Lead Product Designer, Platform

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer, Platform

Company: Fanatics Momentum

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Enablement

Date Posted: 2026-09-20

Experience Level: 7+ Years (Mid to Senior Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and own the foundational customer journeys for a regulated commercial gaming operator, ensuring seamless user experiences across identity, KYC, wallet, payments, CRM, loyalty, and personalization.

• Apply strong systems thinking and interaction design skills to translate complex regulatory and technical requirements into intuitive and trustworthy customer interactions.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Technology, Compliance, and Operations teams to establish shared design patterns, platform standards, and a coherent customer experience across all FanMo products.

• Drive innovation by leveraging AI to accelerate prototyping, exploration, synthesis, and iteration in the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for Go-To-Market (GTM) operations enablement, as the platform design directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency within a highly regulated environment. The focus on foundational customer journeys means this designer will shape the core user flows that all subsequent product offerings will build upon, directly influencing how effectively the business can acquire and serve customers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design of core platform customer journeys including registration, onboarding, identity verification (KYC), account management, and responsible gaming interactions.

• Design intuitive and secure wallet, deposit, and withdrawal experiences, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

• Develop and implement customer preference management and consent mechanisms, aligning with data privacy and regulatory standards.

• Create engaging loyalty and rewards surfaces, as well as personalization and lifecycle experiences that enhance customer engagement and retention.

• Establish and maintain shared design patterns, platform standards, and a consistent design system across the Fanatics Momentum product ecosystem.

• Conduct user research, create prototypes, and perform validation testing to inform design decisions and ensure user needs are met.

• Partner with Product Managers to define product strategy and roadmap, ensuring design thinking is integrated from the early stages of platform development.

• Collaborate with Technology teams to ensure design feasibility and effective implementation of user interfaces and experiences.

• Work closely with Compliance and Operations teams to ensure all designs adhere to regulatory frameworks and operational best practices.

• Champion the adoption of AI-powered design tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shared patterns and platform design standards" and "establishing a coherent FanMo customer experience" indicates a strategic responsibility to build a scalable and consistent design foundation. This requires a strong understanding of how design decisions impact downstream operational processes, such as customer support, compliance monitoring, and marketing automation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in Product Design, with a focus on complex consumer digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing for regulated consumer digital products, such as fintech, banking, payments, marketplaces, super-apps, or telecom.

• Exceptional interaction design and systems thinking skills, with a proven ability to simplify complex regulatory and technical requirements.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies, prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), and validation techniques.

• Proven experience designing shared experiences, patterns, and systems across multiple products or customer journeys.

• Strong ability to collaborate effectively and cross-functionally with Product Management, Engineering, Compliance, and Operations teams.

• Experience leveraging AI tools to enhance design processes, including prototyping, exploration, synthesis, and iteration.

• Deep understanding of customer journey mapping and optimization principles.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in digital identity or KYC processes.

• Expertise in wallet, payments, or financial transaction design.

• Proven track record in designing loyalty programs and personalization engines.

• Familiarity with design systems principles and implementation.

• Knowledge of the UAE/GCC markets and regulatory landscapes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience and the focus on "lead" responsibilities suggest this role is for a senior individual contributor or a potential team lead, expected to set design direction and mentor others, particularly in areas impacting operational efficiency and customer trust.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design projects demonstrating expertise in simplifying complex, regulated user journeys.

• Include case studies that highlight systems thinking and the creation of reusable design patterns or platform components.

• Present examples of work in areas such as identity management, KYC, payments, or loyalty programs within a regulated context.

• Demonstrate experience in user research, prototyping, and validation, with clear articulation of how these informed design decisions and improved user outcomes.

• Provide evidence of cross-functional collaboration with Product, Technology, Compliance, and Operations teams, illustrating how design integrated with these functions.

• Include examples of leveraging AI tools in the design process and their impact on efficiency or outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your process for translating complex regulatory requirements into user-friendly designs, detailing how you ensure compliance and build trust.

