Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Takeaway Location: London, United Kingdom Job Type: Full time Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-09-29 Experience Level: 5-10 years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design for internal platform and data engineering tools, impacting the workflow of over 1500 engineers.
• Uncover, understand, and define innovative opportunities to enhance engineer productivity and accelerate product delivery.
• Utilize a data-driven approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and measure product performance.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers and Engineers, to co-create and deliver user-friendly solutions.
• Contribute to a large, global UX team with over 100 professionals across multiple countries, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on internal tooling for engineers, which requires a deep understanding of technical workflows, data-heavy applications, and the unique challenges faced by a highly skilled user base. The emphasis on accelerating product delivery for external customers highlights the critical impact of this internal-facing design work.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, from initial concept and problem definition through to detailed UI design and final delivery.
• Conduct user research and usability studies in collaboration with UX Researchers to deeply understand user needs and pain points.
• Develop low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes for validation and to clearly communicate interaction details to development teams.
• Facilitate workshops with cross-functional teams to drive discovery, ideation, and design sprints, ensuring alignment and buy-in.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data, in conjunction with Product Managers, to define success metrics and monitor product performance post-launch.
• Present design concepts, progress, and ideas effectively to both design peers and non-creative stakeholders, advocating for user-centered solutions.
• Work closely with Product Managers and Engineers to co-create designs, ensuring both user desirability and technical feasibility.
• Contribute to and leverage established design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and efficiency across products.
• Mentor and coach junior designers, sharing best practices and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus on internal engineering tools, responsibilities will heavily involve translating complex technical requirements and data into intuitive and efficient user interfaces. The role demands not just visual design skills but also a strong strategic understanding of engineering workflows and the ability to influence technical roadmaps through design advocacy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles is paramount. Equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in end-to-end product design, with a proven track record of shipping successful products, particularly those for highly skilled users or internal engineering tools.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in end-to-end product design, encompassing discovery, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design.
• Proficiency in Figma, with a demonstrated ability to create complex, data-heavy designs and interactive prototypes.
• Experience designing and shipping products for engineers or other highly technical user groups.
• Strong workshop facilitation skills, capable of leading both discovery sessions and design sprints with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven experience in conducting user research and usability studies, translating findings into actionable design improvements.
• Solid understanding of and experience with design systems and component libraries.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• A highly collaborative mindset, adept at working effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Comfort and experience in dealing with ambiguous and complex problem spaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with data visualization techniques and tools to represent complex data insights effectively.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and working within cross-functional product teams.
• Experience in coaching or mentoring other designers, contributing to team growth and skill development.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, with a focus on impact and user outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "data heavy products" and "tools for engineers" suggests a need for designers who can handle complexity, understand technical constraints, and prioritize information architecture. Proficiency in Figma is explicitly called out, making it a critical technical skill for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate a clear understanding of user problems and innovative solutions.
• Include case studies detailing the design process from discovery and research through to ideation, prototyping, and final implementation.
• Clearly articulate the user problems addressed, the design decisions made, and the rationale behind them, supported by research and data.
• Provide examples of how qualitative and quantitative data influenced design choices and product performance.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma, with examples of complex interfaces, interactive prototypes, and component-based design.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research and usability testing, including methodologies used and how findings were integrated into the design process.
• Illustrate your experience with workshop facilitation, showcasing how you've driven alignment and ideation with cross-functional teams.
• Showcase contributions to or creation of design systems, component libraries, and style guides, emphasizing consistency and scalability.
• Explain your process for collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers, highlighting how you ensure design quality and feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should heavily emphasize internal tools, engineering workflows, and data-driven product design. Demonstrating the ability to translate complex technical challenges into user-friendly solutions will be key. The inclusion of metrics showing product performance and user impact is vital.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive salary range is estimated between £65,000 - £90,000 per annum. This estimate considers the seniority of the role, the strategic importance of internal tooling, and the London market.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote, offering flexibility.
• Comprehensive health insurance package.
• Generous paid time off and public holiday allowance.
• Pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
• Access to a global network of design professionals for collaboration and learning.
• Employee discounts and perks associated with the company's services.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While a hybrid model is in place, the role requires active participation and collaboration, especially during core working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on market data for similar roles in London. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, and interview performance. The company offers a robust benefits package typical of a large, international tech organization.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Food Delivery Platform. Takeaway operates in the fast-paced, highly competitive global food delivery market, leveraging technology to connect consumers with restaurants and grocery partners.

Company Size: Large Enterprise. With a significant global presence and a large number of employees (over 1500 engineers alone), Takeaway offers the scale and resources of a major tech company, alongside opportunities for impact within specialized teams.

