Senior Product Designer
π Job Overview
Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Zego
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: 2025-10-07
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Hybrid
π Role Summary
- Lead the end-to-end product design process from discovery through to delivery, ensuring a user-centered approach for native mobile platforms (iOS and Android).
- Drive innovation and ownership by proactively identifying user experience improvements and making informed design decisions.
- Enhance and maintain the company's design system to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across all products and platforms.
- Foster strong, collaborative relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to define problems and deliver impactful, compliant solutions within the insurance/finance sector.
π Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior Product Designer within Zego, a company specializing in innovative insurance solutions. The position emphasizes leadership in the design process, a strong focus on native mobile experiences, and the strategic management of a design system. The "Hybrid" work arrangement requires a minimum of one day per week in either the London or Halifax office, with Zego contributing to travel costs. The role also highlights an interest in leveraging AI tools to enhance design workflows.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Spearhead the entire design lifecycle, from initial user research and ideation to final delivery and iterative improvements, ensuring a consistent user-centered methodology.
- Architect and refine intuitive, accessible, and scalable user interfaces and experiences specifically for iOS and Android mobile applications.
- Champion the integration of UX principles and design thinking across all product development stages, aiming for purposeful and impactful user journeys.
- Actively contribute to the evolution and governance of Zego's design system, establishing best practices for scalability and maintaining visual and interaction consistency.
- Forge and nurture strong partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, QA testers, and other cross-functional teams to collaboratively define product challenges and deliver effective solutions.
- Facilitate productive design workshops and syncs, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and shared understanding across diverse teams.
- Present complex design concepts and solutions effectively through compelling narratives, detailed wireframes, and interactive prototypes to gain buy-in from stakeholders and end-users.
- Proactively identify opportunities for user experience enhancement, driving independent project initiatives while seeking collaborative input when necessary.
- Apply a deep understanding of insurance and finance sector user behaviors, regulatory landscapes, and common patterns to design products that are both innovative and compliant.
- Stay abreast of emerging industry trends, technologies, and AI advancements to ensure Zego's product offering remains competitive, user-focused, and efficient.
π Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are geared towards a senior individual contributor with leadership potential, requiring end-to-end ownership of design projects and a significant role in shaping the design system and culture. The emphasis on insurance/finance implies the need for domain-specific understanding and adherence to regulatory requirements.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience in Product Design are paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field would be beneficial but is not a strict requirement.
Experience:
- Considerable experience (5-10 years) in Product Design, with a significant focus on native mobile platforms (iOS and Android).
- Proven track record of managing, evolving, and scaling design systems, including establishing governance models and best practices.
- Experience in applying UX principles and design thinking to drive product development and process improvements.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct and synthesize insights from user testing to inform design decisions and product iterations.
- Experience working closely and collaboratively with engineering teams to ensure successful implementation of designs.
- Familiarity with or a strong interest in the insurance or financial services sector, understanding user behaviors and regulatory considerations.
Required Skills:
- Product Design: End-to-end design process leadership, from discovery to delivery.
- Mobile Design Expertise: Deep understanding of iOS and Android design patterns and best practices.
- Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems.
- UX Principles & Design Thinking: Ability to embed these methodologies into product development.
- Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating detailed prototypes for complex ideas.
- User Testing & Research: Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user feedback.
- Interaction Design: Strong understanding of user flows, navigation, and microinteractions.
- Visual Design: Ability to create aesthetically pleasing and brand-aligned interfaces.
- Information Architecture: Skill in organizing content and structuring complex information.
- Collaboration & Communication: Excellent ability to work with and influence cross-functional teams.
- Storytelling: Compelling presentation of ideas and solutions to diverse audiences.
- Problem-Solving: Analytical approach to identifying and resolving user and business challenges.
Preferred Skills:
- AI Tools & Workflows: Interest in exploring and adopting AI for design process enhancement.
- Insurance/Finance Domain Knowledge: Understanding of user behaviors, regulations, and patterns in these sectors.
- Accessibility Design: Commitment to creating inclusive and accessible experiences.
- Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within iterative development frameworks.
- Data Analysis: Ability to interpret user data to inform design decisions.
