Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Carma

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Permanent - Full Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: April 24, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead end-to-end User Experience (UX) design for web and mobile platforms, covering the entire customer lifecycle from initial discovery to final purchase.

• Drive user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis, leveraging AI design tools to uncover insights and optimize user flows.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems that ensure brand consistency and a cohesive user experience across all digital touchpoints.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and business stakeholders to influence product strategy and deliver exceptional, human-centered digital products within the automotive industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is Carma's first in-house UX design position, indicating a significant opportunity to shape the company's design philosophy, processes, and standards. The emphasis on "design mischief" suggests a culture that encourages experimentation and creative problem-solving.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete UX design process for Carma's digital platforms, encompassing user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.

• Conduct and synthesize user research, usability testing, and competitor analysis to inform design decisions and identify areas for improvement.

• Map and design comprehensive customer journeys, meticulously detailing all touchpoints, edge cases, and potential "what if" scenarios for a seamless user experience.

• Build, manage, and evolve a robust design system to ensure visual consistency, scalability, and maintainability of Carma's digital products.

• Create interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts, gather feedback, and build stakeholder alignment.

• Partner closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring design integrity and successful implementation.

• Experiment with and integrate emerging AI design tools and workflows to enhance design efficiency, creativity, and team capabilities.

• Translate complex problems into elegant and intuitive user interfaces that align with business objectives and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a hands-on role with significant ownership and impact. The expectation to "play with emerging AI design tools" suggests a forward-thinking approach and a need for a candidate who is proactive in exploring new technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in designing customer-facing digital products, with a preference for B2C, eCommerce, FinTech, or similar fast-paced environments.

• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end UX design, from concept to polished UI.

• Proven track record of building and maintaining design systems.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX design principles, including interaction design, information architecture, and visual design craft.

• Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and design system development.

• Strong prototyping skills to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Experience in user research methodologies and translating insights into actionable design improvements.

• Ability to articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders, avoiding jargon.

• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to proactively shape and define project briefs.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a focus on team outcomes over individual ownership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the automotive industry or a related B2C environment.

• Familiarity with AI tools beyond design, such as data analysis or predictive modeling.

• Experience working in a startup or fast-growing company environment.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Figma is basically your playground" and the need to "build and evolve design systems that actually get used" points to a practical, hands-on approach required for this role. The preference for candidates comfortable with ambiguity suggests a need for self-starters who can navigate evolving project landscapes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, demonstrating problem-solving skills across the full product lifecycle.

• In-depth case studies detailing user research methodologies, design challenges, process, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Examples of interaction design, information architecture, and visual design craft for complex digital products.

• Demonstrated experience in building, scaling, and maintaining design systems, with clear examples of components and guidelines.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process followed, including problem definition, research, ideation, iteration, and final solution.

• Evidence of how user research and testing insights were integrated into the design process to drive user-centered decisions.

• Documentation or examples of how design systems were implemented and maintained to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Demonstration of how designs were translated into high-fidelity UI and handed off to engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is the first in-house UX role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase design skills but also the ability to establish and champion design processes and systems within the organization. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to setting design standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Sydney, Australia, the estimated salary range is AUD $130,000 - $180,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks, cost of living in Sydney, and the seniority of the role.

Benefits:

• Discounts on Carma cars, parts, and NRMA cover, providing significant savings for employees.

• On-site amenities including fresh coffee and a snack stash, contributing to a comfortable and productive work environment.

• Social events such as Friday rooftop drinks, fostering team camaraderie and a positive company culture.

• Opportunity to be the first in-house UX Designer, offering significant impact and potential for career growth.

• Exposure to innovative AI design tools and workflows.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with an on-site work arrangement. While a standard full-time schedule is expected, the dynamic nature of a growing company may offer some flexibility in approach, though on-site presence is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from reputable Australian salary aggregators and industry surveys for UX Design roles in Sydney. The benefits package is particularly strong for a car company, offering tangible value to employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive (Digital Pre-owned Car Dealership)

Company Size: Growing team, indicated by the creation of the first in-house UX role. Likely scaling from startup phase.

