Lead Product Designer (UI/UX)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer (UI/UX)

Company: BasicBlock Inc.

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied by 4+ years requirement)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the complete product design lifecycle for BasicBlock's web and mobile applications, ensuring intuitive and polished user experiences.

• Translate complex business requirements and customer needs within the financial and transportation sectors into clear user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system and a reusable component library to ensure brand consistency and accelerate design and development cycles.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams from initial concept through to final implementation, championing user-centric design principles.

• Act as the sole product designer, influencing the visual and interactive direction of the company's digital products and supporting broader design needs across marketing and internal tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly described as an individual contributor, emphasizing hands-on design work. The "Lead" title, combined with the 4+ years of experience requirement and the sole designer responsibility, suggests a mid-to-senior level position with significant autonomy and impact, rather than a people management role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for all web and mobile products, from user research and ideation to final visual design and handoff.

• Craft user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that effectively address complex financial and transportation workflows.

• Champion a mobile-first design approach, ensuring responsive and seamless user experiences across various devices and screen sizes.

• Establish and rigorously maintain a comprehensive design system and component library to ensure visual consistency and streamline development efforts.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with product managers and engineers, ensuring design intent is clearly understood and accurately implemented.

• Provide design support for a range of company initiatives, including marketing landing pages, sales collateral, internal tools, and executive presentations.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design improvements and user experience enhancements within existing and new product features.

• Act as the primary point of contact for all design-related inquiries and decisions within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a broad scope of work, from core product design to supporting marketing and internal tools. This implies the need for a versatile designer capable of adapting to different project types and stakeholders, with a strong emphasis on end-to-end ownership and independent work.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred, though not explicitly stated. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in product design, UI/UX design, or a closely related role is required. Experience taking products or features through the complete design process, from initial concept to production, is essential.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong, curated portfolio showcasing a range of thoughtful product designs for both web and mobile applications, demonstrating a clear understanding of the end-to-end design process.

• Design Tools: Advanced proficiency in Figma or comparable industry-standard interface design and prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD).

• UX/UI Principles: Deep understanding of interaction design, visual hierarchy, responsive design principles, and user-centered usability best practices.

• Workflow Design: Proven ability to design intuitive experiences for complex workflows, particularly within financial services or transportation logistics.

• Design Systems: Experience in developing, maintaining, and scaling design systems and reusable component libraries.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers.

• Independence: Proven capability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and drive projects forward with minimal supervision.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and incorporating user feedback into the design process.

• Familiarity with front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

• Experience in the FinTech or Transportation Tech industries.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience designing for both B2B and B2C audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "doing the work" and operating independently suggests a need for a self-starter who can manage their own time and projects effectively. The "Lead" title, in this context, signifies responsibility and influence rather than direct team management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Detailed case studies that walk through the complete design process for at least 2-3 significant web or mobile product features/projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the final outcome.

• Problem-Solving: Showcase examples that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex problems with user-centered solutions, especially within financial or transportation workflows.

• Visual Design: High-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that highlight your aesthetic sensibility, attention to detail, and understanding of visual hierarchy and responsive design.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, include examples of contributions to or creation of design systems or component libraries, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Impact Metrics: Wherever possible, quantify the impact of your design work with relevant metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Mapping: Examples of user flow diagrams, information architecture, or sitemaps that illustrate your approach to structuring complex digital products.

• Prototyping Examples: Interactive prototypes that showcase user journeys and interaction patterns, demonstrating your ability to test and refine concepts before development.

• Design Handoff: Clear documentation or examples of how you prepare and hand off design assets and specifications to engineering teams, ensuring a smooth implementation process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a sole designer role with significant influence, the portfolio should not only showcase design execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to work autonomously. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts business objectives (ROI) is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead Product Designer (UI/UX) with 4+ years of experience in Lincoln, Nebraska, the estimated annual salary range is typically between $95,000 - $135,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in mid-sized tech companies in the Midwest, considering the cost of living and demand for skilled design talent. The exact compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio quality, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Equity: Employee stock options, providing an opportunity to share in the company's success.

• Time Off: Paid time off (PTO) for rest and rejuvenation.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance, including dental and vision coverage.

• Workplace Amenities: Complimentary caffeine, a variety of sodas, and snacks to keep the team energized.

• Team Engagement: Weekly team lunches, fostering camaraderie and collaboration.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While the position is on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start/end times, though core collaboration hours will need to be observed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general US market data for a Lead Product Designer in a city like Lincoln, NE, and the specified experience level. Lincoln, NE, generally has a lower cost of living than major tech hubs, which is reflected in the salary range. The "Lead" title suggests the higher end of this range could be achievable for exceptional candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: BasicBlock operates in the intersection of FinTech and Transportation Technology, providing software and financial services to independent truck drivers to expedite payments and improve cash flow. This unique position requires an understanding of complex financial transactions within the logistics sector.