π Enhancement Note: The experience level (5-10 years) and specific requirements like design system management and mobile platform expertise suggest a role demanding significant autonomy and strategic input. The emphasis on AI tools indicates a forward-thinking company culture.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Showcase a comprehensive design journey, demonstrating ownership from initial concept exploration and problem definition through to the final execution of complex design solutions.
- Include examples of native mobile (iOS/Android) design projects that highlight intuitive interfaces and scalable user experiences.
- Present case studies detailing your approach to user research, problem-solving, and how you incorporated user feedback into design iterations.
- Demonstrate your experience in managing or contributing to design systems, showing examples of consistency and governance.
- Highlight projects where you collaborated closely with engineering teams and the outcomes of those collaborations.
Process Documentation:
- Provide evidence of your ability to document design processes, including user flows, wireframes, and interaction specifications.
- Showcase how you've applied design thinking and user-centered methodologies throughout a project's lifecycle.
- Include examples of how you've facilitated workshops or design sprints to drive alignment and ideation.
- Demonstrate your approach to ensuring design consistency and quality through documentation of design system components and guidelines.
π Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, needing to clearly articulate the candidate's design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact, especially on mobile platforms and within a regulated industry context.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience, and considering Zego's funding and growth, a competitive salary range would likely be between Β£65,000 - Β£95,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the role's seniority, the specialist skills required (mobile design, design systems, AI interest), and the London cost of living.
Benefits:
- Market-competitive salary.
- Private medical insurance for comprehensive healthcare coverage.
- Company share options, offering a stake in Zego's success.
- Generous holiday allowance, promoting work-life balance.
- A comprehensive suite of wellbeing benefits designed to support employee health and happiness.
- Hybrid contribution to offset travel costs for office days.
- Coverage for company-wide events (3 per year) to foster team cohesion.
Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. Zego operates a hybrid model with a minimum requirement of one day per week in the office, offering flexibility for the remaining days.
π Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on London market rates for senior design roles, factoring in the company's profile and the specific skill set. The benefits package is robust, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and long-term engagement.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Insurtech (Insurance Technology), with a focus on motor insurance for good drivers, van drivers, and gig economy workers. This sector is characterized by rapid innovation, evolving regulations, and a strong emphasis on customer experience and data security.
Company Size: Zego has grown significantly since its founding and is likely considered a scale-up or mid-sized tech company, employing a substantial number of individuals across various departments. The description mentions a "growing product and design team" and a "small team and thatβs by design" for the core product/design unit, suggesting a focused, agile approach within a larger organization.
Founded: Zego was founded in 2016, positioning it as a relatively young but established player in the Insurtech space, with a track record of growth and market penetration.
Team Structure:
- The Product and Design team is described as "small by design," emphasizing the importance of quality hires with the right skills and attitude. This suggests a close-knit, collaborative unit.
- The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or a senior product management figure, working within a cross-functional pod or squad structure alongside Product Managers and Engineers.
- Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with strong partnerships expected between design, product management, engineering, and potentially marketing, data, and compliance teams.
Methodology:
- User-Centricity: A fundamental principle guiding all design and product decisions.
- Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the Insurtech context and mention of user testing imply a reliance on data to inform product strategy and design.
- Agile Development: The mention of "hybrid way of working" and collaborative teams suggests an agile or iterative development approach.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages pushing beyond "good enough," embracing new technologies (like AI), and constantly seeking ways to improve user experience and business outcomes.
Company Website: https://zego.com/
π Enhancement Note: Zego operates in the dynamic Insurtech sector, emphasizing innovation, customer focus, and a structured yet agile team environment. The company culture values collaboration, continuous learning, and a proactive, results-oriented mindset.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the design discipline. It requires not only strong individual contribution skills but also the ability to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (implicitly), and influence product strategy.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product, or a Director of Product. They will be part of a cross-functional product team, collaborating daily with Product Managers and Software Engineers. The emphasis on "ownership" suggests a degree of autonomy in managing their design responsibilities within the team.
Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's impact is critical to Zego's success by:
- Directly shaping the user experience of Zego's insurance products, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction.
