Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: illumin

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: May 20, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of complex, workflow-heavy enterprise SaaS products, focusing on DSP (Demand-Side Platform) workflows within the advertising technology landscape.

• Drive the evolution of illumin's product experience by establishing scalable design patterns, connecting experiences across products, and fostering a cohesive user journey.

• Mentor and lead a small but growing team of Product Designers, balancing hands-on design contributions with leadership responsibilities.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering to translate intricate business and technical requirements into intuitive, high-impact user experiences that influence customer outcomes and product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Product Designer, indicating a blend of individual contribution and team leadership. The emphasis on "product-led company," "sophisticated DSP workflows," and "data-dense experiences" suggests a need for strong systems thinking and a deep understanding of complex B2B SaaS environments. The hybrid model with specified in-office days is a key logistical detail for candidates.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and execute the end-to-end product design process for sophisticated DSP workflows, from initial discovery and problem definition through to detailed design, prototyping, and iterative refinement.

• Develop and maintain a scalable design system, establishing consistent component libraries, interaction patterns, and visual guidelines to ensure platform-wide coherence and usability.

• Champion user-centred design principles by leading user research initiatives, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Translate complex business objectives and technical constraints into elegant, intuitive user interfaces and seamless interaction flows that enhance customer efficiency and campaign performance.

• Mentor and guide a team of Product Designers, fostering a collaborative environment, providing constructive feedback, leading design critiques, and supporting their professional growth.

• Influence product roadmap discussions by providing design insights, articulating design rationale, and proposing innovative solutions that align with user needs and business goals.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing, to ensure alignment on vision, strategy, and execution.

• Drive consistency and scalability across the platform by designing modular and adaptable design patterns that can be leveraged across multiple products and features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic focus on "systems design" and "connecting experiences across products," implying a need for a designer who can think holistically about the user journey and platform architecture, rather than just individual feature design. The mention of "0-to-1 initiatives" suggests involvement in new product development.

🎓 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 progressive experience in Product Design, UX/UI Design, or Interaction Design, with a significant portion focused on B2B SaaS or complex enterprise software. Proven experience in a leadership or mentorship capacity is required.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and guiding design critiques within a product-led or SaaS environment.

• Systems Thinking & UX Design: Profound ability to design complex, interconnected systems and workflows, with a strong grasp of information architecture, interaction design, and user-centred design principles.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and collaborative design workflows.

• Design Systems: Proven experience in building, maintaining, and scaling comprehensive design systems, including component libraries and style guides.

• B2B SaaS/Enterprise Software Design: Deep understanding of designing for sophisticated business users, complex data-dense interfaces, and workflow-heavy applications.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Proficiency in conducting user research, usability testing, and synthesizing findings to inform design decisions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to work effectively with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders, influencing product direction and ensuring design feasibility.

• Communication & Presentation: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale, present to leadership, and facilitate design discussions.

• Adaptability & Curiosity: A proactive mindset, comfortable with ambiguity, and a continuous drive to learn and improve design practices and solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-supported workflows or AI in design tools.

• Familiarity with prototyping tools beyond Figma.

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

• Experience in the advertising technology (AdTech) or Demand-Side Platform (DSP) domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is framed as "5-10 years" with an emphasis on leadership, suggesting a need for someone who has already progressed beyond individual contributor roles and can demonstrate strategic design thinking and team management capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of case studies that showcase your ability to lead complex, end-to-end product design projects, particularly within B2B SaaS or enterprise environments.

• Demonstrations of strong systems thinking, illustrating how you connect user experiences across multiple products or features to create cohesive, scalable solutions.

• Examples of your work in designing workflow-heavy or data-dense interfaces, highlighting your approach to simplifying complexity and enhancing user efficiency.

• Evidence of your experience in building, evolving, or contributing significantly to a design system, including examples of component libraries and style guides.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly documented design processes used in past projects, emphasizing user research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping, and iteration cycles.

• Examples of how you have collaborated with Product Management and Engineering, detailing communication strategies and integration points within the development lifecycle.

• Demonstrations of how you have used data, user feedback, and usability testing results to drive design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Evidence of your approach to establishing and maintaining design consistency and scalability, particularly through the use of design systems and pattern libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a Lead role, the portfolio should emphasize not just individual design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to drive scalable design solutions across a platform. Case studies should highlight problem-solving for complex user needs in enterprise contexts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $150,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage including Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, and Long-term Disability Insurance.

• Prescription coverage, Dental coverage, and Vision coverage.

• Support for mental well-being through Mental Health Services.

• Access to Professional Health Services.

• A Workplace Advisor for guidance and support.

• The Vitality Wellness app to promote healthy habits.

• A $300 annual Healthcare Spending Account for flexible health-related expenses.

• For hybrid employees working in-office: A meal credit provided for in-office days.

