Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Lyka
Location: Alexandria, Council of the City of Sydney, Australia
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Growth Operations
Date Posted: 2025-10-27
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (with flexibility for remote work)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives focused on customer growth and product enhancement within a fast-paced, tech-enabled pet wellness company.
• Drive product innovation by identifying and solving real customer problems through a combination of research, experimentation, and data analysis.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams to rapidly test hypotheses and translate insights into impactful user experiences.
• Champion a customer-centric design approach, ensuring that all solutions are grounded in user needs and contribute to Lyka's mission of transforming pet health.
• Contribute to shaping Lyka's design culture by mentoring junior designers and promoting best practices in craft, speed, and shared ownership.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the description emphasizes a strong focus on "Product Growth" and "experimentation," indicating a significant overlap with Growth Operations and the strategic application of design principles to drive business outcomes. This role requires a blend of creative design expertise and a data-informed, iterative approach to problem-solving.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire design lifecycle for key growth initiatives, from initial problem discovery and concept ideation to final implementation and iteration.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B experiments to gather critical customer insights and validate design decisions for new features and product improvements.
• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, visually appealing, and effective user interfaces and experiences.
• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and detailed design specifications to clearly communicate design intent to engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Partner with Product Managers to define product strategy and roadmap, using design thinking to uncover opportunities for user engagement and retention.
• Analyze product performance data and user feedback to identify areas for optimization and inform future design iterations.
• Mentor and provide design guidance to other team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design environment.
• Maintain and evolve Lyka's design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across all product touchpoints.
• Proactively identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation based on market trends, competitor analysis, and customer feedback.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Product Growth team by bringing a strong user-centered perspective to decision-making processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on an iterative and data-driven design process, which is critical for Growth Operations roles. The expectation to "test ideas and learn fast" and "let those learnings guide your next move" suggests a hands-on approach to experimentation and continuous improvement, typical of growth-focused positions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of shipping impactful products.
• Demonstrated experience working in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments, successfully navigating ambiguity and delivering results.
• Experience leading end-to-end design projects from discovery through to launch.

Required Skills:

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, information architecture, and interaction design.
• Customer Insights & Research: Proficiency in conducting user research, usability testing, and leveraging qualitative and quantitative data to inform design.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Advanced skills in creating interactive prototypes (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and wireframes to visualize and test concepts.
• Data Analysis & Experimentation: Ability to interpret product analytics, experiment results, and user feedback to drive design decisions and optimize user journeys.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data).
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a knack for identifying root causes and developing creative, effective solutions.
• Visual Design: A strong aesthetic sensibility and ability to create visually appealing and consistent user interfaces.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development processes and experience working in iterative design cycles.

Preferred Skills:

• Growth Design: Experience specifically focused on designing for user acquisition, activation, retention, and referral.
• Subscription Models: Understanding of the mechanics and design considerations for subscription-based products.
• E-commerce/CPG Experience: Familiarity with designing for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, particularly in the food or wellness sectors.
• Design Systems: Experience building and maintaining design systems for scalability and consistency.
• Mentorship: Proven ability to mentor junior designers and contribute to team growth.
• Sustainability Focus: An interest or background in sustainability practices, aligning with Lyka's company values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "customer insights," "data analysis," and "experimentation" strongly suggests that candidates with experience in growth-focused product roles or those who can demonstrate a data-driven approach to design will be highly valued. The "5-10 years" experience level indicates a need for a candidate who can operate autonomously and lead complex projects.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 complex product design case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership.
• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed, key challenges, and quantifiable outcomes.
• Evidence of iterative design thinking, including how user feedback and data informed design pivots and improvements.
• Demonstrations of strong problem-solving skills, particularly in navigating ambiguity and defining solutions for unclear challenges.
• Examples of user research methodologies employed and how insights were translated into tangible design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups, ensuring clarity for engineering implementation.
• Examples of how you have collaborated with engineering teams to ensure successful design handoff and implementation.
• Demonstrate your approach to hypothesis testing and experimentation, including how you set up, executed, and analyzed results.
• Include examples of how you've used data visualization or reporting to communicate design impact and user behavior trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role emphasizing growth and iteration, the portfolio must go beyond static visuals. It needs to tell a story of problem-solving, experimentation, and measurable impact. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the "why" behind their design decisions, supported by data and user insights, and how their work directly contributed to business objectives like user acquisition, engagement, or retention.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Sydney, Australia, with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between AUD $130,000 - $180,000 per annum. This range accounts for the senior level, the specific skills required, and the cost of living in Sydney.

