Senior Product Designer - Design System

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Design System

Company: Serko Ltd

Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-02-12

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid potential implied by location and company description)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the evolution and maintenance of a comprehensive Design System, establishing foundational patterns, UI components, and essential documentation to empower product teams.

• Collaborate closely with a dedicated Design System team, comprising skilled front-end engineers and designers, to ensure a cohesive and scalable design language across enterprise products.

• Act as a key contributor in shaping and refining a robust Figma component library, from basic elements to intricate, reusable components.

• Facilitate the adoption and effective utilization of the Design System by providing crucial support, training, guidance, and feedback to other product designers and teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" and the company offers remote work, the specific mention of an "On-site" work arrangement and the emphasis on collaboration within a "dedicated Design System team" suggests a hybrid model or a strong preference for in-office presence for core team interactions in Auckland. The "foundational patterns, UI components, tools, and documentation" indicate a strategic role focused on the core infrastructure of product design for Serko's enterprise solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Create and refine foundational design components, interaction patterns, and comprehensive documentation to enable other designers to produce high-quality work efficiently.

• Shape, maintain, and evolve a robust and structured Figma library, encompassing everything from basic design elements to complex, multi-state components.

• Provide essential support, training, guidance, and constructive feedback to product design teams and other stakeholders to foster consistent design practices.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional product designers to ensure a unified and cohesive user experience across all Serko enterprise products.

• Champion the value and adoption of the Design System across the wider organization through clear communication and engaging demonstrations.

• Translate business requirements and user needs into scalable and technically feasible design solutions within the established Design System framework.

• Stay abreast of design system best practices, emerging trends, and new technologies to continuously improve Serko's design infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution within a specialized Design System team. The emphasis on "foundational components," "interaction patterns," and "documentation" points to a need for deep understanding of design system architecture and its practical application. The requirement to "empower other designers" and "collaborate with other product designers" underscores the importance of strong interpersonal and communication skills, crucial for a senior role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating foundational design expertise is paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial but not strictly required if equivalent practical experience and a compelling portfolio are presented.

Experience: Proven project and work experience in developing, building, and maintaining design systems is essential. A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in product design, with a significant focus on design systems, is expected.

Required Skills:

• Design Systems Expertise: Proven experience in creating, evolving, and maintaining comprehensive design systems.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced user-level proficiency with Figma, including extensive experience with component libraries, variants, auto-layout, and prototyping features.

• Foundational Design Principles: Deep understanding and practical application of typography, color theory, layout systems, and interaction design principles.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to thrive in a collaborative team environment and work effectively with engineers, product managers, and other designers.

• Technical Understanding: Basic understanding of front-end coding principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and technical constraints across web, iOS, and Android platforms.

• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, provide feedback, and liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Time Management & Prioritization: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize based on impact and value, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Adaptability: Comfort and resilience in navigating rapid change and dynamic environments inherent in high-growth tech companies.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design tokens and their implementation within a design system.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and their integration into component design.

• Experience in conducting design critiques and providing actionable feedback to design teams.

• Basic understanding of user research methodologies and how they inform design system development.

• Experience in creating and maintaining design system documentation sites (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "proven project and work experience in design systems" and "Figma power-user" indicates a highly specialized role. The "basic understanding of front-end coding" suggests the candidate needs to bridge the gap between design and engineering, ensuring feasibility and consistency. The "portfolio that demonstrates exemplary foundational design skills" is critical, as it will be the primary evaluation tool for design expertise beyond technical skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase at least two comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in building, scaling, or maintaining a design system. These should illustrate your process from initial concept to final implementation and impact.

• Component Library Examples: Include specific examples of complex UI components you have designed and documented, demonstrating your ability to create reusable, scalable, and accessible elements within Figma.

• Foundational Design Examples: Highlight your mastery of core design principles through examples of typography scales, color palettes, grid systems, and interaction patterns you have developed.