• For hybrid employees working in-office: Complimentary massage sessions with an in-house Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) approximately every eight weeks.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with an expectation of flexibility to manage complex projects and cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in CAD, consistent with the Toronto location. The benefits package is extensive, with specific perks like an in-house RMT and meal credits for in-office days, which are notable differentiators.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising Technology (AdTech), specifically focusing on journey advertising, media planning, and buying platforms.

Company Size: Over 100 skilled professionals, indicating a mid-sized company that is growing and undergoing transformation.

Founded: illumin is evolving under new leadership, suggesting a period of strategic change and investment in product development and AI capabilities. The company's history, while not detailed, is marked by a drive for innovation and a focus on empowering marketers.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is small but growing, led by the VP, Product and Design.

• This role involves leading a small team of Product Designers, implying direct mentorship and management responsibilities.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management and Engineering teams, indicating a matrixed or integrated team structure common in product-led organizations.

Methodology:

• Product-Led Growth: The company is actively transitioning into a product-led company, emphasizing the product's role in customer acquisition, retention, and expansion.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: A strong emphasis is placed on leveraging real-time data, advancing AI capabilities, and using personalized insights for smarter decision-making.

• Bias for Speed and Delivery: The company culture prioritizes speed, delivery over perfection, and an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging innovation and rapid iteration.

• Investment in People: There is a stated commitment to investing in employees, fostering skill development, and providing support for growth.

Company Website: https://illumin.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company is described as being in a "pivotal moment" and "transformative shift," emphasizing growth, investment in AI, and a new leadership direction. This suggests a dynamic environment where new processes and strategies are being implemented.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Lead Product Designer, signifying a senior-level position that combines expert-level individual contribution with team leadership and strategic influence. It's a step beyond a senior individual contributor, requiring the ability to mentor, guide, and shape the direction of the design function.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer reports directly to the VP, Product and Design. This provides a clear line of communication to senior leadership and an opportunity to influence high-level product strategy.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer will have a direct impact on the user experience of illumin's core advertising platform, influencing how marketers plan, execute, and optimize campaigns. This role is critical in translating complex business needs into intuitive interfaces that directly affect customer success, campaign ROI, and overall product adoption and efficacy. The design work will influence customer outcomes and the strategic direction of the product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the scope of design leadership as the function evolves, potentially managing a larger team or overseeing broader design initiatives across the product portfolio.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly influence product strategy, roadmap decisions, and the overall design direction of a transforming company.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in the advertising technology (AdTech) space, specifically within DSP workflows, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through tackling complex design challenges, working with AI-driven workflows, and contributing to the evolution of design practices and systems.

• Professional Development: Support for skill elevation, knowledge expansion, and personal growth through company initiatives and a culture that encourages innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly designed for someone who wants to "lead while remaining close to the work," indicating a hybrid leadership model where hands-on design is still a significant component. Growth opportunities are tied to the company's transformation and the evolution of its design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 3 days per week in the downtown Toronto office. This suggests a structured approach to in-office collaboration while allowing for remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Downtown Toronto office, conveniently located minutes from St. Andrew and Union subway stations, ensuring accessibility for hybrid employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model emphasizes in-office days for collaboration, team interaction, and potentially in-person workshops or design sessions.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma) and potentially other collaborative platforms used by the Product, Engineering, and Design teams.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the VP of Product and Design, fellow Product Designers, and members of the Product and Engineering teams during in-office days.

• On-site Perks: Specific benefits for in-office days include meal credits and in-house RMT massages, designed to enhance the employee experience during office attendance.

Work Schedule: Employees are expected to work approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature and the complexity of the role suggest a need for time management and flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup is clearly defined with specific in-office days, which is crucial for candidates to understand. The location and accessibility are also highlighted as key features of the work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Virtual Interview: Conducted by a Talent Advisor to assess general interest, background, and cultural fit. This interview will be recorded using BrightHire AI.

• Virtual Interview with VP, Product and Design: A deeper dive into the candidate's experience, design philosophy, approach to collaboration, and understanding of the role and company culture.

• Take-Home Design Exercise: A practical challenge designed to simulate real work, assessing design thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to balance user needs with business objectives. This is a key opportunity to showcase practical application of skills.

• In-Person Collaboration Session: A final stage involving presentation of the design exercise to the VP, Product and Design, and members of the Product Design team. This session focuses on the candidate's thought process, decision-making, and ability to collaborate, also serving as an opportunity for the candidate to meet the team and understand daily dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Case Study Focus: Prioritize 2-3 in-depth case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes. For a Lead role, emphasize strategic impact and leadership contributions.

• Systems Thinking Showcase: Explicitly demonstrate your ability to design holistically, showing how individual features connect into a larger system or platform. Highlight any contributions to or experience with design systems.

• Process Transparency: Clearly outline your methodology for each case study, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. This could include improvements in conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores, or adoption rates.

• **Tail