Benefits:

• Annual L&D Budget: An allocated budget for professional development, enabling continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Up to 18 Weeks Paid Parental Leave Top-Up: Comprehensive support for new parents.
• Wellbeing Assistance & Tools: Resources dedicated to supporting mental and physical health.
• Flexible Working: The ability to work from home or the office, promoting work-life balance.
• Pupper Parent Support: Benefits tailored for pet owners, including flexible arrangements for new pets, pet-friendly offices, discounts, and financial allowances for dog training and care.
• Pet-Friendly Offices: Offices located in Sydney and Melbourne that welcome furry companions.
• Annual Leave: Standard annual leave provisions.
• Superannuation Contributions: Employer contributions to the Australian retirement savings system.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered to support work-life balance and remote working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in a major Australian city like Sydney, considering the specified experience level and the competitive nature of the tech and startup sector. The benefits package is particularly strong, with unique offerings like "Pupper Parent Support" reflecting Lyka's brand and culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pet Wellness & Nutrition (Direct-to-Consumer, Subscription Model) Company Size: Growing rapidly, likely between 50-200 employees, given the operational scale described (multiple production facilities, national footprint) and hiring for senior roles. Founded: 2018

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the "Product Growth" team, a cross-functional unit likely comprising Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and fellow Designers.
• This role is an individual contributor position with no direct reports, but expected to mentor others.
• Collaboration is emphasized across Product, Engineering, and Data teams, suggesting a flat, agile organizational structure focused on shared goals.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong reliance on customer insights, experimentation (A/B testing), and product analytics to guide product development and growth strategies.
• Agile & Iterative Development: Emphasis on rapid prototyping, testing, learning, and iterating quickly to validate ideas and optimize user experiences.
• Customer-Centricity: A core belief that understanding and solving real customer problems is paramount to improving pet health and driving business success.
• Sustainability: Commitment to environmental responsibility, reflected in operations and product development.

Company Website: https://lyka.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Lyka's culture appears to be a blend of a mission-driven startup focused on pet health and a fast-scaling, tech-enabled consumer brand. The emphasis on sustainability and unique pet-centric benefits (like "Pupper Parent Support") suggests a company that values its employees and aligns with its core mission. The lean, iterative approach to product development is a key cultural pillar.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex projects with minimal oversight. It's a position for someone who can not only execute but also influence direction and provide mentorship.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer often reports to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or Product Manager, depending on the team's specific structure. Given the focus on growth, they might report directly to a Product Manager focused on growth initiatives or a Design Lead overseeing multiple product squads.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on Lyka's growth trajectory by optimizing the customer journey, increasing user engagement and retention, and driving product adoption. Their work will be crucial in achieving Lyka's goal of becoming the leading choice for pet nutrition in Australia and potentially expanding globally, directly influencing revenue and market share through improved customer experience and product effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in growth design, experimentation, and user research within the pet wellness sector.
• Leadership Development: Potential to take on more strategic product initiatives, lead design sprints, and evolve into a design lead or manager role as the company scales.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working closely with diverse teams in a rapidly growing company, enhancing understanding of business operations from product development to marketing and operations.
• Impactful Projects: Contributing to a mission-driven company with a tangible positive impact on pet health, offering significant personal and professional satisfaction.
• Annual L&D Budget: Dedicated resources for ongoing professional development, including courses, conferences, and certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and emphasis on leading end-to-end design for growth initiatives suggest this role is a significant step in a product design career, offering opportunities not just for execution but for strategic influence and potential leadership development within a high-growth environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Lyka offers a hybrid work model, allowing employees to work from home or their offices in Sydney or Melbourne. The offices are described as "pet-friendly" and equipped with "industrial kitchens."

Office Location(s):

