Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Relay

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: February 10, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for Relay's digital banking platform, focusing on enhancing financial clarity and control for small business owners.

• Elevate the design craft by creating elegant, intuitive, and aesthetically refined interfaces that make complex financial tasks feel delightful and accessible.

• Champion design leadership by actively participating in critiques, mentoring peers, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and detail-obsession within the design team.

• Translate complex system requirements and user needs into simple, trustworthy, and impactful design solutions that directly contribute to business growth and customer confidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input is for a "Senior Product Designer," the role's responsibilities and requirements strongly align with a focused "Product Design" or "UX Design" category within the broader GTM (Go-To-Market) and Operations landscape, especially concerning user-facing product development that impacts customer adoption and retention. The emphasis on financial clarity for SMBs suggests a deep understanding of user needs within a regulated and complex industry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for new features and product improvements, from initial discovery and problem framing through to high-fidelity prototyping, user testing, and polished, production-ready designs.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers from the early stages of discovery to ensure a shared understanding of user needs and business objectives, translating insights into actionable design strategies.

• Develop and maintain a strong visual design sensibility, paying meticulous attention to typography, hierarchy, layout, and interaction design to ensure a cohesive and delightful user experience across all touchpoints.

• Articulate design rationale clearly and compellingly through storytelling and visual artifacts, aligning stakeholders and building conviction around design decisions and their strategic importance.

• Actively contribute to design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work and foster a culture of peer learning and continuous improvement.

• Mentor and coach junior designers, sharing best practices and helping to advance the overall design capabilities and craft within the team.

• Leverage both generative and evaluative research methods, working alongside product and data teams to ground design decisions in customer insights and validate proposed solutions.

• Design for complex system domains, simplifying intricate workflows such as transaction management, fraud prevention, and permissions to enhance security and user trust.

• Explore and integrate AI-driven insights and features into the product, aiming to empower entrepreneurs with enhanced cash flow forecasting and smarter decision-making capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and leadership, typical of a Senior role. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," "raising the craft bar," and "design leadership" suggests a need for proactive engagement and strategic thinking beyond just execution. The mention of AI-driven insights indicates a forward-looking approach to product development within the fintech space.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of shipping impactful work on SaaS-based products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to own and execute the full product design process, from discovery and research to final design delivery.

• SaaS Design Experience: Proven experience designing complex, user-friendly interfaces for Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms.

• Visual Design Acumen: Strong understanding of visual design principles, including typography, hierarchy, layout, color theory, and aesthetic refinement.

• User-Centered Design (UCD): Deep commitment to user needs, translating them into intuitive and effective design solutions, supported by research and analysis.

• UX Strategy & IA: Proficient in information architecture, user flows, interaction design, and creating cohesive cross-platform experiences.

• Prototyping Skills: Mastery of industry-standard prototyping tools to create interactive mockups and user flows for validation and communication.

• Research & Analysis: Experience with both generative (e.g., user interviews, ethnographic research) and evaluative (e.g., usability testing, A/B testing) research methodologies.

• Complex System Design: Ability to simplify and design intuitive experiences for intricate and potentially overwhelming systems.

• Storytelling & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of clearly articulating design rationale and aligning stakeholders through compelling narratives.

• Feedback & Collaboration: Proactive in giving and soliciting feedback, fostering an open and collaborative design critique culture.

• Adaptability & Tool Proficiency: Ability to adapt design tools and methods to project needs and share best practices.

Preferred Skills:

• Fintech/SaaS Domain Experience: Prior experience designing within the financial technology or complex B2B SaaS sectors.

• Platform Design: Experience designing platform-wide features such as permissions, notifications, or multi-tenant systems.

• Front-End Development Familiarity: Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to inform design decisions.

• Motion Design/Illustration: Skills in motion design or illustration to enhance user experience and product appeal.

• Mentorship Experience: Proven ability to mentor or coach peers, contributing to the growth of the design team.

• AI Tool Experimentation: Experience experimenting with AI tools for prototyping or enhancing user-facing experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "5+ years" aligns with a Senior Product Designer role. The emphasis on "shipping impactful work," "SaaS-based products," and "strong visual sensibility paired with thoughtful UX design" are critical indicators for this level. The mention of AI tools as a bonus is a forward-looking requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Demonstrations of at least 2-3 comprehensive projects showcasing ownership of the entire design process, from initial problem definition and user research through to final shipped product and impact measurement.

• Problem Framing & Discovery: Evidence of how you identify and frame design problems, including examples of research methodologies used (interviews, surveys, competitive analysis) and how insights were synthesized.

