Senior Product Designer, Consumer

Ethos Life
Full-timeBengaluru, India

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Consumer

Company: Ethos Life

Location: Bangalore, India

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design (Consumer Products)

Date Posted: 2025-12-29

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • Drive the design strategy and execution for key areas within Ethos Life's core consumer product funnel, directly impacting revenue growth through iterative improvements and innovative feature development.

  • Collaborate within a cross-functional pod (Product Management, Engineering) to conceptualize, design, and launch new user experiences and features for the Term Life insurance business.

  • Contribute to the broader consumer products design team, elevating the overall user experience across Ethos's product portfolio by setting a high bar for design quality and strategic thinking.

  • Operate in a fast-paced, experiment-driven environment, balancing the need for rapid iteration on existing features with the development of entirely new "zero-to-one" experiences within a startup-within-a-startup model.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Senior Product Designer, Consumer," the description clearly indicates a strong connection to revenue generation and business impact, particularly within the "Term Life" team. This suggests the role requires a deep understanding of conversion optimization, user journey mapping, and the ability to translate business goals into user-centric design solutions that drive measurable outcomes. The emphasis on "improving a product experience for users and for the business" and "demonstrated ability to measure the impact of your work and its impact on the business" are critical for operations-minded designers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the end-to-end design strategy and execution for a designated focus area within Ethos's core consumer product, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

  • Champion and help define the vision for the overall user experience across the consumer product suite, ensuring consistency and a cohesive brand identity.

  • Design and develop new features and user experiences, as well as iterate on and optimize existing ones to enhance user engagement and conversion rates.

  • Manage a portfolio of design projects, balancing the strategic impact of larger initiatives ("bigger bets") with the need for continuous, fast improvements on core functionalities.

  • Effectively manage and communicate design strategies, progress, and outcomes to executive stakeholders across engineering, product management, marketing, and other relevant departments.

  • Actively collaborate with cross-functional partners to refine and advance the product design practice within Ethos, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution. For a candidate, demonstrating experience in both setting design vision and executing complex features, while also managing stakeholder expectations and contributing to process improvement, will be crucial. The mention of "balancing smaller projects with bigger bets" implies a need for strong prioritization and resource management skills within the design workflow.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles and user-centered methodologies is expected, likely gained through formal education or extensive practical experience.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Product Design roles.

  • At least 1 year of experience working within a venture-funded, private startup environment.

  • The majority of your professional experience should be in-house, focused on developing direct-to-consumer (DTC) products.

  • Proven experience working in a high-velocity, experiment-driven environment, demonstrating adaptability and a results-oriented approach.

  • Demonstrated ability to effectively measure and articulate the business impact of design decisions and implemented solutions.

Required Skills:

  • Product Design: Comprehensive understanding of the product design lifecycle, from ideation and research to prototyping, testing, and implementation.

  • User Experience (UX) Design: Expertise in creating intuitive, user-friendly, and engaging digital experiences that meet user needs and business objectives.

  • Design Strategy: Ability to develop and articulate a clear design vision and strategy that aligns with product and business goals.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing, and other stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

  • Portfolio Development: A strong, demonstrable portfolio showcasing a range of high-quality design work, including interaction details, visual polish, content design, and storytelling.

  • Experimentation & Iteration: Experience in a fast-paced, experiment-driven environment, with a data-informed approach to design iteration and optimization.

  • Business Acumen: Understanding of how design decisions impact business metrics, particularly in a consumer-facing, revenue-generating context.

Preferred Skills:

  • User Research: Experience conducting user research to gather insights and inform design decisions.

  • Prototyping & Interaction Design: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to test and communicate design concepts.

  • Visual Design: A keen eye for visual aesthetics and the ability to create polished, on-brand interfaces.

  • Data-Driven Design: Skill in leveraging data and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

  • Stakeholder Management: Experience presenting to and influencing executive-level stakeholders.

  • Content Design: Ability to craft clear, concise, and effective copy that guides users and enhances the overall experience.

  • Startup Environment Acumen: Deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within a fast-growing startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "venture-funded, private startup" and "in-house working on direct-to-consumer products" is critical. Candidates should highlight experience that demonstrates their ability to thrive in such environments, where agility, direct impact, and business-oriented design thinking are paramount. The requirement for a strong portfolio that includes "interaction details, storytelling, visual polish, and content design" suggests a need for a well-rounded designer capable of executing across multiple facets of the product experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase a minimum of 5 years of product design work, with a clear emphasis on direct-to-consumer (DTC) products and experience within a venture-funded startup.

