Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: SoftCo

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: March 18, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• End-to-End UX Ownership: Take full responsibility for the user experience of designated product areas, from initial discovery and conceptualization through to post-launch iteration and design quality assurance.

• User-Centricity & Advocacy: Serve as the primary advocate for the user, deeply understanding their needs and translating them into intuitive, efficient, and accessible product solutions within complex enterprise environments.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers and Engineers to define problems, co-create solutions, and make informed trade-offs, ensuring a unified and effective product development process.

• Design System Evolution: Actively contribute to the development and refinement of SoftCo's design system, ensuring consistency in interaction patterns, content guidelines, and overall user experience across the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is designated as "Senior Product Designer" and implies a significant level of autonomy and ownership. The emphasis on "complex organizations" and "Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Accounts Payable (AP) automation" suggests a B2B enterprise software context. The mention of AI-native platform indicates a forward-looking technology stack. Implied experience level is derived from the "Senior" title and the expectation of shipping complex products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Area Ownership: Lead the complete UX lifecycle for assigned product areas, encompassing discovery, concept development, user flow creation, wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and design quality assurance.

• User Needs Identification & Validation: Conduct user research and usability testing, synthesizing findings into actionable insights that inform product strategy and design decisions, ensuring solutions address real user problems.

• Intuitive Interface Design: Translate intricate business requirements and technical concepts into clear, user-friendly interfaces and seamless user flows that enhance efficiency for complex organizations.

• Collaborative Problem Solving: Work hand-in-hand with Product Management and Engineering teams to thoroughly understand challenges, brainstorm solutions, and negotiate design decisions to achieve optimal outcomes.

• Design System Contribution: Contribute to the growth and maintenance of the design system, ensuring adherence to established patterns and guidelines while identifying opportunities for enhancement to maintain a cohesive user experience.

• Design Critique & Mentorship: Actively participate in design reviews, providing constructive feedback and articulating design rationale to elevate the quality of design work and foster a user-centered mindset across teams.

• Iterative Improvement: Drive post-launch product improvements by analyzing user feedback, performance data, and market trends to continuously optimize the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep engagement with the entire product development lifecycle, emphasizing both strategic thinking (discovery, concepting) and tactical execution (wireframing, prototyping, design QA). The focus on translating "complex concepts and requirements" and working within "complex organizations" firmly places this role within the enterprise B2B software domain, specifically for financial operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Several years of experience shipping digital products, with a strong preference for complex B2B/enterprise software solutions. Proven ability to iterate and improve products based on real user feedback.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End UX Ownership: Demonstrated ability to manage the full UX lifecycle for product areas.

• Product Discovery & Concepting: Expertise in user research, problem definition, and ideation.

• Interaction Design & Product Thinking: Deep understanding of how products function and solve user problems, not just aesthetics.

• User Flow & Journey Mapping: Proficiency in visualizing user paths and experiences.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skilled in creating low-fidelity and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience in planning, executing, and synthesizing research findings.

• Design System Contribution: Ability to work with and contribute to established design systems and component libraries.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and influence stakeholders.

• Technical Fluency: Ability to work effectively with engineers and clearly specify interactions, with proficiency in design tools like Figma.

• Ownership Mindset: Proactive approach, driving initiatives without constant direction.

• Comfort with Ambiguity: Ability to create structure and direction in evolving environments.

• Balancing Speed & Detail: Judgement to know when to prioritize velocity versus meticulous refinement.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a startup or growth-stage company environment.

• Proven experience building or scaling design systems and component libraries.

• Strong practice in accessibility and inclusive design principles.

• Service design expertise or experience with end-to-end journeys across multiple products.

• Familiarity with AI tools (e.g., Claude Code) to enhance workflow efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Your profile" section is rich with behavioral and soft skills alongside technical ones, emphasizing impact, problem-solving, and collaboration. The explicit mention of B2B/enterprise experience and the "Nice to Have" section about AI tools and design systems provide key differentiators for candidates. The implied experience level is between 5-10 years, fitting a senior designation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated End-to-End Ownership: Showcase at least 1-2 case studies detailing projects where you owned the UX from initial problem identification through to launch and iteration.

• Complex Problem Solving: Highlight projects that involved tackling intricate user problems or business requirements, particularly within an enterprise or B2B context.

• Process Visualization: Include examples of user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your design process and decision-making.

• User Research Integration: Clearly demonstrate how user research and usability testing informed your design decisions and led to tangible improvements.

• Impact & Iteration: Present metrics or qualitative feedback that show the impact of your designs and how you iterated based on post-launch learnings.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Research: Document your approach to user research, stakeholder interviews, and competitive analysis.

• Design Iteration: Show how you moved from initial concepts to refined designs, including iterations based on feedback.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Illustrate your collaboration process with Product Managers and Engineers, including how you documented and handed off designs.