• Solution Design & Iteration: Detailed walkthroughs of design solutions, including wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, with clear explanations of design decisions and iterative improvements based on feedback or testing.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantifiable results demonstrating the impact of your design work, such as improvements in conversion rates, user engagement, task completion times, or customer satisfaction scores. Focus on how your designs solved business goals and user needs.

• Visual & Interaction Craft: Showcase of your visual design skills (UI elements, typography, layout) and interaction design expertise, highlighting attention to detail and polish.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Articulation: Ability to clearly articulate your personal design process, including how you adapt methodologies based on project stage, team collaboration, and available resources.

• Collaboration Artifacts: Examples of how you've collaborated with Product Managers and Engineers, potentially including shared documents, design system contributions, or cross-functional workshop outputs.

• Design Rationale Communication: Demonstrations of how you communicate the "why" behind your design decisions, using storytelling, presentations, or documentation that aligns team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "owning design end-to-end" and "telling the story," a strong portfolio is paramount. It should not just display finished work but also the thought process, research, iteration, and measurable impact, particularly for SaaS and fintech products. Case studies detailing the simplification of complex systems would be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer in Vancouver, BC, Canada, with 5+ years of experience in SaaS and Fintech, the estimated salary range is CAD $110,000 - $150,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skill set, and performance during the interview process.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary and Meaningful Equity: Employees are owners with stock options and competitive compensation.

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Full health benefits from day one, including flexible Health or Wellness Spending Accounts and medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.

• Flexible Vacation and Time Off: 15 vacation days and 5 flex days annually, plus an additional week of office closure during the end-of-year holidays.

• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of leave with 100% salary top-up for all full-time employees, applicable to birthing, non-birthing, and adoptive parents.

• Hybrid Work Environment: Collaboration is valued 3 days a week in the Toronto office, with provided meals and beverages.

• Dog-Friendly Office: A welcoming environment for canine companions.

• Personal and Professional Growth: Opportunities for ongoing feedback, mentorship, and coaching for career development.

• Top-Tier Equipment: Provision of Mac-first hardware and ergonomic office setups to support productive work.

• Social Connection: Company-wide events, quarterly team events, happy hours, and networking opportunities to foster community.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility. The hybrid model implies structured in-office days, but the overall work schedule is expected to support deep work and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are comprehensive and align with competitive offerings in the tech industry. The salary range is an estimate based on current market data for a Senior Product Designer in Vancouver, considering the company's industry (Fintech/SaaS) and the candidate's experience level. The mention of "Toronto office" for the hybrid model seems to contradict the "Vancouver" location; this requires clarification. Assuming the job is for Vancouver, the hybrid requirement might be a misunderstanding or apply to a different office if Relay has multiple. If the role is truly hybrid and requires days in Toronto, the Vancouver location might be for remote work within that region, or vice-versa. For this enhancement, I've assumed the primary location is the focus.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech), Digital Banking, Small Business Services. Relay is disrupting traditional banking by offering a digital platform tailored for the needs of self-made business owners, providing clarity and control over their finances.

Company Size: The company description suggests a growing, but likely still lean, organization. The design team is described as "tight-knit" with six members, implying a total company size that allows for this level of focused team structure. This suggests opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Information not directly provided, but the company's focus on modern digital banking and AI insights implies a relatively recent founding, likely within the last decade, positioning it as a dynamic startup or scale-up.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is a core function, consisting of six designers, indicating a significant investment in user experience.

• Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers from discovery through to shipping, fostering a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment.

• The culture values "strong opinions, weakly held," encouraging open debate and a willingness to adapt based on collective insights.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: Deeply understanding small business owner needs through direct interaction and research is fundamental to the design process.

• Data-Informed Design: Decisions are grounded in customer insights, data analysis, and iterative testing to validate solutions and measure impact.

• Craft & Detail: A high value is placed on the quality of design execution, from visual aesthetics to interaction details, ensuring a delightful and trustworthy user experience.

• Storytelling & Alignment: Design rationale is communicated effectively to build consensus and ensure clear understanding across product, engineering, and leadership teams.

• Continuous Improvement: Regular design critiques and feedback loops are integral to raising the bar and fostering collective growth.

Company Website: https://relayfi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to empower small business owners with financial clarity is a strong anchor for the design philosophy. The emphasis on a "tight-knit" design team and close collaboration with product and engineering suggests a fast-paced, agile environment where designers have significant influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of experience. It requires not only strong individual contribution and design craft but also the ability to lead initiatives, mentor peers, and influence design strategy. The role is expected to "own design end-to-end" and "raise the craft bar," signifying a leadership trajectory within the design function.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to the Director of Product Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Staff Design Engineers, suggesting a matrixed reporting structure where collaboration is key. The role also involves mentoring peers, indicating a level of seniority that contributes to team development.

