Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Orchard Location: New York, New York, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / User Experience Operations Date Posted: 2025-09-11T20:32:57 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for new products and features, translating user research insights into intuitive and delightful user experiences.
• Drive strategic product initiatives, focusing on integrating the mortgage experience into Orchard's consumer-facing platform and internal operational tools.
• Champion user-centric design principles, deeply understanding customer needs and advocating for design-led solutions that impact business success.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and internal operations teams (agents, escrow officers, lenders, construction) to define product vision and deliver seamless, integrated real estate transaction experiences.
• Conduct targeted user research specifically for the mortgage experience, gathering insights from both end customers and internal mortgage teams to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a growing company that is disrupting the traditional real estate industry. The Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping the digital product that serves as an operational hub, requiring a strong understanding of how design impacts business processes and customer journeys across various user types. The focus on integrating mortgage services suggests a need for expertise in financial product design and navigating complex workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of user-centered product features and enhancements for both customer-facing applications and internal operational dashboards.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to uncover pain points and opportunities, particularly within the mortgage application and closing processes.
• Translate user research findings and business requirements into high-fidelity mockups, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed user flows.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations, to define product strategy, roadmap, and feature specifications.
• Advocate for design best practices, contributing to the evolution of the design system and ensuring consistency and usability across Orchard's digital products.
• Participate in strategic planning sessions to identify long-term product opportunities and articulate the design vision for specific product squads.
• Present design concepts and rationale effectively to stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, to gain buy-in and drive consensus.
• Continuously iterate on designs based on user feedback, data analytics, and A/B testing results to optimize user experience and achieve business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The emphasis on leading design for both customer and internal operational teams suggests a need for versatility in designing for different user needs and workflows within the real estate transaction lifecycle. The focus on mortgage integration implies a deep dive into financial services user experience and compliance considerations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in digital product design, with a focus on consumer-facing applications and ideally experience with complex systems or operational platforms.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to lead the design process from concept to completion, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
• Strong proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Demonstrated experience in conducting user research and translating insights into actionable design solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and influence stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of UX principles, interaction design patterns, and information architecture.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A portfolio showcasing a strong understanding of complex problem-solving, user-centered design, and successful product launches.
• Experience identifying design opportunities and advocating for their value to drive product improvements.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for the real estate or financial services industry, particularly with mortgage or loan applications.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working closely with engineering teams.
• Experience contributing to or maintaining a design system.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices (WCAG).
• Experience with data analysis and using metrics to inform design decisions.
• A track record of working effectively in fast-paced, collaborative, and ambiguous environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a holistic approach to product design, from strategic problem definition to detailed interaction design. The preference for real estate/financial services experience and familiarity with design systems indicates a desire for a candidate who can quickly contribute and understand the nuances of the industry and Orchard's product ecosystem. The mention of "complex and ambiguous problems" and "bridging the online and offline experience" points to a need for a designer comfortable with real-world operational complexities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A diverse collection of case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership, from initial problem definition and user research to final execution and impact.
• Specific examples showcasing how you have translated complex user needs or business requirements into elegant and functional digital solutions.
• Projects that highlight your ability to design for both consumer-facing interfaces and internal operational workflows, demonstrating an understanding of different user contexts.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, your role, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact of your design work.
• Examples of how you have collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Operations) to bring designs to life.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio pieces should clearly outline your design process, including user research methodologies employed, ideation techniques, wireframing and prototyping stages, and usability testing approaches.
• Demonstrate how you have iterated on designs based on feedback, data, and A/B testing, showcasing an iterative and data-informed design methodology.
• Include artifacts that illustrate your ability to bridge online digital experiences with offline, real-world operational processes, such as agent workflows or escrow procedures.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just visual polish and demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a clear understanding of the impact of design on user behavior and business outcomes. Case studies that detail the "why" behind design decisions and quantify the results are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $165,000 per year (New York City-based applicants)

Benefits:

• Stock options: Opportunity to own a stake in Orchard's growth and success.
• Medical Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Financial Benefits: Additional financial support or benefits package.
• Other benefits may be provided depending on the specific position offered.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, implying a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility for project needs. The hybrid arrangement involves 2 days per week in the New York City office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided per NYC Human Rights Law and is specific to the New York City location. The inclusion of stock options is a significant part of the compensation package, aligning employee success with company growth. The hybrid model offers a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Real Estate Technology (PropTech), FinTech. Orchard is transforming the home buying and selling process by offering an integrated, tech-enabled platform. Company Size: Over 200 employees. This size suggests a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact, while still maintaining a relatively close-knit team structure conducive to collaboration. Founded: Orchard was founded with a mission to simplify real estate transactions. Its founding principles likely revolve around innovation, customer-centricity, and leveraging technology to solve complex problems in a traditionally opaque industry.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will report to the Head of Design, indicating a clear reporting line within the design function.
• The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers within product squads, fostering a cross-functional team dynamic.
• Interaction with internal operations teams (agents, escrow officers, lenders, construction) is a key aspect, requiring designers to understand and design for diverse user needs and workflows.

Methodology:

• Design-led approach to product development, emphasizing user research and data-driven insights to inform strategy and execution.
• Iterative design processes, with a focus on continuous feedback loops and A/B testing for optimization.
• Collaborative problem-solving, encouraging open communication and knowledge sharing among product, design, and engineering teams.

