Lead Product Designer / Responsable de produit design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer / Responsable de produit design

Company: Ironbelly Studios

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: 2026-09-18

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Owns the end-to-end product design for the iOS application, from initial user engagement to long-term retention.

• Responsible for building and maintaining a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across product development.

• Collaborates directly with engineering and marketing teams to define and implement the brand's visual identity across all surfaces.

• Defends and iterates on design decisions through regular presentations to leadership, demonstrating strategic thinking and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is deeply hands-on, emphasizing direct contribution to product development and system architecture rather than team management. The focus is on shipping impactful changes to a high-usage consumer mobile product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Design Ownership: Lead the entire design lifecycle for the iOS application, encompassing user flows, screen design, UI/UX, and interaction design, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience from first open to habitual use.

• Design System Development & Governance: Architect, build, and maintain a robust design system, including color palettes, typography, spacing guidelines, and reusable components, to empower engineering, product, and marketing teams.

• Engineering Collaboration & Quality Assurance: Work in close proximity with the engineering team, providing clear technical specifications, conducting build reviews, and rigorously upholding design standards to ensure pixel-perfect implementation.

• Brand Visual System Integration: Oversee and evolve the brand's visual identity at a system level, ensuring cohesive storytelling and brand expression across the mobile app, platforms, and marketing collateral.

• Leadership Presentation & Feedback Integration: Regularly present design strategies and solutions to senior leadership, actively incorporating feedback to refine and elevate design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping with engineering" and "holding the line on details" suggests a need for a designer who is not only creative but also pragmatic and detail-oriented, capable of navigating technical constraints and advocating for design quality in a fast-paced environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for a Lead Product Designer role.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on consumer mobile applications. Proven experience in building and scaling design systems is critical.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Demonstrated ability to own and execute end-to-end product design for consumer-facing mobile applications, particularly iOS.

• Design Systems: Expertise in building, documenting, and maintaining comprehensive design systems, including component libraries and style guides.

• UI/UX Design: Strong proficiency in user interface and user experience design principles, with a keen eye for detail and usability.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present and defend design decisions to diverse stakeholders, including leadership.

• Prototyping & Workflow Mapping: Proficiency in creating detailed prototypes and mapping complex user flows.

• AI Integration: Experience leveraging AI tools within the design process to enhance efficiency and creativity.

Preferred Skills:

• Brand Visual System Design: Experience in developing and managing a brand's visual identity across multiple touchpoints.

• Cross-functional Teamwork: Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively with engineering, product management, marketing, and brand teams.

• Technical Specification: Ability to create clear and concise technical specifications for design implementation.

• Agile Development: Familiarity with agile development methodologies and experience working within such frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "real usage" and decisions that "hold up across millions of live sessions" implies a need for candidates who can demonstrate a deep understanding of user behavior, performance metrics, and the impact of design on business outcomes, beyond just aesthetic appeal.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Consumer Mobile Product Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 significant consumer mobile product launches or major feature updates where you played a lead role, detailing your process from problem definition to solution and measurable impact.

• Design System Contribution/Ownership: Provide a clear example of a design system you've built or significantly contributed to, including components, guidelines, and documentation. Highlight how it was adopted and its impact on development efficiency.

• User Flow & Interaction Design Examples: Demonstrate your ability to map complex user journeys and design intuitive interactions, possibly through detailed diagrams or interactive prototypes.

• Visual Design & Brand Integration: Include examples that illustrate your understanding of visual hierarchy, typography, color theory, and how you've applied these to maintain brand consistency across different platforms.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Definition & User Research: Showcase how you identify user needs and business objectives, including examples of research methodologies used.

• Design Iteration & Rationale: Clearly articulate the evolution of your designs, the reasoning behind key decisions, and how feedback was incorporated.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and other teams, including how design specifications were documented and handed off.

• AI Tool Integration: Briefly explain how AI tools were leveraged in your workflow to enhance aspects like ideation, asset generation, or testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "sweating the four pixels" and "holding the line on the details" means the portfolio should not only present polished final screens but also demonstrate meticulous attention to detail in execution, specifications, and interaction design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Montreal, Canada, the estimated salary range is CAD $100,000 - $150,000 annually. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the specialized skills required, and the cost of living in Montreal.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional Development: Budget for conferences, training, and workshops to enhance skills.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contribution matching or similar retirement benefits.

