Sr Designer - UX - New York

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr Designer - UX

Company: Photon

Location: New York

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-01-30

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design of user interfaces and client interactions, driving innovation in user experience for a technology-focused organization.

• Champion user-centered design principles, translating complex business and user challenges into elegant, intuitive, and effective solutions.

• Lead design thinking workshops, facilitate user research, and conduct usability testing to continuously refine and optimize product designs.

• Integrate AI technology to enhance UX processes and develop strategic AI-driven design solutions within product workflows.

• Communicate complex design decisions, trade-offs, and requirements clearly to non-design stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior UX Designer, implying a leadership and strategic contribution beyond typical design tasks. The emphasis on AI integration, stakeholder communication, and driving design standards suggests a significant impact on product strategy and execution within Photon.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop sophisticated wireframes, prototypes, and mock-ups using advanced design tools, primarily Figma, to advocate for user-centered design principles.

• Leverage data insights and user research findings to inform design decisions, validate assumptions, and ensure solutions are evidence-based.

• Articulate complex design concepts and rationale to cross-functional teams and all levels of stakeholders, fostering a shared understanding and collaborative environment.

• Translate intricate business requirements and user pain points into clear, elegant, and user-friendly design solutions that address core needs.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops and create comprehensive documentation to effectively translate complex business requirements into actionable design strategies.

• Actively participate in user research initiatives, conduct rigorous usability testing, and gather critical feedback to iteratively refine and optimize designs.

• Explore and implement AI technology tools to boost efficiency within the UX design process and develop innovative AI-driven design solutions.

• Stay current with the latest trends, best practices in UX design, and specific nuances of the financial services industry to proactively introduce innovative solutions.

• Collaborate closely with end-users to gain a deep understanding of their requirements, ensuring the delivery of intuitive and frictionless user experiences.

• Act as a strong advocate for the user in all design considerations, consistently evaluating the impact of changes on user workflows and performance.

• Analyze and dissect user feedback to generate clear, actionable insights that directly drive design improvements and product enhancements.

• Create user-focused tickets with exceptional clarity and intent to facilitate smooth and efficient development cycles for engineering teams.

• Ensure clear and efficient communication of designs and ideas during handoffs to engineering teams, minimizing friction and maximizing understanding.

• Architect and design solutions with a holistic mindset, considering the end-to-end user workflows and their overall journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of high-level strategic thinking, hands-on design execution, and strong interpersonal skills. The emphasis on AI integration and financial services industry trends suggests a forward-thinking and specialized role within Photon's product development lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of six years of dedicated experience in User Experience (UX) Design, with a proven track record of delivering complex, user-centered design solutions.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in UX design principles and methodologies, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design solutions.

• Expertise in utilizing design tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mock-up creation.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business and user challenges into elegant and intuitive design solutions.

• Strong experience in conducting user research, usability testing, and synthesizing feedback into actionable design improvements.

• Excellent stakeholder communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts to diverse audiences.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and researchers.

• Experience in leveraging data insights to inform design decisions and validate design assumptions.

• Critical thinking and exceptional problem-solving abilities to proactively identify and resolve design-related challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI technology and its application within UX design processes and product development.

• Knowledge of or experience within the financial services industry.

• Experience facilitating design thinking workshops and leading design strategy sessions.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within sprint cycles.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of six years, coupled with the "Senior" title, indicates this role is pivotal in leading design initiatives. The explicit mention of Figma and the need for strong stakeholder communication are critical for candidates to highlight. The preferred skills suggest an organization that is embracing future technologies like AI and specific industry expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 3-5 distinct UX design projects.

• Each project should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, and the ultimate outcomes/impact.

• Demonstrate a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles, data-driven decision-making, and problem-solving methodologies.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups, ideally created using Figma.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of well-documented design processes, including user research plans, usability test reports, and design rationale.

• Examples of how you have contributed to or maintained design systems and style guides.

• Documentation demonstrating your approach to stakeholder communication and managing design feedback loops.

• Artifacts that illustrate your workflow for translating business requirements into design specifications and user stories.