- Ensuring product usability and accessibility, which is crucial for customer adoption and regulatory compliance in the insurance sector.
- Contributing to product innovation, helping Zego differentiate itself in a competitive market.
- Upholding design consistency and quality through the design system, which impacts brand perception and development efficiency.
Growth Opportunities:
- Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team of designers and setting design strategy.
- Product Strategy Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy discussions, contributing design insights to business objectives.
- Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as mobile UX, design systems, or AI-driven design.
- Cross-Functional Expertise: Broaden understanding of product management, engineering processes, and the insurance industry.
- Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team's capabilities.
π Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for advancement into design leadership and strategic product influence, with opportunities for skill specialization and cross-functional development within the Insurtech domain.
π Work Environment
Office Type: Zego operates a hybrid work model, blending remote flexibility with in-office collaboration. This suggests modern office spaces designed to facilitate teamwork and focused work, likely featuring collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and potentially quiet areas.
Office Location(s): The company maintains offices in both central London and Halifax, United Kingdom. Employees are expected to spend at least one day per week in one of these offices, with teams having flexibility to choose their preferred day for in-office collaboration.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model with designated office days is designed to foster team synergy, spontaneous interactions, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
- Tools and Technology: As a tech-forward company, expect access to modern design tools, collaboration software, and potentially cutting-edge hardware. The emphasis on AI suggests an environment that embraces new technological solutions.
- Team Interaction: The role requires active participation in workshops, design syncs, and team meetings, both in-person and virtually, promoting a connected and supportive team dynamic.
Work Schedule: The standard work week is approximately 40 hours, with flexibility in how those hours are managed, balancing core collaboration days in the office with remote workdays. This schedule is designed to support efficient workflow and personal well-being.
π Enhancement Note: The hybrid environment at Zego aims to balance the benefits of remote flexibility with the advantages of in-person collaboration, supported by modern office spaces and a culture that values efficient work practices.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability and alignment with the role's requirements.
- Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Design Lead or Head of Product) to delve into your experience, design philosophy, and fit with the team. This may include behavioral questions.
- Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A key stage where you'll present a detailed case study from your portfolio, showcasing your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. You may also be given a small design challenge or asked to critique an existing design.
- Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with potential collaborators, such as Product Managers and Engineers, to assess your teamwork and communication skills.
- Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to discuss strategic fit and long-term contributions.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the required skills: end-to-end mobile design, design system contributions, and clear problem-solving.
- Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, the challenges faced, the decisions made, and the rationale behind them. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.
- Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).
- Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with developers and other stakeholders, emphasizing your communication and partnership skills.
- Address AI Interest: If you have relevant experience or ideas about using AI in design, be prepared to discuss them, perhaps with a hypothetical example.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Context: If a design challenge is provided, take time to understand the business goals, target users, and constraints.
- Structure Your Approach: Outline your steps: problem definition, research (even if brief), ideation, solution development, and justification.
- Communicate Clearly: Explain your assumptions, decisions, and trade-offs. Practice articulating your thinking concisely.
- Focus on User Value: Ensure your proposed solution directly addresses user needs and business objectives.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio demonstration and practical application of design skills, particularly in a mobile and collaborative context. Preparing a strong, process-driven portfolio case study is paramount.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, as it's industry standard for collaborative design), Sketch, Adobe XD.
- User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar platforms for remote usability testing and feedback collection.
- Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication, project management, and documentation.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics (for web components or if integrated with mobile).
- Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or in-app analytics dashboards for reviewing user behavior and performance metrics.
CRM & Automation:
- While not directly a designer's tool, familiarity with or understanding of how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms might be beneficial for context.
π Enhancement Note: Proficiency in collaborative design tools like Figma is essential. Familiarity with user testing platforms and an understanding of how design output integrates into broader product analytics and development workflows are also key.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user's needs as the primary driver of design decisions.
- Collaboration: A belief that the best outcomes are achieved through open communication, shared ownership, and strong partnerships across teams.
- Curiosity & Continuous Learning: An encouragement to explore new ideas, technologies (including AI), and methodologies, and to constantly seek ways to improve.