Operations Impact: The work of the Senior Product Designer directly impacts the company's ability to attract, retain, and delight small business customers. By creating intuitive and trustworthy digital banking experiences, the designer contributes to increased customer adoption, engagement, and loyalty, which are critical drivers of revenue growth and market share in the competitive fintech landscape. The design of AI-driven insights can also unlock new value propositions and revenue streams.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Staff or Principal Designer role, taking on more complex, platform-wide initiatives or leading specific product areas.

• Management Track: With demonstrated mentorship and leadership, there's a pathway towards a Design Lead or Manager position, overseeing a team of designers.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like fintech design, complex systems, AI-driven product features, or platform architecture.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Experience gained in product strategy and user advocacy can be leveraged for roles in Product Management or UX Research leadership.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through feedback, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge design challenges and AI technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior title implies a significant level of autonomy and responsibility. The growth opportunities are focused on advancing within the design discipline, with potential for leadership and specialization, reflecting a typical career path in a growing tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with a designated office space in Toronto. The description mentions "our Toronto office 3 days a week," suggesting a structured hybrid model where in-person collaboration is a key component of the work week. The office is described as "dog-friendly."

Office Location(s): The primary job location is listed as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. However, the description explicitly states a "Hybrid work environment: we value meaningful collaboration and connection at our Toronto office 3 days a week." This presents a potential discrepancy that candidates should clarify. It's possible Relay has offices in both locations, or the hybrid model is structured differently than a typical single-office setup.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Focus: The hybrid model emphasizes in-office days for connection and collaboration, suggesting an environment designed for teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction.

• Tools & Technology: The company is "Mac-first," and offices are equipped with "top-tier equipment" including multiple screens and ergonomic seating, supporting high-quality design work.

• Team Interaction: The culture encourages interaction, feedback, and social connection through various events, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: While specific hours are not detailed, the hybrid model implies a standard work week, likely around 40 hours. The emphasis on "deep work" and "collaboration" suggests a need for structured time management, balancing focused individual tasks with team-based activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The potential conflict between the Vancouver listing and the Toronto hybrid requirement is a critical point for clarification. Candidates should confirm the expected physical presence and location details. The description of the office environment highlights a focus on employee well-being and productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: People Team Call (45 min): Initial screening to assess cultural fit, basic qualifications, and alignment with Relay's mission. Preparation: Research Relay's mission and values; prepare to discuss your career aspirations and why you're interested in fintech.

• Stage 2: Director of Product Design Call (30 min): Discussion focused on your design process, philosophy, and approach to craft. Preparation: Be ready to articulate your design principles, how you approach problem-solving, and your definition of high-quality design.

• Stage 3: Portfolio Review (60 min): In-depth review with Director of Product Design, Staff Design Engineer, and Staff Product Manager. Preparation: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies. Be prepared to walk through the entire process, your decision-making, and the impact achieved.

• Stage 4: Executive Interview (45 min): In-person interview with an executive team member, likely focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall business acumen. Preparation: Understand Relay's business goals and market position; prepare to discuss how design contributes to business success.

• Stage 5: Take-Home Assignment & Presentation (60 min): A practical design challenge followed by a presentation to members of the Product team. Preparation: Allocate sufficient time for the assignment; structure your presentation clearly, focusing on your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the outcome.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and clear explanations to demonstrate your design thinking and execution.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Explain how your design decisions led to measurable business or user improvements.

• Emphasize Process: Detail your research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration steps. Show how you navigate complexity and ambiguity.

• Tailor to Relay: Consider how your experience designing complex systems or SaaS products aligns with Relay's mission and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the requirements of the take-home assignment.

• Prioritize: Focus on the core aspects of the challenge and demonstrate your design process effectively within the given constraints.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Be prepared to answer questions about your decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-stage and rigorous, typical for senior roles. The portfolio review is a critical component, emphasizing the need for well-documented, impactful case studies. The take-home assignment with a presentation requires strong problem-solving and communication skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello (for tracking design tasks and collaborating with engineering/product).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior within the platform and measure feature adoption.

• Data Visualization: Potentially tools like Tableau or Looker for analyzing user data and presenting insights, though design teams often rely on product analytics tools directly.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, familiarity with how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (like HubSpot) integrate with product experiences can be beneficial for understanding the broader user journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the specific tools aren't listed, the role of a Senior Product Designer in a tech company heavily relies on industry-standard design and prototyping software. Figma is the de facto standard for collaborative UI/UX design. Familiarity with product analytics and collaboration tools is also expected for effective cross-functional work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Relentless Reinvention: A drive for continuous improvement and innovation, constantly questioning "how can this be better?" and embracing change.