Company Size: BasicBlock is likely a startup or early-stage growth company, as indicated by the "individual contributor role" for the Lead Product Designer and the "drive and ambition of Silicon Valley" alongside "Great Plains" qualities. This suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, the company's ambition and focus on innovation suggest a relatively modern founding, likely within the last 5-10 years, aligning with the growth of specialized FinTech solutions.

Team Structure:

• Individual Contributor Lead: The Lead Product Designer will be the sole designer, reporting to a Product Manager, Head of Product, or potentially a Founder/CEO, depending on the company's current structure.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with Product Management (defining requirements and strategy) and Engineering (implementation).

• Lean Operations: Given the company's likely size, expect a lean operational structure where individuals wear multiple hats and work closely together.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: The company emphasizes understanding customer needs ("spending less time worrying about cash flow and more time focused on the road"). The design process will likely be driven by customer feedback and data.

• Agile Development: Expect a fast-paced, iterative development approach, common in startups, where designs need to be adaptable and quickly implemented.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The emphasis on "ownership" and "quality work" suggests that design decisions will be informed by data and performance metrics.

Company Website: https://basicblock.io/ (Derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's location in Lincoln, NE, is highlighted as a blend of Silicon Valley ambition and Midwestern practicality. This suggests a culture that values both innovation and a grounded, hard-working ethos. The designer will be instrumental in shaping the user experience of a product critical to the livelihood of independent truck drivers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Mid-to-Senior level individual contributor position. As the sole Lead Product Designer, you will own the design function for digital products. This level demands not only strong design execution skills but also the ability to operate strategically, define design direction, and influence product roadmaps. It's a step towards potentially leading a design team in the future, should the company grow.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Product Manager or a Head of Product. This close proximity to product leadership allows for direct input into product strategy and roadmap planning.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will have a direct and significant impact on the company's core offering: helping truck drivers get paid faster. This translates to improved customer adoption, retention, and operational efficiency for BasicBlock's users. Success in this role will be measured by the usability, intuitiveness, and effectiveness of the digital products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to build and shape the design function from the ground up, potentially growing into a Head of Design or Design Manager role as the company scales.

• Product Strategy Influence: Direct involvement in product strategy discussions, allowing for significant influence on the company's direction and product roadmap.

• Skill Expansion: Exposure to diverse design challenges across web, mobile, financial services, and transportation logistics, fostering broad skill development.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in FinTech and Transportation Tech sectors, becoming a specialist in user experience for these critical industries.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Gain valuable experience in a startup environment, understanding the full lifecycle of product development and business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title in an individual contributor role at a growing company offers a unique opportunity for impact and career advancement. The growth trajectory is less about managing people initially and more about expanding influence, strategic input, and potentially building out a design team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly on-site in Lincoln, Nebraska. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to this location. Specific details about the office facilities or amenities beyond "complimentary caffeine, soda, and snacks" are not provided but can be inferred to support a productive work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The on-site nature implies a central hub for team interaction, fostering spontaneous discussions and team cohesion.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools, and necessary hardware to perform design tasks effectively.

• Team Interaction: Regular face-to-face interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially company leadership, facilitating clear communication and alignment.

• Focused Work Environment: The office setting is intended to minimize distractions and maximize productivity for focused design tasks.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, likely adhering to standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM CT), with an expectation of around 40 hours per week. While the specific schedule may offer some flexibility, the on-site requirement means consistent physical presence is necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on being "on-site" and the mention of "commuting" indicates a traditional office-based role. This environment is beneficial for fostering team synergy and direct collaboration, which is crucial for a sole designer working closely with product and engineering.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and design experience.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session with the hiring team (likely Product Manager/Head of Product) to deeply dive into your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key case studies, explaining your process, rationale, and the impact of your work.

• Design Challenge (Potential): You might be given a small design exercise or a take-home challenge to assess your problem-solving skills and design approach for a specific problem relevant to BasicBlock's business.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with engineers and/or other team members to evaluate collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: A discussion with company leadership (e.g., CEO, Head of Product) to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and experience with complex workflows (financial/transportation is a plus).

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the design process undertaken, key decisions made (and why), and the measurable outcomes or learnings.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify the success of your designs whenever possible. Use metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion efficiency, or user satisfaction.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI mockups to demonstrate your design evolution and decision-making.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, challenges you've overcome, and how your work aligns with business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research BasicBlock's mission, target audience (truck drivers), and the challenges they face.

• Empathize with Users: Consider the unique needs and pain points of independent truck drivers regarding payments and cash flow.

• Focus on Process: If given a challenge, clearly outline your design process, from understanding the problem to proposing a solution.

• Prioritize: Be prepared to make trade-offs and justify your design decisions based on feasibility and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on this being a sole designer role means the interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and make sound design decisions with minimal oversight. Your portfolio is your primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the primary design and prototyping tool required. Advanced proficiency is expected for creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and collaborative design work.

