Senior Product Designer - Xero Me

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Xero Me Company: Xero Location: Sydney, AU / Melbourne, AU Job Type: Permanent Category: Product Design / Employee Experience Design Date Posted: 2025-08-19 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design vision and execution for the Xero Me mobile application, focusing on enhancing employee adoption and satisfaction.
• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from research and ideation to prototyping and final interface design for web and mobile platforms.
• Champion design best practices, including accessibility and elegant interaction design, to create intuitive and engaging user experiences.
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with engineering, product management, and design leadership to deliver strategic product initiatives.
• Leverage user research and data analysis to inform design decisions and drive continuous improvement of the Xero Me platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a newly created position, indicating a strategic investment by Xero in the employee experience product. The emphasis on "connecting the dots" suggests a need for a designer who can synthesize user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints into cohesive and innovative solutions across different platforms. The "Xero Me" app specifically targets employee-facing functionalities like expense management, timesheets, and leave requests, positioning this role within the crucial realm of employee productivity and experience.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design leadership to define and elevate the Product Design vision for the Xero Me mobile app.
• Conduct in-depth user research, participate in research planning, and synthesize findings to understand customer needs and pain points.
• Develop comprehensive design frameworks, including wireframes, visual layouts, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
• Design for accessibility (WCAG standards) and create detailed interaction and interface specifications for iOS and Android platforms.
• Lead the exploration of innovative interaction solutions and define phased design approaches to bridge current patterns with future states.
• Work closely with product and engineering peers to ensure seamless execution of the strategic vision, balancing user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.
• Champion the value of design through presentations, workshops, and cross-functional collaboration to influence product strategy and decisions.
• Iterate on product designs based on usage patterns, user feedback, and an evolving strategic landscape, ensuring continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and hands-on execution. The need to "shape the Product Design vision" and "define the problems we're solving" points to a senior-level individual contributor who can influence direction. Emphasis on "cross-functional collaboration" with engineering and product is critical for successful product delivery in a tech environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong focus on mobile application design.
• Proven track record of successfully designing, building, and iterating on digital products based on user feedback and strategic goals.
• Experience across the entire product design lifecycle, from discovery and research to detailed UI and interaction design.

Required Skills:

• Mobile Design Expertise: Demonstrated experience designing for native iOS and/or Android applications, understanding platform-specific design patterns and constraints.
• Portfolio Excellence: A robust portfolio showcasing mobile app (native iOS/Android) case studies, clearly illustrating the design process, problem-solving, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with engineering and product management teams, influencing and being influenced by peers.
• User-Centric Design: Mastery in executing elegant interfaces and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Design Research & Testing: Experience participating in and contributing to user research, usability testing, and synthesizing data to inform design decisions.
• Prototyping Skills: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts and test user flows.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for employee-facing applications or HR tech platforms.
• Familiarity with design systems, particularly for mobile platforms (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Android Material Design).
• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to optimize user experiences.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and experience designing inclusive products.
• Facilitation skills for design thinking workshops and cross-functional brainstorming sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level (5-10 years) suggests a need for a candidate who can operate autonomously, mentor junior designers (if applicable), and contribute significantly to strategic product discussions. The portfolio requirement is paramount, with a specific emphasis on mobile case studies and collaborative elements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Mobile Case Studies: Detailed case studies focusing on native iOS and/or Android applications, showcasing end-to-end design process from problem definition to solution.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Examples: Evidence of working closely with engineering and product teams, highlighting how collaboration contributed to successful product delivery.
• Problem-Solving & Iteration: Demonstrations of how user feedback, usage data, and strategic shifts were incorporated to iterate and improve product experiences.
• Interaction & UI Design Mastery: Showcase of elegant interfaces, intuitive navigation, and well-defined interaction patterns.
• Accessibility Considerations: Examples of how accessibility was integrated into the design process and final product.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process clearly, detailing methodologies used for research, ideation, prototyping, and user testing.
• Ability to describe how design frameworks were developed and applied to solve specific product challenges.
• Understanding of how to document design specifications and hand-off assets effectively to engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary evaluation tool for this role. It should not only demonstrate visual and interaction design skills but also the candidate's ability to think strategically, collaborate effectively, and drive product improvements through a structured design process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a Senior Product Designer role in Sydney/Melbourne, Australia, and specific salary information is not provided, a competitive range can be estimated based on industry benchmarks. For a Senior UX/Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Australia, the typical annual salary range would be approximately AUD $120,000 - $170,000. This can vary based on specific experience, the exact location within the city, and the candidate's negotiation skills.