• Collaborative Work Environment: Access to a state-of-the-art office space designed for collaboration.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected for project deadlines and collaborative needs, particularly when working closely with engineering teams across different time zones or release cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on data from industry salary surveys for design roles in major Canadian tech hubs, adjusted for Lead-level experience and specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Benefits are standard for a full-time role in this sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development / Interactive Entertainment. Ironbelly Studios specializes in creating high-quality games and interactive experiences.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, typical game studios range from small independent teams to larger enterprises. Given the emphasis on "building collaboratively, in person with our team in Montreal," it suggests a cohesive, potentially mid-sized team where individual contributions are highly visible.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided, but the company has a presence and operates from Montreal, indicating established operations.

Team Structure:

• Product Design Team: The role implies being the primary product designer for the iOS app and design system, working closely with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers.

• Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of Product, Design Director, or similar senior leadership role.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Intense collaboration is expected with engineering, product, marketing, and brand teams, requiring strong communication and partnership skills.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The close work with engineering and the emphasis on shipping suggests an agile or iterative development process.

• Data-Driven Design: The success metric of "Acquisition, activation and retention have improved because of changes you designed" indicates a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• User-Centricity: The focus on "consumer mobile products that people use heavily every day" highlights a commitment to understanding and serving user needs.

Company Website: https://careers.ironbelly.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on game development suggests a dynamic, creative, and potentially fast-paced work environment. The "in person" requirement for collaboration in Montreal points to a culture that values direct interaction and team cohesion.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Product Designer. This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor responsible for a significant product area and foundational design system. It requires strategic thinking, deep craft expertise, and the ability to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Director of Product, Head of Design, or a similar senior executive. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on a day-to-day basis.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact will be measured by tangible improvements in user acquisition, activation, and retention metrics, directly influencing the success and growth of Ironbelly Studios' consumer mobile products. They will shape the user experience and brand perception through their design leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Craft Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in mobile product design and design systems within the company and potentially the industry.

• Strategic Influence: Potential to influence product strategy and roadmap through design leadership and data-backed recommendations.

• Mentorship: As a lead, there's an implicit opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design function.

• Broader Product Ownership: Potential to expand ownership to other product surfaces or platforms as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a path for a hands-on designer to make a significant impact without necessarily moving into management, focusing on deepening expertise and driving product success through direct contribution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job explicitly states "build this collaboratively, in person, with our team in Montreal," indicating an on-site work environment. This suggests a modern office space designed to foster collaboration and team interaction.

Office Location(s): 2065 Rue Parthenais, Montreal, Quebec, H2K 3T1, Canada. This location is in a vibrant part of Montreal, likely offering good accessibility and a stimulating urban environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office is designed for in-person collaboration, with spaces likely available for team meetings, design critiques, and brainstorming sessions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software, hardware, and potentially a well-equipped studio environment conducive to high-quality design work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct, spontaneous interaction with colleagues across product, engineering, and marketing, fostering a strong sense of team and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week), with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaborate effectively with engineering and other teams, especially if there are varying release schedules or time zone considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "in person" work is a key differentiator, suggesting a company culture that prioritizes face-to-face interaction for innovation, rapid iteration, and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess fit with required skills and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design decisions, and their role in achieving business outcomes. A design challenge, either take-home or in-person, may be given to assess problem-solving skills, design thinking, and execution.

• Team & Leadership Interviews: Meetings with product managers, engineers, and senior leadership to evaluate collaboration style, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.

• Final Discussion: Opportunity for candidates to ask questions and for the hiring team to clarify any remaining points.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the results of your design work whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets).

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Design System Work: Dedicate specific attention to your design system contributions, detailing its structure, components, and the benefits it brought to development.

• Demonstrate Detail Orientation: For this role, explicitly show examples of meticulous UI execution, interaction details, and how you "sweat the small stuff."

• Address AI Usage: Be prepared to discuss how you integrate AI tools into your workflow and how it complements your craft.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Ironbelly Studios' existing products and target audience.

