Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Trustpilot
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: 2026-02-16T09:35:33
Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Product Designer role focuses on driving strategic discovery and research within Trustpilot’s Consumer team, offering significant ownership across the entire product experience.
• The position requires an individual contributor to lead complex, ambiguous challenges end-to-end, leveraging strong problem-solving, discovery, and collaboration skills.
• Key responsibilities include shaping product strategy by partnering closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, Content Designers, and Researchers to uncover consumer needs and opportunities.
• Success in this role will be measured by the ability to influence stakeholders, articulate the value of design, and ensure user-centric solutions that align with measurable business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as a "Senior Individual Contributor" and emphasizes "real ownership across the Trustpilot experience," indicating a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for driving product initiatives from inception to completion within the consumer product domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct strategic discovery and user research to deeply understand consumer needs, pain points, and opportunities, ensuring a user-centric approach to product development.
• Lead the end-to-end design strategy and execution for complex, high-impact features, taking full ownership from problem framing and ideation through prototyping, testing, and final delivery.
• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and design detailed user journeys that elevate the standard of design excellence and set benchmarks for quality across Trustpilot’s consumer-facing products.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, Content Designers, and Researchers to inform and shape product strategy, ensuring alignment across disciplines.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to design and execute hypothesis testing across Trustpilot’s consumer web and iOS platforms to validate design decisions and iterate on solutions.
• Clearly articulate the strategic value of design, demonstrating its direct connection to measurable business outcomes and influencing stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvements within the design and product development lifecycle and champion their implementation within the team.
• Advocate for and ensure accessibility and inclusivity are core tenets of the design process, guaranteeing that all designs effectively support diverse user groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking (shaping strategy, influencing stakeholders) and hands-on execution (prototyping, design execution, testing), which is typical for senior-level product design roles that operate with significant autonomy. The emphasis on "complex, ambiguous challenges end to end" further solidifies this senior individual contributor expectation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, user experience, and research methodologies is expected, often gained through formal education (e.g., Bachelor's or Master's in Design, HCI, or related field) or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in Product Design, with a proven track record of designing for high-traffic digital products, demonstrating a deep understanding of consumer behaviors and market dynamics.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Craft: Exceptional skills in crafting intuitive, user-centered product experiences, with a strong portfolio showcasing a range of design solutions and processes.
• Discovery & Research: Proven ability to lead strategic discovery initiatives, conduct user research, and translate insights into actionable design strategies.
• UX Design Processes: In-depth knowledge and practical application of established UX design processes, from ideation and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and user testing.
• Portfolio: A strong, comprehensive portfolio (to be submitted with CV) demonstrating end-to-end product design work, discovery, UX research capabilities, and measurable business impact.
• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly, persuasively, and to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Prototyping Tools: High proficiency in Figma and other industry-standard design and prototyping software.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, and Content Designers.
• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A strong understanding of and commitment to designing accessible and inclusive products for diverse user groups.

Preferred Skills:

