Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Pixieset Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 2026-02-04 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of high-impact product features for Pixieset's Client Gallery, focusing on elegant and intuitive user experiences for creative professionals.
• Drive the UX vision and design solutions for core products, translating complex workflows into visually stunning and simplified interfaces.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management and engineering, to define requirements and deliver shippable UI.
• Contribute to and leverage Pixieset’s established design system to ensure consistency and scalability across the platform.
• Utilize advanced Figma capabilities for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs to effectively communicate design concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Senior Product Designer focused on a core B2B SaaS product serving creative professionals. The emphasis on "Pixiedust" and "elegance" points to a company culture that highly values design craft, attention to detail, and user delight. The "end-to-end" ownership and "strategic input" indicate a senior-level position with significant autonomy and influence on the product roadmap.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle of product features, from initial concept ideation and user research through to detailed UI design, prototyping, and final implementation.
• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design intent and user experience strategies.
• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights, validate design decisions, and ensure user needs are met.
• Collaborate with product managers to define product requirements, shape the product roadmap, and provide strategic design input.
• Work closely with engineers to ensure technical feasibility of designs, providing clear specifications and design assets for implementation.
• Champion and contribute to the evolution of Pixieset's design system, ensuring a consistent, cohesive, and scalable user experience across all products.
• Participate actively in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work across the team.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, fostering a collaborative environment and helping to refine their design skills and approaches.
• Advocate for user-centered design principles and best practices within the product development process.
• Continuously seek opportunities for process improvement within the design team and contribute to a strong design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and leadership. "Own the complete design lifecycle" and "Provide strategic input on product features" indicate a senior role with significant autonomy. The emphasis on "user research," "usability testing," and "design system contribution" are critical for a Senior Product Designer in a SaaS environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of designing and shipping successful SaaS products.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing and shipping complex SaaS products for SMB or consumer audiences within cross-functional teams.
• A strong, curated portfolio showcasing exceptional design craft, including layout, typography, visual hierarchy, and polished shipped work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the design of intricate product features and user experiences from initial concept to final execution.
• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including its suite of tools such as FigJam, prototyping capabilities, and collaborative workflow management.
• Strong business and product acumen, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, coupled with a high level of attention to detail in all aspects of work.
• A strong sense of ownership, reliability, and the ability to drive projects to completion with minimal supervision.
• Experience in defining and utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with creative professionals as a primary user base.
• Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing.
• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.
• Experience in mentoring junior designers or leading design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level for a "Senior" title is standard. The emphasis on "shipping SaaS products" and "Figma expertise" are critical technical requirements. The "strong portfolio" is paramount for a design role, and the note about "high-quality design craft" and "polished shipped work" further specifies the expected standard.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership.
• Highlight projects that solved complex user problems within a SaaS context, ideally for SMB or creative professionals.
• Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration), and the final solution.
• Include high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and user flow diagrams to illustrate design solutions.
• Quantify impact where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, or efficiency improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your approach to user research, including methods used and how insights informed design decisions.
• Illustrate your process for creating and utilizing design systems or style guides.
• Provide examples of your wireframing, prototyping, and user flow mapping techniques.
• Showcase your collaboration process with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers) and how you handled feedback.
• Detail your experience with Figma, including specific features used for collaboration and prototyping.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is not just a showcase of visuals but a demonstration of strategic thinking, problem-solving, and process. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," "quantified impact," and "collaboration process" is crucial for senior-level evaluation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD $110,200 - $148,050 annually. Salary offered will be based on skills, experience, and market data.

Benefits:

• Hybrid work environment with 2 in-office days per week.
• 4 weeks of annual vacation & paid time off for office holiday closure.
• RRSP matching program.
• $2,000 annual health & lifestyle spending account.
• $1,000 annual education budget for professional development.
• $1,000 annual charitable donation matching.
• Comprehensive benefits package: extended health, critical illness, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Company-issued MacBook and home office budget.
• Anniversary rewards and a complimentary Pixieset premium account.
• Regular team-building activities and company-wide events.