• Sydney, Australia (HQ)
• Melbourne, Australia

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The company fosters collaboration between Product, Engineering, and Data teams, suggesting an open and interactive workspace, whether in-office or virtual.
• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design and collaboration tools is implied, necessary for rapid prototyping and remote teamwork.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person collaboration and team building in the Sydney and Melbourne offices, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week.
• Flexible working arrangements are a key feature, allowing employees to optimize their work location and schedule for productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and pet-friendly offices indicate a modern, employee-centric work environment designed to attract and retain talent. The emphasis on flexibility aligns with the needs of a Senior Product Designer who may need focused time for deep work, balanced with collaborative sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, fit, and salary expectations.
• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A more in-depth interview, likely involving presenting a portfolio case study and potentially a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This stage assesses design craft, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineering leads, and potentially other designers or data analysts, to evaluate collaboration style and technical understanding.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem addressed and the quantifiable results (e.g., conversion rate increases, engagement improvements, retention gains) achieved through your design solutions.
• Showcase Process: Detail your end-to-end design process, highlighting how you integrated user research, data analysis, and iterative testing. Explain your rationale at each step.
• Be Specific About Your Role: Clearly define your contributions, especially if working on team projects. Use "I" statements for your individual actions and "we" for team efforts.
• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that engage the interviewer and demonstrate your ability to think critically and creatively.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handled trade-offs, what you would do differently, and how your work aligns with Lyka's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Lyka: Understand their mission, product, target audience, and competitive landscape. Pay attention to their brand voice and sustainability focus.
• Understand Growth Metrics: Familiarize yourself with key growth metrics relevant to a subscription-based DTC business (e.g., CAC, LTV, churn rate, conversion rates at different funnel stages).
• Practice Articulation: Be ready to clearly and concisely explain your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies under timed conditions.
• Focus on User-Centricity and Data: Ensure your problem-solving approach demonstrates a deep understanding of user needs and a commitment to data-informed decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on a candidate's ability to demonstrate tangible impact through their portfolio and articulate their design process in a data-informed, customer-centric manner. The "growth" aspect of the role means interviewers will be looking for evidence of how a designer can directly contribute to business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable given industry trends, for collaborative design, prototyping, and design system management), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).
• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Confluence/Notion for documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar tools for tracking user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboarding tools for presenting data insights.
• A/B Testing Platforms: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize, or in-house experimentation frameworks.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms for customer journeys can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in a modern design tool like Figma is almost certainly a requirement. The ability to work with analytics and experimentation platforms is crucial for a growth-focused designer, as they will be expected to use data to inform and validate their design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and solving customer problems to improve pet health and well-being.
• Data-Driven Innovation: Relying on insights from data and experimentation to guide strategic decisions and product development.
• Speed & Agility: Embracing a fast-paced environment, iterating quickly, and delivering value efficiently.
• Craftsmanship & Quality: Maintaining a high standard for design execution, from user experience to visual polish.
• Collaboration & Ownership: Working effectively across teams, taking initiative, and sharing responsibility for outcomes.
• Sustainability: A commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Actively collaborating with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts to ensure alignment and successful execution of product strategies.
• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent feedback, constructive critique, and knowledge sharing within the design and product teams.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: Participating in regular design reviews and sprint retrospectives to continuously improve processes and outcomes.
• Shared Problem-Solving: Working together to tackle complex challenges, leveraging diverse perspectives to find the best solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values strongly align with a growth-oriented, agile product development environment. Candidates who can demonstrate these values through their past experiences and approach to work will be a strong fit. The emphasis on "speed and agility" combined with "craftsmanship" suggests a desire for designers who can balance quick iteration with high-quality execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in a fast-paced startup environment where project scopes may evolve rapidly and require proactive definition.
• Balancing Speed and Craft: Delivering high-quality, thoughtful designs quickly without compromising user experience or brand integrity.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating design vision and rationale to diverse stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds and priorities.
• Data Interpretation: Translating complex data sets and experiment results into actionable design improvements.
• Scaling Design Systems: Maintaining consistency and scalability as the product and team grow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Growth Design Expertise: Deepen skills in conversion rate optimization (CRO), A/B testing, and designing for customer lifecycle stages.
• Product Strategy Influence: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and contributing to business strategy through design.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading design initiatives.
• Industry Immersion: Gain in-depth knowledge of the rapidly evolving pet wellness and DTC e-commerce industries.
• Continuous Learning: Access to an annual L&D budget for professional development, including courses, conferences, and workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of senior roles in high-growth startups. The growth opportunities directly address skill development in areas critical for a Senior Product Designer focused on growth, such as CRO and product strategy, alongside leadership potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you identified a significant customer problem and how you approached solving it through design. What was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, research, iterative process, and measurable impact.)
• "How do you balance the need for speed in a startup environment with maintaining high design quality and user experience standards?" (Highlight your process for rapid iteration, validation, and quality assurance.)
• "Walk us through a complex growth initiative you led. What were the key hypotheses, how did you test them, and what did you learn?" (Demonstrate your understanding of growth metrics, experimentation, and data-informed decision-making.)
• "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure your designs are feasible, align with business goals, and are implemented effectively?" (Emphasize communication, negotiation, and partnership.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Lyka's mission and our approach to pet wellness?" (Showcase your understanding of the company's values and market position.)
• "How do you approach mentorship and contributing to a positive team culture?" (Discuss your experience guiding others and fostering collaboration.)
• "How would your design approach contribute to Lyka's sustainability goals?" (Connect your design thinking to the company's environmental commitment.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a clear overview of the project, your role, and the main objective. Then, detail the problem, your research and discovery process, your design solutions (with rationale), the testing and iteration phase, and finally, the quantifiable results and key learnings.
• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design process and final outcomes. Annotate key design decisions and user flows.
• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and impact.
• Data Integration: Weave in data points and experiment results throughout your presentation to support your design decisions and demonstrate impact. Be ready to discuss metrics like conversion rates, engagement, retention, or churn reduction.
• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about trade-offs, challenges, alternative solutions, and how you'd approach future iterations or similar problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of design craft, strategic thinking, and a data-driven, growth-oriented mindset. Candidates must be ready to articulate their process and impact with specific examples, especially those related to user acquisition, engagement, and retention.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Click the application link to submit your resume and portfolio.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating end-to-end design ownership, particularly those involving growth initiatives, experimentation, and measurable user or business impact. Tailor your presentation to align with Lyka's mission and values.
• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords such as "Product Design," "UX," "Growth," "Experimentation," "Data-Driven," "Customer Insights," "Prototyping," and "Agile Methodologies." Quantify achievements with specific metrics where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss specific case studies in depth and be ready for potential design challenges.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Lyka, its products, mission, and sustainability efforts. Understand their customer base and the pet wellness market. This will help you tailor your 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 the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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