Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Kharon Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: September 18, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design, from user research and ideation to wireframing and high-fidelity prototyping, for Kharon's innovative global security intelligence platform.
• Drive user experience (UX) optimization by monitoring user feedback and metrics, translating insights into actionable design improvements.
• Champion user-centered design principles, ensuring all product interfaces are intuitive, engaging, and accessible.
• Develop and maintain scalable design systems, guidelines, and standards to ensure a cohesive visual language across all Kharon product offerings.
• Collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders in agile development environments to align design with user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on a critical intersection of technology and global security, requiring a designer adept at translating complex data and operational needs into user-friendly interfaces. The emphasis on AI/agentic experiences and the company's mission suggests a need for forward-thinking design solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand user needs and pain points within the global security and financial intelligence domain.
• Translate research findings and business requirements into detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard design tools.
• Iterate rapidly on designs based on feedback from user testing, stakeholder reviews, and performance metrics to continuously enhance the user experience.
• Develop and meticulously document comprehensive design systems, component libraries, style guides, and UI patterns to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the product suite.
• Actively participate in design reviews and UX vision discussions, articulating design rationale clearly and persuasively to cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Partner closely with Product Management to define product strategy and roadmap from a user experience perspective, ensuring alignment with market needs and business goals.
• Collaborate seamlessly with Engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear specifications, assets, and ongoing support throughout the development lifecycle.
• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices, particularly within the fintech, regtech, and AI/ML product spaces, to inform and innovate design solutions.
• Apply accessibility best practices (WCAG) to ensure that Kharon's products are usable by a diverse range of individuals.
• Contribute to a culture of design excellence by mentoring junior designers and sharing knowledge within the product and design teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute visually but also strategically influence product direction through user-centric insights and robust design system thinking. Experience with complex data visualization or financial/security-related applications would be highly beneficial.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Computer Science, Psychology, or a closely related field.
• A Master's degree in a design-related discipline is considered a strong asset.
• Equivalent practical experience will be considered in lieu of a formal degree.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive professional experience in product design, interaction design, or UX/UI design roles.
• Demonstrated experience in crafting interfaces for complex data, AI/agentic experiences, or enterprise-level software solutions.
• Proven track record of successfully leading design projects from concept to launch within agile development environments.
• Experience working cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders.

Required Skills:

• User Research: Proficiency in conducting various user research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, surveys, usability testing, persona development).
• UX/UI Design: Expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.
• Design Tools: Deep proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma (primary), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Principle, or similar.
• Design Systems: Proven experience in building, managing, and scaling design systems and component libraries.
• Collaboration: Strong ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams in an agile product development setting.
• Data-Driven Design: Ability to leverage user feedback, analytics, and data-driven insights to inform design decisions and optimize user experiences.
• Storytelling & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication, storytelling, and presentation skills to articulate design rationale to diverse audiences.
• Visual Design Principles: Strong understanding of typography, color theory, layout, visual hierarchy, and UI patterns.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience crafting interfaces for AI/agentic experiences.
• Familiarity with the global security, financial crimes, sanctions, or export controls industries.
• Knowledge of web accessibility standards (WCAG) and best practices.
• Experience with animation and motion design principles in UI.
• Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-8+" years of experience is interpreted as a broad range, covering mid-level to senior expertise, with a preference for candidates closer to the 8-year mark for a "Senior" title. Proficiency in Figma is highlighted as a key requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 significant product design projects, demonstrating a strong understanding of the design process from research to final execution.
• Projects should highlight contributions to user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
• Demonstrate the ability to translate complex problems into elegant and intuitive user interfaces, with a focus on user-centered design principles.
• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions made, and the impact of your solutions.
• Showcase experience with building or contributing to design systems, including examples of component libraries, style guides, and pattern libraries.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio case studies should detail the specific design methodologies and processes followed for each project (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX, Agile UX).
• Evidence of user research activities and how insights were integrated into the design process.
• Demonstrate the iterative nature of the design process, including how feedback was incorporated and designs were refined.
• Provide examples of how designs were tested for usability and effectiveness, and how metrics were used to measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for an "updated portfolio" and "ability to showcase" signifies that the portfolio is a critical component of the application. It needs to be well-organized, clearly communicate the design process, and demonstrate impact. Experience with AI/agentic experiences is a plus, so showcasing any relevant work here would be advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience in tech companies, the estimated salary range is approximately £65,000 - £90,000 per annum.
• This estimate considers the company's focus on innovation, the seniority of the role, and the high cost of living in London. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and performance during the interview process.