Working Hours: Full-time, likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility expected within a hybrid model. Specific daily hours may be discussed during the interview process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and competitive for a Senior Product Designer in Vancouver, BC. The benefits are extensive and well-defined, offering significant value beyond base compensation, particularly the health & lifestyle account and the education budget, which are highly relevant for professional development in a design role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS) for Creative Professionals (Photography). Company Size: [Based on LinkedIn data, Pixieset has 201-500 employees, indicating a mid-sized company with established processes but still agile.] This size offers a balance between the structure of a larger organization and the nimbleness of a startup, allowing for significant individual impact. Founded: Pixieset was founded in 2012, indicating a mature company with a proven product-market fit and a stable operational history.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within a Product Development department, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams.
• As a Senior Designer, you will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design.
• Expect a highly collaborative environment where design is integrated early and often in the product development process.

Methodology:

• Pixieset emphasizes a user-centered design approach, driven by data and a deep understanding of creative professionals' needs.
• The concept of "Pixiedust" suggests a culture that values meticulous detail, polish, and creating delightful user experiences.
• Expect a data-informed decision-making process, likely involving analytics and user feedback to guide product iterations.
• Continuous improvement and iteration are core to their methodology, as reflected in the "end-to-end" design ownership and feedback loops.

Company Website: https://pixieset.com/careers/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is clearly defined as collaborative, curious, and craftsmanship-oriented, with a strong emphasis on design, user empowerment, and continuous learning. Being "Great Place to Work™" certified adds significant credibility to their claims of a supportive and growth-minded environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This role implies a high level of autonomy, ownership, and the ability to influence product direction. It's a critical individual contributor role that often serves as a stepping stone to Design Lead or Principal Designer positions.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on user acquisition, retention, and satisfaction by shaping the core client gallery experience. Their work will influence how photographers deliver their services and how clients interact with their work, directly contributing to Pixieset's value proposition and market differentiation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives for key features, and contribute to design strategy.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design for creative industries, design systems, and complex workflow optimization.
• Product Strategy Influence: Contribute to product roadmap discussions and influence the strategic direction of Pixieset's offerings.
• Career Progression: Potential to advance into roles such as Design Lead, Principal Product Designer, or even management positions within the design team.
• Learning & Development: Access to a $1,000 annual education budget for conferences, courses, books, and workshops to enhance design skills and industry knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title suggests significant growth potential beyond this role, particularly in leadership and strategic influence within the product organization. The education budget explicitly supports career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring 2 days per week in the Vancouver office. This indicates a blend of focused individual work at home and collaborative, in-person interaction at the office.