  • Include detailed case studies that demonstrate your ability to move quickly and produce high-quality work, covering:

    • Interaction Details: Clearly articulate the user flows, micro-interactions, and overall user journey.
    • Storytelling: Present the problem, your process, the solution, and the measurable outcomes in a compelling narrative.
    • Visual Polish: Demonstrate a strong understanding of visual design principles and their application in creating a polished and professional user interface.
    • Content Design: Illustrate how you’ve used copy and microcopy to guide users, improve clarity, and enhance the overall experience.
  • Provide examples of how your design decisions have demonstrably improved user experience and positively impacted business metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement, customer satisfaction).

Process Documentation:

  • Be prepared to discuss your design process, including how you adapt it to different project needs and constraints (e.g., knowing "when to use the design process and when to shortcut it").

  • Articulate how you leverage user research, data analysis, and A/B testing to inform design decisions and measure their effectiveness.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to manage design projects within cross-functional pods (PM, Eng) and effectively communicate design rationale and outcomes to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific and lean towards demonstrating practical application and impact. Candidates should focus on case studies that highlight their ability to not only design beautiful interfaces but also to drive tangible business results in a fast-paced, iterative setting. The emphasis on "storytelling" and "business impact measurement" suggests interviewers will be looking for clear, data-supported narratives about how their design work contributed to company goals, especially revenue.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and the location in Bangalore, India, a competitive salary range would typically fall between ₹15,00,000 and ₹30,00,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for experienced product designers in major tech hubs in India, considering the company's venture-backed status and its focus on technology innovation in the Insurtech sector. The exact compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skill set, and performance during the interview process.

Benefits:

  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

  • Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays to ensure work-life balance.

  • Stock Options/Equity: Potential for participation in company equity, common in venture-funded startups, offering long-term financial upside.

  • Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including access to training, workshops, conferences, and potentially tuition reimbursement for relevant courses.

  • Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work remotely and from the office, promoting a balanced work environment.

  • Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on employee well-being, such as gym memberships, mental health support, or wellness stipends.

  • Retirement Savings Plan: Contributions towards a provident fund or similar retirement savings scheme as per Indian regulations.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, aligning with full-time employment. However, given the startup environment and the nature of design work, there may be flexibility required to meet project deadlines and accommodate collaboration across different time zones, though the primary focus is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for Bangalore, India, for a Senior Product Designer role with 5-10 years of experience in a tech/startup environment. It's crucial for candidates to research current market rates for similar roles in Bangalore to ensure they have realistic expectations. The benefits listed are typical for tech companies in India, especially those with venture backing, and emphasize professional growth and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurtech (Insurance Technology), Financial Services, Technology. Ethos Life operates at the intersection of these sectors, leveraging technology and data science to disrupt the traditional life insurance market. This means a culture that values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a modern approach to a historically conservative industry.

Company Size: Ethos Life is described as scaling quickly and has been recognized on BuiltIn's Top 100 Midsize Companies list. This suggests a company that has moved past the early startup phase and is now in a growth-stage, likely employing several hundred individuals across various departments. This size offers both the agility of a startup and the structure of a more established organization, providing opportunities for impact and career progression.

Founded: Ethos Life was founded with the mission to make life insurance more accessible and easier to obtain. While the exact founding year isn't provided, its investor list (including prominent VCs and notable individuals) and its recognition on industry lists indicate it's a relatively established, well-funded company that has achieved significant traction and is in a phase of rapid expansion.

Team Structure:

  • Cross-functional Pods: The design team operates within cross-functional pods, each comprising a Product Manager, Engineers, and a Designer, focusing on specific product areas. This structure fosters close collaboration and shared ownership of product outcomes.

  • Design Team: Designers are part of a broader "consumer products design team," which suggests a community of practice where designers can share knowledge, receive feedback, and collectively elevate the design standard across the company.

  • Reporting: While not explicitly detailed, the Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, with close interaction and collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their pod.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven & Experimentation: Ethos Life heavily relies on "deep technology and data science," "predictive analytics," and a "high-velocity, experiment-driven environment." This means design decisions are expected to be informed by data, A/B testing, and measurable impact.

  • Lean & Agile Principles: The emphasis on "fast and deliberate improvements," "fast-moving startup within a startup," and knowing "when to shortcut" the design process suggests an agile and lean methodology where efficiency and rapid iteration are key.

  • User-Centricity: Despite the data-driven approach, the core mission is to make life insurance easier for families, indicating a strong underlying commitment to user needs and a positive user experience.