- Excellence & Drive: A standard of not settling for average, but striving for outstanding work that delivers significant impact.
- Proactivity & Ownership: Taking initiative, challenging assumptions, and driving projects forward with confidence.
- Inclusivity & Accessibility: A dedication to building products that are usable and welcoming for a diverse range of users.
Collaboration Style:
- Team-First Approach: Emphasis on collective success over individual achievement, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Open Communication: Encouraging honest feedback, constructive criticism, and transparent dialogue between designers, product managers, and engineers.
- Workshop-Based Ideation: Utilizing facilitated sessions to bring diverse perspectives together for problem-solving and idea generation.
- Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the design team and across the wider organization.
π Enhancement Note: Zego's culture emphasizes a proactive, user-focused, and collaborative approach to design, with a strong drive for excellence and a willingness to embrace innovation and new technologies.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Designing user-friendly and innovative products within the heavily regulated insurance/finance sector requires careful navigation of compliance requirements.
- Scaling Design Systems: Evolving and maintaining a design system to support a growing product suite and diverse user needs while ensuring consistency.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating complex design ideas and securing buy-in from stakeholders with varying technical and business perspectives.
- Integrating AI Tools: Exploring and implementing AI in design workflows requires experimentation, understanding potential pitfalls, and ensuring ethical use.
- Hybrid Work Dynamics: Maximizing collaboration and team cohesion in a hybrid work environment, ensuring effective communication and inclusivity between remote and in-office team members.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- AI in Design: Opportunities to research, experiment with, and implement AI tools to enhance design processes, creativity, and efficiency.
- Design System Mastery: Deepening expertise in design system architecture, governance, and scaling best practices.
- Insurance/Fintech Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the Insurtech industry, its specific user needs, and regulatory landscape.
- Leadership Skills: Developing skills in mentoring, strategic influence, and potentially managing design projects or teams.
- Industry Exposure: Attending relevant design or Insurtech conferences and participating in online learning communities.
π Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex industry challenges and develop specialized skills in areas like AI-driven design and robust design system management within a regulated environment.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design process for a mobile application. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on demonstrating ownership, process, and problem-solving.)
- "How do you approach building or evolving a design system? What governance models have you implemented, and how do you ensure adoption?" (Highlight your experience with design systems and scalability.)
- "Tell us about a complex design problem you solved. Walk us through your thought process, the research you conducted, and the impact of your solution." (Prepare a strong portfolio case study for this.)
- "How do you collaborate effectively with engineers to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently?" (Emphasize partnership, communication, and understanding technical constraints.)
- "What are your thoughts on using AI in the design process? Can you share any examples of how you've leveraged or would leverage AI tools to improve design outcomes?" (Be ready to discuss your interest and any relevant ideas.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Zego and the Insurtech industry specifically?" (Research Zego's mission, products, and recent news. Understand what attracts you to Insurtech.)
- "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture, especially in a hybrid environment?" (Discuss your teamwork style, communication approach, and ability to adapt.)
- "How do you stay updated on design trends and emerging technologies like AI?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, solutions, iterations), and end (outcome, learnings).
- Visualize Your Process: Use wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI mockups to illustrate your journey. Avoid showing just the final screens.
- Quantify Impact: For each project, highlight measurable results or key takeaways. If metrics are unavailable, focus on qualitative impact or user feedback.
- Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.
- Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within time limits, and is engaging.
π Enhancement Note: Expect a rigorous interview process that deeply probes your design process, collaboration skills, and strategic thinking, with a significant emphasis on your portfolio and understanding of AI's role in design.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:
- Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
- Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end mobile design, design system contributions, and problem-solving. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, solutions, and outcomes.
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in native mobile design (iOS/Android), design systems, user testing, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.
- Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your thought process, decision-making, and impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to AI in design.
- Research Zego: Understand Zego's mission, target audience, products, and recent achievements. Familiarize yourself with the Insurtech industry and its challenges.
β οΈ 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.
Application Requirements
The ideal candidate should have considerable experience in product design, particularly with native mobile platforms, and a strong portfolio showcasing their design journey. They should also be proactive, curious, and comfortable working in fast-paced, regulated industries.