• Autonomy & Initiative: Trusting individuals with significant challenges and the freedom to solve them, encouraging risk-taking and proactive problem-solving.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking pride in one's work, following through on commitments, and feeling deep responsibility for outcomes beyond just task completion.

• Growth Mindset: Viewing comfort as a "red flag" and actively seeking challenges, learning, and growth by stepping into the unknown.

• Impact Over Noise: Focusing on the substance of work and measuring success by tangible results, letting the quality of contributions speak for themselves.

• Embracing Complexity & Ambiguity: Enjoying tackling ill-defined problems and building solutions iteratively in collaborative environments.

• Seeking Feedback: Valuing directness, clarity, and respect, viewing feedback as a crucial tool for learning, improvement, and achieving the best results.

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Relay's mission of helping small businesses thrive, ensuring that work is purposeful and aligned with customer success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work tightly integrated with Product Managers and Engineers from discovery through to implementation, fostering a cohesive product development process.

• Open Critique Culture: Regular design critiques are a cornerstone, promoting constructive feedback, diverse perspectives, and a collective effort to elevate design quality.

• Transparency & Openness: Sharing work transparently and seeking input are encouraged, contributing to a culture of shared learning and collective problem-solving.

• Storytelling for Alignment: Communication emphasizes narrative to build understanding and conviction, ensuring all team members are aligned on the "why" and "what" of design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Relay's stated values are highly indicative of a high-growth, innovative startup culture. The emphasis on ownership, continuous learning, and mission-driven work is attractive to ambitious professionals. The collaborative style is central to their product development process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complex Financial Systems: Designing intuitive experiences for intricate banking workflows, transaction data, and security protocols that are inherently complex and carry significant user trust requirements.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating the needs of diverse small business owners with varying financial literacy levels, while also meeting strategic business objectives and technical constraints.

• Driving Design Innovation in a Regulated Space: Pushing creative boundaries and incorporating new technologies like AI within the Fintech sector, which often has stringent compliance and security considerations.

• Navigating Ambiguity in a Growing Company: Contributing to the evolution of the design function and product strategy in a dynamic startup environment where processes may still be forming.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining design quality and team cohesion across potentially different work locations and time zones (if applicable beyond the stated hybrid model).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Fintech & SMB Finance: Gaining specialized knowledge in the financial technology domain and the unique challenges faced by small business owners.

• AI-Powered Product Design: Exploring and applying AI capabilities to enhance user experiences, such as cash flow forecasting and intelligent insights.

• Platform Design Leadership: Opportunity to shape foundational design patterns and systems that scale across the product.

• Mentorship & Peer Learning: Receiving guidance from experienced designers and product leaders, and contributing to the growth of junior team members.

• Exposure to Executive Strategy: Gaining insight into business strategy and how design directly influences company growth and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the industry and role, offering opportunities for significant professional development. The growth opportunities are framed around specialized domain knowledge and leadership within the design function.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a complex problem, like redesigning transaction workflows, from initial research to a shipped feature." Preparation: Focus on your end-to-end process, highlighting research, ideation, prototyping, user testing, collaboration with PM/Eng, and iteration. Use a specific case study as an example.

• "How do you ensure your designs are both user-centric and meet business objectives, especially in a regulated industry like Fintech?" Preparation: Discuss your methods for balancing user needs with business goals, using data and research. Mention how you consider compliance and security in design decisions.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Relay's mission to help small businesses thrive?" Preparation: Connect your personal values or past experiences to the mission. Show genuine enthusiasm for solving problems for this specific customer segment.

• "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback in a design critique setting?" Preparation: Emphasize openness, respect, and a focus on constructive improvement. Provide examples of how you've acted on feedback or provided valuable critique.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Start with the problem and the achieved impact, then dive into your process.

• Tell a Coherent Story: Ensure each case study flows logically and highlights your unique contribution.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and trade-offs.

• Showcase Craft: Highlight your attention to detail in UI, interaction, and overall polish.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Explain how you worked with other teams and incorporated their input.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific stages and emphasis of Relay's process, focusing on demonstrating design leadership, process rigor, and cultural alignment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 detailed case studies that best exemplify your experience with end-to-end design processes, SaaS products, complex system simplification, and measurable impact. Tailor your case study selection to align with Relay's Fintech focus and SMB customer base.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5+ years of product design experience, specific accomplishments in SaaS environments, and skills such as user-centered design, UX strategy, visual design, prototyping, and collaboration. Use keywords relevant to the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the described interview stages. Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact using specific examples. Prepare to discuss your understanding of Relay's mission and values.

• Company Research: Deeply research Relay, its product, its mission, and its target audience. Understand the competitive landscape in digital banking for small businesses. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the product, team, and challenges.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding the hybrid work model locations (Vancouver vs. Toronto), should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.