Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: VTS

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-04-23

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design for high-impact initiatives on VTS Lease, the leading platform for commercial real estate leasing and asset performance.

• Design intelligent, AI-powered workflows that leverage complex data and market signals to deliver actionable insights and support faster, more confident customer decisions.

• Champion a collaborative, iterative design process, actively involving Product, Engineering, and stakeholders in problem framing, ideation, and solution development.

• Elevate user experience and UI craft with a focus on clarity, intuition, refinement, and ease of use across complex, multi-step enterprise workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for translating VTS's AI capabilities into tangible user experiences within the commercial real estate (CRE) domain. The emphasis on "AI-powered workflows" and "data-rich experiences" suggests a need for designers who can simplify complexity and build trust in automated solutions. The hybrid work model with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration (4 days/week) indicates a company culture that values direct interaction and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own product design initiatives from early discovery and problem definition through to feature delivery and iterative improvements, ensuring alignment with product strategy.

• Partner closely with Product Managers to deeply understand user needs, frame complex problems, define product opportunities, and align on strategic product direction.

• Collaborate proactively with Engineering teams to assess technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring design feasibility and innovation.

• Facilitate and lead cross-functional workshops and ideation sessions to drive alignment and generate creative solutions across Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders.

• Translate complex data, including lease agreements, market signals, and customer documents, into intuitive, actionable recommendations embedded directly within user workflows.

• Craft seamless user journeys across multiple roles (e.g., lease administrators, asset managers, brokers) within high-stakes, non-linear enterprise workflows.

• Conduct and leverage user research (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover user needs, pain points, and behaviors, using these insights to inform design decisions and prioritization.

• Maintain a high standard for UX and UI craft, ensuring detailed, elegant, clear, and intuitive experiences that address edge cases and overall usability.

• Ensure design cohesion and thoughtfulness across complex enterprise environments, collaborating with Product and Engineering to preserve design integrity through development.

• Contribute to defining and refining best practices for designing AI-driven, insight-rich workflows within the CRE technology landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product thinking and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "AI-powered workflows," "complex data translation," and "multi-step, high-stakes workflows" points towards a need for a designer who can handle intricate business logic and data visualization within an enterprise SaaS context. The requirement to "map legacy processes and systems" suggests an opportunity to drive significant digital transformation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-10 years of proven experience in product design, with a strong track record of designing and shipping complex SaaS products.

• Demonstrated experience designing data-rich or AI-powered user experiences, or a strong product design intuition for these areas.

• Experience simplifying complex, multi-step workflows into intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: End-to-end ownership of the design process from discovery to delivery, with a portfolio showcasing impactful solutions.

• UX/UI Craft: Exceptional skills in interaction design, information hierarchy, visual design, and overall usability, with a keen eye for detail and refinement.

• AI/Data-Rich Design: Ability to design intuitive experiences that embed AI-driven insights and translate complex data into actionable user recommendations.

• Collaboration & Facilitation: Proven ability to partner effectively with Product Managers and Engineers, and strong facilitation skills for leading cross-functional workshops and ideation sessions.

• Problem Framing: Expertise in defining problems, identifying opportunities, and aligning stakeholders on product direction.

• User Research: Proficiency in user discovery, needs assessment, and leveraging insights to drive design strategy.

• SaaS Product Expertise: Deep understanding of designing for enterprise SaaS environments and complex user journeys.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) technology sector.

• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their application in user-facing products.

• Experience with design systems and component-based design.

• Proficiency in advanced prototyping tools and techniques.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and their impact on design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level (5-10 years) and the emphasis on owning initiatives from discovery to delivery suggest this role is for a senior individual contributor who can operate with significant autonomy. The blend of strong UX/UI craft with the specific challenge of designing AI-powered, data-rich experiences for a complex industry like CRE is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Thinking: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant product design projects that demonstrate ownership from initial problem discovery and user research through to final design execution and iteration.

• Impact Demonstration: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your design solutions, supported by metrics, case study results, or measurable improvements.

• Process & Collaboration: Illustrate your design process, emphasizing how you collaborate with Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders, including examples of workshops, feedback incorporation, and decision-making rationale.