Benefits:

• Generous paid leave for personal use.
• Dedicated paid leave for physical and mental wellbeing.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health care for employees and their families.
• Health insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Income protection.
• Wellbeing and sports programs.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
• 26 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers.
• Employee Share Plan (ESP).
• Beautiful office spaces.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Career development opportunities.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time role in Australia typically involves around 35-40 hours per week. Xero's emphasis on flexible working suggests that while core hours may exist for collaboration, there's likely flexibility in start and end times.

📝 Enhancement Note: Xero offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package, reflecting a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and work-life balance. The inclusion of paid parental leave, Employee Share Plan, and flexible working are significant advantages for attracting and retaining talent in the tech industry. The estimated salary range is based on general market data for senior design roles in major Australian cities.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS), Financial Technology (FinTech). Xero is a global leader in cloud accounting software for small businesses. Company Size: Xero is a large, publicly traded company with over 4,000 employees globally. This size offers stability and significant resources while still aiming for a culture that fosters innovation and community. Founded: Xero was founded in 2006. Its mission is to make life better for small businesses.

Team Structure:

• The Employee Experience Design Team is focused on the Xero Me app, which serves employees of small businesses using Xero.
• This team works closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and other designers to deliver features and improvements.
• Collaboration is key, with designers expected to work across different product areas and contribute to the broader design community within Xero.

Methodology:

• Xero likely employs agile development methodologies, with design integrated into sprints and iterative development cycles.
• Emphasis on user-centered design, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• The company values collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to making life better for its users.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Xero's position as a major FinTech player means the company culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and focused on delivering high-quality, user-friendly solutions. The "make life better" mission extends from small business owners to their employees, highlighting the importance of the Xero Me app.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level implies significant autonomy, ownership of complex design problems, and the ability to influence product strategy and design direction. It positions the individual as a key contributor within the design team and a bridge between design, product, and engineering. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report into Design Leadership, likely a Head of Product Design or similar, and will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for the Xero Me product. The role is within the "Employee Experience Design Team." Operations Impact: This role significantly impacts the employee experience within the Xero ecosystem, aiming to improve adoption and satisfaction with the Xero Me app. This directly affects user engagement, retention, and the overall value proposition of Xero's platform for both small businesses and their employees.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership & Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design practice within Xero.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future roadmap and design strategy for the Xero Me platform and potentially other employee-facing products.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in mobile design, interaction design, accessibility, and user research within a large, established tech company.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into other product design areas within Xero or transition into design leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the "newly created position" status suggest a significant opportunity for an individual to make a mark and shape the direction of the Xero Me product's user experience. Growth is likely tied to demonstrating impact and taking on increasing levels of responsibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Xero maintains modern, well-equipped office spaces designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Expect professional, tech-forward environments. Office Location(s): The role is available in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, suggesting opportunities to work from either of these major tech hubs. Workspace Context:

• The environment will be collaborative, encouraging interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering).
• Access to design tools, research platforms, and internal Xero resources will be provided.
• The culture supports flexible working, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and individual focused work.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 35-40 per week), with flexibility in start and end times. The emphasis on collaboration means being available during core business hours for team meetings and syncs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given Xero's global presence and commitment to employee wellbeing, the work environment is expected to be supportive and conducive to high performance, with a focus on creating a positive employee experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and portfolios.
• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Discussion about your background, experience, and alignment with the role and team.
• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where you present 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio, discussing your process, challenges, and outcomes. This is a critical step.
• Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to assess collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and technical understanding.
• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with other designers or team members to evaluate cultural alignment and team dynamics.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader in Product or Design.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 mobile app case studies that best showcase your skills relevant to this role (native iOS/Android, collaboration, user research, iteration).
• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies around a clear narrative: the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact (quantify where possible).
• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with PMs and Engineers, demonstrating your communication and teamwork skills.
• Showcase Process: Detail your research methods, ideation techniques, prototyping tools, and how you incorporated feedback.
• Focus on Impact: Demonstrate how your design decisions led to tangible improvements in user adoption, satisfaction, or business metrics.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you handled challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• While no specific "challenge" is mentioned, be prepared to discuss hypothetical design problems or be asked to critique existing app interfaces (including Xero Me).
• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely.
• Be ready to discuss your approach to user research and how you translate insights into design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most crucial part of the application process. Candidates should invest significant time in polishing their case studies to clearly demonstrate their capabilities and alignment with Xero's expectations for a Senior Product Designer.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Principle, ProtoPie.
• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Mixpanel.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack.
• Design Systems: Experience with or contribution to design systems is a significant plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in analyzing user data, usage patterns, and feedback using tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or similar platforms to inform design decisions.
• Ability to interpret A/B test results and translate them into actionable design improvements.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from various touchpoints into CRM or analytics platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, is essential. Experience with user research and product analytics tools is also highly valued for a data-informed design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user needs through design.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and open communication across disciplines (design, product, engineering).
• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new design approaches.
• Excellence: Striving for high-quality, polished, and impactful design solutions.
• Data-Informed: Using data and user feedback to guide design decisions and measure success.
• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering designs that demonstrably improve the user experience and business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Expected to be proactive in collaborating with Product Managers to define requirements and strategy, and with Engineers to ensure faithful implementation of designs.
• Will likely participate in design critiques, team workshops, and cross-functional planning meetings.
• Openness to feedback and a willingness to iterate based on input from various stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Xero's culture likely emphasizes a supportive environment where designers can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and collaborate effectively to build great products. The values reflect a modern, agile tech company.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively balancing the needs of employees (users), small business owners (customers), and Xero's business objectives.
• Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across web and mobile platforms, adhering to both Xero's design system and native mobile patterns.
• User Adoption: Driving adoption and satisfaction for employee-centric features within a broad user base.
• Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding and influencing within a large company structure to gain buy-in for design initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Mobile Design: Deepening expertise in native iOS and Android design patterns and best practices.
• Accessibility Specialization: Gaining advanced skills in designing for inclusivity and accessibility.
• Strategic Product Thinking: Developing a stronger understanding of product strategy and contributing to roadmap planning.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from and potentially mentor other designers, contributing to the growth of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the challenge of working on a product with direct employee impact within a successful SaaS company, providing ample opportunity for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for the Xero Me app, considering user adoption and employee satisfaction?"
• "Describe a time you had to balance competing priorities from product, engineering, and users. How did you resolve it?"
• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive for all users?"
• "Walk me through your process for conducting user research and how you translate insights into actionable design changes."
• "How do you stay updated on the latest mobile design trends and technologies?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Xero and our mission?"
• "Why are you interested in designing for employee experience?"
• "How do you see yourself contributing to Xero's design culture?"
• "Describe your ideal work environment and team collaboration style."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse presenting your case studies, ensuring clarity, conciseness, and a compelling story.
• Anticipate Questions: Prepare answers for common questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and challenges faced.
• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the results of your work using metrics and user feedback where possible.
• Showcase Collaboration: Emphasize your role within teams and how you partnered with others.
• Be Enthusiastic: Show genuine passion for design and for the opportunity at Xero.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication and collaboration capabilities. Understanding Xero's mission and the specifics of the Xero Me app will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co/xero.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features 2-3 strong mobile app case studies that align with the job requirements, highlighting collaboration and iterative design.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant experience in mobile design, user research, cross-functional collaboration, and the full design process, using keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, preparing answers for common behavioral and situational interview questions, and researching Xero and the Xero Me app.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Xero's products, mission, and company culture, paying special attention to their approach to employee experience and design.

⚠️ 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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