Benefits:

• Fully Sponsored Private Insurance: Comprehensive private medical, dental, and potentially vision insurance coverage, fully paid by the employer.
• Pension Plan: A retirement savings plan with a 3% employer contribution, offering financial security for the future.
• Paid Holiday Leave: Generous paid time off for vacation, sick days, and public holidays, allowing for work-life balance and rejuvenation.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, potentially including access to training, conferences, and workshops relevant to design and technology.
• Collaborative Work Environment: A dynamic and innovative workplace culture focused on growth and mutual support.

Working Hours:

• The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week.
• While the role requires at least 4 days in the London office, there may be some flexibility for remote work on the fifth day, depending on team needs and management discretion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on general market data for London. The company description implies a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, which often correlates with competitive compensation and benefits packages.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Global Security, Financial Technology (FinTech), Risk Intelligence, Data Analytics. Kharon operates at the critical nexus of international commerce and global security threats, providing intelligence solutions to mitigate risks such as financial crimes, sanctions, and export controls. Company Size: The description mentions "unprecedented growth" and serving "leading global financial and multinational institutions," suggesting a rapidly scaling organization that is likely beyond the startup phase but still dynamic. It's likely a medium-sized enterprise or a fast-growing scale-up. Founded: While the founding date isn't specified, the company's mission and customer base indicate it is an established entity with significant market presence and product maturity, rather than a nascent startup.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer reports to the SVP, Product, indicating a direct line to senior leadership and product strategy.
• The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, suggesting a cross-functional, agile team structure common in tech companies.
• The design team itself is likely small and integrated within product teams, or part of a dedicated product/design function.

Methodology:

• Kharon emphasizes translating complex data into actionable insights, suggesting a data-driven approach to product development and design.
• The mention of agile product development implies iterative processes, continuous feedback loops, and adaptability.
• User-centered design principles are explicitly stated as a core methodology.