• Documentation Samples: Provide examples of design system documentation you have created, showcasing clarity, conciseness, and adherence to best practices for internal and external use.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Illustrate instances where you collaborated with engineering teams to ensure the successful implementation of design system components, detailing the challenges and solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your ability to design and optimize workflows for the creation, iteration, and maintenance of design system assets, ensuring efficiency and scalability.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase your understanding of how design system components are implemented by engineering teams and any experience you have with automation tools or processes that streamline this.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Explain how you would measure the impact and performance of a design system, including metrics for adoption, consistency, and efficiency improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer focused on Design Systems, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond visual design to demonstrate a deep understanding of system thinking, component architecture, documentation strategy, and cross-functional collaboration. Applicants should be prepared to articulate the "why" behind their design decisions and the measurable impact of their work on product development velocity and user experience consistency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a high-cost-of-living city like Auckland, New Zealand, the estimated salary range is NZD $120,000 - $160,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the specialized nature of design system work, the seniority of the role, and the competitive tech market in New Zealand.

Benefits:

• Competitive Base Salary: A strong remuneration package reflecting your experience and contribution.

• KiwiSaver: Employee contribution matched by Serko up to 3% of salary, providing a significant boost to retirement savings.

• Life Insurance: Comprehensive life insurance coverage for peace of mind.

• Health & Wellbeing:

  • Discounted Southern Cross Health Insurance for you and potentially your family.
  • Access to a confidential support, guidance, and counselling service for personal and professional well-being.
  • Wellbeing and voluntary leave options to support work-life balance.
  • Free annual flu shots to promote health.

• Professional Development:

  • Access to a dedicated learning & development platform with a committed budget.

  • Opportunities to own your career pathways and pursue specialized training or certifications. Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered to accommodate individual work styles and peak productivity periods, aligning with the dynamic environment of a high-growth tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on publicly available data for similar roles in Auckland, New Zealand. It is crucial for candidates to verify the exact salary with Serko Ltd during the interview process. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on financial security (KiwiSaver, life insurance), health and well-being, and professional growth, which are attractive to senior talent in the tech industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Global business travel and expense technology (SaaS). Serko operates within a rapidly evolving FinTech and TravelTech landscape, driven by innovation and a focus on user experience for business travelers and administrators.

Company Size: Mid-size, with a global presence. The provided LinkedIn data suggests a company size that allows for specialized teams like Design Systems while maintaining agility and a strong sense of community. This size often balances established processes with the flexibility of a growing organization.

Founded: Serko was founded in 2002, indicating a mature company with a solid track record in the industry, now focused on a new chapter for its enterprise products.

Team Structure:

• Design System Team: A dedicated, specialized team comprising passionate and highly skilled front-end engineers and designers. This suggests a structured approach to design system development and maintenance, fostering deep expertise.

• Reporting: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Director of Product, with close collaboration across product management and engineering leadership.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with other product designers, front-end engineers, product managers, and potentially marketing or brand teams to ensure consistent application and adoption of the design system.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Serko emphasizes creating a place where people can "do their best work" and deliver "innovative and efficient results," implying a culture that values data insights to inform design and product decisions.

• Continuous Improvement: The company culture encourages continuous improvement and impact-making, suggesting iterative design processes and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Agile Development: Working in a high-growth tech company typically involves agile methodologies, requiring adaptability and quick iteration cycles for design and development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Serko's focus on "cutting-edge tech platform in global business travel & expense technology" positions it as an innovator in a niche but critical market. The company's history (founded in 2002) suggests stability, while its current pursuit of a "new and exciting chapter for our enterprise products" indicates a forward-looking and growth-oriented strategy. The emphasis on diversity and inclusion ("we embrace the richness of diversity, showing up authentically") points to an inclusive work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, focusing on the critical area of Design Systems. It signifies a mid-to-senior level position requiring significant experience, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence design practices across the organization. The responsibilities involve not just execution but also mentorship and advocacy for design system principles.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or Director of Product. They will work within a dedicated Design System team but will also collaborate extensively with other product teams, product managers, and front-end engineers across the organization.