Founded: Not specified, but Carma is positioned as a disruptor in the Australian automotive industry.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer reports to Kat Chen within the Product team.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers and Engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on a human-centered design approach, aiming for simple, seamless, and "magical" customer experiences.

• Commitment to innovation and disruption within the automotive sector.

• Utilizes AI tools to enhance design thinking and efficiency.

• Values collaboration, curiosity, experimentation, and a "design mischief" approach.

• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and safe work practices.

Company Website: https://carma.com.au

📝 Enhancement Note: Carma aims to transform the traditional car buying experience into a modern, digital, and hassle-free process. The company culture appears to be dynamic, innovative, and people-focused, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and employee well-being.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer, signifying a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. It carries significant responsibility for defining and executing the user experience strategy for key digital products.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will report directly to Kat Chen, likely a Head of Product or similar leadership role. This direct reporting line offers visibility and opportunity for direct mentorship and influence.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer will have a direct and measurable impact on Carma's success by:

• Enhancing the customer journey, leading to increased conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and loyalty.

• Reducing friction in the car buying and selling process, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing support costs.

• Establishing a strong brand identity and user experience that differentiates Carma in a competitive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: As the first in-house UX designer, there is a clear path to becoming the lead or manager of UX as the team grows.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, AI in design, or user research methodologies.

• Impact: Direct influence on a disruptive product in a large industry, offering significant career satisfaction and resume-building experience.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI design tools and contribute to defining new ways of working.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "first ever Senior UX Designer" status is a significant growth opportunity. Candidates should view this as a chance to build and shape the UX function from the ground up, potentially leading to future leadership roles and defining the company's design trajectory.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Carma operates an open-plan office environment, designed to foster collaboration and a dynamic work atmosphere.

Office Location(s): Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Specific details on office accessibility or amenities beyond general descriptions are not provided but are implied to be conducive to a positive work experience.

Workspace Context:

• The open-plan setup encourages spontaneous collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst team members.

• Access to necessary tools and technology, including Figma and emerging AI design platforms, is implied.

• Opportunities for interaction with Product, Engineering, and other business functions are integral to the role.

• On-site amenities like coffee and snacks aim to create a comfortable and engaging workspace.

Work Schedule: The role is Full-Time, typically implying around 40 hours per week. While the environment is dynamic, the on-site nature suggests a structured workday, though the company's startup culture may allow for a degree of flexibility in how work is managed, provided objectives are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an open-plan office and "collaboration crew" indicates a desire for a highly interactive and team-oriented environment. Candidates should be comfortable with this style of working and the potential for frequent cross-functional communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you will present your work, likely focusing on 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate your UX thinking, process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, design challenges, and how you leveraged tools like Figma.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with Kat Chen (hiring manager) and potentially members of the Product and Engineering teams to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Potential Design Challenge: A practical exercise, possibly a take-home task or an in-person whiteboard session, evaluating your problem-solving abilities and design approach to a specific problem.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Impact: Focus on quantifiable results and the business impact of your design decisions. Use metrics where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time).

• Show Your Process: Clearly articulate your design process, including research methods, ideation phases, iterative testing, and how you handled constraints and feedback.

• Showcase Figma & Design Systems: Provide specific examples of your work in Figma, including complex prototypes and your experience in building or contributing to design systems.

• Address AI Integration: If you have experience or compelling ideas about using AI in design, be ready to discuss them, especially in the context of speeding up thinking and spotting patterns.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that highlight the problem, your role, your solutions, and the outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to think aloud and articulate your design process during any live challenges.

• Practice explaining complex design decisions concisely and clearly, avoiding jargon.

• Research Carma's current website and app to understand their existing UX and identify potential areas for improvement from a user-centered perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: As the first in-house UX role, the interview process will likely be thorough, focusing on not just design craft but also the candidate's ability to establish and lead UX practices. The portfolio presentation is a critical component.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and design system development. Proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely includes Figma's prototyping capabilities, potentially supplemented by tools like ProtoPie or similar for more advanced interactions.