• Design System Application: If applicable, demonstrate how you utilized or contributed to a design system in your projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on showcasing the process and impact, not just final mockups. Given SoftCo's focus on complex enterprise software, case studies demonstrating a structured approach to problem-solving in that domain will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Dublin, Ireland, with 5-10 years of experience in B2B/enterprise software, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €65,000 - €90,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Dublin, the seniority of the role, and the specialized nature of enterprise software UX.

Benefits:

• Competitive remuneration and performance-based bonus.

• Company-paid health insurance, pension, and life assurance.

• Hybrid Working Model (2 days per week in office post-onboarding).

• On-site gym with company-funded fitness classes (Dublin office).

• Long service incentive awards and employee referral programme.

• Structured learning and development investment.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid model allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on typical Dublin tech market rates for senior roles and the provided benefits package. The hybrid model is specified as 2 days in the office.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software (AI-Native Procure-to-Pay & Accounts Payable Automation)

Company Size: The description mentions "global reach with offices in the US, Finland, UK, Kosovo and Ireland," and "1M+ users worldwide." This suggests a medium to large enterprise company that has achieved significant scale and global presence, likely ranging from 250-1000+ employees.

Founded: Over 35 years ago, indicating a company with established market presence and deep industry expertise, yet also embracing modern AI technology.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Disciplinary: Product Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, indicating a collaborative, integrated product team structure.

• User-Centered Focus: The role emphasizes being the "voice of the user," suggesting a culture that values user feedback and data-driven decision-making.

• Ownership & Autonomy: The culture promotes initiative and ownership, with progression based on capability rather than hierarchy.

• Global Collaboration: Teams operate across multiple international locations, requiring strong communication and remote collaboration skills.

Methodology:

• AI-Native Approach: Development and product strategy are informed by AI capabilities.

• Tailored Automation: Focus on customizing solutions around organizational needs, not rigid templates.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Implied through responsibilities like "discovery and concepting through delivery, Design QA, and iteration after release."

• Data-Informed Design: Use of user research, testing, and data to validate assumptions and guide design.

Company Website: https://softco.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: SoftCo's long history combined with its AI-native approach presents a unique blend of stability and innovation. The culture described values pragmatism, expertise, and individual initiative, which are key for a senior role in a growing enterprise software company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a "Senior Product Designer," indicating a highly experienced individual contributor with the ability to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy. It signifies a level beyond a standard Product Designer, requiring strategic thinking and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles within a complex enterprise context.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, Design Lead, or potentially a Director of Product Management, depending on the organizational structure. Direct exposure to senior leadership is explicitly mentioned as a benefit.

Operations Impact: While not a direct "operations" role in the RevOps/SalesOps sense, the Senior Product Designer's impact is critical to the operational efficiency of SoftCo's clients. By creating intuitive and effective P2P/AP automation solutions, the designer directly contributes to how clients manage their financial processes, enabling greater accuracy, visibility, and strategic control. This translates to client retention, satisfaction, and SoftCo's market reputation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Lead Design Initiatives: Opportunity to lead design for major product areas or new feature development.

• Design System Leadership: Potential to take ownership of the design system's evolution and governance.

• Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior designers, fostering team growth.

• Subject Matter Expertise: Develop deep expertise in financial operations technology and AI-driven automation.

• Transition to Management: Possible pathway to a Design Lead or Management role for those interested in people leadership.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Influence product strategy and roadmap through design expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed around deepening design expertise, leadership within the design function, and influencing broader product strategy, aligning with typical senior-level career paths in tech.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a Hybrid Working Model. This means a blend of remote work and in-office presence. Employees are expected to be in the office 2 days per week following an onboarding period.

Office Location(s): The primary office for this role is in Dublin, Ireland. Specific details about the office amenities (e.g., on-site gym with company-funded fitness classes) suggest a modern and employee-focused workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest a workspace designed for interaction, team meetings, and knowledge sharing, whether in person or virtually.

• Technology Focus: As a software company, expect access to modern design tools, collaboration platforms, and potentially AI-powered workflow enhancements.

• Employee Well-being: The inclusion of an on-site gym and fitness classes indicates a company that prioritizes employee health and a positive work-life balance.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) with the flexibility offered by the hybrid model. The focus is on delivering results and driving initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key detail, specifying the in-office expectation. The Dublin office amenities highlight a focus on employee well-being and a modern work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio for suitability.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, detailing your role, process, challenges, and outcomes. Expect in-depth questions about your design decisions and rationale.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise may be given, either take-home or during an interview session, to assess your problem-solving and design skills in a simulated SoftCo context.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration, communication, and technical fluency.

• Cultural Fit & Leadership Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate alignment with SoftCo's values, ownership mindset, and senior-level contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving in B2B/enterprise environments, and user advocacy.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: the problem, your process, your solutions, the challenges, and the impact (quantified where possible).