📝 Enhancement Note: A robust portfolio is crucial for this senior role. Candidates must be prepared to detail their end-to-end design process, demonstrate their problem-solving approach with tangible examples, and articulate the impact of their work. The emphasis on documentation and process highlights the need for structured thinking and clear communication.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Minimum Compensation: USD 38,000 per year

• Maximum Compensation: USD 133,000 per year

• Note: Compensation is determined by actual experience and qualifications. The provided range is a good faith estimate for this role in New York.

Benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental benefits

• 401k retirement plan

• Variable pay/incentives

• Paid time off (PTO)

• Paid holidays

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for full-time employment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is quite broad, indicating significant variability based on candidate experience and qualifications. For a Senior UX Designer role in New York, the upper end of this range is competitive, while the lower end might be more suitable for candidates with less experience than typically expected for a senior role, or if the role has specific constraints. The benefits package is standard for full-time employees in the US.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, with a strong focus on financial services solutions. Photon likely offers software or consulting services aimed at improving efficiency and client interactions within the financial sector.

Company Size: The use of an Oracle Cloud HCM system for recruitment suggests a medium to large enterprise-level organization, likely with hundreds or thousands of employees.

Founded: Information not provided, but the scale indicated by the recruitment system suggests an established company.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely operates as a core function within the product development or technology division.

• This Senior UX Designer will probably report to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Product/Design.

• Close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers (front-end and back-end), User Researchers, and potentially Data Analysts is expected.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, with insights from user research and analytics guiding design choices.

• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed, requiring flexibility and continuous feedback integration.

• A focus on design systems and established standards ensures consistency and scalability across products.

• The incorporation of AI suggests an innovative approach to problem-solving and process optimization.

Company Website: photon.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Photon appears to be a significant player in the technology sector, specifically serving the financial services industry. The company culture likely values innovation, data-driven insights, and robust collaboration, especially between design, product, and engineering teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role within the UX Design discipline. It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where the individual is expected to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior UX Designer reports to a Design Manager, Director of Design, or Head of Product. They will work closely with cross-functional teams but have a direct line of reporting within the design vertical.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer's impact is critical for:

• Enhancing user adoption and satisfaction with Photon's products.

• Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of client interactions, potentially leading to increased revenue and customer retention.

• Driving product innovation through user-centric design and the integration of new technologies like AI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Design Director role, managing a team and setting design vision.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as AI-driven design, user research methodologies, or interaction design for complex systems.

• Cross-functional Moves: Transition into Product Management roles, leveraging deep user understanding and strategic product thinking.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, contributing to the growth of the design team.

• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in UX for financial services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career advancement within design leadership or specialized product roles. The emphasis on strategic impact and potential for mentorship suggests a role with significant professional development opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in New York, indicating a traditional office setting that fosters in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): New York, a major hub for technology and finance, offering access to a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative workspace designed to facilitate interaction and brainstorming among design, product, and engineering teams.

• Access to industry-standard design tools and technology, including Figma and potentially other collaboration software.

• Opportunities for spontaneous discussions, whiteboard sessions, and team-building activities that are common in on-site environments.

• A professional atmosphere conducive to focused work while also encouraging cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with potential for flexibility depending on team needs and project demands. The on-site nature implies a structured daily presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in New York suggests a preference for a highly collaborative and integrated team environment. Candidates should be prepared for a typical office work structure and actively engage with colleagues in person.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A key stage where candidates present their work, discussing a few selected projects in depth. This will focus on design process, problem-solving, and impact.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, leadership potential, and alignment with team goals.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other Designers to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: May involve a take-home assignment or an on-site whiteboarding session to evaluate problem-solving and design thinking in real-time.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss overall vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose projects that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those involving complex challenges or AI integration.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the "why" (problem), "how" (process, tools, collaboration), and "what" (solution, impact, learnings).

• Highlight Your Role: Be explicit about your contributions, especially if working in a team setting. For senior roles, emphasize leadership, strategy, and mentorship aspects.