Office Location(s): Vancouver, BC, Canada. Specific office address details are typically provided upon hire or during later interview stages. This location offers a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and cross-functional interaction, supporting the hybrid model.
• Access to standard office amenities and technology, including a company-issued MacBook, will be provided.
• Opportunities for spontaneous discussions, whiteboard sessions, and team brainstorming are expected during in-office days.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for flexibility in managing personal schedules around the 2 required in-office days. This structure supports deep work while maintaining team connectivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, balancing flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration, which is crucial for design teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio. This stage focuses on assessing your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's core requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your work from your portfolio, explaining your process, decision-making, and impact. This will be followed by in-depth questions about your experience, design philosophy, and problem-solving abilities.
• Design Challenge (Potential): A take-home assignment or live design exercise may be given to assess your practical design skills, approach to problem-solving, and ability to work within constraints.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, VP of Engineering) to ensure alignment with company vision and strategic goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest case studies that best represent your skills in SaaS design, complex problem-solving, and end-to-end ownership.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your key contributions, and the outcomes/impact.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, improved user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).
• Showcase Figma Skills: Highlight your proficiency in Figma, including prototyping, design system usage, and collaborative features.
• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to answer questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you handled feedback or challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, thoroughly understand the brief and the target user.
• Focus on demonstrating your thought process and problem-solving approach, not just the final visual output.
• Time management is key; prioritize key elements and be efficient.
• Clearly articulate your assumptions and rationale behind your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate not just design skills but also collaboration, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, and candidates should prepare to articulate their process and impact thoroughly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, wireframing, and collaborative workflows. Proficiency across its suite (FigJam) is expected.
• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to, utilizing, and advocating for design systems is crucial for maintaining consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics) is beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.
• Experience with data visualization tools or dashboards to interpret and present user data.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar for managing design tasks, tracking progress, and collaborating with engineering and product teams.
• Communication platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams for daily interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a core requirement. While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with product analytics tools is highly valuable for a Senior Product Designer focused on impact and iteration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship: A deep commitment to high-quality design, meticulous attention to detail, and creating polished, delightful user experiences ("Pixiedust").
• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering) to achieve shared goals.
• Curiosity & Learning: A drive to understand user needs, explore new design solutions, and continuously improve skills and processes.
• Impact & Purpose: Focusing on building products that empower creatives and help them grow their businesses.
• User-Centricity: Placing the user's needs and experience at the forefront of all design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with product managers and engineers throughout the development cycle.
• Design reviews are a key part of the process, fostering a culture of constructive feedback and shared ownership.
• Open communication and transparency are likely valued, especially in a hybrid work setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values (collaboration, curiosity, craftsmanship) directly translate into expectations for how designers operate and interact within their teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing "Pixiedust" with Velocity: Maintaining a high standard of design polish while meeting aggressive product development timelines.
• Designing for Complex Workflows: Simplifying intricate processes for photographers into intuitive and elegant user interfaces.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across diverse teams with varying priorities.
• Adapting to Evolving User Needs: Staying ahead of the curve in understanding the changing landscape of creative professionals and their software needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and learn from experienced product leaders.
• Skill Advancement: Access to a $1,000 annual education budget for courses, conferences (e.g., design conferences, UXPA events), and certifications.
• Exposure to Strategy: Involvement in product roadmap planning and strategic discussions, enhancing business acumen.
• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to deepen expertise in building and maintaining scalable design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges align with the nature of senior design roles in growing SaaS companies, requiring a blend of creative excellence and pragmatic execution. The growth opportunities are well-supported by company benefits.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex workflow you've designed for. What were the challenges, and how did you simplify it?" (Focus on your process, user research, and problem-solving approach.)
• "How do you balance the need for design polish with product development deadlines?" (Discuss your prioritization skills and iterative design approach.)
• "Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders who disagreed with your design direction. How did you approach it?" (Highlight your communication, persuasion, and data-driven argumentation.)
• "How do you contribute to or utilize design systems?" (Explain your understanding of consistency, scalability, and component-based design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Pixieset and our mission to empower creatives?" (Research Pixieset's product, values, and market position.)
• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our emphasis on 'Pixiedust' and craftsmanship?" (Connect your personal design values to the company's stated culture.)
• "Describe your ideal collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers." (Emphasize proactive communication, shared understanding, and iterative feedback loops.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, present: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome -> Learnings.
• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality images of wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Highlight key design decisions with annotations.
• Narrative: Tell a compelling story about the user problem and how your design solved it. Be enthusiastic and confident.
• Figma Focus: Be prepared to speak about how you used Figma features (prototyping, components, collaboration) to achieve your design goals.
• Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you measured success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, communication, and a cultural fit with Pixieset's emphasis on craftsmanship and user empowerment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Pixieset careers page linked via Breezy HR.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 3-4 strong case studies showcasing end-to-end SaaS product design, especially for complex workflows or creative audiences. Tailor your portfolio to highlight your Figma expertise and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience in designing and shipping SaaS products, your proficiency with Figma, and any experience mentoring other designers. Use keywords from the job description like "end-to-end design," "user experience," "design systems," and "cross-functional collaboration."
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your problem-solving process, design rationale, and quantifiable outcomes. Prepare answers to common interview questions related to design strategy, collaboration, and company culture.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Pixieset's products, mission, values, and recent news. Understand their target audience (photographers) and the unique value proposition of their "Client Gallery" product.

⚠️ 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.