Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Spendesk

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (Hybrid)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Alignment

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

Experience Level: Senior (7+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and shape the product and experience direction across multiple interconnected product squads or a significant product area, with a strong emphasis on AI-powered and automation-driven workflows.

• Act as a strategic partner within cross-functional teams, connecting customer insights, product strategy, business objectives, and technical context to identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities.

• Drive complex design initiatives from discovery and exploration through to delivery, measurement, and iteration, ensuring coherent end-to-end experiences and resolving systemic UX issues.

• Establish and uphold high standards for interaction design, information architecture, accessibility, content, and visual quality across the platform.

• Coach and mentor other designers, fostering their growth in autonomy, craft, product thinking, and organizational influence to raise the overall quality and effectiveness of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant strategic scope. While not a formal people management role, it requires strong design leadership, coaching, and the ability to influence product direction. The emphasis on AI and automation suggests a need for forward-thinking design strategies and an understanding of how intelligent systems can enhance financial operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive product and experience strategy for designated product areas, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and customer needs, particularly in the realm of AI and automation.

• Lead complex design initiatives, from user research and problem framing through to prototyping, testing, and final delivery, ensuring a seamless and effective user journey.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure a unified product vision and efficient execution.

• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of customer needs and business objectives through direct user research and data analysis to inform design decisions and product prioritization.

• Define, document, and advocate for design principles, standards, and shared patterns to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across Spendesk's platform.

• Identify and address systemic UX issues that span across different squads or product modules, creating a cohesive and intuitive user experience.

• Facilitate design reviews, workshops, and decision-making processes to align teams, navigate ambiguity, and manage trade-offs effectively.

• Contribute to the growth and development of the broader design team through mentorship, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and strategic leadership. The emphasis on "connecting insights and opportunities across teams" and "resolving systemic UX issues spanning workflows, features, and squad boundaries" indicates a need for a designer who can think holistically about the product ecosystem and its operational impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in Product Design or a related field is essential.

Experience: Significant experience designing complex digital products within cross-functional teams, typically gained over seven or more years. Demonstrated experience leading design across multiple squads, interconnected workflows, or a substantial product domain.

Required Skills:

• Significant experience designing complex digital products in cross-functional teams (7+ years).

• Proven experience leading design across multiple squads, interconnected workflows, or a substantial product domain.

• Strong product and strategic thinking, with the ability to connect user needs, business priorities, and technical constraints.

• Excellent systems thinking, interaction design, and information architecture skills, particularly across complex or data-heavy experiences.

• Demonstrated track record of using research and evidence to frame problems and influence product direction.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to align teams and influence senior stakeholders.

• Ability to remain hands-on while creating the direction, context, and standards that enable others to work autonomously.

• Experience coaching designers and raising the quality and effectiveness of design across a wider team. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing AI-assisted, conversational, or agentic product experiences.

• Experience working in fintech, spend management, procurement, or internal tooling.

• Experience shaping experiences across a complex platform or multi-product ecosystem.

• Familiarity with experimentation, analytics, and data-informed product development.

• Experience guiding design-system adoption or governance across multiple teams.

• Experience defining shared experience principles, patterns, or quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement emphasizes depth and breadth, particularly in leading design initiatives across multiple teams and complex domains. The preferred skills offer a clear path for candidates looking to tailor their application to areas of particular interest to Spendesk, such as AI and fintech.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design process for complex digital products, demonstrating problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

• Highlight examples of leading design initiatives across multiple squads or interconnected workflows, detailing your strategic contribution and impact.

• Include case studies that illustrate strong systems thinking, information architecture, and interaction design solutions for data-heavy or complex user journeys.

• Present evidence of using research and data to influence product direction and frame problems effectively.

• Demonstrate your coaching and mentorship approach, with examples of how you've helped other designers grow. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your approach to user research, including methodologies for gathering qualitative and quantitative insights.

• Detail your process for problem framing, opportunity identification, and defining success metrics in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Provide examples of how you establish and uphold design standards, principles, and patterns for consistency and quality.

• Showcase your ability to navigate ambiguity and trade-offs, illustrating how you facilitate decisions and align teams around complex challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to lead, strategize, and execute complex design projects. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating impact across multiple teams and complexity, rather than single-feature designs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designers in major European tech hubs (London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin) with 7+ years of experience, a competitive annual salary range is estimated to be between €70,000 - €100,000. This range can vary based on specific location, individual experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.

• Equity options, providing ownership and participation in company growth.

• Flexible hybrid work model, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic product and design organization.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI and automation in financial operations.