Operations Impact: The Design System acts as the backbone for all product development at Serko. This role's impact is significant, as a well-maintained and adopted Design System directly influences:

• Development Velocity: Faster product development cycles by providing pre-built, tested components.

• Product Consistency: A unified and predictable user experience across all Serko products.

• Design Efficiency: Reduced design debt and increased productivity for designers.

• Brand Cohesion: Stronger brand identity and recognition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design System Lead or Manager role, overseeing the strategy and execution of the entire design system.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design tokens, accessibility, component architecture, or design system tooling.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Transition into broader product design leadership roles, influencing product strategy and team development.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team's capabilities.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the broader design community through talks, articles, or open-source contributions related to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Product Designer role is a critical stepping stone for aspiring design leaders. The focus on a Design System is a high-demand specialization within the product design field, offering clear pathways for career advancement. The impact of this role is organizational-wide, providing a strong foundation for future leadership opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Serko operates with a hybrid work model. While remote work is supported, the emphasis on a "dedicated Design System team" and collaborative activities suggests a preference for in-office presence for core team interactions and brainstorming sessions in Auckland.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is Auckland, New Zealand. Serko also has offices in other locations, supporting a global footprint, but this specific role is tied to the Auckland hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes collaborative spaces designed for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions, facilitating close interaction with the Design System team and other product stakeholders.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (primarily Figma), collaboration platforms, and potentially internal design system documentation sites.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for face-to-face or structured virtual interactions with fellow designers, engineers, and product managers, fostering a strong sense of team and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, but Serko promotes flexibility. This allows operations professionals to manage their time effectively, balancing focused design work with collaborative meetings and personal commitments, crucial for maintaining high levels of productivity and well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model and the emphasis on collaboration within a dedicated team indicate an environment that values both focused individual work and dynamic team interaction. The Auckland office serves as the primary hub for this role, offering a blend of professional workspace and opportunities for in-person team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, focusing on your design system experience, foundational design skills, and collaborative approach. Expect in-depth questions about your process, decision-making, and impact.

• Technical/Design Challenge: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or a take-home challenge related to design systems, component design, or problem-solving within a design system context.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (designers, engineers) and key stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers) to assess cultural fit, communication style, and collaboration capabilities.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Design, Director of Product) to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and final fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Design System Maturity: Clearly demonstrate your journey in building, scaling, or maintaining design systems. Highlight challenges overcome and impact achieved.

• Detail Foundational Skills: Dedicate sections to your foundational design expertise (typography, color, layout, interaction) and how these principles inform your design system work.

• Figma Mastery: Provide examples of your Figma proficiency, showcasing complex component structures, variants, and effective library organization.

• Process & Rationale: Explain your design process, the rationale behind your decisions, and how you collaborated with engineering to ensure feasibility and consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the positive impact of your design system contributions (e.g., increased design/dev velocity, improved consistency scores, adoption rates).

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio pieces as stories that highlight problems, your solutions, and the outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Design System Principles: Be ready to discuss core design system concepts, best practices for component design, and the lifecycle of a design system.

• Figma Practice: Ensure you are comfortable with advanced Figma features that would be relevant for creating and managing design system components.

• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if explaining your design decisions to a mixed audience of designers and engineers.

• Problem-Solving Approach: Be prepared to analyze a given problem and propose solutions that align with design system principles and organizational goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly evaluate a candidate's design system expertise, foundational design skills, collaboration abilities, and cultural fit. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is the most critical element for success in this role's application process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design system creation, component management, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is a must.

• Design System Platforms: Tools like Storybook, Zeroheight, or similar for documenting and showcasing the design system components and guidelines.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities, or potentially other tools for more complex interaction simulations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards for reporting on design system adoption and impact.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for gathering and analyzing user feedback to identify areas for design system improvement.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, sprints, and team workflows.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication and team coordination.