Company Website: https://kharon.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Kharon's mission is highly specialized and mission-critical. The culture is described as visionary, uncompromising, and serious about its work, yet also fostering an environment where people inspire and challenge each other. This suggests a high-performance culture with a strong sense of purpose.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a high level of individual contribution and potential for leadership within the design function. It implies significant autonomy and responsibility for key product areas. Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the SVP, Product. This structure offers visibility and direct interaction with executive leadership, providing opportunities to influence strategic decisions and gain broad business understanding. Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will directly shape how users interact with critical global security intelligence data. Their work will impact the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of Kharon's products, directly contributing to the company's mission of helping clients navigate complex risks and make informed decisions. The design of intuitive interfaces for these complex systems is crucial for operational efficiency and risk mitigation for Kharon's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Head of Design role as the company scales, managing a team and shaping the overall design vision.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for AI/agentic experiences, complex data visualization, or specific domains within global security and risk intelligence.
• Product Strategy: Influence product strategy and roadmap through user research and design thinking, potentially moving into Product Management roles if desired.
• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop a strong understanding of engineering processes, product management frameworks, and the intricacies of the global security and financial intelligence industries.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide more junior designers, fostering personal leadership and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Reporting to an SVP provides a significant opportunity for mentorship and direct exposure to executive-level thinking. The company's rapid growth suggests that new leadership opportunities within the design function are likely to emerge.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role requires in-office attendance at least 4 days a week, indicating a hybrid work model with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration. This suggests a modern office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation. Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office details (e.g., amenities, neighborhood) are not provided but are typical for a major metropolitan hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace that facilitates interaction with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, likely featuring collaborative meeting spaces and open-plan areas.
• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware, with potential for investment in new tools or technologies to support design workflows.
• Team Integration: Opportunities for frequent interaction with the design team and other departments, fostering knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time position, likely a standard 40-hour work week.
• The hybrid model requires significant in-office presence, balancing the benefits of remote flexibility with the advantages of in-person collaboration for design critiques and team building.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 4-day in-office requirement indicates a preference for a highly collaborative and team-oriented environment typical of companies that value direct communication and synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Candidates will present their portfolio, discussing their design process, key projects, and how they approach user research and problem-solving. Expect to articulate your rationale and contributions clearly.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise may be given, either take-home or during an interview session, to assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you apply user-centered principles to a specific challenge. This could involve critiquing an existing interface or designing a new feature concept.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and ability to work within an agile team.
• Final Interview: Typically with the SVP, Product, to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company vision and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prioritize projects relevant to complex applications, data-driven design, or AI/agentic experiences if possible.
• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative. Clearly define the problem, your role, the research conducted, the iterative design process, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Your Process: Show, don't just tell, your process. Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and explanations of why certain design decisions were made.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your collaborative process, and your experience with design systems.
• Demonstrate System Thinking: Clearly show your understanding of design systems and how you've contributed to or utilized them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Kharon's mission, the industries they serve (global security, risk intelligence), and the types of problems their users face.
• Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to break down complex problems, identify user needs, and propose design solutions under time constraints.
• Articulate Rationale: Practice explaining your design choices clearly and concisely, justifying them with user research, design principles, and business objectives.
• Focus on User: Always bring the conversation back to the user and how your proposed solutions address their needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a holistic evaluation, covering technical design skills, process adherence, collaborative capability, and strategic thinking. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates the "why" behind design decisions will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Principle, or similar advanced prototyping tools.
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or internal user research platforms.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms to understand user behavior, such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar.
• Experience with data visualization tools or dashboards to report on UX metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how design integrates with broader business systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation workflows can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a must-have. Experience with a range of design and prototyping tools demonstrates adaptability and a broad skill set. Understanding how to leverage analytics for design decisions is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Kharon's mission of navigating global security threats and empowering clients with critical intelligence.
• Innovation & Disruption: A culture that encourages pushing boundaries, thinking creatively, and developing novel solutions in a complex domain.
• Excellence & Rigor: A dedication to high-quality work, attention to detail, and delivering precise, impactful insights and products.
• Collaboration & Mutual Support: While described as uncompromising and challenging, the environment also values inspiring and supporting colleagues to foster growth.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Reliance on data and user insights to guide product development and design choices.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with significant growth.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close working relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders, requiring clear communication and shared ownership.
• Feedback Culture: An environment where design reviews, critiques, and feedback are actively encouraged and utilized for continuous improvement.
• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise, mentor peers, and contribute to the collective learning of the team.
• Agile Practices: Collaboration will likely follow agile methodologies, with regular stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of high performance, mission focus, and collaborative spirit suggests a demanding yet rewarding environment where impactful work is prioritized. Designers are expected to be proactive collaborators and strong communicators.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Domain: Designing for users who operate in high-stakes environments (global security, financial risk) requires a deep understanding of user needs, context, and the criticality of accurate information.
• Translating Complexity: The core challenge is to simplify highly complex data and operational workflows into intuitive and effective user interfaces without losing essential detail or accuracy.
• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Creating cutting-edge experiences for AI/agentic systems while ensuring they are user-friendly, reliable, and trustworthy.
• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to a fast-paced, scaling organization means processes and priorities may evolve, requiring flexibility and proactive problem-solving.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple product lines and collaborating effectively with diverse teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in global security, risk intelligence, and the specific challenges faced by financial institutions and multinational corporations.
• AI/Agentic Design: Developing specialized skills in designing for emerging AI-driven user experiences and agentic systems.
• Design System Mastery: Enhancing expertise in building and scaling robust design systems for complex enterprise applications.
• Product Strategy Influence: Gaining exposure to high-level product strategy and contributing to the direction of impactful enterprise software.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor, lead design initiatives, and potentially shape the future of the design function at Kharon.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to opportunities for substantial professional growth and the development of highly sought-after skills in a critical and evolving industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly complex or technical domain. How did you approach understanding the user and their needs?" (Focus on research methodologies, user empathy, and domain learning.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints in your design process?" (Highlight your problem-solving approach and negotiation skills.)
• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system. What are the key components, and how do you ensure adoption?" (Demonstrate your understanding of scalability, consistency, and collaboration.)
• "How do you incorporate user feedback and data analytics into your design iterations?" (Emphasize your data-driven approach and commitment to continuous improvement.)
• "Describe a challenging stakeholder interaction and how you managed it to achieve a positive design outcome." (Showcase your communication, persuasion, and conflict-resolution skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kharon's mission in global security and risk intelligence?" (Research Kharon's website and recent news.)
• "How do you approach collaboration within a fast-paced, cross-functional team, particularly with engineers and product managers?" (Refer to your experience in agile environments and your communication style.)
• "What are your expectations for a work environment, and how do you contribute to a positive team culture?" (Align your answer with the company's described values of innovation, collaboration, and high performance.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction, Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, Impact/Outcomes, Key Learnings.
• Focus on the "Why": For each design decision, explain the rationale behind it, linking it back to user research, business goals, or design principles.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, high-fidelity mockups, and any user testing results.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success and impact of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated outcomes or qualitative feedback.
• Be Enthusiastic and Engaging: Convey your passion for design and problem-solving. Be prepared to answer questions thoughtfully and engage in a discussion about your work.
• Tailor Examples: If you have experience with AI, complex data visualization, or enterprise software, highlight those projects prominently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the entire design lifecycle, strong collaborative skills, and the ability to articulate the value of design in a complex, mission-critical context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Kharon careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features projects that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, user research skills, and experience with complex applications or systems. Highlight any work related to AI, data visualization, or enterprise software.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "user research," "wireframing," "prototyping," "design systems," "collaboration," and "data-driven insights." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and the rationale behind your decisions for key portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your experience with agile methodologies and cross-functional collaboration.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kharon's mission, products, and the industries they serve. Understand their value proposition and how design contributes to their success in global security and risk intelligence.

⚠️ 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.