Company Website: https://www.ethoslife.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and funding status are key indicators for operations professionals. The Insurtech space is rapidly evolving, and Ethos's success points to a strong operational foundation. The emphasis on data science and predictive analytics suggests that roles within operations, even design, will require a data-informed mindset and comfort with technology. The hybrid model and mid-size company structure offer a balance of flexibility and opportunity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior Product Designer," indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires a significant level of autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to lead design initiatives within a specific product area. It's a step beyond individual contribution, involving influencing product direction and mentoring others implicitly through example.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will work within a cross-functional pod, collaborating closely with a Product Manager and Engineering team. They will likely report to a Design Manager or Head of Design, who oversees the broader design function and provides strategic guidance and career development support. This structure allows for both deep product focus and broader organizational alignment.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on revenue generation. By optimizing the core product funnel and "Term Life" experiences, the designer's work will directly influence conversion rates, customer acquisition, and overall business growth. The emphasis on measuring "business impact" and contributing to "revenue growth" means this role is integral to Ethos's operational success.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead role, managing a pod or a specific product area, and taking on more strategic product vision responsibilities.

  • Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of consumer product design, such as conversion optimization, user onboarding, or complex financial product user flows.

  • Mentorship: As a senior member, there's an implicit opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to building a strong design culture and practice within Ethos.

  • Broader Product Exposure: While focused on the "Term Life" team, participation in the broader consumer products design team offers exposure to other product areas and strategic initiatives, expanding the designer's overall product understanding and influence.

  • Career Advancement in Insurtech: Gaining deep experience in a rapidly growing Insurtech company like Ethos can open doors to leadership roles within the evolving FinTech and Insurtech sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, understanding the career trajectory is key. This Senior role offers a clear path towards leadership and specialization within a high-growth sector. The emphasis on measurable business impact means that career progression will likely be tied to demonstrable contributions to revenue and operational efficiency through design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job listing specifies "#LI-Hybrid," indicating a hybrid work arrangement. This means employees are expected to work some days from the office and some days remotely. The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Bangalore, India. Ethos Life is a US-based company with global operations, so while this role is based in Bangalore, there will be significant collaboration with teams in other locations, particularly the US.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and potentially standing desks or flexible work areas to support team interaction and different work styles.

  • Technology & Tools: Employees will have access to the necessary technology and design tools required for their roles, including high-performance workstations and software licenses.

  • Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for structured in-office days dedicated to team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional collaboration, while remote days offer focused work time.

Work Schedule: The standard work week is likely 5 days, with approximately 40 hours. However, the hybrid nature and the demands of a fast-paced tech environment may necessitate some flexibility. The focus is on delivering results and meeting project milestones, allowing for some autonomy in managing one's schedule within the hybrid framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key aspect for many operations professionals. Understanding that this role involves a mix of in-office and remote work, with potential collaboration across different time zones, is important for setting expectations. The Bangalore location places it within a major tech hub in India, offering access to talent and resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  1. Application Submission: Submit your resume and portfolio through the Greenhouse portal.

  2. Recruiter Screen: An initial conversation with a recruiter to assess overall fit, experience, and interest in the role and Ethos Life.

  3. Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the Hiring Manager (likely a Design Lead or Head of Design) focusing on your experience, design philosophy, and specific contributions to past projects.

  4. Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: This is a critical stage. You will likely be asked to present 2-3 case studies from your portfolio, focusing on your process, decision-making, and measurable impact. Alternatively, a design challenge may be assigned to assess your problem-solving skills and design approach in a specific scenario relevant to Ethos's products.

  5. Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders from your pod or related teams to assess collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.

  6. Executive/Final Interview: A final conversation, possibly with a senior leader or executive, to discuss your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit within Ethos Life.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent your skills in DTC product design, startup environments, and measurable business impact.

  • Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and process, the design decisions you made and why, the solutions you developed, and most importantly, the quantifiable results and business impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

  • Highlight Process & Iteration: Show how you adapted your process, handled constraints, incorporated feedback, and iterated based on data or user testing. Emphasize your ability to be efficient and make deliberate improvements.

  • Demonstrate Business Acumen: Clearly link your design solutions to business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced drop-off, improved user satisfaction scores). Quantify these impacts whenever possible.

  • Showcase Visual & Interaction Polish: Ensure your presented work is visually compelling and that you can articulate the nuances of interaction design and user flow.

Challenge Preparation:

  • If a design challenge is given, understand the specific problem statement thoroughly.

  • Focus on your thought process and how you would approach the problem, even if you don't complete the entire design.

  • Be prepared to articulate your assumptions, research methods (even if hypothetical), and potential solutions, justifying your choices with user-centric and business logic.

  • Practice presenting your work concisely and clearly, managing your time effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior role emphasizes not just design skill but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and business impact. The portfolio review is paramount, and candidates should prepare to dissect their work and present it as compelling case studies that demonstrate their value proposition to Ethos Life, particularly in driving revenue through design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), and InVision or similar for prototyping and collaboration. Figma is often preferred in fast-paced environments for its real-time collaboration features.

  • User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Typeform).

  • Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with project management and communication tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack, and Google Workspace.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Web Analytics: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo to track user behavior, analyze funnels, and measure the impact of design changes.