Company Website: orchard.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Orchard's culture is likely fast-paced and innovative, characteristic of successful tech startups disrupting established industries. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and understanding operational workflows is crucial for a designer in this environment, as their work directly impacts both customer satisfaction and business efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a significant level of experience and autonomy, with expectations to lead projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic product decisions. The role requires a deep understanding of user experience principles and the ability to navigate complex, ambiguous problems.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Design. This structure suggests opportunities for mentorship from a design leader and exposure to broader design strategy within the company. Collaboration within product squads means working closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly influences the efficiency and usability of Orchard's core product, which serves as an operational hub for multiple user groups. By simplifying the mortgage integration and improving the overall transaction experience, the designer can drive significant improvements in customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and ultimately, revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role within the product design team, taking on more strategic responsibilities and managing other designers.
• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in real estate technology and financial services, becoming a go-to person for mortgage-related product initiatives.
• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different product areas and contribute to the overarching product strategy and vision.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a path towards leadership and strategic contribution. The hybrid nature of the business (tech + operations) offers a unique growth trajectory for designers interested in understanding the full business lifecycle, not just the digital interface.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Orchard's headquarters are in New York City, and the role requires being in the office twice a week, suggesting a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY. Specific details about the office environment and amenities would typically be available during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid work model encourages a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team sessions.
• Expect a dynamic startup environment where open communication and idea sharing are valued.
• Access to design tools, collaborative software, and potentially user research facilities will be provided.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and operations, will be frequent.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a hybrid arrangement requiring two days per week in the New York City office. This schedule allows for focused design work and collaboration, with flexibility to manage personal time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is common in tech companies, offering a blend of focused work and collaboration. The expectation of 2 days in-office suggests a culture that values in-person interaction for strategic discussions and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio through the Greenhouse portal.
• Portfolio Review: Initial screening will involve a review of your portfolio to assess design skills, process, and impact.
• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Discussion about your experience, design philosophy, and how you approach complex problems.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design critique session focused on a relevant problem space. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your thinking.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially members of the operations teams to assess collaboration skills and understanding of business needs.
• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, Head of Design, or even a C-level executive) to discuss strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-4 strong, relevant case studies that highlight your best work and align with the role's requirements (complex problems, consumer-facing, operational impact).
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the measurable impact of your solutions. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thinking process, research methodologies, and how you iterated based on feedback and data. Show your problem-solving approach, not just the final output.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to Orchard: If possible, subtly tailor your case study selection or presentation to align with Orchard's mission and the specific challenges of the real estate industry.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Orchard's business model, target audience, and competitive landscape.
• Embrace Ambiguity: Be prepared for challenges that may present ambiguous problems. Focus on how you would approach defining the problem, gathering information, and structuring your solution.
• Think Holistically: Consider both the user experience and the operational implications of your design solutions.
• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process, design decisions, and rationale concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate a candidate's design capabilities, problem-solving skills, and ability to integrate into a cross-functional team. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates impact and a well-articulated design process are key differentiators.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD).
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or internal survey/feedback mechanisms.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello (used by product/engineering teams, designers will interact with them).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude (for understanding user behavior and product performance).
• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker (potentially used by analytics or product teams, designers may consume reports).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce (or similar, for understanding sales/agent workflows if applicable).
• Integration Tools: While not directly used by designers, understanding how products integrate with various systems is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. Familiarity with user research platforms and analytics tools will enable the designer to gather insights and measure the impact of their work. Understanding how product design interacts with broader business systems like CRM is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of both end customers and internal operational teams.
• Innovation: A drive to reimagine and improve traditional processes through technology and design.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research, analytics, and feedback to inform design and product strategy.
• Ownership & Impact: Encouraging initiative, accountability, and a focus on delivering meaningful results.
• Efficiency & Simplicity: Striving to reduce complexity and create seamless experiences in what is often a convoluted process.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers on product squads, participating in all phases of the product development lifecycle.
• Constructive Feedback: A culture of sharing work early and often, actively seeking and providing constructive feedback among peers and stakeholders.
• Process Improvement: A mindset geared towards identifying and implementing improvements in design processes and product workflows.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Regular communication and collaboration with internal teams (agents, escrow, lenders) to gather requirements and validate solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely embraces a fast-paced, startup mentality focused on solving complex problems with a strong emphasis on collaboration and user empathy. The values align with a desire to create a seamless, efficient, and positive experience for everyone involved in a real estate transaction.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The real estate industry and its associated transactions can be complex and involve many moving parts; designers must be comfortable defining and solving ambiguous problems.
• Balancing User Needs: Designing for diverse user groups (end customers, agents, escrow officers, lenders) with potentially conflicting needs and workflows.
• Integrating Complex Systems: Seamlessly integrating various aspects of the real estate transaction (search, financing, closing, post-sale) into a cohesive digital experience.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to the rapid pace of a growing startup, where priorities can shift and quick iteration is necessary.
• Bridging Online & Offline: Creating digital experiences that effectively complement and enhance the offline, real-world operational aspects of real estate transactions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepen expertise in complex system design, financial product UX, and user research methodologies.
• Industry Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of the real estate and mortgage industries, including regulatory and operational nuances.
• Strategic Contribution: Contribute to product strategy, roadmap planning, and the overall vision for Orchard's platform.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Enhance skills in working with diverse teams and communicating effectively across different disciplines.
• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance from the Head of Design and opportunities to mentor junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a growing proptech company, offering significant learning opportunities for ambitious designers. The chance to shape a product that touches on multiple facets of a major life event (buying/selling a home) is a compelling growth driver.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a product or feature that required integrating complex workflows or bridging online and offline experiences. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and impact).
• "How do you approach user research for a product that serves multiple distinct user groups with different needs and goals?" (Emphasize research methodology, segmentation, and synthesis).
• "Tell me about a project where you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it, and what was the result?" (Highlight communication, persuasion, and stakeholder management skills).
• "How do you balance the need for speed and iteration in a fast-paced startup environment with the importance of thorough user research and high-quality design?" (Showcase your understanding of trade-offs and agile design).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Orchard's mission to simplify the home buying and selling process?" (Demonstrate you've researched the company and understand its value proposition).
• "How do you see your design approach contributing to Orchard's operational efficiency and customer satisfaction?" (Connect your skills to the company's goals).
• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Showcase your teamwork and communication preferences).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, with an introduction to yourself and Orchard's mission, followed by 3-4 detailed case studies. Conclude with a summary of your skills and what you're looking for.
• Narrative: For each case study, create a compelling narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact. Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points.
• Process Emphasis: Clearly outline your research methods, ideation techniques, and iteration process. Explain why you made certain design decisions.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your work. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the intended business impact or qualitative feedback.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your portfolio within the allotted timeframe, focusing on the most crucial aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong design process, problem-solving acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a cross-functional team. Understanding Orchard's business and user base will be critical for tailoring responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through Orchard's Greenhouse application portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies that showcase your experience with complex problem-solving, end-to-end design processes, user research, and impact measurement, ideally with examples relevant to real estate or financial services.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4+ years of experience, specific design skills (Figma, user research, prototyping), and achievements that demonstrate leadership and impact in previous roles. Use keywords from the job description.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Orchard's mission, product, target audience, and recent news. Understand their approach to simplifying the home buying and selling process and how the mortgage integration fits into their strategy.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, key project learnings, and how you would approach the challenges outlined in the job description. Prepare to discuss your experience with user research and cross-functional collaboration.

⚠️ 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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