• Hypothesis Testing: Experience in designing experiments and testing hypotheses across different platforms (web and iOS) to validate product assumptions.
• Front-end Implementation Familiarity: Understanding of front-end development practices and constraints to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.
• Strategy Shaping: Demonstrated ability to contribute to and influence product strategy beyond core design execution.
• Consumer Mindsets: Deep understanding of shifting consumer mindsets, behaviors, and challenges in the context of high-traffic digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "previous experience designing for high traffic digital products" and "evidence of design work that has delivered a measurable business impact and shaped product direction" points towards a need for candidates who can demonstrate strategic influence and quantifiable results, not just aesthetic or functional design skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies that illustrate your entire design process, from initial problem identification and user research through to solution design, testing, and final implementation.
• Discovery & Research Focus: Clearly demonstrate your approach to user discovery, including methodologies used (e.g., interviews, surveys, competitive analysis) and how insights were synthesized and applied to inform design decisions.
• Problem-Solving & Strategy: Present complex, ambiguous challenges you’ve tackled, detailing your problem-solving framework, strategic thinking, and how your design solutions addressed business objectives.
• Measurable Impact: Provide evidence of how your design work has directly contributed to measurable business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user engagement, reduced support tickets, enhanced customer satisfaction). Quantify results wherever possible.
• Collaboration & Influence: Illustrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, etc.) and how you influenced product direction and stakeholder decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you've documented and optimized design workflows, from initial concept to final handoff to engineering.
• User Journey Mapping: Showcase examples of user journey maps or similar artifacts used to visualize and improve user experiences.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, demonstrate experience with or contribution to design systems, highlighting how you ensured consistency and scalability.
• Testing Methodologies: Document your approach to user testing and hypothesis validation, including the types of tests conducted and how results informed iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that "showcas[es] strong Product Design, discovery and UX research skills, as well as an in-depth knowledge of UX design processes" and "evidence of design work that has delivered a measurable business impact and shaped product direction" strongly suggests that candidates should prepare detailed case studies that highlight their strategic contributions and quantifiable achievements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 5-10 years of experience, and considering Trustpilot's status as a FTSE-250 company, the estimated annual salary range is £60,000 - £85,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Options: A range of options to accommodate personal needs and promote work-life balance.
• Competitive Compensation Package: Includes a competitive base salary.
• Bonus: Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Holiday Entitlement: 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 28 days after two years of employment.
• Volunteering Days: Two paid days per year to contribute to community causes.
• Learning & Development: Access to Trustpilot Academy and Blinkist for continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Retirement Planning: Pension scheme and life insurance.
• Health & Wellbeing: Health cash plan, online GP services, and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Plan.
• Mental Health Support: Full access to Headspace, a popular mindfulness and meditation app.
• Family Support: Paid parental leave.
• Commuting Support: Season ticket loan and a cycle-to-work scheme.
• Office Amenities: Central office location with complimentary snacks and refreshments.
• Social & Community: Regular company celebrations, events, ERG activities, and team socials.
• Discounts: Access to over 4,000 deals and discounts on various products and services.

Working Hours: The role is listed as full-time, implying standard working hours. However, the company offers "a range of flexible working options," suggesting potential flexibility in daily start/end times or hybrid arrangements, though the primary work environment is described as on-site. The AI-derived standard is 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical Senior Product Designer compensation in the Edinburgh area for a company of Trustpilot's size and industry standing. Benefits are comprehensive, covering health, wellbeing, professional development, and lifestyle perks, reflecting Trustpilot's commitment to employee welfare and engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Reviews & Consumer Trust Platform. Trustpilot operates in the digital services sector, specifically focusing on providing a platform for consumer reviews, which fosters trust between businesses and customers. This industry is characterized by rapid technological advancement, data-driven strategies, and a strong emphasis on user experience and platform integrity. Company Size: FTSE-250 company, with over 1,000 employees globally. This indicates a well-established, publicly traded organization with significant market presence and resources, offering stability and opportunities for career growth. Founded: 2007. Founded with the vision of becoming a universal symbol of trust, Trustpilot has grown from its inception into a global leader in the consumer review space, demonstrating a history of innovation and sustained growth.

Team Structure:

• Consumer Team Focus: The Senior Product Designer will be part of the Consumer team, implying a focus on features and experiences directly serving end-users who are seeking or leaving reviews.
• Cross-Functional Squads: Work will be conducted within cross-functional teams (squads), which typically include Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, Data Analysts, and Content Designers, fostering a collaborative and integrated approach to product development.
• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product, within a broader product organization structure.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: Trustpilot emphasizes understanding consumer needs and placing users at the forefront of all solutions, driven by data and research.
• Data-Driven Decisions: The role involves partnering with Data Analysts and Data Scientists, suggesting a strong reliance on data analysis and hypothesis testing to inform product strategy and design iterations.
• Agile Development: While not explicitly mentioned, cross-functional squads and iterative testing are hallmarks of agile development methodologies common in tech companies.
• Process Improvement: There is an explicit expectation for individuals to identify and suggest improvements to existing processes, indicating a culture that values efficiency and continuous optimization.

