfolio and during interviews. This is a key operational differentiator Karbon is seeking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design and prototyping. Proficiency in creating complex designs, interactive prototypes, and component-based systems is essential.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Experience with tools that integrate AI for tasks like generating design concepts, writing copy, or automating repetitive design tasks. Specific tools may vary, but an understanding of their capabilities and limitations is key.

• LLM Interfaces: Direct experience using LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Bard) for design-related tasks such as research synthesis, idea generation, and problem clarification.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how product design impacts user onboarding and adoption within a B2B SaaS context is valuable. Awareness of CRM functionalities and their user touchpoints can inform design decisions.

• Understanding of workflow automation concepts, especially as they relate to improving user efficiency within the Karbon platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of LLMs and AI-assisted tools signifies Karbon's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology. Proficiency or strong familiarity with these tools is not just a preference but a core requirement for operational efficiency in their design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of accounting professionals through exceptional product experiences.

• Innovation & AI Adoption: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI and LLMs, to drive product advancement and operational efficiency.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively across global teams (Product, Engineering, Design) with open communication and shared goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive for excellence in craft, process, and product, with a focus on iterative enhancements and learning.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Empowering individuals to take responsibility for their work and drive initiatives forward with minimal oversight.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the development lifecycle.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback, design critiques, and open dialogue to elevate the quality of work.

• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive approach to sharing insights, best practices, and learnings, particularly around new technologies like AI and design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Karbon's values align with a modern, agile operations environment. The emphasis on AI and collaboration suggests a culture that is forward-thinking and values teamwork in achieving operational excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Navigating and simplifying complex workflows within the accounting software domain for a diverse set of users.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Ensuring that AI-driven features enhance, rather than complicate, the user experience, and that LLMs are used effectively to augment design processes.

• Global Distributed Team Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining design consistency across multiple time zones and cultural contexts.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Implementing new AI technologies and design patterns while ensuring the core product remains stable, reliable, and intuitive.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Becoming an expert in applying AI and LLMs to product design workflows, a highly sought-after skill.

• Complex B2B SaaS Design Mastery: Deepening expertise in designing for sophisticated enterprise software solutions.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Developing leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and potentially taking on lead roles for design initiatives.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of product design, AI, and FinTech trends relevant to accounting technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of senior roles in innovative tech companies, requiring strategic thinking and adaptability. The growth opportunities are directly tied to developing expertise in high-demand areas like AI-driven design and complex SaaS.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product problem you've solved using design thinking. How did you leverage LLMs or AI-assisted tools in that process?" (Focus on problem framing, iterative design, and impact.)

• "How do you approach balancing the need for rapid prototyping with the requirement for production-ready design quality? Discuss your experience with AI tools in this context." (Highlight agility, validation, and efficiency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Karbon's mission and our focus on AI-powered practice management software?" (Research Karbon's product, target market, and AI strategy.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to Karbon's collaborative and globally distributed team culture?" (Emphasize your remote work experience and teamwork approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your role and the challenge, then detailing your process, solutions, and outcomes.

• Quantify Results: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. For AI-integrated projects, specifically highlight improvements in efficiency or user experience.

• Narrative Flow: Tell a compelling story for each case study, clearly articulating the problem, your unique contribution, and the lessons learned.

• Interactive Elements: Be prepared to discuss specific design decisions in detail and answer questions about trade-offs and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing specific examples of AI/LLM integration in your design process is critical. This is a key differentiator for this role and will likely be a significant focus during interviews.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end design thinking, complex problem-solving, and practical application of AI/LLM tools in your workflow.

• Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "Product Design," "B2B SaaS," "AI," "LLMs," "Figma," "Interaction Design," and "User Research," focusing on achievements and quantifiable results.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation by practicing your narrative, detailing your process, and being ready to discuss your AI/LLM usage with specific examples and outcomes.

• Research Karbon's product, mission, and values thoroughly, paying attention to their AI strategy and how they serve accounting professionals, to articulate your alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.