Founded: Just Eat Takeaway.com was formed through a merger and has a history of growth and consolidation in the online delivery sector. This suggests a dynamic environment that values adaptability and strategic expansion.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is substantial, comprising over 100 professionals (UX designers, UI designers, product designers, service designers, researchers, writers) spread across 7 countries, indicating a globally distributed but interconnected design function.
• This Senior Product Designer role specifically supports the Platform and Data Engineering tools, meaning close collaboration with engineering leads, product managers, and fellow designers focused on internal productivity.
• The reporting structure likely involves a Design Lead or Head of UX, with direct collaboration lines to Product Management and Engineering counterparts for the specific tools being developed.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, with emphasis on using qualitative and quantitative data to understand problems and measure outcomes.
• A strong focus on the entire product lifecycle, from concept to delivery, suggests an iterative and user-centered approach to development.
• Agile methodologies are likely employed, facilitating cross-functional collaboration and rapid iteration.
• Design thinking principles and workshop facilitation are integral to problem-solving and ideation.

Company Website: https://careers.justeattakeaway.com/global/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's global reach and focus on technology indicate an environment that values innovation, efficiency, and data. The emphasis on supporting engineers with internal tools suggests a culture that understands the critical role of internal productivity in achieving external business goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role sits at a senior individual contributor level, requiring a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and the ability to lead design initiatives without direct management responsibility. It's a crucial role in shaping the tools that enable the company's 1500+ engineers.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a UX Manager or Head of Design within the Platform/Data Engineering domain. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for the specific tools they are designing.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant: by enhancing the tools and workflows for engineers, this designer directly contributes to the speed, quality, and efficiency of product and service delivery to millions of customers, restaurant partners, and couriers globally. This role is critical for operational efficiency and scalability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for highly technical users, complex data visualization, and internal productivity tools.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially transition into a Design Lead or Principal Designer role.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deep insights into platform and data engineering processes, which can open doors to product management or technical leadership roles.
• Global Impact: Contribute to a product used by a large engineering workforce across multiple countries, offering broad exposure and learning.
• Industry Knowledge: Become an expert in the unique UX challenges of the online delivery sector and internal enterprise tooling.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a pathway to specialization in a critical but often underserved area of product design – internal enterprise tooling. The "senior" title, combined with the focus on complex problems and mentorship, indicates a growth trajectory towards leadership or principal-level individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role requires 3 days per week in the London office and allows for 2 days of remote work. This blends the benefits of in-person collaboration and team building with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom (specific office address provided as EC4M 7RF, City of London). This is a prime business district location, likely offering good transport links and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The London office environment is expected to be modern and collaborative, designed to facilitate team interaction, workshops, and cross-functional meetings.
• Access to necessary design tools, software licenses (e.g., Figma), and potentially internal design system resources will be provided.
• Opportunities for informal collaboration, knowledge sharing sessions, and team-building activities with colleagues from UX and other departments.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical for full-time roles. The hybrid model allows for some flexibility in managing work hours and location, but active participation and availability for team syncs and collaborative work are expected, particularly during office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role suggests an investment in a modern work environment that balances in-person collaboration with employee flexibility. The specific office location in the City of London implies a well-connected and professional setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios, focusing on relevant experience and Figma proficiency.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Expect a deep dive into your portfolio. You'll be asked to present 1-2 case studies, detailing your process, decision-making, and impact. This stage will assess your problem-solving skills, design methodology, and ability to articulate your work.
• Cross-Functional Interview: You'll likely meet with Product Managers and Engineers from the Platform/Data Engineering teams. This interview will focus on your collaboration style, understanding of technical constraints, and ability to design for complex user needs.
• Design Team Interview: You may meet with other designers to assess cultural fit, teamwork, and understanding of design systems and best practices.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design or VP of Engineering/Product) to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly demonstrate the problem you solved, your process, and the measurable outcomes of your design work. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%," "improved data accuracy by Y%").
• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Include examples of complex Figma files, interactive prototypes, and how you leverage components and design systems.
• Highlight Internal Tooling/Data-Heavy Projects: If you have experience designing for engineers or handling complex data, make this a central theme of your selected case studies.
• Articulate Your "Why": Be prepared to explain the rationale behind your design choices at every step, linking them back to user needs and business goals.
• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, with clear headings, concise descriptions, and high-quality visuals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge, which might involve solving a specific problem related to engineering tools or data workflows.
• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if explaining it to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Prepare to discuss how you would approach ambiguity, gather requirements, and iterate on a design based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge highlights the practical, skills-based nature of this hiring process. Candidates should curate their portfolios to directly address the requirements of designing for engineers and complex data, showcasing Figma mastery and a robust design process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly required and will be the primary tool for design and prototyping. Expect to demonstrate advanced proficiency.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases.