• Document your approach to designing platform-level components and shared patterns that promote consistency and efficiency across multiple products.

• Showcase your methodology for conducting user research, prototyping, and validation, including how you iterate based on feedback and data.

• Provide examples of how you have successfully collaborated with non-design teams (e.g., Compliance, Operations) to achieve product goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on foundational platform journeys and regulated environments, a portfolio demonstrating a structured, data-informed, and compliant design process is crucial. Candidates should highlight how their design work directly supports operational efficiency and regulatory adherence.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designer roles in major UAE cities like Abu Dhabi, with 7+ years of experience in regulated consumer digital products, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between AED 35,000 - AED 50,000 per month (approximately USD 9,500 - USD 13,600 per month). This range accounts for the specialized nature of the industry, the complexity of the platform, and the strategic importance of the role. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options.

• Relocation assistance for candidates moving to Abu Dhabi.

• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.

• A dynamic and collaborative work environment within a rapidly growing industry.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility based on project needs and team collaboration. The role is based on-site in Abu Dhabi.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on market research for senior design roles in the UAE, considering the specialized industry (regulated gaming/fintech) and the company's ambitious growth plans. Benefits are typical for senior roles in international companies operating in the region, emphasizing professional growth and well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Regulated Commercial Gaming Operator (Lottery, iGaming, Sportsbook) within the UAE, combining regional foundation with global product, technology, and scale.

Company Size: While specific numbers for "Fanatics Momentum" aren't provided, Fanatics as a parent entity is a large global sports merchandise and gaming company. Fanatics Momentum is described as "ambitious, well-resourced, and moving fast," suggesting a dynamic, startup-like environment within a larger, established organization. This implies a culture that values innovation, speed, and a strong execution focus.

Founded: Fanatics Momentum is a new venture, combining Momentum's regional foundation with Fanatics' global capabilities. This suggests a culture that is built on agility, entrepreneurial spirit, and the drive to establish a category-defining operator.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Product Designer will be part of a cross-functional product development team, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, and potentially other designers.

• The role involves reporting into a Head of Product Design or a similar leadership position within the product organization.

• Significant collaboration will occur with critical operational and compliance functions, including Operations, Compliance, and Legal teams, to ensure all platform designs meet stringent regulatory and operational standards. Methodology:

• Emphasis on a user-centered design approach, balancing user needs with business objectives and regulatory constraints.

• Adoption of agile development methodologies, requiring close collaboration and rapid iteration between design, product, and engineering.

• A strong focus on data-driven decision-making, utilizing research, analytics, and validation to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Commitment to building robust, scalable, and compliant platform components that can support multiple product lines.

Company Website: https://www.fanatics.com/ (Fanatics parent company) and potentially a dedicated Fanatics Momentum site once launched. The domain derived is mgh.ae.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of a startup-like pace with the backing of a large entity like Fanatics suggests a high-energy environment where individual contributions are visible and impactful. The regulated nature of the industry also implies a culture that prioritizes trust, security, and meticulous execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead Product Designer role, signifying a senior individual contributor position. It requires extensive experience in product design and the ability to lead design initiatives for critical platform components. The role demands a systems thinker capable of architecting foundational user experiences that impact multiple product lines and operational workflows.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Design, or potentially a Head of Product for the Platform division. They will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and key stakeholders in Compliance and Operations.

Operations Impact: The design of foundational platform journeys directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of Go-To-Market (GTM) operations. Simplified registration and payment processes reduce friction, leading to higher conversion rates and lower customer acquisition costs. A coherent and trustworthy user experience reduces customer support inquiries and enhances customer lifetime value. Robust design systems improve development efficiency and reduce the operational overhead of maintaining multiple product UIs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a management role, leading a team of product designers, or to become a Principal/Staff Product Designer, driving design strategy and vision for larger product areas.