Company Website: https://business.trustpilot.com/jobs/7353096

📝 Enhancement Note: Trustpilot's FTSE-250 status suggests a mature, well-structured organization with robust processes, while its founding in 2007 indicates a company that has evolved significantly and understands the importance of adapting to market changes. The emphasis on cross-functional squads points to a collaborative environment where different disciplines work closely together on product initiatives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior Individual Contributor level within the Product Design function. It demands a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to own and drive complex, ambiguous product challenges end-to-end. It's a crucial role for experienced designers looking to make a significant impact without necessarily managing a team, focusing instead on deep product contribution and mentorship of junior designers. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or Director of Product within the Consumer product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned cross-functional squads. Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's impact is directly tied to shaping the consumer-facing product experience. This includes driving user acquisition, engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately contributing to Trustpilot's core mission of building trust and facilitating confident consumer decisions. Their work will influence key business metrics related to platform usage, review generation, and potentially conversion rates for businesses using the platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership within Design: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives within squads, and contribute to the overall design strategy and best practices at Trustpilot.
• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, such as user research, interaction design, or platform strategy.
• Cross-functional Movement: Possibility to move into broader product management roles or lead design efforts in other product areas or business units within Trustpilot.
• Strategic Influence: Grow influence within the product organization, contributing more significantly to strategic product roadmap decisions and company-level initiatives.
• Learning & Development: Access to Trustpilot Academy and Blinkist provides structured opportunities for skill development and knowledge acquisition relevant to design and product leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior Individual Contributor, growth is defined not just by management but by increased scope, strategic influence, and mastery of craft. The role offers a clear path to becoming a design leader or a key strategic partner in product development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description mentions a "central office location complete with all the snacks and refreshments you can ask for," suggesting a modern, well-equipped office environment designed to support employee comfort and collaboration. This implies an on-site work setting conducive to in-person interaction. Office Location(s): The primary work location is specified as Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Trustpilot also has offices in other global locations such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Denver, Hamburg, London, Melbourne, Milan, and New York, indicating a global company with a significant international presence.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on cross-functional teams and company events points to a workplace that values collaboration, interaction, and team building.
• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (like Figma), along with other necessary technology to perform their roles effectively.
• Team Interaction: The office setting facilitates spontaneous interactions, brainstorming sessions, and a strong sense of camaraderie among colleagues, including regular social events and team gatherings.