• Design System Tools: Proficiency in establishing and maintaining design systems within Figma or comparable tools. This includes creating and managing component libraries, style guides, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, a product designer in this role would benefit from familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• Experience with dashboarding tools for visualizing product performance data could also be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• While not direct design tools, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) or automation platforms can be beneficial for context, especially if internal tools are part of the scope. Other Potential Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like InVision, Principle, or Adobe XD might be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for surveys, usability testing, or user interviews.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking design tasks and collaborating with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a required tool is critical. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their expertise in Figma, including advanced features like component variants, auto layout, and collaborative editing.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: "We’ll let you take the reins, as long as you produce quality work." This points to a culture that values accountability, initiative, and a strong work ethic.

• Focus & Authenticity: "A focused and authentic team." This suggests a commitment to clear goals, direct communication, and genuine interactions.

• User-Centricity: "BasicBlock helps get truck drivers paid faster." The core mission is deeply tied to solving real user problems, indicating a strong user-focused approach.

• Innovation & Ambition: "Drive and ambition of Silicon Valley." This highlights a culture that encourages forward-thinking, innovation, and striving for excellence.

• Collaboration & Support: "Friendly, hard-working qualities of the Great Plains" and "everyone can do their best work" imply a supportive team environment where individuals are empowered.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Transparent: Expect a collaborative style that is open, honest, and efficient, fitting with the "authentic" team value.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will work very closely with Product and Engineering, requiring a partnership approach where design is integrated early and often.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values "quality work" likely involves constructive feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement.

• Problem-Solving Partnership: Collaboration will be centered around solving complex business and user problems effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of "Silicon Valley" ambition and "Great Plains" friendliness suggests a culture that is both high-achieving and collegial. The designer will be a key player in translating this culture into intuitive product experiences.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Sole Designer Responsibility: Being the only designer can be demanding, requiring strong self-management, prioritization skills, and the ability to handle a broad range of design tasks without immediate peer support.

• Ambiguity in Early-Stage Startups: Projects may sometimes begin with limited direction, requiring the designer to define problems and scope solutions independently.

• Balancing Design Excellence with Business Needs: Effectively translating complex financial and transportation workflows into user-friendly designs while meeting business objectives and development timelines.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: As the company grows, ensuring the design system is robust enough to scale and maintain brand consistency across all touchpoints.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating differing priorities and perspectives with Product and Engineering to ensure user needs are met without compromising business goals or technical feasibility.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the product's user experience and contribute to product strategy.

• Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in FinTech and the logistics/transportation sector, a growing and critical market.

• Building a Design Function: Experience in establishing and evolving design processes, tools, and potentially a design team from the ground up.

• Entrepreneurial Skillset: Develop a comprehensive understanding of product development within a startup environment, including business operations and growth strategies.

• Mentorship (Informal): Potential to learn from experienced founders or product leaders within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in a sole designer role at a growing company are significant but also present the most compelling growth opportunities. Success here means developing a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and end-to-end product ownership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our payment processing system to reduce errors for truck drivers?" (Focus: Problem-solving, User Empathy, Process)

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders (product managers, engineers) to adopt your design recommendation. What was your strategy?" (Focus: Collaboration, Communication, Persuasion)

• "If you were given a vague requirement for a new mobile dashboard, what would be your first steps to define and execute the design?" (Focus: Handling Ambiguity, Process Definition, Strategic Thinking) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of BasicBlock, what do you see as the biggest UX challenge for our target users?" (Focus: Research, User Empathy, Industry Understanding)

• "How do you ensure your design decisions align with business objectives, especially in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Focus: Business Acumen, Prioritization, ROI)

• "Describe your ideal working relationship with product managers and engineers." (Focus: Collaboration Style, Teamwork) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly state the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, and outcomes. Use a "Problem -> Solution -> Impact" framework.

• Emphasize "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind every design choice. Why this user flow? Why this UI element? Why this interaction?

• Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Include early-stage artifacts like user flows, wireframes, and prototypes to demonstrate your thinking and iteration.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics that show the positive effect of your designs on users or the business.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Interviewers will ask probing questions about your contributions, challenges, and how you handled specific situations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with financial workflows or complex data visualization, as these are highly relevant to BasicBlock's domain. Emphasize your ability to operate independently and drive projects to completion.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer (UI/UX) position at BasicBlock Inc.:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the application link provided by BasicBlock via their Breezy HR portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and experience with complex web and mobile applications. Prioritize projects that highlight your ability to work autonomously and deliver impactful results.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in Figma, experience with design systems, and any work in FinTech or transportation. Use keywords from the job description such as "UI/UX Design," "Product Design," "Figma," "Responsive Design," and "Design Systems."

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on the "why" behind your design decisions, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your process for handling ambiguity and working independently.

• Research BasicBlock: Thoroughly understand BasicBlock's mission, target audience (independent truck drivers), and the problems they solve. Familiarize yourself with their existing products and brand to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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.