• Design System Tools: Experience with tools for managing and contributing to design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight) may be relevant.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools used for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data is crucial. This could include tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or internal data platforms.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools or libraries for visualizing complex data (e.g., Tableau, D3.js, or integrated within Figma) would be advantageous.
• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to interpret and contribute to performance dashboards for products.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user feedback and product performance data feed into broader customer relationship management or operational automation processes is beneficial.
• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for communication and project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the non-negotiable tool. Beyond that, a strong understanding of how to leverage data and analytics to inform design and measure impact is critical. The ability to work within existing design systems and potentially contribute to them is also a key technical requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven: Decisions are guided by evidence, with a strong emphasis on metrics and user feedback to drive product improvements.
• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of users, whether they are external customers or internal engineers.
• Collaboration: Fostering a cooperative environment where cross-functional teams work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.
• Innovation & Efficiency: Encouraging creative problem-solving and continuous improvement to deliver value quickly and effectively.
• Transparency: Open communication about progress, challenges, and ideas across teams and with stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and other stakeholders, acting as active participants in cross-functional teams.
• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that embraces constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to refine designs and processes.
• Agile & Iterative: Embracing iterative development cycles, with a focus on delivering value incrementally and adapting based on learnings.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and design patterns across the wider UX team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company emphasizes a culture that is both globally connected and locally agile. For this role, the ability to collaborate effectively with engineering teams and uphold data-driven design principles will be paramount to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Technical Users: Adapting design thinking to the specific needs, workflows, and technical sophistication of software engineers.
• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling ill-defined problems and translating them into clear design requirements and solutions.
• Balancing Innovation with Pragmatism: Developing forward-thinking solutions while ensuring they are feasible and align with engineering constraints and roadmaps.
• Global Consistency: Contributing to design systems and products that must function effectively across different regions and contexts.
• Prioritization: Effectively managing a workload that involves multiple projects and stakeholders, requiring strong prioritization skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Enterprise UX: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for internal tools and highly technical audiences.
• Advanced Design System Contribution: Opportunities to contribute significantly to or even lead aspects of a large-scale design system.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and guiding design discussions.
• Industry Exposure: Work within a leading global online delivery platform, understanding the operational complexities and technological drivers of the industry.
• Continuous Skill Enhancement: Access to training, workshops, and conferences relevant to product design, UX research, and data visualization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a unique opportunity to master the nuances of designing for internal engineering teams, a niche that is critical for tech company efficiency but often overlooked. The challenges are significant but offer substantial growth potential in specialized UX expertise and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex technical problem you solved through design. What was your process, and what was the impact?" (Focus on your approach to ambiguity, research, and data-driven solutions).
• "How do you approach designing for a user group that is highly skilled and potentially resistant to change, like engineers?" (Highlight your empathy, research methods, and ability to build consensus).
• "Walk me through a project where you had to balance innovative design ideas with technical constraints. How did you collaborate with engineers to achieve a feasible outcome?" (Emphasize your collaboration skills and understanding of development realities).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing internal tools for engineers at Takeaway?" (Show your understanding of the impact of internal tools on overall business velocity).
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative design environment and work effectively with cross-functional teams?" (Provide specific examples of your teamwork and communication style).
• "How do you use data to inform your design decisions and measure the success of your work?" (Be ready to discuss specific metrics and analytical approaches).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact. Use visuals effectively to support your story.
• Highlight Figma Skills: Be ready to showcase your Figma file structure, component usage, and prototyping capabilities. Offer to do a live walkthrough if appropriate.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the value of your design work (e.g., efficiency gains, error reduction, user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize any experience you have with internal tools, complex data, or designing for technical users.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design craft but also strategic thinking, collaborative ability, and a deep understanding of how design impacts engineering productivity and business outcomes. Being able to articulate a clear, data-informed design process is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Takeaway Careers portal via the provided link.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience with end-to-end product design, particularly any work involving complex data, internal tools, or highly technical user groups. Ensure your Figma proficiency is evident.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Design," "Figma," "User Research," "Prototyping," "Design Systems," "Data-Heavy Products," and "Engineering Tools." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice articulating your portfolio case studies, focusing on your process, decision-making, collaboration, and the measurable impact of your work. Be ready to discuss specific design challenges and how you overcame them.
• Research Takeaway: Understand the company's mission, values, and its position in the online delivery market. Familiarize yourself with their existing products and any publicly available information on their technology and design approach.

⚠️ 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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