• Think Systematically: If given a design challenge, consider how your solution would integrate with or extend an existing design system.

• Prioritize and Justify: Be ready to explain your approach, the trade-offs you considered, and why you made specific design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "shipping with engineering" and "holding the line on details," expect interviewers to probe deeply into your practical execution skills, your ability to collaborate with technical teams, and your rigor in ensuring design quality.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), and prototyping tools like InVision or Principle. Figma is often preferred for its collaborative features and design system capabilities.

• Design System Management: Familiarity with tools and methodologies for creating and maintaining design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom-built documentation platforms).

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for day-to-day communication and team interaction.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mobile Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics for Mobile, Firebase Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel to track user behavior, engagement, and conversion metrics.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help interpret and present data insights (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced features within analytics platforms).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user acquisition and retention means awareness of CRM principles and potentially how design elements integrate with marketing automation platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI in your process" suggests that familiarity with AI-powered design tools (e.g., for asset generation, content creation, or workflow automation) is a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A deep commitment to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and aesthetic excellence.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing in-person interaction, open communication, and a shared sense of responsibility for product success.

• Impact & Results: Focusing on designs that demonstrably improve user acquisition, activation, and retention, driving business growth.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing feedback, iterating on designs, and leveraging new technologies (like AI) to enhance the design process and outcomes.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for the product's design direction and execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & In-Person: Emphasizes face-to-face interaction for brainstorming, problem-solving, and feedback.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Works closely with engineering, product, and marketing to ensure alignment and seamless execution.

• Constructive Critique Culture: Open to and actively seeks direct feedback to refine designs and foster growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "in person" collaboration and direct feedback suggests a culture that is both highly collaborative and direct, valuing transparency and a shared commitment to excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing High-Volume Usage with Detail: Ensuring design decisions hold up under immense user load while maintaining meticulous attention to UI and UX details.

• Design System Adoption: Driving the widespread adoption and consistent use of the design system across multiple teams and projects.

• Evolving Brand Identity: Maintaining a cohesive brand visual system across a growing product suite and evolving market trends.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Strategically incorporating AI tools into the design workflow without compromising craft or originality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Mobile Design: Deepening expertise in iOS design patterns and best practices for highly engaged consumer applications.

• Design System Architecture: Gaining advanced skills in architecting scalable and maintainable design systems.

• Product Strategy: Developing a stronger understanding of business metrics and contributing more strategically to product roadmaps.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging design technologies, tools (especially AI), and user behavior trends in the mobile and gaming sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an opportunity to tackle complex design challenges on a large scale, with direct impact on a user base of millions, fostering significant professional growth in product design and system thinking.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to defend a design decision to leadership. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your rationale, data, and communication skills.)

• "How would you approach building or evolving a design system for a product with millions of users? What are the key considerations?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability, governance, and adoption.)

• "Walk us through a complex user flow you designed. What challenges did you face, and how did you ensure it was intuitive and efficient?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving and user-centric design approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working on-site in Montreal for Ironbelly Studios, specifically?" (Showcase your understanding of their culture and your commitment to in-person collaboration.)

• "How do you incorporate AI into your design process, and what are your thoughts on its role in the future of design?" (Be specific about tools and benefits, and show you're forward-thinking.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with engineering and product teams. What makes for a successful partnership?" (Emphasize communication, mutual respect, and shared goals.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. Include sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI screens.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss the granular details of your work, including specific UI choices and interaction patterns.

• Highlight Design System Contributions: Clearly articulate your role, the system's architecture, and its benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interviewers to probe deeply into your practical execution skills, your ability to collaborate with technical teams, and your rigor in ensuring design quality, given the role's emphasis on shipping and detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Ironbelly Studios careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest consumer mobile product case studies that highlight your end-to-end design process, impact, and any design system experience. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your ability to "sweat the four pixels" and hold the line on design details.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience with iOS design, design system development, direct collaboration with engineering, and any quantifiable achievements in user acquisition, activation, or retention.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your use of AI tools in your design process.

• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Ironbelly Studios' games and overall brand to understand their market and potential design challenges.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Ironbelly Studios before making application decisions.

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