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in regulated industries, fintech, or gaming design, becoming a recognized subject matter expert within the company.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the overall customer experience strategy and the evolution of the platform's design language and capabilities.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into product management or strategy roles, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and platform architecture.

• Industry Exposure: Work on cutting-edge projects in a rapidly evolving and exciting market, with potential for industry recognition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests a significant level of autonomy and influence. Career progression will likely involve taking on more complex design challenges, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to the strategic direction of the product organization, with a strong link to operational success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Abu Dhabi, indicating a collaborative office environment. This likely includes shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated areas for design sprints and workshops.

Office Location(s): Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Specific office details would need to be confirmed, but it is expected to be a modern, professional workspace conducive to innovation and collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a highly collaborative setting where designers work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and stakeholders from Compliance and Operations. This environment will foster knowledge sharing and rapid problem-solving.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma), prototyping tools, research platforms, and potentially AI-assisted design tools. The company is likely to invest in technology that supports efficient and innovative design practices.

• Operations Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with Operations teams will be necessary to understand workflow implications, operational constraints, and to ensure designs are implementable and efficient from an operational standpoint. This cross-functional interaction is key to the success of platform design in a regulated environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with flexibility often available for on-site employees to manage project deadlines and personal needs. The on-site requirement facilitates direct collaboration and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is significant for a design role, emphasizing the company's value for in-person collaboration, team building, and the ability to quickly iterate on ideas with cross-functional partners. This setup is often preferred for complex, integrated product development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume to assess qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, focusing on 1-2 key projects that demonstrate your skills in systems thinking, complex problem-solving, and designing for regulated environments. Be prepared to discuss your process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Expect a design exercise, either take-home or in-person, that simulates a real-world problem the team is facing. This might involve designing a specific user flow or component, or critiquing an existing experience.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially representatives from Compliance and Operations to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and domain knowledge.

• Final Interview: A meeting with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, VP of Design) to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best highlight your experience with complex consumer digital products, regulated industries, systems thinking, and platform-level design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your design solutions, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., conversion improvements, reduced friction, operational efficiency gains).

• Showcase Process: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and validation methods. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with cross-functional teams, especially Product, Engineering, and Compliance/Operations.

• Address Complexity: Emphasize how you translated complex regulatory and technical requirements into simple, user-friendly experiences.

• AI Integration: If applicable, clearly explain how you used AI tools in your workflow and the impact it had.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Fanatics Momentum, the UAE gaming market, and the regulatory landscape. Understand the company's mission and values.

• Focus on Fundamentals: For design challenges, focus on understanding the core user needs and business objectives first.

• Think Systemically: Consider how your proposed solution fits into the broader platform and ecosystem.

• Prioritize and Justify: Be prepared to explain your design choices, prioritize features, and justify trade-offs, especially concerning compliance and operational feasibility.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and solutions concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on regulatory compliance and cross-functional collaboration with Operations and Compliance means interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can balance user experience with strict operational and legal requirements. The portfolio must clearly demonstrate this capability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Hotjar (for analytics integration).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Tools like Uizard, Galileo AI, or AI plugins within Figma for rapid prototyping, idea generation, or synthesis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude (for understanding user behavior and conversion funnels).

• Tableau, Power BI, Looker (for data visualization and dashboard creation, especially for tracking design impact on key operational metrics). CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms can provide context for how customer data and personalization are managed, influencing design decisions related to CRM and loyalty.

• Knowledge of customer data platforms (CDPs) might also be relevant for personalization efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for a Lead Product Designer role. The inclusion of AI tools as a requirement highlights the company's forward-thinking approach. Familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating the impact of design on business and operational KPIs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Trust & Integrity: Paramount in a regulated industry. Designs must instill confidence and adhere to strict compliance standards.