• Figma Focus: Showcase your Figma proficiency through interactive prototypes and clear visual design examples.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, handling challenging stakeholders, and how you approach new technologies like AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement and constraints.

• Think Aloud: For live challenges, articulate your thought process, assumptions, and decision-making at every step.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your ability to break down a problem, consider user needs, and explore potential solutions, even if you don't reach a final polished design.

• Prioritize: Show an understanding of trade-offs and how to prioritize design decisions based on user value and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and the ability to articulate design strategy and problem-solving skills. Candidates should prepare to showcase their experience with Figma, user research, and stakeholder communication, along with any relevant AI integration projects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity mock-ups, and design system management. Proficiency is critical.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): May be used for asset creation or specific visual design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, ProtoPie, or similar tools might be used for advanced interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

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

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO, or similar for testing design variations.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards for presenting insights.

CRM & Automation:

Emerging Technologies:

• AI/ML Tools: Familiarity with platforms or APIs related to AI that can be integrated into user workflows or enhance design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a primary tool, making it a non-negotiable skill. The mention of AI integration suggests a need for designers to be forward-thinking and potentially experiment with new tools and platforms in this domain.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user's needs, driving empathy in all design decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Relying on insights from data and research to fuel creative solutions and measure impact.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across departments to ensure alignment and shared success.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and continuous improvement of design standards.

• Adaptability & Learning: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and evolving industry trends to stay at the forefront of UX design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers to define requirements and Engineers to implement solutions.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback loops, both within the design team and with other departments.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in design critiques, workshops, and sharing best practices to uplift the entire team's capabilities.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly updating stakeholders on design progress, challenges, and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Photon's culture likely emphasizes a proactive, data-informed, and collaborative approach to design. The company values individuals who are not only skilled designers but also strong communicators and team players who can champion the user while integrating new technologies.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs with User Experience: Effectively navigating competing priorities and communicating design rationale to ensure user needs are not compromised.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Designing intuitive and valuable user experiences for AI-powered features, ensuring users understand and trust the technology.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Upholding and evolving design standards and systems across a potentially growing product suite.

• Translating Complex Financial Concepts: Designing user-friendly interfaces for intricate financial products or processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Workshops: Potential for specialized training on leveraging AI tools and designing for AI-powered products.

• Financial Services Industry Insights: Deeper dives into the specific user needs and regulatory landscape of the financial sector.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone leadership skills through project ownership and potential mentorship roles.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Exposure to cutting-edge UX methodologies and tools through internal training or external conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle complex design challenges at the intersection of AI, finance, and user experience. The company's focus on growth suggests a commitment to employee development in these evolving areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your communication, negotiation, and user advocacy skills.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature that leverages AI? What are the key considerations for user trust and understanding?" (Prepare to discuss your process for AI integration and user education.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Photon and our work in the financial technology space?" (Research Photon's products, mission, and recent news.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX design trends, especially concerning AI and financial services?" (Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction, Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, and Impact/Learnings.

• Highlight Figma: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma skills, perhaps by showcasing interactive prototypes or explaining your component/design system approach.

• Quantify Your Impact: Use metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, task completion times, user satisfaction scores) to showcase the success of your designs.

• Focus on Seniority: Emphasize your strategic thinking, leadership in design decisions, and ability to mentor or guide others.

• Practice Timings: Ensure you can cover your chosen projects within the allotted time, leaving room for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, demonstrate problem-solving skills with concrete examples, and showcase their ability to integrate AI and work within the financial services context. A strong understanding of Photon's business and culture will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your online portfolio, ensuring it prominently features your best work using Figma, with clear case studies detailing your problem-solving approach, user-centered methodologies, and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 6+ years of UX design experience, specific skills in wireframing, prototyping, user research, and stakeholder communication, and any experience with AI or financial services.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to present 2-3 key portfolio projects, articulating your design process and decision-making. Practice answering strategy and behavioral questions, focusing on your senior-level contributions and problem-solving abilities.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Photon, its products, target market (financial services), and any recent news or initiatives. Understand how your skills and experience align with their mission and values.

⚠️ 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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