• AI Design Tools: The role explicitly mentions exploring and using AI tools to speed up thinking, spot patterns, and uncover solutions. Candidates should be open to and ideally have experience with tools like Uizard, Galileo, Microsoft Designer, or similar emerging platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding how UX designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation workflows is advantageous, though not a primary requirement for this specific role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI design tools is a key differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their understanding of and willingness to experiment with these technologies within a UX design context. Figma proficiency is non-negotiable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to challenge the status quo in the automotive industry and create novel digital experiences.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and collective problem-solving across departments.

• Customer-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving customer needs to create seamless and enjoyable journeys.

• Curiosity & Experimentation: A culture that encourages asking questions, testing new ideas, and embracing "design mischief."

• Efficiency & Craft: Striving for high-quality design ("pixel level polish") while using tools and processes to achieve efficiency and scalability.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with frequent interaction between UX, Product, and Engineering.

• Cross-functional engagement with the wider business to ensure alignment and holistic product development.

• Open to feedback and iterative design processes, valuing collective outcomes.

• Encourages knowledge sharing, particularly regarding new tools and methodologies like AI in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of startup dynamism and a structured approach to product development, with a strong emphasis on human-centered design and continuous improvement through collaboration and experimentation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing UX Function: As the first in-house UX designer, a significant challenge will be defining and implementing UX processes, standards, and best practices from the ground up.

• Balancing Innovation and Scalability: Integrating new design trends and AI tools while ensuring designs are scalable, maintainable, and align with business goals.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in a fast-growing company means dealing with evolving priorities and potentially incomplete briefs, requiring proactive problem-solving.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating UX value and advocating for user needs across different departments with potentially varying priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Define UX Strategy: Opportunity to shape the future of UX at Carma, including process, tools, and team structure.

• AI in Design Leadership: Become a go-to expert for leveraging AI in design workflows within the company.

• Broad Industry Exposure: Gain experience in a rapidly evolving sector (automotive e-commerce) with a focus on B2C digital products.

• Mentorship and Growth: Direct reporting to leadership provides opportunities for career guidance and advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is also the greatest growth opportunity: building the UX function. Candidates who thrive in environments where they can define their role and processes will find this position highly rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach establishing a UX design process and design system from scratch at a company like Carma?" (Focus on phases, stakeholders, tools, and iterative feedback loops).

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with business constraints or technical limitations. How did you approach it?" (Showcase problem-solving, negotiation, and compromise skills).

• "How do you see AI tools impacting the UX design process, and how would you experiment with them at Carma?" (Discuss specific tools, potential benefits, and a pilot approach).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Carma's mission to disrupt the Australian automotive industry?" (Show your understanding of the company's vision and your passion for their sector).

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, especially in an agile environment?" (Discuss communication strategies, handoff processes, and feedback mechanisms).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end UX process, design system experience, and ability to handle complex B2C or eCommerce scenarios.

• Focus on "Why": For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your design rationale, and the user and business impact.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to show interactive prototypes and examples of your work within Figma. If you have design system experience, highlight the components and guidelines you created.

• Highlight AI Exploration: If you have relevant experience or ideas, weave in how you've used or plan to use AI tools to enhance your design process.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, decisions, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, process establishment capabilities, and a proactive, collaborative approach, especially given the "first-in-house" nature of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Carma's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end UX design, design system development, user research, and experience with Figma. Prepare 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 5+ years of experience in digital product design, emphasizing B2C, eCommerce, or FinTech environments. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX design," "Figma," "design systems," "user research," and "AI design tools."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, presenting your portfolio effectively, and answering strategic questions about establishing UX functions and leveraging AI. Research Carma's current digital presence.

• Company Research: Understand Carma's mission, values, and position in the automotive industry. Prepare to discuss how your skills and approach align with their culture of innovation and customer-centricity.

⚠️ 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.