• Collaborative and international work environment.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, with flexibility to accommodate the hybrid work model. Specific daily hours can be discussed during the recruitment process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on publicly available data for similar roles in comparable tech markets and the specified experience level. The provided benefits align with typical offerings for senior tech roles in European startups and scale-ups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech, Financial Operations Software, Business Spend Management. Spendesk operates in the rapidly evolving fintech sector, providing a comprehensive spend management solution that simplifies financial workflows for businesses. This context means a focus on data security, regulatory compliance, and delivering tangible efficiency gains for users.

Company Size: Spendesk is a growing scale-up, indicated by its presence in multiple international locations and a clear focus on expansion. This suggests an environment that balances established processes with the agility and innovation of a fast-paced tech company. Operations professionals will find opportunities to build and refine processes as the company scales.

Founded: Spendesk was founded in 2016. This relatively recent founding means the company has a modern approach to technology and business operations, likely embracing digital-first strategies and agile methodologies.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team operates as strategic partners within cross-functional squads, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts.

• Designers are embedded within these squads but also connect across them to ensure a coherent platform experience.

• This role reports into Product or Design leadership, with significant influence over product direction rather than formal team management. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is central, utilizing qualitative and quantitative evidence from user research and analytics.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for product development, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to iterative feedback.

• A strong emphasis on systems thinking and information architecture ensures consistency and scalability across the platform.

• Exploration of AI and automation is a key strategic focus, driving innovation in how financial operations are managed.

Company Website: https://career.spendesk.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at Spendesk, as described, emphasizes collaboration, innovation (especially in AI), and a strategic approach to design. For operations professionals, this means an environment where process improvement, data utilization, and cross-functional alignment are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level, individual contributor role (Lead Product Designer). It signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for significant product areas. The role is for an experienced designer who can operate independently, guide others through influence, and contribute to high-level product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report into a Head of Product Design or a senior Product leader. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their designated squads, and collaborate with other designers across the organization.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer has a direct impact on Spendesk's revenue and business success by shaping a user experience that simplifies complex financial operations, drives user adoption, and increases efficiency for customers. By focusing on AI and automation, the role aims to create a competitive advantage and unlock new value propositions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in designing complex, AI-driven financial workflows and gain experience in platform-level design strategy.

• Industry Specialization: Become a recognized expert in fintech design, particularly in the areas of spend management, procurement, and intelligent automation.

• Leadership Development: Transition into formal people management roles, or continue as a principal/staff-level individual contributor with even broader strategic influence and mentorship responsibilities.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop strong partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Data teams, influencing product roadmaps and strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a Lead Product Designer at Spendesk points towards deepening specialization in fintech and AI design, or moving into broader leadership roles within the product organization. The emphasis on individual contribution and influence is key for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. The specific office locations mentioned (London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin) suggest modern co-working spaces or dedicated office environments designed for collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s):

• Barcelona, Spain (Cloudworks El Born)

• London, UK

• Paris, France

• Berlin, Germany Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and focus on cross-functional teams encourage regular interaction and knowledge sharing, both in person and virtually.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools, collaboration platforms, and likely a robust technology stack to support AI-driven product development.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with a diverse, international team of product professionals, fostering a dynamic and stimulating work environment.

Work Schedule: Full-time with flexible hybrid arrangements. This allows operations professionals to structure their week to balance focused work, team collaboration, and personal needs, aligning with the demands of complex design projects and iterative development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in multiple European hubs offers flexibility and access to vibrant tech ecosystems. For operations professionals, this means an environment that values output and collaboration over strict time-in-office policies, fitting well with the demands of design and product development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Step 1: Introductory conversation with Talent Acquisition: A preliminary screening to assess cultural fit, basic qualifications, and interest in the role. Prepare to discuss your career journey and motivations.

• Step 2: Portfolio presentation and discussion with the Hiring Manager: This is a crucial step. Be ready to walk through 2-3 key projects from your portfolio that best demonstrate your experience in leading complex design, systems thinking, and strategic product involvement. Focus on your role, process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Step 3: Collaborative live workshop: This practical exercise will assess your product thinking, systems thinking, design leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills in real-time. Expect to be given a problem and asked to work through it, articulating your thought process and rationale.

• Step 4: Final conversations with Product and Design leadership: A chance to discuss your vision for the role, align on strategic priorities, and ensure a strong mutual fit with the broader product and design organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience in leading design across multiple squads, complex digital products, and ideally, areas related to AI or complex financial workflows.

• Tell a story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the challenges you faced, and the measurable impact of your design solutions.

• Highlight systems thinking: Demonstrate how you consider the broader product ecosystem, information architecture, and user journeys beyond a single feature.

• Showcase leadership and mentorship: Include examples of how you've influenced product direction, collaborated with stakeholders, and coached other designers.