  • A/B Testing Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like Optimizely, VWO (Visual Website Optimizer), or built-in experimentation tools to design, run, and analyze A/B tests.

CRM & Automation:

  • While not a primary responsibility for a designer, understanding the basics of CRM systems (like Salesforce, if used by Ethos) and marketing automation platforms can provide context for user journeys and data flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily design-focused, an understanding of analytics and experimentation tools is crucial. The emphasis on "data-driven design" and "experiment-driven environment" means that designers are expected to not only create but also measure the impact of their work. Familiarity with tools that facilitate this measurement and iteration is highly valuable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering measurable results and contributing directly to the company's success, particularly in revenue growth and customer acquisition.

  • Data-Informed: Decisions are guided by data, analytics, and rigorous experimentation, rather than solely by intuition.

  • Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of customers, making complex processes like life insurance accessible and user-friendly.

  • Innovation & Agility: A culture that embraces new ideas, encourages experimentation, and can adapt quickly to market changes and business needs.

  • Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close teamwork across functions to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Partnership: Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers in pods, fostering a shared sense of ownership and rapid feedback loops.

  • Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous feedback, both within the design team and with cross-functional partners, to refine designs and improve outcomes.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging designers to share insights, best practices, and learnings across the broader design team to elevate collective skills and standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Ethos Life's values is key for candidates to assess cultural fit and demonstrate alignment during interviews. The emphasis on "impact-driven" and "data-informed" aligns perfectly with the expectations for operations professionals who are focused on efficiency, measurement, and tangible business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Speed and Quality: Operating in a high-velocity startup environment requires delivering high-quality design work quickly, often under tight deadlines.

  • Translating Complexity: Simplifying the complex domain of life insurance into an intuitive and accessible digital experience for consumers.

  • Data Interpretation: Effectively leveraging complex data and experiment results to inform design decisions and drive meaningful improvements.

  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring alignment and buy-in from multiple stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.

  • "Zero-to-One" Innovation: Successfully developing and launching novel experiences within a fast-moving, startup-like setting within the larger company.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Insurtech Expertise: Gaining deep domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving Insurtech industry.

  • Advanced Analytics & Experimentation: Enhancing skills in data analysis, A/B testing, and using metrics to drive design strategy.

  • Product Strategy: Developing a stronger understanding of product strategy and how design contributes to broader business goals.

  • Leadership Skills: Opportunities to hone leadership, stakeholder management, and mentorship capabilities through senior-level responsibilities.

  • Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Working with advanced technologies and data science applications that power Ethos's unique business model.

📝 Enhancement Note: Recognizing these challenges and opportunities will help candidates prepare for discussions about their problem-solving skills and career aspirations. For operations-minded individuals, the challenges highlight areas where efficiency, strategic thinking, and data analysis are critical for success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you had to balance rapid iteration with maintaining design quality. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, trade-offs, and results.)

  • "How do you measure the success of your design work, particularly in relation to business impact and revenue growth?" (Prepare specific examples with metrics.)

  • "Walk us through a complex user journey you designed for a consumer product. What were the key pain points, and how did your design address them?" (Highlight user empathy, problem-solving, and solution design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about Ethos Life and our mission to simplify life insurance?" (Research the company's mission, values, and recent achievements.)

  • "How do you see your role contributing to Ethos's growth and operational success?" (Connect your skills to business impact and revenue.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact (with metrics).

  • Quantify: Emphasize quantifiable results. Instead of "improved user experience," say "increased conversion rate by 15%," or "reduced drop-off by 10%."

  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, mockups, and prototypes to illustrate your design solutions. Explain the "why" behind your design choices.

  • Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate how your design work directly contributed to business objectives, especially revenue and growth.

  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making rationale for every aspect of your presented work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design prowess but also strategic thinking, business acumen, and the ability to drive tangible results. Operations professionals can leverage their understanding of efficiency, metrics, and process optimization to frame their answers effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the Greenhouse job portal.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 high-impact case studies that showcase your experience in DTC products, startup environments, and measurable business outcomes. Ensure they highlight your process, problem-solving, and quantifiable results.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight keywords relevant to product design, UX, consumer products, startup experience, and data-driven decision-making. Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

  • Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your process, and demonstrating the business impact of your design work. Be ready to discuss your approach to iteration and experimentation.

  • Research Ethos Life: Familiarize yourself with Ethos's mission, products, technology, and recent achievements. Understand their customer base and the competitive Insurtech landscape to articulate your interest and potential contributions effectively.

⚠️ 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

Candidates should have at least 5 years of product design experience, with a minimum of 1 year at a venture-funded startup. They must demonstrate a strong portfolio and the ability to articulate design decisions and measure their impact.