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in collaborative projects.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and thinking.

• Explain "Why": Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, referencing user research, data, or design principles.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs solved problems for users and contributed to business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Accounts Payable (AP) processes, common pain points, and the types of users who interact with such systems.

• Simulate Design Thinking: Practice breaking down a complex problem into smaller, manageable parts, identifying user needs, and proposing solutions.

• Figma Proficiency: Ensure you are comfortable and efficient with Figma or similar design tools for rapid prototyping.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your thought process clearly and concisely, as if presenting to Product Managers and Engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a senior designer's capabilities across strategic thinking, execution, collaboration, and cultural fit. A strong portfolio that showcases relevant experience is non-negotiable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a key tool for design and prototyping. Expect advanced usage for complex interfaces, component creation, and collaborative design.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, other tools for advanced prototyping might be utilized or expected.

• Design System Tools: Tools for managing and contributing to design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or internal solutions).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo to understand user behavior within the product.

• Usability Testing Platforms: Tools such as UserTesting.com, Lookback, or Maze for remote and in-person testing.

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used to understand product performance and user data (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, internal dashboards).

CRM & Automation:

• Internal CRM/Support Tools: For understanding customer issues and feedback.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking tasks and project progress with engineering teams.

• AI Tools: Mention of "Claude Code or similar AI tools" suggests an interest in leveraging AI to enhance design workflows, research, or content generation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the explicitly stated primary tool. The other tools are inferred based on standard practices for enterprise B2B product design teams and SoftCo's focus on AI and complex software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Initiative & Accountability: Taking ownership of tasks and driving them to completion without constant oversight.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across disciplines and international teams to achieve common goals.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to staying updated with industry trends, new technologies (like AI), and design best practices.

• Expertise & Trust: Respecting and valuing deep knowledge in specific areas, and trusting individuals to manage their responsibilities.

• User-Centricity: A core focus on understanding and serving the needs of complex organizations and their users.

• Precision & Partnership: Reflecting the company's reputation for precision engineering and long-term client relationships.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a unified approach to product development.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging clear thinking and constructive critique to elevate design quality and foster a user-centered mentality.

• Global Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues across different time zones and cultural backgrounds.

• Data-Informed Discussions: Using research, testing, and data to support design decisions and mediate discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes proactive contribution, strong teamwork, and a dedication to quality and user needs, core tenets for a successful senior role in a scaling tech company.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Enterprise Software: Designing intuitive user experiences for complex financial operations processes that serve large, diverse organizations.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Requirements: Advocating for user needs while aligning with aggressive business goals and technical constraints.

• AI Integration: Effectively integrating AI capabilities into the product in a way that is genuinely beneficial and understandable to users.

• Global Consistency: Ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across diverse user segments and international markets.

• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient collaboration within a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen AI Expertise: Gain hands-on experience with AI-powered design tools and their application in enterprise software.

• Specialize in Financial Tech: Become an expert in the nuances of Procure-to-Pay and Accounts Payable automation.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to influence and lead the strategy and implementation of a growing design system.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop leadership skills by guiding junior designers.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Investment in structured learning, potentially including specialized courses or conferences related to UX, AI, or FinTech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the specific domain of enterprise FinTech and the company's AI focus, offering opportunities for specialized skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you owned the end-to-end UX for a complex product feature. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on showing your structured approach, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when designing for enterprise software? Provide an example." (Highlight your ability to make informed trade-offs and advocate effectively.)

• "Walk us through your process for translating complex requirements into intuitive user flows and interfaces. How do you ensure clarity and efficiency?" (Demonstrate your core design methodology and ability to simplify complexity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about SoftCo's AI-native approach to Procure-to-Pay automation?" (Research SoftCo's specific value proposition and AI focus.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to our culture of initiative, accountability, and collaboration?" (Align your past experiences with their stated values.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Case Studies: Prioritize B2B/enterprise projects, complex problem-solving, and examples showing end-to-end ownership.

• Structure Your Narrative: Clearly define the problem, your role, your process (discovery, ideation, iteration), your solutions, and the measurable impact.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design decisions with user insights, data, and design principles.

• Showcase Collaboration: Explain how you worked with stakeholders (PMs, Engineers) and incorporated their feedback.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify outcomes where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction).

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating senior-level thinking, a robust design process, and a deep understanding of the enterprise B2B software domain, particularly in financial operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SoftCo's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 1-2 detailed case studies showcasing your experience with complex B2B/enterprise software, end-to-end UX ownership, and user research integration.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords related to UX ownership, product discovery, interaction design, B2B/enterprise product shipping, and collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key projects, and prepare to discuss how you would approach challenges specific to SoftCo's domain.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with SoftCo's AI-native P2P/AP automation platform, its target market, and its company culture values (initiative, accountability, 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.