• Prepare for discussion: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process, decisions, and how you handle trade-offs and ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice articulating your thought process: Be able to clearly explain why you make certain design decisions, connecting them to user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Familiarize yourself with Spendesk: Understand their product, target audience, and recent developments. Consider how AI and automation can enhance their offerings.

• Prepare for systems-level problems: Think about how you would approach designing for interconnected workflows, data management, and complex user journeys.

• Demonstrate collaboration: Be ready to show how you would work with Product Managers and Engineers, actively listening and incorporating feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess a candidate's strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and hands-on design skills. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their ability to operate at a lead level and contribute to high-level product strategy.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite. Expect proficiency in creating high-fidelity prototypes and design systems.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Typeform).

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Jira, Confluence, Miro (for workshops and brainstorming).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and product adoption.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker, or similar for deeper data analysis and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by Product Designers, an understanding of how CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation tools (e.g., HubSpot) feed into the overall business strategy and customer journey can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. The emphasis on data-informed decision-making means familiarity with product analytics platforms is a strong advantage, enabling designers to leverage data in their process and measure the impact of their work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep understanding and focus on user needs, ensuring that design solutions solve real problems and deliver significant value.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by qualitative and quantitative data, research, and analysis.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and build cohesive products.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high standards in design quality, interaction design, and visual execution.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies like AI and automation to drive product evolution and create cutting-edge solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Strategic Partnership: Designers are seen as strategic partners, actively contributing to product strategy and roadmap decisions.

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering is the norm, fostering a shared sense of ownership and responsibility.

• Open Communication: An environment that encourages open feedback, constructive criticism, and continuous learning.

• Empowerment & Autonomy: Designers are empowered to take ownership of their areas and make informed decisions, supported by clear principles and context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Spendesk values a collaborative and data-driven approach to product development, with a strong emphasis on design's strategic role. For operations professionals, this means being comfortable with ambiguity, adept at cross-functional communication, and committed to delivering high-quality, user-centered solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complexity and Simplicity: Designing intuitive experiences for complex financial operations that involve multiple user roles, data points, and workflows.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Ensuring AI-powered features enhance user workflows without creating confusion or undermining trust and control.

• Driving Platform Cohesion: Maintaining a consistent and coherent user experience across a growing platform with multiple interconnected squads.

• Influencing Strategic Direction: Effectively championing design-led initiatives and influencing product roadmaps at a senior level.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI/Automation Design Specialization: Gain in-depth expertise in designing for intelligent systems and automated workflows within the fintech domain.

• Platform Design Strategy: Develop skills in architecting and managing design for complex, multi-product ecosystems.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to formally or informally mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design practice.

• Industry Exposure: Engage with cutting-edge trends in fintech, AI, and user experience design through conferences, workshops, and internal knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior design roles in scale-ups, requiring strategic thinking and problem-solving at a systemic level. The growth opportunities are geared towards specialization in high-demand areas like AI and platform design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature that automates a key financial reporting process for our users? What are the key considerations for trust and transparency?" (Focus on problem framing, user needs, AI integration, and ethical considerations.)

• "Describe a time you led design across multiple squads or a complex product area. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you ensure alignment and a cohesive experience?" (Highlight systems thinking, collaboration, and leadership.)

• "How do you use data and user research to inform your design decisions, especially when dealing with complex or ambiguous problems?" (Emphasize your process for gathering insights and translating them into actionable design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Spendesk's mission and the opportunity to work on AI-powered financial operations?" (Showcase your research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you see the role of a Lead Product Designer evolving within a fast-growing fintech company like Spendesk?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the role's strategic importance.)

• "How would you contribute to building and maintaining a strong design culture within a cross-functional environment?" (Focus on collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with an executive summary of your role and impact. Then, dive into 2-3 detailed case studies.

• Focus on Process & Rationale: Clearly explain why you made certain decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and research findings.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Use diagrams or flowcharts to illustrate how your designs fit into the broader product ecosystem.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, reduced task time, improved user satisfaction).

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Be ready to discuss how you've influenced others and contributed to the team's growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of the design process for complex, data-driven products, particularly those involving AI and automation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position at Spendesk:

• Submit your application through the provided career portal link.

• Customize your resume: Highlight your experience in leading complex digital product design, systems thinking, AI-assisted product design, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Select your strongest 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your ability to lead design across multiple squads, tackle complex problems, and drive strategic product direction. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, challenges, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your selected projects, focusing on your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and impact. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy and how you coach other designers.

• Research Spendesk: Familiarize yourself with their product, target market, and recent news. Understand their approach to AI and automation in financial operations and how your skills align with their strategic goals.

⚠️ 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.