• Craft & Detail: Provide examples of detailed UX and UI work, highlighting interaction design, information architecture, visual polish, and attention to edge cases and usability across complex workflows.

• AI/Data-Rich Examples: If possible, include projects that specifically address designing with AI, complex data visualization, or simplifying intricate business logic.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, document the problem statement, your role, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, collaborative efforts, design decisions made (and why), and the final outcomes/impact.

• Be prepared to discuss how you map legacy processes and identify opportunities for technological transformation through design.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to balance automation with user control to build trust and ensure usability in AI-driven features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are geared towards assessing not just design output, but also the candidate's strategic thinking, collaborative approach, and ability to articulate process and impact within an enterprise SaaS context. The emphasis on "end-to-end thinking," "impact," and "collaboration" is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary for this Senior Product Designer role in New York, NY, is estimated to range between $143,000 and $190,000 annually. This range is determined by factors such as candidate skills, prior relevant experience, interview performance, and geographic location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan.

• Pre-tax Commuter Benefits: For eligible commuting expenses.

• Education Stipend: An annual stipend to support continuous learning and professional development.

• Equity Packages: Ownership opportunities within the company.

• Flexible PTO Policy: Encourages work-life balance with a flexible approach to paid time off.

• Generous Family Leave Program: Supports employees during significant life events.

• Training and Career Development Programs: Structured opportunities for professional growth.

• Executive Coaching: Access to professional coaching to enhance leadership and design skills.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week.

• This is a hybrid role requiring 4 days per week in the New York, NY office, allowing for one remote work day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on VTS's stated pay transparency and market data for Senior Product Designers in New York. The benefits package is extensive, highlighting VTS's investment in employee well-being, professional development, and work-life balance, which is attractive to senior-level talent. The explicit mention of executive coaching and an education stipend underscores a commitment to individual growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate Technology (PropTech) / AI-driven Software. VTS is a leader in transforming how commercial real estate is managed, focusing on data, AI, and intelligent workflows.

Company Size: VTS manages a significant portion of U.S. Class A office space and has a global presence with billions of square feet managed on its platform. Employee count is substantial, indicating a mid-to-large-sized tech company with established processes but also room for agile innovation.

Founded: VTS was founded in 2013, establishing itself as a disruptor in the CRE industry by revolutionizing leasing operations. Its subsequent expansion into AI and comprehensive platform offerings (VTS Lease, VTS Market, VTS Activate, VTS Data) shows a history of innovation and growth.

Team Structure:

• Integrated Product Teams: Product Designers work daily with Product Managers and Engineers in highly integrated teams, fostering close collaboration and shared ownership.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires extensive interaction with Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders to ensure successful execution and alignment.

• Customer-Centric Approach: Designers are expected to engage directly with customers and bring cross-functional partners into the research and validation process.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Insights from qualitative and quantitative user research, as well as AI-driven data, are central to informing design decisions and prioritization.

• Iterative & Collaborative Process: Design is approached as a team sport, with emphasis on sharing work early and often, facilitating workshops, and incorporating feedback continuously.

• AI Integration: A key focus is on defining and implementing best practices for designing AI-driven, insight-rich workflows that balance automation with user control.

Company Website: vts.com

📝 Enhancement Note: VTS operates in a dynamic and data-intensive industry. The company culture appears to value collaboration, customer obsession, and continuous improvement, which are essential for success in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The emphasis on AI and data integration suggests a forward-thinking environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead design initiatives. The scope includes owning complex projects from inception to delivery and influencing product direction.

Reporting Structure: Senior Product Designers typically report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product. They work within integrated product teams, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads who often have parallel reporting structures.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer plays a crucial role in shaping the user experience of VTS's core platforms, directly impacting customer adoption, satisfaction, and retention. By designing intuitive and effective workflows, particularly those leveraging AI and complex data, the designer contributes significantly to VTS's mission of enabling intelligent real estate and driving asset performance for its clients. This role directly influences how users derive value from the platform, impacting revenue by improving user efficiency and decision-making capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Principal Designer role, taking on more strategic oversight, mentorship, and team leadership responsibilities.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-driven product design, complex data visualization, or specific areas of commercial real estate technology.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships with Product and Engineering leadership, influencing product roadmap and company-wide design standards.