Work Schedule: While described as full-time, the mention of "flexible working options" suggests that Trustpilot may offer some degree of flexibility in daily working hours or hybrid arrangements, though the role is primarily on-site. This flexibility aims to support employee well-being and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "central office location" and associated amenities suggest an emphasis on creating an engaging and productive in-office experience, likely designed to foster collaboration and company culture, aligning with the "on-site" remote status.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit CV and the required portfolio.
• Initial Screening: Review of application and portfolio for relevant experience, skills, and demonstrated impact.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your background, experience, specific case studies from your portfolio, and alignment with the role's responsibilities.
• Design Challenge/Workshop: Potential for a practical design exercise or workshop to assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and collaboration style. This might involve presenting a solution to a given problem or critiquing an existing design.
• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meeting with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration, communication, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, Director of Product) to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit within Trustpilot's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that clearly demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and measurable impact. Prioritize work similar to Trustpilot's consumer-facing products.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the outcomes (quantified results are key). Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.
• Highlight Discovery & Research: Explicitly detail your approach to understanding user needs and how research informed your design decisions. Showcase your ability to move from ambiguity to clarity.
• Showcase Collaboration: Detail how you worked with cross-functional teams and influenced stakeholders. Provide examples of how you navigated differing opinions or constraints.
• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to discuss your design choices in detail, justify your methodologies, and explain the impact of your work. Be ready to answer questions about your process and decision-making.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, take time to understand the business context, target users, and core objectives.
• Process Over Perfection: Focus on demonstrating a clear, logical design process rather than aiming for a perfectly polished final deliverable within a limited timeframe.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Articulate your assumptions, thought process, and design rationale clearly throughout the challenge.
• Leverage Familiar Tools: Use tools you are most proficient with (likely Figma) to efficiently create your deliverables.
• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your approach, your trade-offs, and potential next steps.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that demonstrates "measurable business impact and shaped product direction" suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can not only design well but also strategically influence product outcomes and articulate their value proposition clearly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required proficiency for design and prototyping. This will be the core tool for creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other industry-standard prototyping tools is beneficial for diverse project needs.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).
• Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Slack, Jira, Confluence for team communication, project management, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web and app analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.
• Data Visualization Tools: Exposure to tools that help visualize data to understand user trends and report on design performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a design tool, understanding how user data is managed in CRM systems (like Salesforce, though not specified) can provide context for user journeys and business impact.
• Project Management Software: Tools like Jira or Asana for tracking design tasks, sprints, and project progress within cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Experience with user research platforms and analytics tools will be crucial for fulfilling the responsibilities related to discovery, hypothesis testing, and demonstrating measurable business impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Trust & Transparency: Aligned with Trustpilot's core mission, a culture of trust and transparency is paramount, encouraging open communication and honest feedback.
• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of consumers, ensuring users are at the forefront of all product decisions and design solutions.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively within cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and collective problem-solving.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new methods, challenge the status quo, and continuously improve processes, products, and user experiences.
• Impact & Accountability: A focus on delivering measurable business impact and taking ownership of responsibilities, from problem framing to final delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work seamlessly within multidisciplinary squads, fostering close partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Data Analysts.
• Open Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, design critiques, and iterative refinement of work.
• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across design and product teams.
• Empowerment: Individuals are empowered to take initiative, drive projects, and contribute to strategic discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Trustpilot's values, particularly around trust, transparency, and user-centricity, are deeply integrated into its operational ethos. The collaborative style is designed to maximize innovation and ensure that product development is a shared responsibility across disciplines.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling complex, ill-defined problems and translating them into clear design strategies and user-centric solutions.
• Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Effectively advocating for the user while ensuring designs align with and drive measurable business objectives for a public company.
• Influencing Stakeholders: Communicating complex design rationale and driving consensus among diverse stakeholders with varying priorities.
• Scaling Design Excellence: Maintaining high standards of design craft and user experience across a growing platform and evolving product lines.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience across web and iOS platforms.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to refine and expand expertise in areas like strategic UX research, complex interaction design, and design system thinking.
• Product Strategy Contribution: Deeper involvement in product roadmap planning and strategic decision-making for the consumer product domain.
• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.
• Industry Exposure: Access to learning resources like Blinkist and potential for attending industry conferences or workshops.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, influence team processes, and grow as a senior individual contributor and potential design leader.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior-level roles in fast-paced tech environments, emphasizing strategic problem-solving and influence. The growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise, expanding strategic impact, and developing leadership qualities within the design discipline.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex, ambiguous problem you solved using design. Walk me through your process from discovery to final solution, and what was the measurable business impact?" (Focus on framing, research, iteration, and quantifiable results).
• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives? Provide an example of a trade-off you had to make and how you navigated it." (Demonstrate strategic thinking and stakeholder management).
• "Tell me about a time you had to influence a stakeholder or a cross-functional team to adopt your design recommendation. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight communication, persuasion, and collaboration skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Trustpilot's mission and our role in the consumer trust landscape?" (Research Trustpilot's mission, values, and market position).
• "How do you ensure accessibility and inclusivity are integrated into your design process?" (Showcase your commitment and practical methods).
• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment when working with Product Managers and Engineers." (Align with Trustpilot's cross-functional squad model and collaborative values).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the constraints, your process, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and importantly, the measurable outcomes.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use numbers, metrics, and data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y seconds").
• Visual Storytelling: Use mockups, prototypes, user flows, and research artifacts to visually guide your audience through your process and solutions.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, your rationale, and how you would approach similar challenges in the future.
• Connect to Trustpilot: Where possible, draw parallels between your past experiences and the challenges Trustpilot faces, showing how your skills are a strong fit.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, robust problem-solving methodologies, and the ability to articulate design's impact on business metrics, supported by concrete examples from the candidate's portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Trustpilot careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your experience with high-traffic digital products, strategic discovery, UX research, and measurable business impact, mirroring the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience (5-10 years), proficiency in Figma, and success in cross-functional collaboration, using keywords from the job description such as "Product Design," "Discovery," "Research," "Strategy Shaping," and "Stakeholder Influence."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your case studies, focusing on your end-to-end process, problem-solving approach, collaboration methods, and quantifiable achievements. Be ready to discuss your understanding of Trustpilot's mission and values.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Trustpilot's products, mission, values, and recent news to demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding of their business context. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

⚠️ 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.

---