• Version Control Systems: While primarily for code, an understanding of how design systems integrate with version control (e.g., Git) might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable for this role. Familiarity with design system documentation platforms is also highly valued. The ability to understand and leverage product analytics to inform design system decisions is a key differentiator for a senior role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of business travelers and expense managers, ensuring the design system supports intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Valuing diverse perspectives and working collaboratively across teams to build cohesive solutions. Serko's stated commitment to diversity ("showing up authentically") is a key cultural aspect.

• Innovation & Efficiency: Driving forward with innovative solutions while maintaining a strong focus on efficiency and scalability through the design system.

• Ownership & Impact: Encouraging individuals to take ownership of their work and strive to make a significant impact on the company's products and success.

• Continuous Learning: A culture that supports ongoing professional development and staying ahead of industry trends.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A highly collaborative approach, working closely with front-end engineers to ensure design feasibility and smooth implementation, and with product managers to align design system development with product strategy.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: An open feedback culture where constructive criticism is welcomed and used to refine design system components and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and resources within the design and engineering teams to foster collective growth and maintain a high standard of work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Serko's emphasis on diversity, innovation, and impact suggests a dynamic and forward-thinking work environment. The collaborative nature of design system work means that strong interpersonal skills and a willingness to engage with different teams are crucial for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling the Design System: Ensuring the design system remains scalable, maintainable, and relevant as Serko's product suite and user base grow.

• Driving Adoption: Overcoming resistance to change and encouraging widespread adoption of the design system across various product teams with potentially differing priorities.

• Balancing Consistency and Flexibility: Finding the right balance between enforcing strict design consistency and allowing teams the flexibility they need to innovate and meet specific user needs.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously updating the design system to align with evolving front-end technologies and platform best practices (web, iOS, Android).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced design system architecture, design tokens, accessibility, and governance models.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially manage a design system team.

• Industry Engagement: Participating in design conferences, workshops, and online communities focused on design systems and product design to stay current and network.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining deeper insights into front-end development, product management, and user research through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to mature design system initiatives within growing companies. Successfully navigating these challenges presents significant opportunities for professional growth and leadership development in a specialized and high-demand area of product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on building and maintaining a design system. What are the key pillars of a successful system?" (Focus on your approach to foundational elements, governance, documentation, and evolution.)

• "How do you balance the need for consistency with the need for flexibility when designing components for a large product suite?" (Prepare examples of how you've managed this trade-off.)

• "Walk us through a complex UI component you designed for a design system. What were the technical constraints, how did you ensure reusability, and what was the user impact?" (Be ready to detail your Figma process and rationale.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Serko and our mission in the business travel and expense technology space?" (Research Serko's products, values, and recent news.)

• "How do you contribute to an inclusive and collaborative team environment, given Serko's commitment to diversity?" (Share examples of your collaborative working style and how you value diverse input.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with an overview of your role and contribution to the design system. Use a clear problem-solution-outcome structure for each case study.

• Highlight Design System Specifics: Emphasize your work on foundational patterns, components, documentation, and Figma library management.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively, including well-annotated Figma screens, component examples, and documentation snippets.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics clearly to demonstrate the value and ROI of your design system work (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design process, technical considerations, and collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of design system principles, practical application through your portfolio, and strong collaborative and communication skills. Be ready to articulate your strategic thinking and the tangible impact of your work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer - Design System position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your design system experience, with detailed case studies showcasing your process, foundational design skills, and Figma proficiency. Tailor your presentation to highlight how your skills align with Serko's enterprise product goals.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems. Use keywords from the job description such as "Design Systems," "Figma," "foundational patterns," "UI components," "collaboration," and "front-end understanding." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your design rationale, and discussing your experience with design system challenges. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and advocacy.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Serko Ltd, its products, industry, and company culture. Understand their mission and how your role as a Senior Product Designer contributes to their strategic objectives in enterprise product development.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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