• Customer Centricity: Balancing user needs with regulatory requirements to create positive, trustworthy experiences.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing platform components that are not only user-friendly but also operationally efficient and scalable across multiple products.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams, sharing insights, and fostering an environment of open communication.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and adapting quickly to market changes and evolving regulations.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Design Process: Design is embedded early and often in the product development lifecycle, working hand-in-hand with Product and Engineering.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Proactive engagement with Compliance and Operations teams to ensure designs are feasible, compliant, and support operational workflows.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback from all stakeholders to refine designs and ensure alignment.

• Shared Ownership: A collective responsibility for the success of the platform and customer experience, extending beyond individual roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values will heavily influence how design decisions are made, particularly concerning risk mitigation, compliance adherence, and operational efficiency, which are critical in the regulated gaming sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complexity and Simplicity: The primary challenge is to distill intricate regulatory requirements and technical complexities into simple, intuitive user experiences that customers barely notice.

• Building Trust in a Regulated Space: Designing for a regulated industry requires a constant focus on security, transparency, and compliance to build and maintain customer trust.

• Establishing a Coherent Ecosystem: Creating consistent and unified customer journeys across multiple distinct product lines (lottery, iGaming, sportsbook) from a foundational platform.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Identifying and implementing AI tools in a way that genuinely enhances the design process and user experience, rather than being a superficial addition.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless communication and alignment between design, product, technology, compliance, and operations, especially given the high stakes of regulatory adherence.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of the regulated gaming industry, fintech, and digital identity within the UAE/GCC market.

• Platform Design Mastery: Develop advanced skills in designing scalable, reusable components and design systems for complex digital platforms.

• AI in Design: Become proficient in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to augment the design process.

• Strategic Impact: Contribute to the strategic direction of a new, category-defining operator in a high-growth market.

• Leadership Experience: Opportunity to influence design direction, mentor junior designers, and potentially lead design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to launching a new, regulated digital product in a competitive market. Successfully navigating these will provide significant growth opportunities and valuable experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a KYC process that is both compliant with UAE regulations and user-friendly?" (Focus on balancing regulation, user experience, and operational efficiency).

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a complex technical or regulatory requirement into a seamless user journey. What was your process?" (Highlight systems thinking, user research, and iteration).

• "How would you go about establishing a design system for a platform that needs to support multiple distinct products like lottery, iGaming, and sportsbook?" (Emphasize reusable patterns, scalability, and consistency).

• "Imagine we need to improve our deposit conversion rate. What steps would you take as a Lead Product Designer to diagnose and solve this problem?" (Focus on data analysis, user research, prototyping, and testing). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about building a regulated gaming operator in the UAE?" (Showcase your understanding of the market and the company's mission).

• "How do you ensure your designs align with operational constraints and compliance requirements?" (Demonstrate your collaborative approach with these teams).

• "How have you used AI tools in your design process, and what benefits did they provide?" (Be specific about tools and outcomes).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers." (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 Strongest Projects: Choose projects that best showcase your ability to handle complexity, design for regulated environments, and demonstrate systems thinking.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the target audience, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, challenges faced, and the measurable impact/outcomes.

• Emphasize Platform Thinking: If possible, include a project that demonstrates your experience with designing reusable components, design systems, or platform-level features.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced error rates, improved task completion times, positive user feedback).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your process, specific design choices, and how you handle trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but why, with a strong emphasis on how their designs support business objectives, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Demonstrating an understanding of the unique challenges of the gaming and fintech sectors in the UAE will be highly beneficial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer, Platform position:

• Submit your application through the provided greenhouse.io link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in regulated industries (fintech, payments, gaming), systems thinking, complex consumer digital products, and cross-functional collaboration with Compliance and Operations. Showcase at least one project demonstrating platform-level design or reusable components.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of experience, key skills (interaction design, systems thinking, research, prototyping), and quantifiable achievements related to user experience improvements and operational efficiency.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you balance user needs with regulatory and operational constraints. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss relevant case studies.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fanatics Momentum's mission, the UAE gaming market, and the regulatory landscape. Understand the company's values and how they translate into design principles.

⚠️ 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.