• Mentorship: As a senior member, become a mentor to junior designers and contribute to building a strong design culture within VTS.

• Learning & Development: Leverage extensive benefits like executive coaching, training programs, and an education stipend to acquire new skills and advance career trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Product Designer role at VTS offers a clear path for growth within a specialized and impactful tech domain. The emphasis on AI and complex data within CRE presents a unique opportunity for skill development and career advancement, positioning candidates for future leadership roles in product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is classified as Hybrid, requiring 4 days per week in the New York, NY office. This suggests a preference for in-person collaboration while offering some flexibility. The company mentions an "open floor plan to promote cross-functional collaboration," indicating an environment designed for interaction.

Office Location(s): New York, NY. Specific details about office amenities or accessibility would typically be provided during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The open floor plan and hybrid model are designed to foster frequent interaction between designers, Product Managers, and Engineers, encouraging spontaneous problem-solving and idea sharing.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed, expect a modern tech stack typical for a SaaS company, including industry-standard design and collaboration tools.

• Team Interaction: Daily collaboration with integrated product teams is expected, alongside participation in design critiques and company-wide events that promote cultural cohesion.

Work Schedule: The role is approximately 40 hours per week, with the hybrid arrangement providing flexibility on one day per week. The emphasis on collaboration suggests that in-office days will be highly interactive, while remote days might offer more focused individual work time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model, with a strong emphasis on in-office presence (4 days/week), points to a company that values direct collaboration and team synergy. This setup is common for roles where iterative design, quick feedback loops, and cross-functional alignment are critical.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your application and portfolio for basic qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Expect a session where you present your portfolio, discussing your process, impact, and collaborative approach. This may be followed by a design exercise or case study discussion tailored to VTS's product challenges (e.g., designing an AI-driven workflow or simplifying a complex CRE scenario).

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and problem-solving abilities within a team context.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager to evaluate overall fit, leadership potential, and alignment with team and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling story about the problem, your process, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Process Transparency: Clearly articulate your design process, highlighting how you use research, ideation, collaboration, and iteration to arrive at your final designs. Show your work, not just the polished end result.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. This could include user engagement, task completion rates, efficiency improvements, or business outcomes.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide specific examples of how you collaborated with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders. Showcase your ability to facilitate discussions and build consensus.

• Address AI/Data Complexity: If applicable, clearly explain your approach to designing AI-powered features or handling complex data sets, emphasizing user trust and clarity.

• Tailor to VTS: Research VTS's products and the CRE industry. Frame your experience and portfolio examples to show how you can address their specific challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem Framing: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and identifying key user needs and business objectives.

• Ideation Techniques: Be ready to brainstorm solutions rapidly and articulate your thought process.

• User-Centricity: Ensure your proposed solutions are grounded in user needs and business goals.

• AI/Data Considerations: For challenges involving AI, consider aspects like data privacy, user control, explainability, and potential biases.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your solutions clearly and concisely, justifying your design decisions and anticipating questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a deep dive into the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their process, collaboration style, and impact. Preparing specific examples that demonstrate experience with complex SaaS, AI, and data-rich environments will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency expected in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools like InVision, Principle, or Axure. Figma is often a de facto standard for collaborative SaaS design.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Platforms like Jira, Confluence, Slack, and Miro for workflow management, communication, and collaborative ideation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM/automation role, understanding how product design integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation workflows is beneficial for enterprise SaaS products. Awareness of how design choices impact data capture and process automation is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, the expectation is for a Senior Product Designer to be proficient in a modern digital design toolset, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and data-informed design. Figma is highly prevalent in SaaS environments for its collaborative features.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Strive for Excellence: A commitment to continuous improvement and high standards in design craft and product outcomes. This implies a dedication to detail and pushing boundaries.

• Be Customer Obsessed: Prioritizing user needs and insights in all design decisions, fostering empathy for the commercial real estate professionals who use VTS products.

• Be Curious: Encouraging learning, exploration, and staying abreast of design trends, AI advancements, and CRE industry dynamics. This is supported by an education stipend.

• Move as One: Emphasizing teamwork, cross-functional collaboration, and open communication to achieve shared goals. The open office plan supports this value.

• Take Ownership: Encouraging initiative, responsibility for outcomes, and a proactive approach to problem-solving and design. This is reinforced by equity packages.

• Appreciate the Difference: Fostering diversity, inclusion, and a healthy work-life balance, recognizing the importance of varied perspectives and personal well-being.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Team Approach: Designers work closely and daily with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a highly collaborative and symbiotic relationship.

• Workshop Facilitation: Actively leading and participating in collaborative workshops (sketching, journey mapping, QAR) to align teams and generate solutions.

• Transparency & Feedback: A culture of sharing work early and often, incorporating feedback constructively, and maintaining transparency in process and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: VTS's stated values align well with a high-performing, collaborative design team. The emphasis on customer obsession, curiosity, and collaboration suggests an environment where designers are empowered to make a significant impact and continuously learn.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Simplifying intricate, multi-step, high-stakes workflows within the commercial real estate domain, catering to diverse user roles and non-linear journeys.

• AI Integration & Trust: Translating complex AI capabilities into intuitive, trustworthy, and usable experiences, balancing automation with user control.

• Data Visualization: Effectively representing and actionableizing complex data (leases, market signals) to support critical business decisions for users.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and alignment across various stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Sales, Customer Success) for design initiatives in a hybrid work environment.

• Maintaining Craft Standards: Ensuring high-quality UX and UI craft is preserved throughout the development lifecycle, especially in an enterprise SaaS context.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Data Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing with AI and complex data, a growing and critical field in enterprise software.

• CRE Industry Acumen: Develop specialized knowledge of the commercial real estate market, its workflows, and user needs.

• Leadership Skills: Grow into leadership roles through mentorship, executive coaching, and participation in career development programs.

• Cross-functional Strategic Influence: Enhance ability to influence product strategy and roadmaps by working closely with Product and Engineering leadership.

• Design System Advancement: Contribute to and potentially lead the evolution of VTS's design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique aspects of VTS's product and industry, offering significant opportunities for a designer to develop highly sought-after skills in AI-driven design and complex enterprise workflows.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex SaaS product you've designed. What were the key challenges, how did you approach them, and what was the impact?" (Focus on end-to-end process, problem-solving, and quantifiable results).

• "How would you design an AI-powered feature to help commercial real estate brokers make faster, more confident decisions on lease terms?" (Assess ability to translate AI concepts into user-friendly workflows, consider data inputs/outputs, and address user trust).

• "Walk us through a time you had to align multiple stakeholders with differing opinions on a design direction. How did you facilitate consensus?" (Evaluate facilitation, communication, and negotiation skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about VTS and the commercial real estate industry?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).

• "How do you embody VTS's values, such as 'Strive for Excellence' or 'Be Customer Obsessed,' in your design work?" (Connect your experience to their cultural pillars).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the constraints, your design process, key decisions, and the final outcome with impact.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and solutions effectively.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results wherever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impact or qualitative feedback.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Be prepared to discuss the 'why' behind your design decisions and demonstrate your problem-solving approach.

• Address Hybrid/Remote Dynamics: If presenting remotely, ensure your setup is professional and your presentation is engaging. For the hybrid role, emphasize how you contribute to collaboration both in-person and potentially remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the design process, collaborative capabilities, and the ability to tackle complex, data-driven problems within an enterprise context. Tailoring responses to VTS's specific industry and values will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application and resume through the VTS careers portal (via Greenhouse).

• Portfolio Customization: Prepare a digital portfolio that clearly showcases 2-3 end-to-end projects demonstrating your experience with complex SaaS products, AI-driven features, or data-rich applications. Highlight your process, collaborative efforts, and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume highlights relevant experience in product design, UX/UI, SaaS, AI/data-rich design, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description and quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and decision-making rationale. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and handling complexity, and be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with VTS's platform, its role in the commercial real estate industry, and its company values. Understand how your skills and experience align with VTS's mission and the specific challenges of this role.

⚠️ 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.